AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D vs Intel Core i5-14500HX Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare between the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D and the Intel Core i5-14500HX?

A: The AMD processor has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel processor has 14 cores and 20 threads. This means the Intel chip has more physical cores, but the AMD chip provides more total threads due to its simultaneous multithreading approach.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Intel Core i5-14500HX has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The AMD part carries substantially higher clock rates in both base and boost operation.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D features 128 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-14500HX has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD processor holds a fivefold advantage in this metric.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D has a TDP of 120 watts, while the Intel Core i5-14500HX has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel mobile chip draws considerably less power according to its specification.

Q: How do the benchmark results place the Intel Core i5-14500HX relative to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX achieves an average benchmark score of 35,094 and sits at the 84th percentile among all CPUs. It is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i9-12900HX and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13800H, while it trails the Intel Core i7-12700K by 0.5%.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D supports DDR5 memory only, while the Intel Core i5-14500HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Both processors use a dual-channel memory bus, and both support ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap between these two processors is substantial. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D comes from the Granite Ridge family, built on the Zen 5 microarchitecture, and belongs to the Ryzen Embedded generation. It uses a 4 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, with a transistor count of 16,630 million spread across a dual-chiplet design measuring 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core i5-14500HX belongs to the Core 14th Gen series, uses the Raptor Lake architecture, and is part of the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh generation. It is built on a 10 nm Intel process node with a die size of 257 mm².

The cache hierarchy differs notably. The AMD chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, matching the per-core L1 figure of the Intel chip, which also has 80 KB of L1 per core. However, the Intel chip has 2 MB of L2 cache per core, doubling the AMD per-core allocation. The L3 cache is where AMD takes a commanding lead: 128 MB versus 24 MB shared on the Intel side.

Memory architecture also separates the two. AMD supports only DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but has no recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database. Both run dual-channel memory and support ECC. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD processor provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU only, while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU only.

Integrated graphics differ between the parts. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D includes Radeon Graphics, while the Intel Core i5-14500HX includes UHD Graphics 770. The market segments also differ, with AMD positioned as a desktop part and Intel as a mobile part. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1964. The AMD processor launched in October 2025, whereas the Intel processor launched in January 2024. Both have unlocked multipliers and are currently marked as active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data in this comparison only covers the Intel Core i5-14500HX, as the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D has no benchmark entries in the database. The head-to-head benchmark array is empty, and neither side records a win count. This means the analysis must rely on the Intel chip's absolute scores and its position relative to its nearest rivals, rather than a direct measured comparison between the two named processors.

The Intel Core i5-14500HX delivers a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2,442 and a single-core score of 344. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result reaches 10,178 with a single-core score of 1,436. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score climbs to 24,234 while the single-core score lands at 3,421. Geekbench results show a multi-core score of 10,171 and a single-core score of 2,129.

PassMark results for the Intel chip are extensive. The multi-thread score is 28,508, and the single-thread score is 3,629 (also recorded as 3,629 under the passmark_singlethread entry). Integer math scores 95,584, floating point math scores 69,442, and extended instructions score 20,019. Data compression scores 333,851, data encryption scores 19,502, and random string sorting scores 36,219. Physics scores 1,911, and finding prime numbers scores 130.

Against its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i5-14500HX shows tight competition. It edges the Intel Core i9-12900HX by 0.3%, matching the 0.3% margin over the Intel Core i7-13800H. The gap to the Intel Core 7 253PTE is 0.4% in favor of the i5-14500HX. The only loss in this group is to the Intel Core i7-12700K, which leads by 0.5%. These narrow margins indicate the i5-14500HX sits in a densely packed performance band, where a few percentage points separate multiple strong processors.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge across nearly every major specification field. Core counts differ: 12 cores for AMD versus 14 cores for Intel. Thread counts differ in the opposite direction: 24 threads for AMD versus 20 threads for Intel. Base clocks are 4.40 GHz for AMD and 2.60 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 5.50 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. TDP ratings are 120 watts for AMD and 55 watts for Intel.

The socket types are incompatible: AMD Socket AM5 versus Intel BGA 1964. Process nodes differ: 4 nm TSMC for AMD versus 10 nm Intel for the Intel chip. Die sizes are 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD versus 257 mm² for Intel. Transistors are recorded only for AMD at 16,630 million. Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3: 1 MB per core L2 for AMD versus 2 MB per core L2 for Intel, and 128 MB L3 for AMD versus 24 MB shared L3 for Intel.

Memory support differs: AMD supports only DDR5, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is recorded only for AMD at 89.6 GB/s. PCIe lane counts differ: 24 lanes for AMD versus 16 lanes for Intel, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon Graphics for AMD versus UHD Graphics 770 for Intel. Market segments differ: Desktop for AMD versus Mobile for Intel. Release dates differ: October 2025 for AMD versus January 2024 for Intel. Part numbers also differ: 100-000001368E for AMD versus SRMXJ for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D wins on raw thread count with 24 threads versus 20, which benefits heavily parallel workloads that scale beyond 20 threads. Its base clock of 4.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz are both substantially higher than the Intel part's 2.60 GHz and 4.90 GHz, suggesting an advantage in latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks where clock speed dominates. The 128 MB L3 cache is a massive asset for workloads with large working sets, such as data compression, database operations, and certain scientific simulations that repeatedly access the same memory regions. The higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s also favors memory-bound tasks.

The Intel Core i5-14500HX wins on physical core count with 14 cores versus 12, which can help in workloads that prefer independent cores over extra threads. Its 2 MB per-core L2 cache doubles the AMD allocation, potentially improving performance in tasks with high per-core cache demands. The 55 watt TDP is far lower than the AMD chip's 120 watts, making the Intel part suited for thermally constrained mobile environments where sustained power draw matters. Intel's support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory offers flexibility in platform memory selection, whereas AMD is limited to DDR5.

The Intel chip also has the advantage of recorded benchmark data. Its average benchmark score of 35,094 and 84th percentile placement among all CPUs confirm it performs competitively in its segment, sitting within 0.5% of several strong desktop and mobile processors. The AMD chip has no recorded benchmarks in the database, so its performance position cannot be quantified from the available data.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split in intended use cases. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9900X3D, with its 24 threads, 5.50 GHz boost clock, 128 MB L3 cache, and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, is positioned for compute-heavy desktop workloads where high clock speeds, large caches, and wide thread counts matter. Its 120 watt TDP and AM5 socket indicate a desktop platform built for performance without strict power limits.

The Intel Core i5-14500HX, with its 14 cores, 20 threads, 2 MB per-core L2 cache, and 55 watt TDP, is positioned for mobile systems where power efficiency and thermal headroom are priorities. Its benchmark record shows it operates in a tightly contested performance band, matching or slightly trailing several established desktop and mobile processors. The 84th percentile ranking and average score of 35,094 place it among capable processors, though its boost clock of 4.90 GHz and smaller L3 cache of 24 MB suggest it cannot match the AMD chip's peak single-thread and cache-sensitive performance potential.

For users selecting based on benchmark data alone, the Intel part has measurable results, while the AMD part does not. For users selecting based on architectural specifications, the AMD chip offers higher clocks, more threads, more L3 cache, and higher memory bandwidth, while the Intel chip offers more physical cores, double the per-core L2 cache, lower power draw, and broader memory compatibility. The choice depends on platform type and workload priorities: desktop performance targets favor AMD, while mobile efficiency and flexibility favor Intel.