AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core Ultra 7 266V are both mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, but the benchmark data shows a clear separation in capability. The AMD part dominates heavily in multi-threaded and throughput-intensive workloads, winning 11 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel chip claims a smaller set of single-thread and specific math wins. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core Ultra 7 266V lands at the 76th percentile, indicating the AMD processor is the stronger overall performer in recorded tests.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the processor for users who need maximum parallel processing power. Its 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with a 28 W TDP, deliver scores that are frequently double or nearly double those of the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V in multi-core benchmarks. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 21812 versus 16544 shows a 31.8% advantage for AMD, and the PassMark multi-thread score of 32916 versus 19461 represents a 69.1% lead. For software rendering, video encoding, data compression, or any task that scales across cores, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the clear choice from the recorded data.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is better suited for lighter, fanless or low-power designs where battery life and modest heat output matter more than raw throughput. Its 8 cores and 8 threads at 17 W TDP produce a lower overall average benchmark score of 23297 compared to 46030 for the AMD chip. However, the Intel part wins in Cinebench R23 single-core (2335 versus 1988, a 14.9% margin) and PassMark single-thread (3943 versus 3867, a 1.9% margin), which indicates a slight advantage in lightly threaded tasks like web browsing or office applications. The data suggests the Intel chip is for users prioritizing efficiency and single-core responsiveness, while the AMD chip is for those who need sustained multi-core muscle.

The average benchmark score of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 places it in the same performance tier as the Intel Core i9-13900HX, with a delta of -0.1%, and slightly ahead of the AMD EPYC 4364P by 0.1%. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V, by contrast, sits near the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H with a delta of 0.1% and the Intel Core i9-11900F with a 0.2% delta. These figures confirm that the AMD processor competes with high-end desktop-class mobile chips, while the Intel chip aligns with older mainstream parts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. This difference directly explains the AMD chip's large leads in multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V boosts to 5.00 GHz. Despite the slightly lower boost clock, the Intel chip still wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test with 2335 versus 1988 for AMD.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 offers 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip also relies on LPDDR5X memory support, while AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has a TDP of 28 W, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a TDP of 17 W. This lower thermal envelope for Intel may allow thinner laptop designs, but the benchmark scores show a significant performance trade-off.

Q: Which chip wins the most benchmarks in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins 11 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins 4, which include Cinebench R23 single-core, PassMark find prime numbers, and two identical PassMark single-thread tests.

Q: How do their overall performance percentiles compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 ranks at the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V ranks at the 76th percentile. This is a 13-point gap, reflecting the AMD chip's higher average benchmark score of 46030 versus 23297.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. Its die size is 233 mm², and it features a hybrid configuration of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, as indicated by its generation label. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 890M, and the processor uses an AMD Socket FP8.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process also at TSMC. Its codename is Lunar Lake, and it belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. The cache setup differs notably: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics are the Arc 140V, and the socket is Intel BGA 2833. The Intel chip has a smaller process node but no recorded die size in the database.

The core count difference is the most significant architectural gap. The AMD chip has 12 cores and 24 threads, which allows simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel chip has 8 cores and 8 threads with no multithreading. This means the AMD processor can handle nearly three times the threads of the Intel chip, which is why its multi-core benchmark scores are so much higher. The Intel chip compensates with a larger L1 cache per core (192 KB versus 80 KB) and a larger L2 cache per core (2.5 MB versus 1 MB), which helps in single-thread performance.

The PCIe capabilities also differ. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V supports PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). This means the AMD chip offers more expansion lanes for peripherals, although the Intel chip supports a newer PCIe standard.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel chip starts at a higher base frequency, but the AMD chip has a slightly higher boost frequency.

The TDP is a major differentiator: AMD lists 28 W, Intel lists 17 W. This 11 W difference suggests the Intel chip is designed for lower power consumption, which may affect cooling requirements and battery life in laptops. The AMD chip uses dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel chip also uses dual-channel memory but with a higher bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. Both support LPDDR5X, but AMD also supports DDR5.

