AMD Ryzen 7 9700F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins all 11 head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F. If the database results are the deciding factor, the Intel part is the superior performer across every measured workload. The Intel chip leads by substantial margins in multi-threaded tasks, floating-point math, encryption, and data compression, while the single-thread gap is a statistical tie.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, however, is not without its merits. It posts a higher average benchmark score of 69996 compared to the Intel part's 66159, and it sits at the 94th percentile of all CPUs versus the Intel chip's 93rd percentile. The AMD processor also draws less power on paper, with a 65 watt TDP against the Intel part's 125 watts. For users who prioritize efficiency and the AM5 platform, the Ryzen 7 9700F remains a valid choice. For users who prioritize raw performance in the database's recorded tests, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the clear winner.

The data also shows the AMD part competes with higher-tier rivals. Its average score of 69996 places it within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700K. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, meanwhile, sits 1.0% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and 1.1% behind the AMD EPYC 4465P, while edging out the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D by 0.4%. These rival comparisons frame both chips as strong mid-to-high-range desktop processors, with the AMD chip punching slightly above its class in average score.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two CPUs is stark. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, and is built on TSMC's 4 nm process. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The processor die is 70.6 mm² and contains 8,315 million transistors. Cache is organized as 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Arrow Lake Refresh, and is fabricated on TSMC's 3 nm node. It offers 18 cores and 18 threads, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The die is significantly larger at 243 mm² and holds 17,800 million transistors. Cache configuration differs substantially: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3.

Threading is a major differentiator. The AMD chip supports simultaneous multithreading, giving 16 threads from 8 cores. The Intel chip does not, so its 18 cores produce exactly 18 threads. Despite having only two more threads, the Intel part delivers far higher multi-threaded scores in the database, suggesting its core count and higher base clock drive the advantage.

Memory support is similar on the surface: both use DDR5 with dual-channel buses and both support ECC memory. But the Intel chip's memory bandwidth is rated at 115.2 GB/s versus the AMD chip's 89.6 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also differs, with the AMD part offering Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Neither chip includes integrated graphics. Both have unlocked multipliers, and both are listed as active production parts.

The release dates show the Intel part is newer, arriving on 2025-09-15 for the AMD chip and 2026-03-10 for the Intel chip. The AMD part carries a launch MSRP of $289, while the Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $184.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results form a consistent pattern: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins every single test, but the margin varies wildly by workload.

The largest victory for Intel comes in passmark_find_prime_numbers, where it scores 452 against AMD's 183, a 59.5% advantage. This is a massive gap and indicates a major lead in integer-heavy, latency-sensitive prime calculation workloads. Floating-point math tells a similar story: Intel scores 159824 versus AMD's 77955, a 51.2% lead. Data encryption is another blowout, with Intel at 41292 and AMD at 21488, a 48% difference. These three tests alone demonstrate that the Intel chip is far stronger in compute-heavy scientific and cryptographic tasks.

The multi-threaded benchmark reinforces the trend. Intel scores 50146 in passmark_multithread against AMD's 36470, a 27.3% lead. The physics test shows Intel ahead by 33.3% (3183 versus 2122), and random string sorting favors Intel by 31.7% (67209 versus 45890). Data compression goes to Intel at 553155 versus 421988, a 23.7% lead. Extended instructions also favor Intel by 21.4% (42880 versus 33688).

The closest contest is integer math, where Intel scores 123030 against AMD's 120788, a slim 1.8% lead. Single-thread performance is nearly identical: Intel scores 4698 and AMD scores 4691, a 0.1% difference. The same 0.1% margin appears in the passmark_singlethread duplication of the test. So while Intel dominates in multi-threaded and specialized workloads, the single-core performance of both chips is effectively equivalent.

Interpreting these numbers, the Intel chip's 18 cores and higher base clock do not just add raw throughput; they translate into decisive wins in parallelism-heavy tests. The AMD chip's Zen 5 architecture keeps it competitive in integer math and single-thread tests, but it cannot overcome the Intel part's core-count advantage in the database's broader workload suite.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F by a hair. In passmark_single_thread, Intel scores 4698 versus AMD's 4691, a 0.1% difference. This is effectively a tie.

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

A: Intel leads by 27.3% in passmark_multithread, scoring 50146 against AMD's 36470. This is one of the largest gaps in the head-to-head results.

Q: Does the AMD chip have any advantage in the database?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has a higher average benchmark score of 69996 versus Intel's 66159, and it ranks at the 94th percentile of all CPUs versus Intel's 93rd percentile. It also has a lower TDP of 65 watts versus 125 watts.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is rated at 115.2 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is rated at 89.6 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR5 and ECC memory.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel chip has 18 cores and 18 threads. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel does not use simultaneous multithreading, while AMD does.

Q: Are both CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus have unlocked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so its use case is straightforward: any workload that benefits from high multi-threaded throughput, heavy floating-point math, encryption, or data compression. The 59.5% lead in prime number finding and the 51.2% lead in floating-point math make it the better choice for scientific computing, financial modeling, and cryptographic work. The 48% lead in data encryption and the 33.3% lead in physics further cement its position for simulation and security-related tasks. The 27.3% multi-thread lead and the 31.7% sorting advantage also favor content creation, video encoding, and database workloads that scale across many cores.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, despite losing all head-to-head tests, still has a case in specific scenarios. Its average benchmark score of 69996 is higher than the Intel part's 66159, which suggests that across a broader suite of tests, the AMD chip is more consistent. Its 94th percentile ranking versus Intel's 93rd percentile reinforces this. The 65 watt TDP makes it a lower-power option, which matters for compact builds or systems where thermal headroom is limited. The AM5 socket and 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes also make it a strong platform choice for users who want maximum PCIe connectivity from the CPU. The 0.1% single-thread deficit means users who prioritize lightly-threaded applications will see no practical difference between the two.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every headline specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses 18 cores and 18 threads. Base clocks are 3.80 GHz for AMD and 4.20 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.50 GHz for AMD and 5.30 GHz for Intel. TDP is 65 watts for AMD and 125 watts for Intel.

The process nodes differ: AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm process, while Intel uses TSMC's 3 nm process. Transistor counts are 8,315 million for AMD and 17,800 million for Intel. Die sizes are 70.6 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel. Cache hierarchies differ across all levels: L1 is 80 KB per core for AMD versus 192 KB per core for Intel; L2 is 1 MB per core for AMD versus 3 MB per core for Intel; L3 is 32 MB shared for AMD versus 30 MB shared for Intel.

Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 115.2 GB/s for Intel. PCIe lanes from the CPU are 24 for AMD and 20 for Intel, both Gen 5. The sockets are entirely different: AMD uses Socket AM5, while Intel uses Socket 1851. The AMD part is based on Zen 5 (Granite Ridge) and belongs to the 9000 series, while the Intel part is based on Arrow Lake Refresh and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. The AMD part was released on 2025-09-15 with a launch MSRP of $289, while the Intel part was released on 2026-03-10 with a launch MSRP of $184.