AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 has 18 cores and 18 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock speed?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U boosts to 3.70 GHz.

Q: How do the manufacturing processes compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 uses a 3 nm process at TSMC.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 supports LPDDR5X memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 delivers 152.4 GB/s, which is roughly four times higher.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is in the 69th percentile. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 is in the 50th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U belongs to the 3000 series and uses the Picasso codename, based on the Zen+ architecture. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The architecture uses a traditional x86 design with 4 cores and 4 threads, reflecting a straightforward single-thread-per-core layout.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 is a fundamentally different design. It is part of the Snapdragon X2 generation with the Elite tier and the Glymur codename. Built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, the die size is 220 mm², slightly larger than the AMD chip despite the smaller process node. The Snapdragon uses an Arm-based architecture with 18 cores and 18 threads, indicating a high-core-count configuration that relies on efficiency and parallelism rather than high per-core clock speeds alone.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Snapdragon X2E-88-100 has 288 KB of L1 per core and 16 MB of L2 per module, with no listed L3 cache. The Snapdragon’s larger L1 and L2 allocations point to a design that emphasizes local data access and reduced latency for its many cores.

The integrated graphics also diverge. The AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Snapdragon uses Adreno X2-90 graphics. Both are integrated solutions for mobile platforms, but they represent different GPU architectures. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Snapdragon uses Qualcomm BGA 2343, making them incompatible with the same motherboards.

PCIe support differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Snapdragon X2E-88-100 uses PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes for the CPU. This gives the Snapdragon a significant advantage in available I/O bandwidth for connected devices. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is the only one of the two with recorded benchmark data. Its performance profile shows strengths in specific workloads, particularly those that benefit from burst throughput and integer operations. The data indicates it scores 26,321 in integer math and 12,707 in floating point math, with a multithread score of 7,071. The single-thread score is 2,136. These results place it in the 69th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14,320.

Given that the Snapdragon X2E-88-100 has no benchmark entries in the database, its actual measured performance is unknown. Its 50th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 0 reflect the absence of data rather than a performance verdict. Consequently, the AMD processor is the clear choice for any workload where benchmark verification matters, such as productivity tasks, legacy application compatibility, or scenarios requiring proven x86 software support.

The Snapdragon’s architectural advantages suggest potential wins in areas like memory bandwidth, where its 152.4 GB/s dwarfs the AMD chip’s 38.4 GB/s. This could benefit data-intensive applications, especially those that stream large datasets. The 18-core configuration also indicates strong multi-threaded capability on paper, though without benchmark scores, this remains unverified. The 4.70 GHz boost clock on the Snapdragon is higher than the AMD’s 3.70 GHz, which could translate to faster single-thread performance if the architecture delivers on that clock rate.

For mobile use, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a 15 W TDP, which is a specified power envelope. The Snapdragon has no TDP listed in the database, making power consumption comparisons impossible. The AMD chip is an established, active product with a release date in May 2026, while the Snapdragon is also active but released in April 2026, about two months earlier.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows clear divergence across multiple fields. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Snapdragon X2E-88-100 has 18 cores and 18 threads. Base clocks differ: the AMD runs at 2.10 GHz, the Snapdragon at 4.00 GHz. Boost clocks are 3.70 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, respectively.

The process node differs significantly: 12 nm for AMD versus 3 nm for Qualcomm. The foundries are different as well, with GlobalFoundries producing the AMD chip and TSMC producing the Snapdragon. Transistor counts are listed for the AMD chip at 4,940 million, but no transistor count is available for the Snapdragon. Die sizes are close, at 210 mm² for AMD and 220 mm² for Qualcomm.

Cache configurations are not directly comparable. The AMD chip uses 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Snapdragon uses 288 KB L1 per core and 16 MB L2 per module, with no L3 specified. Memory support differs: DDR4 for AMD, LPDDR5X for Qualcomm. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s for AMD and 152.4 GB/s for Qualcomm. Memory bus width is dual-channel for both.

PCIe support shows AMD on Gen 3 while Qualcomm uses Gen 5 with 12 lanes for the CPU. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 on AMD and Adreno X2-90 on Qualcomm. Sockets are AMD Socket FP5 and Qualcomm BGA 2343. The AMD part number is YM3501C4T4MFG, while the Qualcomm part number is X2E88100. Both are mobile segments, active production, non-unlocked multipliers, and lack ECC support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons are not available in the database. The head-to-head benchmark array is empty, and the win counts are zero for both processors. This means the two chips have never been tested against each other in the recorded benchmark suite.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a full set of individual benchmark scores. These include 87,380 in data compression, 5,580 in data encryption, 3,274 in extended instructions, 21 in find prime numbers, 12,707 in floating point math, 26,321 in integer math, 7,071 in multithread, 483 in physics, 10,414 in random string sorting, and 2,136 in single thread. The average benchmark score is 14,320.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-88-100 has no benchmark scores recorded. Its average benchmark score is 0, and it has no nearest rivals listed. This absence of data prevents any quantitative comparison between the two processors.

The AMD chip’s nearest rivals provide context for its performance. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 has an average score of 14,336, which is 0.1% higher. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C scores 14,277, which is 0.3% lower. The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14,232, 0.6% lower. The Intel Core i5-10400F scores 14,185, 1% lower. These deltas show the Ryzen 5 3501U sits in a tightly competitive band with these processors, within a 1% performance spread.

The percentile data reinforces this positioning. The AMD chip is in the 69th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it outperforms the majority of recorded processors. The Snapdragon is in the 50th percentile, but this is based on no benchmark data, so it reflects a default or null value rather than measured performance.

Without direct measurements for the Snapdragon, the only meaningful benchmark analysis is for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. Its scores show a processor that handles integer math particularly well, with the integer math score more than double the floating point score. The data compression score is exceptionally high at 87,380, suggesting strong performance in compression workloads. The multithread score of 7,071, combined with a single-thread score of 2,136, indicates the processor scales across its four threads in a typical manner for a quad-core design.

The Snapdragon’s higher core count and clock speeds suggest it could outperform the AMD chip in multi-threaded or bandwidth-sensitive tasks, but the database contains no evidence to confirm this. The AMD processor remains the only one with verified performance data, making it the reference point for any comparison.