AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core benchmark score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 39,684 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D scores 22,807. The Intel part leads by 42.5% in this test.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D win any benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus?

A: Yes. The AMD processor wins in Cinebench R15 single-core by 0.9% (343 vs. 340) and in PassMark physics by 23.1% (4,171 vs. 3,387).

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark score between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an average benchmark score of 79,574, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has an average score of 58,386, placing it in the 92nd percentile.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D supports 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR5 memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a TDP of 120, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a TDP of 55.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes the outcome unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins 13 of the 15 direct comparisons, and its average benchmark score of 79,574 towers over the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D's 58,386. The Intel chip sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits at the 92nd. For workloads that scale with cores, threads, or raw throughput, the Intel processor is the clear choice.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is not without its niches. It wins the Cinebench R15 single-core comparison by 0.9% and the PassMark physics test by 23.1%. The physics result is a strong signal for applications that depend on that specific workload pattern. However, the AMD chip's 8 cores and 16 threads put it at a structural disadvantage in multi-threaded tests, and the data reflects that consistently.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is a mobile processor with a 55 TDP, yet it outperforms a desktop part with a 120 TDP in nearly every measured category. That efficiency combined with performance makes it the stronger overall product. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D should be selected only when the specific physics workload or the slight Cinebench R15 single-core edge matters more than the broad multi-core advantage held by Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single gap between the two processors appears in PassMark floating point math. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 201,773, which is 59.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D's 81,998. That is the steepest delta in the entire comparison and indicates a massive advantage in floating-point-heavy tasks.

PassMark data encryption shows the second-largest margin. Intel scores 50,008 versus AMD's 22,856, a lead of 54.3%. The Intel part also wins PassMark multi-thread by 30.5% (59,439 vs. 41,318), PassMark random string sorting by 38% (80,327 vs. 49,764), and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 42.5% (39,684 vs. 22,807). Cinebench R15 multi-core follows at 40.6% in Intel's favor (5,981 vs. 3,551).

Smaller but still decisive Intel wins include PassMark data compression at 28% (658,724 vs. 474,501), PassMark integer math at 25.3% (164,839 vs. 123,140), PassMark extended instructions at 23.4% (51,290 vs. 39,272), and PassMark find prime numbers at 16.2% (519 vs. 435). In single-threaded tests, Intel leads PassMark single-thread by 5% (4,951 vs. 4,704) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 5.4% (2,356 vs. 2,228).

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D takes the two remaining tests. It wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 0.9% (343 vs. 340), a narrow margin, and PassMark physics by 23.1% (4,171 vs. 3,387). The physics result is the only double-digit win for AMD in the entire dataset.

The overall pattern is one of consistent Intel dominance across compute, encryption, compression, sorting, and single-thread workloads. AMD's victories are isolated to a single-thread legacy benchmark and a physics simulation test.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ dramatically. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses 24 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel has more physical cores but no hyperthreading headroom, since thread count equals core count on the Intel part. AMD has fewer cores but doubles its thread count through simultaneous multithreading.

Clock speeds also diverge. The AMD chip has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The AMD part starts much higher at base, but the boost clocks are nearly identical.

Power envelopes are strikingly different. AMD lists a TDP of 120, while Intel lists 55. The Intel processor delivers higher benchmark scores across the board while being rated for less than half the TDP of the AMD part. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2114, which reflects the AMD desktop orientation versus the Intel mobile orientation.

Memory bandwidth differs as well: Intel supports 102.4 GB/s, AMD supports 89.6 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR5 and ECC memory. PCIe lane counts differ, with AMD providing Gen 5 with 24 lanes and Intel providing Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Both have unlocked multipliers. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $499. The Intel part has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon Graphics, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The market segments also differ, with AMD listed as Desktop and Intel listed as Mobile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Granite Ridge codename, part of the 9000 series. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename under the Core Ultra Series 2 family.

Manufacturing nodes and foundries differ. AMD is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, while Intel is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. Intel's transistor count is 17,800 million, more than double AMD's 8,315 million. The die sizes reflect this gap: Intel measures 243 mm², while AMD measures 70.6 mm².

Cache configurations show a key divergence. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD's L3 cache is substantially larger at the shared level, while Intel has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

The Intel chip's larger per-core cache and 3 nm process likely contribute to its strong single-thread and multi-thread results despite the lower base clock. The AMD chip's 96 MB of L3 cache is its standout architectural feature, though it does not translate into benchmark wins outside of the physics test and the narrow Cinebench R15 single-core result.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins in almost every measured scenario. Multi-threaded productivity workloads favor Intel decisively: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 42.5% lead, and Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 40.6% lead. PassMark multi-thread confirms the pattern at 30.5% ahead. Data-heavy tasks also belong to Intel: data compression is 28% faster, random string sorting is 38% faster, and data encryption is 54.3% faster. Floating-point math, integer math, extended instructions, and prime number finding all go to Intel by margins ranging from 16.2% to 59.4%. Even single-thread performance favors Intel in most tests, with a 5% lead in PassMark single-thread and a 5.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins only two comparisons. Its PassMark physics score of 4,171 beats Intel's 3,387 by 23.1%, making it the better choice for workloads that mirror that physics test. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 343 edges out Intel's 340 by 0.9%, a negligible margin in practical terms but a recorded win nonetheless.

For users running physics simulation workloads or legacy single-thread tests based on Cinebench R15, the AMD chip holds a measurable advantage. For everything else in the recorded data, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus delivers higher scores, often by wide margins, while operating at a lower rated TDP. The database confirms Intel as the dominant processor in this pairing.