AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two mobile processors is overwhelmingly one-sided, but the single Intel victory reveals a distinct specialty. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 wins 10 of 11 head-to-head comparisons, including every throughput-oriented workload in the PassMark suite. Its most dominant results come in integer math, where it scores 87,940 against Intel's 31,690, a 177.5% advantage. Data compression follows at 327,891 versus 146,143, a 124.4% gap, and random string sorting shows 34,801 against 17,551, a 98.3% lead. These are workloads that scale with core count, thread count, and memory bandwidth, all areas where the AMD part holds structural advantages.

The Intel Core 5 315 claims exactly one win, and it is a peculiar one: the find prime numbers test. Intel scores 112 against AMD's 71, a 36.6% margin. This is a latency-sensitive, single-threaded integer workload that rewards high per-core efficiency rather than parallel throughput. The Intel part's 6 cores and 6 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading, still manage to outpace the 8-core, 16-thread AMD chip in this specific test. It suggests that the Wildcat Lake cores have a raw per-thread advantage in certain integer operations, even though the broader single-thread benchmark remains essentially tied.

Outside of that narrow win, the AMD processor dominates every category that matters for general productivity. Multithreaded performance shows 25,889 against 15,272, a 69.5% edge. Floating point math delivers 55,799 versus 42,441, a 31.5% advantage. Extended instructions score 24,193 against 13,143, a 84.1% gap. Data encryption reaches 16,055 versus 11,119, a 44.4% lead. Even the physics test, which is often sensitive to clock speed, goes to AMD at 1,210 against 1,163, a modest 4% margin. The single-thread scores are practically identical: 4,029 for AMD and 4,021 for Intel, a 0.2% difference that falls within measurement noise.

The overall average benchmark score tells the same story. AMD sits at 52,901 with a 91st percentile ranking across all CPUs. Intel sits at 18,188 with a 72nd percentile ranking. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X at 53,288 (0.7% higher) and the AMD EPYC 7313P at 53,206 (0.6% higher), placing it in desktop-class territory. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9700 at 18,180 and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U at 18,176, placing it firmly in thin-and-light mobile territory.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI Embedded generation built on Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. It is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 233 mm². The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. It is fabricated on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with no die size recorded in the database.

Core and thread configurations diverge sharply. AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads, enabling simultaneous multithreading across all cores. Intel provides 6 cores and 6 threads, with no multithreading support. The AMD chip runs at a 2.00 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The Intel chip runs at a 1.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.40 GHz. Both have unlocked multipliers disabled, but the AMD part's higher boost ceiling gives it a clock advantage in single-threaded bursts.

Cache hierarchies also differ. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD design's per-core L2 allocation totals 8 MB across all cores, which is more than three times Intel's total L2 capacity. The L3 difference is smaller: 8 MB against 6 MB, but the AMD part still holds the edge.

Memory support reveals another major split. Both processors support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, but AMD uses a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while Intel uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s. That bandwidth gap directly explains the AMD advantage in data compression and random string sorting, workloads that stream large volumes of data through the memory subsystem. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 4 with only 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also diverge: AMD uses the Radeon 880M, while Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Both parts target the mobile segment and remain in active production. The AMD part has a release date of March 2026, while the Intel part follows in April 2026. Intel lists a launch MSRP of $340 for the Core 5 315; AMD does not list one.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The PassMark suite provides eleven direct comparisons between these two processors. The largest margin belongs to AMD in integer math, where its 87,940 score crushes Intel's 31,690 by 177.5%. This is the single biggest gap in the entire comparison and reflects the combined effect of double the threads, higher clocks, and a wider memory interface. Data compression shows a 124.4% AMD advantage at 327,891 versus 146,143, and random string sorting shows a 98.3% AMD advantage at 34,801 versus 17,551.

Extended instructions go to AMD at 24,193 against 13,143, a 84.1% margin. This test measures SIMD and vectorized workloads, where the Zen 5 cores' wider execution resources show their value. Multithreaded performance gives AMD a 69.5% edge at 25,889 versus 15,272, and data encryption gives AMD a 44.4% advantage at 16,055 versus 11,119. Floating point math rounds out the major AMD wins at 55,799 versus 42,441, a 31.5% margin.

The physics test is the closest AMD victory, at 1,210 versus 1,163, a 4% difference. Single-thread performance is even tighter, with AMD at 4,029 and Intel at 4,021, a 0.2% margin. The PassMark database records this test twice under slightly different names, and both entries show the identical 0.2% AMD edge.

Intel's only victory comes in find prime numbers, scoring 112 against AMD's 71. The 36.6% margin is substantial and indicates that Intel's Wildcat Lake cores handle this particular branch-heavy integer loop more efficiently per clock. This is a real, repeatable result in the database, but it stands alone against a wall of AMD wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. AMD also supports simultaneous multithreading, while Intel does not.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: AMD boosts to 5.00 GHz from a 2.00 GHz base clock. Intel boosts to 4.40 GHz from a 1.50 GHz base clock. Both parts have locked multipliers.

Q: Does the Intel part beat AMD in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in the PassMark find prime numbers test, Intel scores 112 against AMD's 71, a 36.6% advantage. Intel loses the other 10 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The difference is negligible. AMD scores 4,029 and Intel scores 4,021, a 0.2% margin in favor of AMD. This is effectively a tie.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: AMD uses a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s. AMD also supports ECC memory, which Intel does not.

Q: What is the Intel part's launch MSRP?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 has a launch MSRP of $340. AMD does not list a launch MSRP for the Ryzen AI Embedded P164.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to two very different products for two very different workloads. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 is the clear performance leader across the vast majority of benchmarks. Its 91st percentile ranking, average score of 52,901, and 10 out of 11 head-to-head wins place it in competition with desktop-class processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and AMD EPYC 7313P. The dual-channel memory, 16 threads, and 8 MB of L3 cache make it the right choice for compression, encryption, rendering, and any workload that scales across cores. Its 4 nm TSMC process and 5.00 GHz boost clock also give it a strong single-thread profile, even if the benchmark shows only a 0.2% edge over Intel.

The Intel Core 5 315 occupies a different space. Its 72nd percentile ranking and average score of 18,188 place it alongside older mainstream parts like the Intel Core i7-9700 and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U. The single-channel memory, 6 threads, and lower 4.40 GHz boost clock limit its throughput potential. However, its 3 nm Intel process and 36.6% win in find prime numbers show that the Wildcat Lake cores have real per-thread efficiency in specific integer workloads. For tasks that depend on a single thread executing a tight loop, the Intel part can outperform the AMD chip despite its lower core count and clock speed.

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the workload profile. The data shows AMD winning in every throughput-oriented category, often by enormous margins. The Intel part's lone victory is narrow in scope but genuine in execution. Buyers who need maximum parallel performance, memory bandwidth, and ECC support should select the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164. Buyers who prioritize the specific integer loop performance measured by the find prime numbers test, or who need the Intel part's lower 15 W TDP against AMD's 28 W, may find the Core 5 315 sufficient. The benchmark evidence, however, overwhelmingly favors the AMD processor for general purpose computing.