AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235A Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the core counts differ between the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has 14 cores and 14 threads. The AMD part supports simultaneous multithreading, doubling its thread count, whereas the Intel part does not.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X runs at a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A offers 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X's 89.6 GB/s. Both support DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both include integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X features Radeon Graphics, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A ranks in the 90th percentile, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X ranks in the 50th percentile. This indicates the Intel part places much higher relative to all recorded CPUs.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has a TDP of 170 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel part consumes significantly less power by specification.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X belongs to the 9000 series and uses the Granite Ridge codename with Zen 5 architecture. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, containing 16,630 million transistors across a dual-chiplet design with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A is part of the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, and is built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. The Intel die is a monolithic 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD processor provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel processor offers 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. While the Intel part has larger per-core caches, the AMD part has a much larger total L3 pool.

Memory support shows both use DDR5 with dual-channel buses, but the Intel part has higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory support is present on the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X but absent on the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD part provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel processor is locked.

The process node difference is notable: Intel uses a more advanced 3 nm node versus AMD's 4 nm node, though both are fabricated by TSMC. The Intel part also carries a higher transistor count and a larger die area, reflecting its monolithic design versus AMD's chiplet approach.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains benchmark scores for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A across multiple Cinebench and PassMark tests. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so all quantitative comparisons rely on the Intel part's absolute scores and its relative standings against other CPUs.

In Cinebench R15, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A scores 3,289 points in multi-core and 464 points in single-core. The R20 version shows 13,705 multi-core and 1,934 single-core. R23 results are 32,633 multi-core and 4,607 single-core. These scores indicate strong scaling from R15 through R23, with the single-core results showing steady progression across versions.

PassMark results for the Intel part include a multithread score of 38,392 and a single-thread score of 4,557. The data compression test yields 393,800, data encryption yields 30,136, and extended instructions yield 31,625. Floating point math scores 118,778, integer math scores 88,626, and find prime numbers scores 392. Physics performance is 2,437, and random string sorting is 49,489.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has an average benchmark score of 48,201 and ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are closely matched: the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 has an average score of 48,171, a delta of 0.1% ahead of the Intel part. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48,287, which is 0.2% ahead, meaning the 235A trails that part slightly. The AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48,470, placing it 0.6% ahead. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 scores 47,918, which is 0.6% behind the Intel part.

Benchmark results indicate the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A sits in a tight competitive cluster. Its performance is within 1% of all four nearest rivals, with the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 being essentially tied at a 0.1% delta. The largest gap is 0.6% against both the AMD EPYC 4345P and the AMD Ryzen 9 3900, in opposite directions. This suggests the Intel part delivers performance consistent with its peers in the database.

The lack of recorded benchmarks for the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X means no direct head-to-head scores exist. The AMD part's 50th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of zero indicate it has not been measured under the same testing protocol. Consequently, the data cannot show which processor wins specific workloads; it only provides the Intel part's absolute performance and relative standing.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear divergence in positioning. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has a substantial benchmark presence with an average score of 48,201 and a 90th percentile ranking, placing it among the top decile of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals are all within 0.6% in average score, indicating a tightly grouped performance tier.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X, by contrast, has no benchmark scores recorded and holds a 50th percentile ranking with an average score of zero. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, higher clock speeds, and larger L3 cache suggest theoretical advantages, but the database contains no measurements to confirm practical performance.

From the available data, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A is the only processor with verified performance metrics. Its 14 cores and 14 threads, combined with a 5.00 GHz boost clock and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, deliver scores that rank it in the 90th percentile. The AMD part's specifications of 16 cores, 32 threads, and a 5.70 GHz boost clock remain unverified in the database.

The Intel part also offers a lower TDP of 65 watts versus AMD's 170 watts, a smaller process node at 3 nm versus 4 nm, and a launch MSRP of $269. The AMD part includes ECC memory support and an unlocked multiplier, features absent on the Intel part. The AMD processor provides more PCIe lanes (28 versus 20) and a larger L3 cache (64 MB versus 24 MB).

For users seeking verified performance from the database, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A is the measured option. For those prioritizing core count, thread count, ECC support, or overclocking capability, the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X offers those specifications, but its performance remains unquantified. The data supports choosing the Intel part for confirmed benchmark results and the AMD part for its broader feature set and higher core count.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X | Intel Core Ultra 5 235A |

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

| Cores | 16 | 14 |

| Threads | 32 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 4.30 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.70 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 170 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Arrow Lake-S |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $269 |

| Release Date | 2025-10-06 | 2025-07-28 |