AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core Ultra 7 258V represent two very different approaches to mobile processing. The AMD part is a 12-core, 24-thread powerhouse built on the Strix Point architecture, while the Intel chip is a more efficiency-focused 8-core, 8-thread design from the Lunar Lake family. The benchmark data shows a clear split: AMD dominates multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads, while Intel shows surprising strength in a few specific single-threaded and specialized tasks. The recorded scores reveal that the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the Core Ultra 7 258V taking 4 victories.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the clear winner in any workload that scales with core count and thread parallelism. Its 12 cores and 24 threads give it a massive structural advantage in multi-threaded scenarios, and the benchmark results confirm this. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the AMD chip scoring 21812 against Intel's 10301, a 111.7% advantage. The Geekbench multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 13957 versus 9325, a 49.7% lead. For productivity tasks like data compression, encryption, and random string sorting, the AMD part is anywhere from 53.7% to 129.2% ahead. Integer math is the most lopsided result, with AMD scoring 121754 versus Intel's 42889, a 183.9% delta. This makes the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 the obvious choice for developers, content creators, or anyone running parallel compute jobs.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V wins in a narrower set of scenarios. Its Geekbench single-core score of 2100 edges out AMD's 2084, a marginal 0.8% difference. In PassMark single-thread tests, Intel leads 4018 to 3867, a 3.8% advantage. The most interesting Intel win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 185 against AMD's 122, a 34.1% lead. This suggests Intel's architecture handles that specific mathematical workload far more efficiently, likely due to its per-core cache configuration. The Intel chip also posts a higher PassMark physics score ratio in context, though it still loses that test 1819 to 1565. The data shows Intel's wins are concentrated in light, single-threaded tasks where its higher base clock of 2.20 GHz and larger per-core L1 and L2 caches provide an edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 uses the Zen 5 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, with a die size of 233 mm². It combines 12 cores and 24 threads in a hybrid arrangement of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, all under the Strix Point codename. Cache distribution is 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory but is limited to 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It uses an AMD Socket FP8 and includes the Radeon 890M integrated graphics.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V is built on Lunar Lake using TSMC's 3 nm node, which gives it a smaller process geometry. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading, which is a major difference from AMD's 24-thread count. Intel's cache layout is different: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. This larger per-core cache likely explains its wins in single-threaded and prime number tests. The Intel chip supports only LPDDR5X memory but achieves a much higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, which is 52.3% higher than AMD's 89.6 GB/s. It uses Intel BGA 2833 and features Arc 140V integrated graphics. The Intel part also has PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes, while AMD uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes.

Power consumption is another major separator. The AMD chip has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Intel part is rated at just 17 watts. That 11-watt difference is significant for thin-and-light laptops, but the performance data shows AMD still pulls far ahead in multi-threaded work despite the higher power envelope. The Intel chip's base clock is 2.20 GHz versus AMD's 2.00 GHz, but AMD's boost clock reaches 5.10 GHz compared to Intel's 4.80 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The multi-core Cinebench results are the most dramatic. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 3334 against Intel's 1596.5, a 108.8% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows an even larger gap: 21812 versus 10301, or 111.7% ahead. These results indicate that the AMD part delivers more than double the multi-threaded rendering performance in some cases. The Geekbench multi-core test tells a similar story with a 49.7% lead, showing that the advantage is not limited to a single benchmark suite.

The PassMark suite reveals where the architectures diverge most sharply. PassMark integer math shows AMD at 121754 versus Intel's 42889, a 183.9% delta, the largest single gap in the entire comparison. Extended instructions favor AMD by 98.9%, with scores of 29269 and 14717. Data compression is another blowout: AMD scores 404918, Intel scores 176686, a 129.2% difference. Random string sorting also heavily favors AMD, 44552 to 21580, a 106.5% lead. Floating point math is closer but still decisive, with AMD ahead 31% at 75153 versus 57372.

Intel's wins are narrower but real. The PassMark single-thread test shows Intel at 4018 versus AMD's 3867, a 3.8% margin. Geekbench single-core is nearly tied, with Intel at 2100 and AMD at 2084, a 0.8% edge. The passmark find prime numbers result is Intel's largest victory: 185 versus 122, a 34.1% advantage. This test likely rewards Intel's larger 2.5 MB L2 cache per core, which allows more prime number candidates to reside in fast memory.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion for most users: the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the stronger processor for multi-threaded and compute-intensive tasks. Its 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to Intel's 74th percentile, reflects its overall superiority in the recorded benchmarks. The AMD chip has an average benchmark score of 46030, more than double Intel's 20454. The nearest rivals to AMD include the Intel Core i9-13900HX and AMD EPYC processors, all within 0.2% of its average score, which shows it competes with desktop-class silicon.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V is not without merit. Its 17-watt TDP makes it a more efficient choice for ultra-portable devices where battery life takes priority over raw performance. Its wins in single-threaded tests and prime number finding suggest it can handle light tasks with snappier responsiveness. The higher 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth could also benefit memory-bound workloads, even if the CPU cores cannot fully exploit it in multi-threaded scenarios. For users who prioritize multi-core rendering, data compression, or encryption, the AMD part is the data-backed choice. For users who need a low-power chip for everyday productivity and occasional single-threaded bursts, the Intel part offers a balanced profile, though its 74th percentile ranking shows it trails the AMD chip in overall performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How much faster is the AMD chip in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 21812, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V scores 10301. That is a 111.7% advantage for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark by a large margin?

Yes, the PassMark find prime numbers test shows Intel scoring 185 versus AMD's 122, a 34.1% lead. This is Intel's largest single victory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V supports 136.5 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is limited to 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which chip has a lower power draw?

The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V has a TDP of 17 watts. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has an average benchmark score of 46030, ranking in the 89th percentile. The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V has an average score of 20454, ranking in the 74th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 24 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 17 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Lunar Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 4 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 890M | Arc 140V |

| Release Date | 2024-06-30 | 2024-09-23 |