AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X vs Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has 8 cores and 10 threads.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speeds?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL reaches 4.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has a TDP of 65, compared to the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL with a TDP of 15.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory support is available only on the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL does not support ECC memory.

Q: What integrated graphics are included in each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X uses Radeon Graphics, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL features Arc Xe-LPG 48EU graphics.

Q: What is the L3 cache capacity for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has 10 MB of shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X belongs to the 9000 series and uses the Granite Ridge codename, built on the Zen 5 (Granite Ridge) generation. Its manufacturing process is 4 nm at TSMC, with a die size of 70.6 mm² and 8,315 million transistors. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL comes from the Core Ultra Series 1, using the Meteor Lake architecture and Meteor Lake-PS codename, fabricated on Intel's 7 nm process. The database does not record transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD chip allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, culminating in 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 112 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 10 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the AMD processor a 22 MB advantage in shared L3 capacity, which can influence data-heavy workloads.

Memory support also diverges. Both processors use dual-channel DDR5 memory with identical peak memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. However, the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL. The Intel memory support is described as depending on the motherboard, whereas the AMD implementation is direct.

PCIe connectivity marks another clear separation. The AMD processor offers PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The Intel processor provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). This difference affects expansion capability for discrete GPUs, NVMe storage, and other high-bandwidth peripherals.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has a locked multiplier, preventing user-initiated frequency adjustments. The AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1851. Release dates also differ: the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL launched on 2024-04-07, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X launched on 2025-10-06.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records benchmark scores for the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL across Cinebench and Passmark tests. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so direct numerical comparisons rely entirely on the Intel measurements and its nearest rivals.

In Cinebench R23, the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL scores 8,742 in multicore and 1,234 in singlecore. In Cinebench R20, it scores 3,671 multicore and 518 singlecore. The older Cinebench R15 results show 881 multicore and 124 singlecore. These scores place the Intel processor at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 13,061.

Passmark results for the Intel chip show strengths in specific workloads. The multithread score is 10,285, and the single-thread score is 3,382 (recorded twice in the database). Integer math reaches 41,171, while floating point math hits 30,750. Data compression scores 93,961, and data encryption scores 6,354. Extended instructions produce 5,634, random string sorting yields 11,179, find prime numbers returns 44, and physics scores 718.

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL provide context for its performance level. The Intel Core i5-9400F has an average score of 13,041, which is 0.2% lower than the Core Ultra 3 105UL. The Intel Core i7-10750H averages 13,024, also 0.3% lower. The Intel Core i5-8500 averages 13,142, which is 0.6% higher. The Intel Core i7-7700K averages 13,291, representing a 1.7% advantage over the Core Ultra 3 105UL. These margins indicate that the Intel processor sits in a narrow performance band among these older desktop and mobile parts.

Because the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X lacks benchmark entries, the head-to-head comparison cannot rely on measured scores for both parts. The database shows zero wins for each processor in the head-to-head field. The available data allows only qualitative statements about the AMD chip, informed by its architectural specifications and the Intel chip's measured results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X | Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 10 |

| Base clock | 3.90 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 | 15 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Process node | 4 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 112 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 32 MB (shared) | 10 MB (shared) |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG 48EU |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $295 |

The Intel part has more cores (8 versus 6) but fewer threads (10 versus 12). The AMD chip runs at significantly higher clocks: base 3.90 GHz versus 1.50 GHz, and boost 5.40 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. The TDP difference is pronounced, with the Intel processor drawing 15 versus the AMD's 65. The AMD chip uses a smaller 4 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses its 7 nm process. Cache allocation favors the AMD chip in L3 (32 MB versus 10 MB), but the Intel chip has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

ECC memory support exists only on the AMD processor. PCIe generation and lane count favor AMD with Gen 5 and 24 lanes versus Intel's Gen 4 and 8 lanes. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel processor does not. The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL has a launch MSRP of $295, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL wins in scenarios where its higher core count and lower power envelope matter. With 8 cores and a TDP of 15, the Intel processor suits environments with strict thermal or power constraints. Its measured benchmark scores place it at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 13,061 edges out the Intel Core i5-9400F by 0.2% and the Intel Core i7-10750H by 0.3%. The Intel chip also benefits from its larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, which can aid latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks despite its lower clock speeds.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X wins on architectural capability and expansion features. Its 12 threads provide better simultaneous multithreading headroom than the Intel's 10 threads. The 5.40 GHz boost clock gives the AMD chip a substantial frequency advantage over the Intel's 4.20 GHz, which should translate to faster single-thread performance, though no direct benchmark scores are recorded for the AMD part. The 32 MB L3 cache is triple the Intel's 10 MB, benefiting workloads that repeatedly access large datasets. ECC memory support makes the AMD processor suitable for data-integrity-sensitive applications such as servers or workstations. PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes enables higher-bandwidth devices and more expansion options than Intel's Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

The AMD processor's unlocked multiplier adds flexibility for performance tuning, a feature absent on the Intel chip. The AMD chip also uses a smaller 4 nm process, which generally indicates higher transistor density and efficiency potential, though the Intel part draws far less power at 15 TDP.

For workloads that depend on raw clock speed, large shared cache, ECC memory, or PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth, the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X is the stronger choice based on specifications. For workloads that favor physical core count, low power consumption, or the specific performance level recorded for the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL, the Intel processor holds the advantage. The database shows the Intel chip performing within 1.7% of the Intel Core i7-7700K and within 0.6% of the Intel Core i5-8500, placing its measured capability in a familiar mid-range band. The AMD part, without recorded benchmarks, cannot be positioned numerically against those rivals, leaving its measured performance unquantified in the database.