AMD Ryzen 7 9700F vs Intel Core 7 350 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data delivers a decisive outcome: the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F wins all 11 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core 7 350. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 69,996, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part averages 17,779 and sits in the 71st percentile. The AMD processor leads by margins ranging from 14.4% in single-threaded work to 258.1% in integer math. For desktop users who need maximum throughput, the Ryzen 7 9700F is the clear choice. The Intel Core 7 350, with its 15-watt TDP, mobile socket, and integrated graphics, is positioned for a different class of hardware entirely. The data indicates these are not competing products; they are solutions for different segments. The AMD part is a desktop processor with an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is a mobile chip soldered to a BGA 1516 socket with no overclocking support.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process by TSMC with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. It comes from the Ryzen 7 generation within the 9000 series. The Intel Core 7 350 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process by Intel, and belongs to the Core 5 generation. The process node difference, 4 nm versus 3 nm, gives Intel a smaller lithography, but the recorded benchmarks do not translate that into performance advantages.

Core configurations differ sharply. AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel provides 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD part has no integrated graphics, whereas the Intel part includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Cache structures also diverge. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3. The larger AMD L3 pool is a major factor in its benchmark dominance.

Memory support differs as well. AMD supports DDR5 in dual-channel mode with a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s and ECC capability. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but operates in single-channel mode with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. PCIe connectivity also splits: AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The socket types are incompatible, with AMD using Socket AM5 and Intel using BGA 1516, the latter indicating a soldered mobile part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest recorded margin is in integer math. AMD scores 120,788 against Intel's 33,734, a delta of 258.1%. This workload is heavily dependent on core count, thread count, and cache, and the AMD part exceeds Intel by a factor of roughly 3.6. Data compression shows a similar pattern: AMD scores 421,988 versus 143,123, a delta of 194.8%. Extended instructions also favor AMD heavily, with a score of 33,688 against 12,045, a delta of 179.7%.

Random string sorting sees AMD at 45,890 versus Intel's 17,238, a delta of 166.2%. Multithreaded performance, a broad indicator of overall throughput, is 36,470 for AMD and 15,170 for Intel, a delta of 140.4%. Floating point math favors AMD at 77,955 versus 42,809, a delta of 82.1%. Physics simulation scores 2,122 for AMD and 1,173 for Intel, a delta of 80.9%. Prime number finding shows AMD at 183 and Intel at 107, a delta of 71%.

Data encryption is the closest of the larger gaps, with AMD at 21,488 and Intel at 10,933, a delta of 96.5%. The smallest margin in the entire set is single-threaded performance, where AMD scores 4,691 and Intel scores 4,100, a delta of 14.4%. This indicates that while Intel's Wildcat Lake cores are not far behind in per-thread execution, the lack of simultaneous multithreading and the smaller cache configuration cripple multi-core workloads. Intel's own Cinebench results reinforce this: Cinebench R23 multicore scores 8,030, while single-core scores 2,046. The ratio between them is roughly 3.9x, which is low for a 6-core part and reflects the absence of threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification field. AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads; Intel offers 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 3.80 GHz for AMD and 1.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.50 GHz for AMD and 4.80 GHz for Intel. Thermal design power is 65 watts for AMD and 15 watts for Intel. The AMD part uses a desktop socket, AMD Socket AM5, while Intel uses the mobile BGA 1516 socket.

Cache allocations differ per core: AMD uses 80 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, while Intel uses 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core. Shared L3 is 32 MB for AMD and 6 MB for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 59.7 GB/s for Intel. Memory bus width is dual-channel for AMD and single-channel for Intel. ECC support is present on AMD and absent on Intel. PCIe generation is Gen 5 for AMD and Gen 4 for Intel, with 24 lanes versus 6 lanes. Integrated graphics are absent on AMD and present on Intel as Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. The release dates are September 15, 2025 for AMD and April 15, 2026 for Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69,996, while the Intel Core 7 350 has an average score of 17,779.

Q: How large is the single-threaded performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 4,691 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the Intel Core 7 350 scores 4,100, a delta of 14.4% in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 350 support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 7 350 does not support ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F does.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has a TDP of 65 watts, and the Intel Core 7 350 has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 7 350 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the nearest rivals compare to the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F's average score of 69,996 is 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, 0.2% below the Intel Core i7-14700KF, 0.7% above the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, and 0.9% above the Intel Core i7-14700K.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F wins every recorded benchmark category. Its strongest results are in integer math, data compression, and extended instructions, where it leads by 258.1%, 194.8%, and 179.7% respectively. These workloads benefit directly from the 8-core, 16-thread configuration, the 32 MB shared L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and Gen 5 PCIe connectivity. The multithread score of 36,470 confirms that the AMD part is built for sustained parallel processing. Its 65-watt TDP, while higher than Intel's, is still modest for a desktop processor and aligns with its desktop Socket AM5 platform.

The Intel Core 7 350 records no wins in the head-to-head data. Its strengths are qualitative rather than performance-based. The 15-watt TDP positions it for mobile systems where power draw is a primary constraint. The integrated Xe3 Graphics removes the need for a discrete GPU in basic configurations. The single-channel memory bus and 6 MB L3 cache limit its throughput, but the lower power envelope and soldered BGA 1516 socket suit compact laptops. The 3 nm Intel process node is smaller than AMD's 4 nm TSMC node, though the benchmark results do not show an advantage from this. In Cinebench R23, the Intel part scores 2,046 in single-core and 8,030 in multi-core, which are competitive for a 15-watt mobile chip but far below the AMD part's PassMark results. The Intel Core 7 350 is the appropriate choice for fanless or low-power mobile designs; the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is the appropriate choice for desktop builds where performance is the sole priority.