AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Intel Core Ultra X9 378H occupy different corners of the processor market, yet the benchmark data places them in a direct comparison. The AMD part is a 6-core desktop chip built for gaming and mainstream workloads, while the Intel part is a 16-core mobile processor aimed at high-performance laptops. The recorded measurements show the Intel chip winning every single head-to-head test in the database, but the margins vary significantly by workload, and the architectural context explains why.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H dominates the shared PassMark test suite, taking all 11 recorded wins. The largest gap appears in floating-point math, where Intel scores 114,500 against AMD's 43,594, a delta of -61.9% from the AMD perspective. That is a massive 2.6x advantage in a workload that heavily leverages wide vector units and high core counts. Data encryption shows the second-largest margin: Intel at 29,840 versus AMD at 15,797, a 47.1% difference. This test scales with cryptographic instruction throughput, and the Intel chip's newer architecture clearly handles it better.

The smallest win for Intel is in physics simulation, where it scores 3,404 against AMD's 2,779, an 18.4% gap. This is still a clear victory, but it indicates that AMD's 3D V-Cache helps close the distance in latency-sensitive, memory-heavy tasks. Data compression shows Intel ahead by 29.7% (386,591 versus 271,649), while integer math sits at a 23.6% gap (92,603 versus 70,774). Random string sorting is 26.1% in Intel's favor (44,648 versus 32,999), and extended instructions show a 34.7% margin (31,315 versus 20,455).

Single-thread performance favors Intel by 21.5%, with scores of 4,453 versus 3,494. This is notable because AMD's chip boosts to 4.50 GHz while Intel boosts to 5.00 GHz, and the Intel part also has a newer process node. The multithread test shows Intel at 38,298 versus AMD's 25,047, a 34.6% deficit for the Ryzen chip. Given that Intel has 16 cores and 16 threads versus AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads, this result is expected, but the magnitude is worth noting. Prime number finding follows the same pattern: Intel at 357 versus AMD at 221, a 38.1% gap.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall trend. The Intel chip averages 47,468 across its recorded tests, while the AMD chip averages 44,573. Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 at 47,527 (-0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i7-13700KF at 47,330 (0.3% delta), placing it in a tight cluster. AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H at 44,466 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i5-14600 at 44,889 (-0.7% delta), showing that the 7500X3D sits just below the 45,000 mark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. AMD uses the Raphael die with Zen 4 cores on a 5 nm TSMC process, while Intel uses Panther Lake with its own 3 nm Intel process. The process node difference is significant: 3 nm allows Intel to pack more transistors into a given area, though the database does not list transistor counts or die sizes for the Intel part. AMD's chip has 11,270 million transistors on a 71 mm² die.

Core configurations diverge sharply. AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads, meaning each core supports two threads via SMT. Intel offers 16 cores and 16 threads, indicating a hybrid architecture without hyperthreading on the measured configuration. Cache layouts also differ: AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is the 3D V-Cache feature. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 18 MB of shared L3. The L3 difference is enormous: 96 MB versus 18 MB, a 5.3x advantage for AMD in raw on-die cache capacity.

Memory support and bandwidth tell a different story. AMD supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and it supports ECC memory. Intel supports LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth, nearly double AMD's figure, but it does not support ECC. The Intel part also uses far fewer PCIe lanes: 4 lanes of Gen 5 versus AMD's 24 lanes of Gen 5. This reflects the mobile versus desktop positioning, as laptops do not need the same expansion capacity.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD includes Radeon Graphics, while Intel includes Arc B390. The database does not provide performance numbers for either iGPU, but the presence of a modern Arc GPU in a mobile chip suggests Intel expects some light gaming or media workloads to run without a discrete GPU. AMD's integrated Radeon is typically a basic display adapter, though it is sufficient for office tasks.

Thermals and power are also distinct. AMD has a 65 W TDP, while Intel has a 25 W TDP. That is a 40 W difference in favor of Intel, which is remarkable given Intel's higher performance in every recorded test. The Intel chip is a mobile part with a BGA 2540 socket, while AMD uses the AM5 desktop socket. Intel's chip is not socketed for user replacement, whereas AMD's is.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H scores 4,453 in PassMark single-thread tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 3,494. Intel leads by 21.5%.

Q: How much L3 cache does each chip have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: Intel supports LPDDR5X with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth. AMD supports DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s. Intel's bandwidth is about 84.6% higher.

Q: Does the AMD chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H does not.

Q: Which chip has more cores?

A: Intel has 16 cores and 16 threads. AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel has 10 more cores and 4 more threads.

Q: What is the TDP for each processor?

A: AMD lists a 65 W TDP. Intel lists a 25 W TDP. Intel's TDP is 40 W lower.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on every major specification except for memory bus width, which is dual-channel for both, and production status, which is active for both.

• Cores: AMD 6, Intel 16
• Threads: AMD 12, Intel 16
• Base Clock: AMD 4.00 GHz, Intel 2.00 GHz
• Boost Clock: AMD 4.50 GHz, Intel 5.00 GHz
• TDP: AMD 65 W, Intel 25 W
• Socket: AMD Socket AM5, Intel BGA 2540
• Process Node: AMD 5 nm, Intel 3 nm
• Foundry: TSMC, Intel
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core, 192 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 1 MB per core, 2.5 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 96 MB shared, 18 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR5, LPDDR5X
• Memory Bandwidth: 83.2 GB/s, 153.6 GB/s
• ECC Memory: Yes, No
• PCIe: Gen 5 24 lanes, Gen 5 4 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Graphics, Arc B390
• Market Segment: Desktop, Mobile
• Release Date: 2025-11-11, 2026-04-03
• Launch MSRP: $269, not listed
• Multiplier Unlocked: No, No

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D in every recorded head-to-head test. The average benchmark score confirms this, with Intel at 47,468 versus AMD at 44,573, a 6.5% advantage. Intel also achieves this while consuming 40 W less TDP and using a newer 3 nm process. The only specification where AMD clearly wins is L3 cache size (96 MB versus 18 MB) and PCIe lane count (24 versus 4), but those advantages do not translate into any benchmark wins in the database.

The AMD chip is not a poor performer. It sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, matching Intel's percentile. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, is only 0.2% behind in average score, and the Intel Core i5-14600 is 0.7% behind. The 7500X3D is a capable desktop part for its 65 W envelope, but it cannot match the sheer throughput of a 16-core mobile chip with a 5.00 GHz boost clock, higher memory bandwidth, and a denser process node.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins everywhere in the recorded data. Floating-point math is its strongest category, with a 61.9% lead over AMD. Data encryption, extended instructions, and multithread all show margins above 34%. Single-thread performance is also firmly in Intel's favor, meaning the chip is not just a multi-core brute; it also handles lightly threaded tasks better. The 153.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and 16 cores make it suited for heavy parallel workloads like rendering, compilation, and scientific computing.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D does not win any head-to-head test, but its narrowest losses point to its strengths. Physics simulation shows only an 18.4% gap, and integer math is 23.6% behind. These are cache-sensitive workloads where the 96 MB L3 cache helps. The 65 W TDP and AM5 socket mean it fits into desktop builds with standard coolers and upgradeable motherboards. It also supports ECC memory, which matters for stability-sensitive systems, and offers 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes for multiple GPUs or NVMe drives. For users who prioritize platform flexibility, ECC support, or cache-heavy workloads over raw throughput, the AMD part has a clear role, but the data shows Intel delivering higher performance across every measured scenario.