AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H occupy opposite ends of the processing spectrum, one a 32-core desktop workstation flagship and the other a 12-core mobile part. The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD processor across all 11 shared benchmark tests, with the largest margins appearing in heavily parallel workloads. The Intel part, however, demonstrates that its single-thread performance is within striking distance of the much larger AMD chip, which carries implications for lighter workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database, taking all 11 recorded tests. Its dominance is most pronounced in integer math, where it scores 465378 against 64934 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, a 616.7% advantage. Data compression shows a 535.7% lead (1757998 vs 276539), and extended instructions show a 495.4% lead (142342 vs 23906). These results reflect the fundamental throughput advantage of 32 cores, 64 threads, and a 350 W TDP envelope.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins no benchmark tests directly, but its single-thread performance is comparatively strong. In passmark_single_thread, the Intel part scores 4180 against 4530 for the AMD chip, a difference of only 8.4%. This narrow gap means the Intel processor remains competitive in lightly threaded tasks such as basic application responsiveness, despite its much lower core count and 25 W TDP. The Intel part also delivers a respectable 16331 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2044 in Cinebench R23 singlecore, numbers that place it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD part sits in the 99th percentile, reflecting its position among the fastest desktop processors available.

The use-case split is clear. The Threadripper 9970X is built for rendering, simulation, data processing, and any workload that scales with core count. The Core Ultra 5 338H suits mobile systems where power efficiency and adequate single-thread performance matter more than raw throughput. The data shows the AMD part delivering 274% more in passmark_multithread (107399 vs 28717) and 268.4% more in floating point math (309719 vs 84067), while the Intel part counters with a much lower thermal footprint and integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X uses Zen 5 architecture under the codename Shimada Peak, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. These process nodes are close in scale, but the design goals diverge sharply.

The AMD chip integrates 33,260 million transistors across a die size of 4x 70.6 mm². The Intel chip does not have transistor or die size figures recorded in the database. The AMD processor uses a chiplet design with four 70.6 mm² dies, while the Intel part is a monolithic mobile processor designed for BGA 2540 sockets.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD part allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus a 128 MB L3 cache. The Intel part uses 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD L3 cache is over seven times larger, which benefits workloads with large working sets that exceed the Intel part's cache capacity.

Memory architecture also diverges. The AMD chip supports DDR5 over a quad-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth and ECC memory support. The Intel chip supports LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 136.5 GB/s of memory bandwidth and no ECC support. The AMD platform provides 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel mobile part provides only 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

The Intel part includes integrated graphics in the form of Arc B370, while the AMD Threadripper has no integrated graphics at all. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, whereas the Intel part is locked. The AMD chip targets the desktop market segment; the Intel chip targets mobile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads, meaning it does not support simultaneous multithreading.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-threaded workloads?

A: In passmark_multithread, the AMD part scores 107399 against 28717 for the Intel part, a 274% advantage. The gap is even larger in integer math at 616.7% and data compression at 535.7%.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H competitive in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel part scores 4180 in passmark_single_thread against 4530 for the AMD part, a difference of 8.4%. This is the closest margin in the entire head-to-head set, indicating the Intel part holds up well in lightly threaded scenarios.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X supports DDR5 over a quad-channel bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H includes Arc B370 integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X has no integrated graphics, as indicated by the "N/A" entry in the database.

Q: How do the two compare in terms of market positioning?

A: The AMD part is a desktop processor with a 99th percentile ranking and a launch MSRP of $2499. The Intel part is a mobile processor with an 84th percentile ranking and no recorded launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The AMD part uses Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, while the Intel part uses Panther Lake on a 3 nm Intel process. The AMD part has 32 cores and 64 threads; the Intel part has 12 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 4.00 GHz for AMD and 1.90 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.40 GHz for AMD and 4.70 GHz for Intel.

TDP ratings diverge dramatically: 350 W for the AMD desktop part versus 25 W for the Intel mobile part. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket sTR5, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 2540. L1 cache per core is 64 KB on AMD versus 192 KB on Intel. L2 cache per core is 1 MB on AMD versus 2.5 MB on Intel. L3 cache is 128 MB on AMD versus 18 MB shared on Intel.

Memory support differs: DDR5 with quad-channel and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth on AMD, LPDDR5X with dual-channel and 136.5 GB/s on Intel. ECC memory support exists only on AMD. PCIe lanes are 80 Gen 5 lanes on AMD versus 4 Gen 5 lanes on Intel. Integrated graphics are absent on AMD and present as Arc B370 on Intel. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. The AMD part launched on 2025-07-29 with a launch MSRP of $2499; the Intel part launched on 2026-01-04 with no recorded MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins all 11 shared benchmarks, with margins ranging from 8.4% to 616.7%. The largest win comes in passmark_integer_math, where the AMD part scores 465378 against 64934, a 616.7% advantage. This test measures raw integer arithmetic throughput and heavily favors the AMD part's 64 threads. Data compression follows closely at 535.7% (1757998 vs 276539), reflecting the combination of high core count and large cache.

Extended instructions show a 495.4% lead (142342 vs 23906), and random string sorting shows a 461.7% lead (191445 vs 34082). These tests benefit from the AMD part's 128 MB L3 cache and high memory bandwidth. Floating point math shows a 268.4% lead (309719 vs 84067), while passmark_multithread shows a 274% lead (107399 vs 28717). Data encryption shows a 306.1% lead (86765 vs 21367), and physics shows a 153.4% lead (6835 vs 2697). Find prime numbers shows a 102.3% lead (615 vs 304).

The narrowest margin is in passmark_single_thread, where the AMD part scores 4530 against 4180, an 8.4% lead. This result indicates that despite the massive core count difference, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H maintains reasonable single-core performance. The Intel part also shows competitive results in Cinebench R23, with 16331 multicore and 2044 singlecore, though these tests have no direct AMD counterpart in the recorded data.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall positioning. The AMD part has an average benchmark score of 279778, placing it in the 99th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6780E with an average score of 280438 (0.2% higher), the AMD EPYC 9565 with 285471 (2% higher), the Intel Xeon 696X with 286102 (2.2% higher), and the AMD EPYC 9555P with 287066 (2.5% higher). The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average benchmark score of 33989, placing it in the 84th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H with 34083 (0.3% higher), the Intel Core i7-12800HX with 33875 (0.3% lower), the Intel Xeon 6353P with 33844 (0.4% lower), and the AMD EPYC 4244P with 34220 (0.7% higher).

The data confirms that the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a high-throughput workstation processor that excels in parallel workloads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is a mobile part optimized for efficiency with a comparatively strong single-thread showing. The 350 W TDP of the AMD part versus the 25 W TDP of the Intel part encapsulates the trade-off between raw performance and power consumption.