AMD Ryzen 7 250 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245T Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T is the dominant performer in this pairing, winning 12 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 takes only 3. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical—38,221 for the AMD and 38,194 for the Intel, a 0.1% difference—yet the distribution of wins is lopsided. This suggests the Intel chip excels in the most demanding, compute-heavy workloads, while the AMD part holds its own in specific data-handling tasks. For users prioritizing raw multi-core rendering, physics simulation, or floating-point math, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T is the clear choice from the data. The AMD Ryzen 7 250, however, counters with wins in data compression, integer math, and random string sorting, making it a niche pick for workloads that rely on those specific operations. The Intel part also carries a launch MSRP of $270, which is a factual data point, but no further pricing commentary is warranted. Given the huge margins in Intel’s favor on many tests, the verdict leans heavily toward the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T for general performance, with the AMD Ryzen 7 250 reserved for specialized use cases.

Where Each One Wins

Looking at the benchmark splits, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T is the winner in all Cinebench tests, which are classic measures of CPU rendering capability. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 26,208 versus the AMD’s 14,676, a 44% advantage. This is a massive gap that indicates the Intel chip is far better suited for video rendering, 3D modeling, and other multi-threaded creative workloads. Intel also wins every PassMark category except three: data compression, integer math, and random string sorting. The Intel part’s dominance in floating-point math (108,499 vs. 53,285, a 50.9% lead) and physics (2,278 vs. 1,147, a 49.6% lead) further cements its status for scientific computing, simulations, and gaming physics. The AMD Ryzen 7 250, by contrast, wins data compression with a score of 300,708 versus 283,812 (6% ahead), integer math at 91,565 versus 88,676 (3.3% ahead), and random string sorting at 35,861 versus 34,931 (2.7% ahead). These are the kinds of tasks found in database operations, file archiving, and certain algorithmic processing. Thus, the Intel processor is the all-around performance king, while the AMD chip is specialized for specific data manipulation workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its cache structure is relatively modest: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T, on the other hand, uses the Arrow Lake architecture (Arrow Lake-S codename) on a 3 nm process, also from TSMC. It has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading—each core is a single thread. Its base clock is lower at 2.20 GHz, but the boost clock matches at 5.10 GHz. Intel’s cache is substantially larger: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The transistor counts also diverge: AMD lists 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while Intel has 17,800 million transistors on a larger 243 mm² die. The Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, whereas the AMD part is limited to PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 102.4 GB/s versus AMD’s 89.6 GB/s, both using dual-channel DDR5. Intel also supports ECC memory, which AMD does not. The integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 780M, while Intel has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 EU. These architectural choices explain the performance gap, particularly the larger cache and newer process node on the Intel side.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T significantly outperforms the AMD Ryzen 7 250, scoring 26,208 versus 14,676, a 44% difference.

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD Ryzen 7 250 beats the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T?

A: Yes, the AMD chip wins in three PassMark tests: data compression (300,708 vs. 283,812), integer math (91,565 vs. 88,676), and random string sorting (35,861 vs. 34,931).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 does not.

Q: How do their single-threaded performance scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T leads in Cinebench R23 single-core with 3,699 versus 1,715 for the AMD chip, a 53.6% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 4,367 versus 3,678, a 15.8% lead.

Q: What is the process node for each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 uses a 4 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T uses a 3 nm process, both fabricated by TSMC.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a pattern of overwhelming Intel dominance in compute-intensive tests, punctuated by narrow AMD wins in specific data tasks. The largest margin of victory for Intel comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T scores 3,699 against the AMD’s 1,715, a delta of -53.6%. This indicates a massive single-thread performance gap, affecting responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel’s 26,208 beats AMD’s 14,676 by 44%, showcasing a substantial lead in heavily threaded rendering workloads. The PassMark floating-point math test shows Intel at 108,499 versus AMD’s 53,285, a 50.9% lead, which is critical for scientific and engineering applications. Similarly, PassMark physics has Intel at 2,278 versus 1,147, a 49.6% advantage, meaning better simulation performance. Intel also wins PassMark find prime numbers with 324 versus 73, a 77.5% lead, and data encryption with 23,656 versus 17,661, a 25.3% advantage. In Cinebench R15, Intel wins multi-core (2,641 vs. 2,302, 12.8%) and single-core (372 vs. 269, 27.7%). PassMark multi-thread also favors Intel at 30,833 versus 25,089, an 18.6% lead. The AMD Ryzen 7 250’s victories are narrower: data compression (300,708 vs. 283,812, 6%), integer math (91,565 vs. 88,676, 3.3%), and random string sorting (35,861 vs. 34,931, 2.7%). These results suggest that while Intel is the clear performance leader overall, AMD retains a competitive edge in specific data-handling scenarios.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet highlights several key differences between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ: AMD at 3.30 GHz versus Intel at 2.20 GHz, though both boost to 5.10 GHz. The TDP is a major divergence, with AMD rated at 28 watts and Intel at 65 watts. The AMD uses the AMD Socket FP8, while Intel uses the Intel Socket 1851. The architecture and process node differ—AMD is on Zen 4 with a 4 nm process, and Intel is on Arrow Lake with a 3 nm process. Cache sizes are distinct: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3; Intel has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is higher on Intel at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s, both dual-channel DDR5. ECC memory support is present on Intel only. PCIe versions differ: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics are Radeon 780M on AMD and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU on Intel. Transistor count and die size also vary: AMD has 25,000 million transistors on 178 mm², while Intel has 17,800 million on 243 mm². The market segments are mobile for AMD and desktop for Intel. Finally, the launch MSRP for Intel is $270, while AMD has no listed launch MSRP.