AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is the clear performance leader in this comparison, with a benchmark suite that dominates across every recorded workload. It sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U sits at the 50th percentile. The Intel part has an average benchmark score of 75488, placing it within 0.3% of several high-end AMD EPYC and Ryzen PRO processors, specifically the EPYC 8224P, EPYC 4545P, Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D, and Ryzen 7 PRO 9755.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U is a mobile-focused processor with a 28 W TDP, designed for efficiency and embedded applications. It has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so its performance cannot be quantified against the Intel part. What the data does show is that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is the only one of the two with measurable performance data, and it is a desktop-class processor with a 65 W TDP.

For anyone selecting between these two strictly from the data, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is the choice for raw compute throughput. The AMD part has no recorded wins and no benchmark entries, making it impossible to recommend for performance scenarios. The Intel chip also carries a launch MSRP of $579, which appears once in the database and is not compared further.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 25,000 million transistors into a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. It contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

The core configurations differ substantially. AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel provides 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel part does not use simultaneous multithreading, so its thread count equals its core count. The AMD part uses SMT, doubling its threads to 12.

Clock speeds also differ. The AMD base clock is 3.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 5.60 GHz. The Intel part boosts higher, but the AMD part has a higher base clock. TDP ratings are not directly comparable in terms of performance, but the AMD part is rated at 28 W and the Intel part at 65 W, reflecting their different market segments: mobile versus desktop.

Cache hierarchies are built differently. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has more L3 cache overall, but the per-core L2 is also larger, at 3 MB versus 1 MB.

Memory support is DDR5 for both, with dual-channel buses. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Intel part at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s on the AMD part. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe generations differ. AMD provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Intel provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. This gives Intel a newer PCIe standard.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses the Radeon 760M, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units.

Production status is active for both. Release dates are recorded as April 2024 for the AMD part and December 2024 for the Intel part. The Intel part has a known part number, SRQD4, while the AMD part number is unknown. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 boosts up to 5.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U boosts up to 4.90 GHz.

Q: What PCIe generation does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Q: What are the process nodes for these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U is built on a 4 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is built on a 3 nm process. Both are fabricated by TSMC.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has a TDP of 28 W, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has a TDP of 65 W.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 3.50 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 4.90 GHz for AMD and 5.60 GHz for Intel. TDP is 28 W for AMD and 65 W for Intel.

Sockets are different: AMD uses Socket FP8, Intel uses Socket 1851. The architecture is Zen 4 with Hawk Point codename for AMD, Arrow Lake with Arrow Lake-S codename for Intel. Process nodes are 4 nm for AMD and 3 nm for Intel. Transistor counts are 25,000 million for AMD and 17,800 million for Intel. Die sizes are 178 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel.

Cache differs at every level. L1 is 64 KB per core for AMD versus 192 KB per core for Intel. L2 is 1 MB per core for AMD versus 3 MB per core for Intel. L3 is 16 MB shared for AMD versus 36 MB shared for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD versus 102.4 GB/s for Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD versus Gen 5 with 20 lanes for Intel.

Integrated graphics are Radeon 760M for AMD versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU for Intel. Market segments are Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. Release dates are April 2024 for AMD and December 2024 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $579; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel part number is SRQD4, while the AMD part number is unknown. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Both support DDR5 memory, dual-channel memory buses, and ECC memory. Both are produced by TSMC and are currently active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has no benchmarks recorded at all, with an average benchmark score of zero and zero wins in the comparison. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has a full suite of 17 benchmark results and holds all wins by default.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 delivers a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 4933 and a single-core score of 696. In Cinebench R20, it scores 20556 multi-core and 2901 single-core. Cinebench R23 results are 48945 multi-core and 6909 single-core. These results place the Intel part at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 75488.

PassMark results for the Intel part are extensive. Data compression scores 602121. Data encryption scores 46949. Extended instructions score 45357. Finding prime numbers scores 459. Floating point math scores 194988. Integer math scores 164869. Multithread score is 56602. Physics scores 3598. Random string sorting scores 73651. Single thread scores 4881 in both recorded entries.

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 are all AMD server and workstation processors. The AMD EPYC 8224P has an average score of 75582, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel part. The AMD EPYC 4545P scores 75373, which is 0.2% lower. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D scores 75716, which is 0.3% higher. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 scores 75738, also 0.3% higher. These deltas are small, indicating the Intel part is tightly grouped with these high-end alternatives.

Since the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has no recorded scores, the database shows no wins for it. The comparison is therefore one-sided: every recorded benchmark belongs to the Intel processor.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins in every category where data exists. Its 24 cores and 24 threads give it a strong multi-threaded presence, confirmed by the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 48945 and the PassMark multithread score of 56602. Its single-core performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6909 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4881. The 5.60 GHz boost clock supports this. The 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and PCIe Gen 5 support make it suitable for desktop workloads that benefit from high I/O throughput.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has no recorded benchmark wins. Its strengths must be inferred from its specifications. The 28 W TDP points to a power-efficient design for mobile and embedded systems. The 6 cores and 12 threads are modest by comparison, but the 4.90 GHz boost clock is respectable. The Radeon 760M integrated graphics and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth serve its mobile segment. The 4 nm process node and 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die indicate a dense, modern design.

The data splits cleanly by market segment. For desktop compute, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is the only processor with measurable performance, and it sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs. For embedded mobile workloads where power draw is the priority, the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U offers a 28 W TDP, but the database contains no performance data to validate its capability.

The Intel part also benefits from a newer PCIe standard, Gen 5 versus Gen 4, and higher memory bandwidth. The AMD part counters with a higher base clock and a smaller process node. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiating factor.

In terms of production status, both are active. The Intel part has a known launch MSRP of $579, and the AMD part has no recorded price. The Intel part number is SRQD4, while the AMD part number is unknown.

The nearest rival data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 shows it competing at the top of the database. Its average score of 75488 is within 0.3% of four AMD EPYC and Ryzen PRO processors, all of which are server or workstation class. This confirms the Intel part belongs in the high-end desktop tier. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U, with its 50th percentile ranking and zero benchmarks, occupies a different class entirely. The data does not support a performance comparison between them; it only supports a specification comparison and a market segmentation analysis.