AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D's 5.20 GHz.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor offer?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is significantly larger.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is built on a 3 nm process node, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D is built on a 4 nm process node. Both are fabricated by TSMC.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D supports Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

Q: What are the market segments for these two processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is classified as a Mobile processor, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D is classified as a Server/Workstation processor.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus dominates the benchmark comparison, winning 10 out of 11 head-to-head tests. Its most decisive victories come in floating-point math, where it scores 201773 against 80284, a 151.3% advantage. Data encryption also shows a massive gap, with the Intel part scoring 50008 versus 22632, a 121% lead. These results indicate that the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the clear choice for workloads that rely on heavy mathematical computation, encryption tasks, and multi-threaded throughput.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D wins only one benchmark: PassMark physics, scoring 4056 against the Intel's 3387, a 16.5% advantage. This single win suggests that the AMD processor has a specific strength in physics simulation tasks, likely related to its large cache architecture. For users whose primary workload involves physics calculations, the AMD part offers a measurable benefit.

The Intel processor's wins in multithreaded performance (59439 versus 40474, a 46.9% lead) and random string sorting (80327 versus 49050, a 63.8% lead) further cement its status as the better overall performer. The AMD chip, however, remains competitive in single-threaded tasks, though it still trails the Intel by 11.4% in that category.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 and uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, representing the Ultra 9 generation. It is built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC and contains 17,800 million transistors on a die size of 243 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D, by contrast, is part of the 9000 series with the Granite Ridge codename, representing the Ryzen 7 generation based on Zen 5. It uses a 4 nm process node at TSMC and contains 8,315 million transistors on a much smaller die size of 70.6 mm².

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, but its shared L3 cache is 96 MB, which is nearly three times larger than the Intel's. This large L3 cache is a defining architectural feature of the AMD part and likely explains its physics benchmark win.

Both processors support DDR5 memory and dual-channel memory buses. The Intel processor has a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the AMD processor has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The integrated graphics differ: the Intel part features Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, while the AMD part features Radeon Graphics. The Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD processor does not. The AMD part offers more PCIe lanes (24 versus 20), both Gen 5.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for the Intel and 4.70 GHz for the AMD. Boost clocks are 5.50 GHz for the Intel and 5.20 GHz for the AMD. The thermal design power (TDP) is 55 watts for the Intel and 120 watts for the AMD.

The sockets are incompatible: the Intel uses Intel BGA 2114, while the AMD uses AMD Socket AM5. The Intel processor is unlocked, the AMD is locked. The Intel part has a production status of Active, as does the AMD. The release dates differ: the Intel was released on 2026-03-16, while the AMD was released on 2026-06-29. Neither processor has a launch MSRP.

The Intel processor has a part number of SADSS, while the AMD has a part number of 100-000002000. The Intel has a higher memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s). The AMD has more PCIe lanes (24 versus 20). The Intel has 64 execution units in its integrated graphics, while the AMD's integrated graphics are listed simply as Radeon Graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins the overwhelming majority of measured benchmarks. In floating-point math, the Intel scores 201773 against the AMD's 80284, a 151.3% lead, the largest margin in the comparison. Data encryption shows a 121% advantage for the Intel (50008 versus 22632). Random string sorting is another major win, with the Intel scoring 80327 versus 49050, a 63.8% edge. Multithreaded performance favors the Intel at 59439 versus 40474, a 46.9% lead. Data compression shows a 40.4% advantage for the Intel at 658724 versus 469207. Integer math also favors the Intel at 164839 versus 119404, a 38.1% lead. Extended instructions show a 33.4% lead for the Intel at 51290 versus 38436. Find prime numbers is close, with the Intel at 519 versus 451, a 15.1% gain. Single-thread scores are 4951 for the Intel and 4443 for the AMD, an 11.4% lead.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D's only win comes in PassMark physics, where it scores 3387 against the Intel's 4056, a 16.5% advantage. This is the sole benchmark where the AMD chip outpaces the Intel, and the margin is substantial enough to warrant attention for physics-specific workloads.

The average benchmark score for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 79574, compared to 75716 for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D. Both processors sit at the 95th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KF (avg score 79371, delta 0.3%) and the Intel Core i9-14900K (avg score 79097, delta 0.6%). The AMD's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (avg score 75738, delta 0%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (avg score 75779, delta -0.1%).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the superior processor for almost every measured workload. It wins 10 of 11 benchmarks, with particularly large margins in floating-point math, encryption, and multithreaded tasks. Users who need maximum throughput for computation-heavy applications, data processing, or encryption should choose the Intel part.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D has a single clear strength: physics simulation. Its 16.5% advantage in PassMark physics is notable, and its 96 MB of L3 cache likely contributes to this result. For workloads that involve physics calculations, the AMD part offers a measurable benefit over the Intel.

The Intel processor also benefits from a lower TDP of 55 watts versus 120 watts, a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s, and an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part counters with more PCIe lanes (24 versus 20) and a larger L3 cache (96 MB versus 36 MB).

For general-purpose computing, multi-threaded workloads, and single-thread performance, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the clear winner. For niche physics-heavy tasks, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D is the better choice. The benchmark results speak clearly: the Intel processor leads in nearly every category, and the AMD processor's sole win does not offset the Intel's overall dominance.