AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Intel Core 7 253PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clear split between two very different processor designs. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X wins 9 of the 15 shared benchmarks, while the Intel Core 7 253PE wins 6. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X dominates in heavily threaded and special-purpose workloads. Its largest victory comes in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where it scores 257 against Intel's 138, a 86.2% advantage. This is a massive gap that reflects the AMD part's ability to sustain high throughput on integer-heavy, latency-sensitive loops. The passmark_data_encryption test shows a 69.2% lead (31106 vs 18385), and passmark_random_string_sorting favors AMD by 57.6% (51646 vs 32777). The passmark_extended_instructions test gives AMD a 51.9% edge (33119 vs 21806), and passmark_data_compression shows AMD ahead by 47.4% (499968 vs 339133). In the more general passmark_multithread test, AMD leads by 33.2% (39002 vs 29271), and passmark_integer_math shows a 23.4% advantage (140851 vs 114158). The cinebench_r15_multicore test is closer, with AMD winning 2695 to 2507, a 7.5% margin. The passmark_physics test also goes to AMD, but narrowly at 8.1% (1994 vs 1845).

The Intel Core 7 253PE's wins are concentrated in single-thread and floating-point workloads, and they are decisive. The single biggest gap in the entire comparison is in cinebench_r23_singlecore, where Intel scores 3512 against AMD's 1527, a 56.5% advantage. The cinebench_r15_singlecore test shows Intel ahead by 29.4% (354 vs 250), and cinebench_r23_multicore gives Intel a 34.6% lead (24880 vs 16262). This last result is notable: despite AMD's clear wins in many passmark multithreaded tests, the Intel part takes the newer cinebench multicore benchmark by a substantial margin. In passmark_single_thread, Intel leads by 12.3% (3955 vs 3469). The only Intel win with a small margin is passmark_floating_point_math, where Intel scores 80870 versus AMD's 77700, a 3.9% edge.

The average benchmark scores place the two parts extremely close overall. AMD's average is 41376, while Intel's is 40557. AMD's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, scores 41263 (0.3% behind AMD), and the Intel Core i7-14650HX scores 41576 (0.5% ahead of AMD). Intel's nearest rival, the Intel Core 5 223PE, scores 40585 (0.1% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H scores 40431 (0.3% behind Intel). Both processors sit at the 87th percentile against all CPUs in the database. The data indicates that these are not processors from different tiers; they are close overall performers with opposite strengths in specific workload categories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE is significantly ahead, scoring 3512 versus the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X's 1527. This is a 56.5% advantage for Intel in this specific test.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X have its largest margin of victory?

A: The AMD part's largest win is in passmark_find_prime_numbers, scoring 257 against Intel's 138. That is an 86.2% lead.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: They are very close. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X has an average score of 41376, while the Intel Core 7 253PE averages 40557. Both are in the 87th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE wins that test decisively, scoring 24880 versus AMD's 16262, a 34.6% advantage. This is despite AMD winning several other multithreaded tests.

Q: What is the difference in data compression performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X leads by a wide margin in passmark_data_compression, scoring 499968 versus Intel's 339133, a 47.4% difference.

Q: Does the Intel part win any test by a small margin?

A: Yes, the passmark_floating_point_math test goes to Intel by only 3.9%, with a score of 80870 against AMD's 77700. All other Intel wins are by double-digit percentages.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architecture differences explain the benchmark results. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process from Intel, with 10 cores and 20 threads. Intel's process node is less dense, but the core design is newer, which contributes to its single-thread performance lead.

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a large 64 MB L3 cache. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's larger L3 cache likely helps in the passmark data_compression and encryption tests, where it shows massive leads. The Intel part's larger per-core L2 and L1 caches may support its faster single-thread execution.

Memory support is another point of differentiation. AMD supports only DDR4 with dual-channel memory, providing 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also in dual-channel, with a much higher rated bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. This bandwidth advantage may contribute to Intel's strong Cinebench R23 multicore score, despite having fewer cores. Both processors support ECC memory.

The PCIe implementation differs significantly. AMD uses PCIe Gen 4, while Intel uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. This gives Intel a newer standard for connectivity. Intel also includes integrated graphics, the UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Intel part is locked.

The socket platforms are incompatible: AMD uses Socket AM4, while Intel uses Socket 1700. The AMD part's transistor count is recorded as 8,300 million, with a die size of 2x 74 mm². The Intel part's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. The AMD processor was released on 2020-11-04, while the Intel part's release date is later, 2026-03-08. The Intel part has a lower TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD part is rated at 105 watts. The Intel part's base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz; the AMD part's base clock is 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Intel part has a higher boost clock by 0.70 GHz, which is a plausible factor in its single-thread wins.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the choice between these two processors depends entirely on workload priorities.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is the stronger choice for tasks that involve data compression, encryption, extended instruction sets, prime number finding, integer math, random string sorting, and general multithreaded throughput. Its wins in passmark_multithread (33.2% lead), passmark_integer_math (23.4% lead), and passmark_data_encryption (69.2% lead) indicate a clear advantage in these areas. The data also shows it wins the older Cinebench R15 multicore test by 7.5%. For users running applications that stress these specific capabilities, the AMD part is the better performer.

The Intel Core 7 253PE is the stronger choice for single-threaded performance and for the newer Cinebench R23 benchmarks. Its 56.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 34.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core are the largest margins in the entire comparison, except for AMD's prime number win. The Intel part also wins the single-thread passmark tests by 12.3%. This suggests that for software that is heavily dependent on clock speed and per-core efficiency, particularly newer rendering or simulation workloads, the Intel part will deliver better results.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, and both sit at the same 87th percentile. The overall performance tier is equivalent. The decision is not about which is faster in general, but which is faster for a specific application mix. The AMD part wins more individual tests (9 vs 6), but the Intel part wins the newer and more demanding Cinebench R23 tests by large margins. Users prioritizing legacy multithreaded workloads and specific data-processing tasks should favor AMD. Users prioritizing single-thread response and modern rendering workloads should favor Intel.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X | Intel Core 7 253PE |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 12 | 10 |

| Threads | 24 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 5.50 GHz |

| TDP | 105 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | (Not specified) |

| Codename | Vermeer | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 8,300 million | (Not specified) |

| Die Size | 2x 74 mm² | (Not specified) |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 33 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000000061 | SA4QE |

| Launch MSRP | $549 | $384 |

| Release Date | 2020-11-04 | 2026-03-08 |

The specification table shows that the Intel part is newer, with a lower TDP, higher boost clock, more cache per core, higher memory bandwidth, and a newer PCIe generation. The AMD part has more cores and threads, a larger total L3 cache, a denser process node, and an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part includes integrated graphics while the AMD part does not. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part is limited to DDR4. The Intel part's launch MSRP is $384, while the AMD part's launch MSRP is $549.