AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235A Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a decisive sweep. In every single head-to-head PassMark test, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A delivers a higher score than the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164. The database records zero wins for the AMD processor and eleven wins for the Intel part across the compared workloads.

The largest gap appears in prime number finding, where Intel scores 392 against AMD's 71, a delta of 81.9%. This is an extreme outlier in the comparison, suggesting a fundamental difference in how each core handles this specific integer workload. The data indicates the Intel part is nearly five and a half times faster in this isolated test.

Floating point math shows another substantial divide. The Intel processor records 118,778 points versus 55,799 for the AMD chip, a 53% advantage. Physics simulation follows closely, with Intel at 2,437 and AMD at 1,210, a 50.3% lead. These two results together suggest the Intel architecture holds a strong edge in mathematically intensive, parallel floating-point execution.

Data encryption shows Intel at 30,136 versus AMD at 16,055, a 46.7% delta. This is a workload where the supporting instruction set and memory subsystem often matter as much as raw core count. Extended instructions also favor Intel, 31,625 to 24,193, a 23.5% gap. The Intel part leads random string sorting by 29.7%, recording 49,489 against 34,801.

Multithreaded performance, often a strong indicator of overall throughput, favors Intel by 32.6%, with scores of 38,392 and 25,889. This aligns with the core count difference: the Intel chip has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer threads, the Intel part wins decisively, which points to higher per-core efficiency in this test.

Single-thread performance is closer but still favors Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A scores 4,557 in both single-thread tests, against 4,029 for the AMD part, an 11.6% advantage. Both processors share the same 5.00 GHz boost clock, so the gap comes from architectural efficiency rather than maximum frequency.

The narrowest margin is in integer math. Intel scores 88,626, AMD scores 87,940, a difference of only 0.8%. This is effectively a tie within measurement noise, and it shows that in purely scalar integer work, the two designs converge. Data compression shows a 16.7% Intel lead, 393,800 to 327,891, which is meaningful but not as dramatic as the floating-point results.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A wins every head-to-head benchmark in this comparison. The average benchmark score for Intel is 48,201, while AMD sits at 52,901. This is an unusual situation, where the processor with the lower average score beats the other in every direct comparison. The reason is that the averages are computed over different benchmark suites, and the head-to-head tests are a separate, standardized set.

The AMD part owns a higher percentile rank overall. The Ryzen AI Embedded P164 sits at the 91st percentile against all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A sits at the 90th. This indicates that in the broader database, the AMD chip tends to outrank most processors by a small margin, even though it loses to this specific Intel chip in every shared test.

The nearest rival data reinforces this. The AMD processor's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 9500F, with a delta of 0.1%. The Intel chip's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380, also at 0.1%. Both processors are tightly clustered against their nearest neighbors, meaning neither is an outlier in its respective performance class.

One launch detail is available: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A had a launch MSRP of $269. The AMD part has no recorded launch price.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A wins in every measured workload, but the magnitude of the wins varies. The biggest victories are in prime number finding, floating-point math, physics, and encryption. These are workloads that stress the execution units, the vector pipelines, and the memory interface. The Intel part uses a 3 nm process node from TSMC, which likely contributes to its efficiency in these heavy compute tasks.

The Intel chip also leads in multithreaded throughput. Its 14 cores, while lacking simultaneous multithreading (14 threads total), still outrun the AMD chip's 8 cores and 16 threads. This suggests that the Intel cores are individually stronger, and the lack of SMT does not hurt in these specific PassMark tests. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache versus 8 MB on the AMD side likely helps keep data close to the cores during large parallel workloads.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 does not win a single test, but its performance profile still has a place. Its integer math score is nearly identical to Intel's, showing that in scalar integer code, the Zen 5 architecture is competitive. The AMD processor also has a much lower TDP at 28 watts versus 65 watts for Intel, which means it delivers most of the performance per watt in lighter workloads, even though the data does not include a direct power efficiency test.

The AMD part uses a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel reaches 102.4 GB/s. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not. For embedded and reliability-focused deployments, that ECC support is significant, even if it does not show up in a PassMark score.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A scores 4,557 in both recorded single-thread tests, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 scores 4,029. Intel leads by 11.6%.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD processor has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel processor has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Intel chip has more physical cores but no simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in the prime number finding test, where Intel scores 392 against AMD's 71, a delta of 81.9%.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Intel part supports DDR5 only. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare to their closest rivals?

A: The AMD processor has an average score of 52,901, with its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 9500F, at 52,873 (0.1% delta). The Intel processor has an average score of 48,201, with its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380, at 48,171 (0.1% delta).

Q: Which processor has a higher overall percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 ranks at the 91st percentile against all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A ranks at the 90th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. 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 manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 233 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A uses the Arrow Lake-S codename, belongs to the Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation, and is built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm².

Cache organization differs substantially. The AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of L3 total. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Intel part also lists a transistor count of 17,800 million, while the AMD part has no recorded transistor figure.

Memory support shows a split. AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while Intel supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel buses, but Intel has higher peak bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. The AMD part supports ECC memory, making it suitable for error-sensitive embedded workloads; the Intel part does not.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The AMD processor provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part offers a newer PCIe generation and more lanes, which matters for expansion and high-throughput peripherals. Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 880M, while Intel uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. The AMD chip targets the mobile embedded segment, and the Intel chip targets desktop.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ: the AMD chip runs at 2.00 GHz, the Intel chip at 3.40 GHz. Both boost to 5.00 GHz.

TDP is significantly different. The AMD part draws 28 watts, the Intel part 65 watts. This places the AMD chip in a much lower power envelope, which is typical for embedded parts. The AMD socket is AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel socket is Intel Socket 1851. The Intel part has a known part number, SRWPN, while the AMD part has no recorded part number.

The AMD processor supports ECC memory; the Intel processor does not. The AMD chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Intel chip supports DDR5 only. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. PCIe generation and lane count favor Intel: Gen 5 with 20 lanes versus Gen 4 with 16 lanes.

Production status is active for both. The AMD release date is recorded as 2026-03-08, and the Intel release date is 2025-07-28. Both are locked parts with no unlocked multiplier. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $269; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.