The cache configurations are distinct. The AMD chip has a total of 16 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the Intel chip has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, as noted earlier. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The release dates differ, with the AMD chip releasing on 2024-06-30 and the Intel chip on 2024-09-23. The Intel chip has a series designation of Core Ultra Series 2, while the AMD chip has no series field. The AMD part number is 100-000001682, and the Intel part number is SRPMMSRPMY.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the database is the PassMark integer math test, where the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 121754 against the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V's 41558, a 193% advantage. This indicates that the AMD chip is nearly three times faster in integer-heavy calculations, which are common in database operations, financial modeling, and scientific simulations.

The PassMark data compression test also shows a massive gap: AMD scores 404918 versus Intel's 187050, a 116.5% difference. This means the AMD chip can compress or decompress data more than twice as fast, which is relevant for file archiving, backup software, and real-time data processing. The PassMark random string sorting test shows a 94.5% lead for AMD (44552 versus 22905), further confirming the AMD chip's strength in sorting and data manipulation tasks.

The PassMark extended instructions test, which measures performance on advanced CPU instruction sets, shows AMD ahead by 83.8% (29269 versus 15928). The PassMark multi-thread score of 32916 versus 19461 gives AMD a 69.1% lead, and the PassMark data encryption test shows AMD winning by 50.5% (20802 versus 13822). The PassMark floating point math test has AMD ahead by 32% (75153 versus 56923), and the Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows AMD leading by 31.8% (21812 versus 16544).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test with 2335 versus 1988, a 14.9% margin. This is the largest single-thread win for Intel in the recorded tests. The PassMark find prime numbers test shows Intel winning by 36.1% (191 versus 122), which indicates better performance in prime number calculations, a workload that can be sensitive to branch prediction and integer division. The PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests (identical scores of 3943 for Intel and 3867 for AMD) show a narrow 1.9% lead for Intel.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows AMD winning by 100% (3334 versus 1667), meaning the AMD chip is exactly twice as fast in that legacy benchmark. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows AMD winning by 28.1% (301 versus 235), which is notable because it contradicts the newer R23 single-core result. The PassMark physics test has AMD winning by 13.1% (1819 versus 1608).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the dominant choice for multi-threaded workloads. Its 24 threads allow it to excel in Cinebench R15 multi-core (100% lead), PassMark integer math (193% lead), data compression (116.5% lead), random string sorting (94.5% lead), and extended instructions (83.8% lead). These results indicate that the AMD chip is ideal for video editing, 3D rendering, software compilation, and any parallel processing task that can utilize all cores. The 89th percentile ranking and an average benchmark score of 46030 place it among the top tier of mobile processors.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins in a narrow set of single-thread and specialized workloads. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2335 is 14.9% higher than AMD's 1988, and its PassMark single-thread score of 3943 is 1.9% higher. The PassMark find prime numbers result (191 versus 122) shows a 36.1% advantage for Intel, suggesting the chip has strong division and modulo operation performance. These wins are relevant for legacy single-threaded applications, certain mathematical computations, and tasks that do not benefit from multiple cores.

The Intel chip also has a lower TDP of 17 W, which may enable fanless or passively cooled designs in thin laptops. The higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s could benefit memory-bound applications, although the benchmark data does not specifically isolate this factor. The 76th percentile ranking and average score of 23297 indicate that the Intel chip is a mid-range performer, comparable to older desktop parts like the Intel Core i9-11900F.

For users who prioritize raw compute throughput, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the clear winner based on the recorded data. For users who need a low-power chip with slightly better single-thread performance in a compact laptop, the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V offers a viable alternative, but it loses the majority of benchmark comparisons. The head-to-head results show 11 wins for AMD and 4 for Intel, making the AMD processor the more capable all-round option in the database.