AMD EPYC 8224P vs AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD EPYC 8224P represent two very different interpretations of the Zen 4 architecture—one a high-frequency mobile flagship, the other a dense, power-scaled server part. While both sit at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, their benchmark profiles diverge sharply in ways that reveal their intended roles. The data shows a 13-to-4 split in head-to-head wins, but the scores on the EPYC’s side are often in workloads the Ryzen cannot match.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 9 8945HX dominates the Cinebench suite with a consistent 10.6% advantage across all six tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 8945HX scores 42,713 against the EPYC’s 38,607—a 10.6% gap that repeats in R20 (17,939 vs 16,214) and R15 (4,305 vs 3,891). Single-core results tell the same story: the 8945HX leads by 10.6% in R23 (6,030 vs 5,450), R20 (2,532 vs 2,289), and R15 (607 vs 549). This consistency suggests a fundamental clock-speed advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk; the 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz while the EPYC tops out at 3.00 GHz.

The single-threaded Passmark results amplify this gap enormously. The 8945HX posts 3,907 in Passmark single-thread, which is 67% higher than the EPYC’s 2,339. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison, and it underscores how the Ryzen’s 5.40 GHz boost clock translates into massive per-core throughput. The EPYC’s 2.55 GHz base clock and 3.00 GHz boost simply cannot compete on a thread-for-thread basis.

However, the EPYC 8224P fights back in workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth. The EPYC’s Passmark physics score of 3,236 crushes the Ryzen’s 2,168—a 33% advantage. This is the single biggest win for the server chip, and it highlights the value of its 24 cores and 48 threads versus the Ryzen’s 16 cores and 32 threads. The EPYC also wins Passmark data encryption (46,742 vs 40,836, a 12.6% edge) and data compression (702,065 vs 677,755, a 3.5% edge). Its six-channel memory bus delivering 230.4 GB/s—versus the Ryzen’s dual-channel 83.2 GB/s—likely fuels these wins, as encryption and compression are often memory-latency and bandwidth sensitive.

The Ryzen reclaims ground in other Passmark integer workloads. It wins floating-point math by 12.2% (117,453 vs 104,698), extended instructions by 14.2% (49,823 vs 43,614), and integer math by 5.2% (195,180 vs 185,556). The most lopsided Ryzen victory outside single-thread is find prime numbers, where it scores 262 versus 206—a 27.2% lead. Random string sorting goes to the EPYC by a narrow 3.5% (81,674 vs 78,781), and the overall Passmark multithread score favors the Ryzen at 51,405 versus 45,421, a 13.2% margin despite the EPYC having 50% more cores.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the Ryzen 9 8945HX is the better general-purpose processor for most users, winning 13 of 17 benchmarks with decisive margins in single-thread and Cinebench workloads. Its 67% single-thread advantage and 10.6% multi-core Cinebench lead make it the obvious choice for gaming, content creation, and any application that favors high clock speeds. The Ryzen’s unlocked multiplier and 55 W TDP also make it a flexible option for mobile workstations where performance per watt matters.

The EPYC 8224P is not a loser—it is a specialist. Its wins in physics (33% ahead), data encryption (12.6% ahead), and data compression (3.5% ahead) point to server-class workloads like virtualization, database processing, and scientific simulation where core count and memory bandwidth trump raw clock speed. The EPYC’s six-channel memory (230.4 GB/s) and ECC support make it suited for environments requiring data integrity and sustained throughput. If your workload is heavily multithreaded and memory-bound, the EPYC’s 24 cores and 48 threads will pull ahead despite losing the overall benchmark count.

For a laptop or desktop replacement, pick the Ryzen 9 8945HX. For a rack-mounted server handling encryption and compression workloads, the EPYC 8224P is the data-backed choice. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (76,212 for the Ryzen vs 75,582 for the EPYC), but the distribution of wins tells you everything about their intended use cases.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins 13 benchmarks, while the AMD EPYC 8224P wins 4.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by 67% in Passmark single-thread (3,907 vs 2,339). The EPYC’s largest win is 33% in Passmark physics (3,236 vs 2,168).

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713, which is 10.6% higher than the EPYC 8224P’s 38,607.

Q: Does the EPYC 8224P have more cores?

A: Yes, the EPYC has 24 cores and 48 threads, compared to the Ryzen’s 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the EPYC 8224P boosts to 3.00 GHz.

Q: Is there a benchmark where the EPYC wins by a wide margin?

A: Yes, the EPYC wins Passmark physics by 33% (3,236 vs 2,168) and Passmark data encryption by 12.6% (46,742 vs 40,836).

Specification Differences

The core counts differ significantly: the Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the EPYC 8224P has 24 cores and 48 threads. Base clocks are nearly identical—2.50 GHz for the Ryzen versus 2.55 GHz for the EPYC—but boost clocks diverge dramatically at 5.40 GHz and 3.00 GHz, respectively. TDP also differs by a factor of nearly three: 55 W for the Ryzen versus 160 W for the EPYC.

The sockets are incompatible: the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FL1, while the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP6. Memory support differs in channel count, with the Ryzen on dual-channel DDR5 (83.2 GB/s) and the EPYC on six-channel DDR5 (230.4 GB/s). ECC memory is supported on the EPYC but not on the Ryzen. PCIe lanes also differ, with the Ryzen offering 28 Gen 5 lanes versus the EPYC’s 96 Gen 5 lanes. The Ryzen includes integrated Radeon 610M graphics; the EPYC has none. The multiplier is unlocked on the Ryzen but locked on the EPYC. The Ryzen’s part number is 100-000001848, and the EPYC’s is 100-000001134. The EPYC has a launch MSRP of $855; the Ryzen has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

Both chips are built on TSMC’s 5 nm process, but they use different Zen 4 variants. The Ryzen 9 8945HX uses standard Zen 4 with the Dragon Range codename, while the EPYC 8224P uses Zen 4c with the Siena codename. The die sizes are similar—2x 71 mm² for the Ryzen and 2x 73 mm² for the EPYC—but transistor counts differ: 13,140 million for the Ryzen versus 17,750 million for the EPYC. This reflects the Zen 4c design’s denser, more power-efficient core layout.

Cache hierarchies are identical in size: both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Ryzen’s L3 is listed as 64 MB without a "shared" qualifier, while the EPYC’s is listed as 64 MB (shared), which may indicate a different partitioning scheme. Neither chip uses 3D V-Cache, and both support DDR5 memory.

The release dates differ by over a year: the Ryzen launched on 2025-04-22, while the EPYC launched on 2023-09-17. The Ryzen is part of the 8000 series and targets the mobile market segment, whereas the EPYC belongs to the EPYC 8004 series and targets server/workstation use. The Ryzen’s integrated Radeon 610M graphics is a notable feature absent from the EPYC. The EPYC’s six-channel memory controller and 96 PCIe lanes are architectural responses to server demands, while the Ryzen’s dual-channel memory and 28 lanes suit a mobile platform. Both are active production parts, but their design philosophies—high clock speed for the Ryzen, high core density for the EPYC—are reflected in every benchmark delta.