AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, which wins 10 of the 11 recorded comparisons. The most decisive Intel win comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 327 against the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164's 71, a delta of 78.3 percent. This indicates a substantial advantage in workloads that rely on rapid integer iteration and prime number generation, a common measure of raw CPU arithmetic capability. The Intel part also dominates in floating-point math, scoring 103128 versus 55799, a 45.9 percent lead. This suggests that the Intel processor's execution units are significantly more efficient at handling the complex mathematical operations often found in scientific computing, 3D rendering, and financial modeling.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H also takes a commanding lead in the physics test, scoring 2895 against the AMD chip's 1210, a 58.2 percent advantage. This benchmark typically measures the processor's ability to handle the physics simulations and collision detection routines used in modern game engines and CAD software. The result indicates that the Intel processor can provide a smoother experience in these simulation-heavy tasks. In the multithread test, the Intel part scores 33978 versus the AMD part's 25889, a 23.8 percent lead, which points to superior handling of heavily parallelized workloads like video encoding and 3D scene rendering. The data encryption test shows the Intel chip at 26345 versus the AMD chip's 16055, a 39.1 percent advantage, highlighting a significant edge in security and cryptography tasks.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 does secure one benchmark win: integer math. It scores 87940 against the Intel processor's 83111, a 5.8 percent lead. While this is the only direct victory, it shows that the AMD architecture still holds a measurable edge in pure integer arithmetic operations, which can be relevant for database processing, logistics optimization, and certain types of data analysis. In other tests, the Intel processor's leads are more moderate. The data compression test shows Intel at 336177 versus AMD's 327891, a 2.5 percent difference. The random string sorting test shows Intel at 40990 versus AMD's 34801, a 15.1 percent lead. In single-thread performance, the Intel chip scores 4072 against the AMD chip's 4029, a narrow 1.1 percent margin, indicating that the two processors are nearly identical in lightly-threaded, low-latency tasks like web browsing and office productivity.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures from their respective manufacturers. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 uses the Gorgon Point codename from the Ryzen AI Embedded generation, which is based on the Zen 5 and Zen 5c core designs. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process node by TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is from the Core Ultra Series 3, codenamed Panther Lake, and uses the Panther Lake-H architecture. Intel manufactures this chip on its own 3 nm process node.

The core configurations differ substantially. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip has 16 cores and 16 threads. This means the Intel processor has twice as many physical cores but the same thread count, as it does not use simultaneous multithreading. The AMD chip uses its 16 threads through its 8 cores, each supporting two threads. The cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of total L3 cache. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and a larger 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This larger L3 cache on the Intel chip likely contributes to its strong performance in data-heavy workloads. The Intel chip also has a higher base clock at 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the AMD chip has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

The memory support is similar, with both processors supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a dual-channel bus. However, the Intel chip has a higher memory bandwidth at 115.2 GB/s compared to the AMD chip's 89.6 GB/s. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. The PCIe interface also differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 12 lanes. The integrated graphics are also different, with the AMD chip featuring a Radeon 880M and the Intel chip featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics.

The Verdict

The benchmark data confirms that the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the stronger performer in the vast majority of tests. Its wins are broad, covering multithreaded workloads, physics simulations, data encryption, floating-point math, and even single-thread performance, although the single-thread margin is very narrow. The Intel processor's 16 physical cores and significantly larger 18 MB L3 cache appear to give it a structural advantage in many demanding applications. The Intel chip's 3 nm manufacturing process, which is more advanced than the AMD chip's 4 nm node, may also contribute to its higher efficiency in these tests. The data shows the Intel processor leading by 23.8 percent in multithread and 45.9 percent in floating-point math, which are critical for content creation, scientific analysis, and server-side workloads.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164, while losing the overall benchmark count, still proves its capability in specific areas. Its win in integer math by 5.8 percent shows that it can handle certain types of computational tasks very effectively. It also has a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz and supports ECC memory, which is a key feature for reliability in embedded and server environments. For users who require ECC support and prioritize integer-heavy processing, the AMD chip would be the appropriate choice. For users who need maximum performance across a broad range of applications, the Intel chip is clearly superior according to the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is faster, scoring 4072 in the PassMark single-thread test compared to the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164's 4029, a margin of 1.1 percent.

Q: Does the AMD processor have any benchmark wins?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 wins the PassMark integer math test, scoring 87940 against the Intel chip's 83111, a 5.8 percent advantage.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 physical cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 has 8 physical cores. Both processors have 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has an 18 MB shared L3 cache, which is larger than the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164's 8 MB of L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H does not.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the clear winner for general-purpose high-performance computing. Its 45.9 percent lead in floating-point math and 23.8 percent lead in multithread make it the better option for scientific simulations, 3D rendering, and video processing. The 58.2 percent advantage in the physics test suggests it will handle game physics and CAD workloads more effectively. The 39.1 percent lead in data encryption also makes it the stronger choice for security applications, VPNs, and encrypted file handling. The 15.1 percent lead in random string sorting and the 2.5 percent lead in data compression further solidify its position for data management and big-data analytics, where these operations are frequent.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164, despite its single benchmark win, is the only option for workloads requiring ECC memory support. This makes it suitable for mission-critical embedded systems, financial transaction processing, and other use cases where data corruption is unacceptable. Its 5.8 percent lead in integer math also gives it an edge in specific algorithmic tasks such as integer-heavy cryptography, certain types of database operations, and control systems that rely on precise, whole-number calculations. The AMD chip's lower base clock of 2.00 GHz versus the Intel chip's 1.90 GHz may also be relevant in power-sensitive scenarios, but the recorded data does not specify power draw or thermal output, so direct comparison is not possible.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The AMD chip has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, whereas the Intel chip has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The TDP is 28 watts for the AMD chip and 25 watts for the Intel chip. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2540. The manufacturing process is 4 nm for AMD (by TSMC) and 3 nm for Intel. The AMD chip has a die size of 233 mm², while the Intel chip's die size is not recorded. In cache, the AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, while the Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is 8 MB for AMD and 18 MB shared for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 115.2 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is supported by AMD but not by Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD and Gen 5 with 12 lanes for Intel. The integrated graphics are Radeon 880M for AMD and Intel Xe3 for Intel. The AMD chip was released on 2026-03-08, and the Intel chip was released on 2026-01-04.