AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus across every shared benchmark in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not win a single head-to-head comparison, with the Intel part taking all 11 recorded tests. The closest margin between the two processors appears in single-threaded workloads, where the Intel chip scores 5068 against the AMD chip's 2136, a delta of 57.9 percent in favor of Intel. That remains a substantial gap, but it is the narrowest of any test in the comparison.

The largest relative difference shows up in prime number finding. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus records 615 in the find prime numbers test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U manages only 21, a delta of 96.6 percent. Extended instruction workloads tell a similar story: Intel scores 63506 versus AMD's 3274, a 94.8 percent gap. Floating point math also favors Intel heavily, with 229491 points against 12707 points, a 94.5 percent delta. These three tests indicate that the Intel processor's advantage grows most in computationally intensive, instruction-heavy tasks.

Data compression results show Intel at 804322 points compared to AMD's 87380 points, a delta of 89.1 percent. Encryption follows the same pattern, with Intel at 59097 points and AMD at 5580 points, a 90.6 percent gap. Random string sorting gives Intel 96945 points versus AMD's 10414 points, an 89.3 percent delta. The multithread benchmark shows Intel at 68574 points and AMD at 7071 points, an 89.7 percent gap. Physics simulation results put Intel at 4064 points and AMD at 483 points, an 88.1 percent delta. Integer math rounds out the list with Intel at 175986 points and AMD at 26321 points, an 85 percent gap.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus holds an average score of 93785, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320 points, sitting in the 69th percentile. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6520P at 93786 points with a 0 percent delta, the AMD EPYC 4564P at 95183 points with a 1.5 percent delta, and the AMD EPYC 9175F at 95615 points with a 1.9 percent delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, by contrast, sits near the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 at 14336 points with a 0.1 percent delta, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C at 14277 points with a 0.3 percent delta, and the Intel Core 7 160UL at 14232 points with a 0.6 percent delta.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split follows the benchmark data closely. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins every recorded workload category, so any task that appears in the database runs faster on that processor. The biggest wins, measured by percentage delta, are prime number finding, extended instructions, floating point math, encryption, multithread, compression, random string sorting, physics, integer math, and single-threaded operations. For workloads that stress many cores simultaneously, such as multithread rendering or physics simulation, the Intel part's lead exceeds 88 percent. For single-threaded responsiveness, the lead is smaller but still decisive at 57.9 percent.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not claim a single benchmark win, but its profile suggests where it fits in a system. Its 15 watt TDP and mobile market segment point toward low-power portable machines rather than high-throughput desktops. The data does not show any test where the AMD chip outperforms the Intel chip, so the practical conclusion is that the AMD processor serves a different power and mobility class, not a performance class. Users who prioritize battery life and portability would look at the AMD part for its power envelope, while users who prioritize raw throughput in any of the recorded tests would select the Intel part.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design generations and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, part of the Ryzen 5 Zen+ generation, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, part of the Ultra 7 Arrow Lake generation, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The transistor counts differ sharply: AMD's chip integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while Intel's chip integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

Cache architectures also differ. The AMD processor provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. Neither chip uses 3D V-Cache. The core counts reflect the generational split: AMD offers 4 cores and 4 threads, while Intel offers 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel part also has an unlocked multiplier, indicating overclocking support, while the AMD part does not.

Memory and I/O features differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The AMD chip does not support ECC memory; the Intel chip does. PCIe generations differ, with AMD on Gen 3 and Intel on Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Specification Differences

The socket types differ completely. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851. Clock speeds show a clear separation: the AMD chip runs at a 2.10 GHz base clock and 3.70 GHz boost clock, while the Intel chip runs at a 3.70 GHz base clock and 5.50 GHz boost clock. The TDP ratings reflect the market segments: AMD at 15 watts for mobile, Intel at 125 watts for desktop. The AMD part lists a release date of May 31, 2026, while the Intel part lists March 10, 2026. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $299; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

Memory support, ECC capability, PCIe generation, integrated graphics, market segment, and production status all differ between the two. The AMD chip is marked Active in production status, as is the Intel chip. The AMD part's part number is YM3501C4T4MFG, while the Intel part's part number is SA4V6. The Intel part supports DDR5, ECC, PCIe Gen 5, and an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part supports DDR4, no ECC, PCIe Gen 3, and a locked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has an average benchmark score of 93785, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average score of 14320. The Intel part sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 69th percentile.

Q: How does single-threaded performance compare?

A: In the passmark single-thread test, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 5068, which is 57.9 percent ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's score of 2136.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports DDR5 memory with 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus are listed as Active in production status.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the benchmark data?

A: The largest gap is in the find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 615 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's 21, a delta of 96.6 percent.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the faster processor in every recorded test. It wins all 11 head-to-head benchmarks, holds a 96th percentile ranking, and delivers an average score over 6.5 times higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. The Intel part is a desktop processor with 24 cores, a 5.50 GHz boost clock, 36 MB of L3 cache, DDR5 support, PCIe Gen 5, and an unlocked multiplier. Its launch MSRP is $299.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a mobile processor with 4 cores, a 3.70 GHz boost clock, 4 MB of L3 cache, DDR4 support, PCIe Gen 3, and a 15 watt TDP. It does not win any benchmark in the comparison and sits in the 69th percentile overall. The data shows no workload category in which the AMD chip outperforms the Intel chip.

The choice between the two depends entirely on the intended system class. For a desktop build that demands the highest recorded scores in compression, encryption, floating point math, integer math, multithreaded tasks, physics simulation, and single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the clear pick. For a low-power mobile platform where the 15 watt TDP and compact FP5 socket matter more than raw throughput, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U fits that role, but the database provides no performance metric where it leads the Intel part. The Intel processor also supports ECC memory, overclocking, and a newer memory standard, while the AMD processor does not. Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the superior performer in every measured category.