AMD Ryzen 3 8440U vs AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS Comparison

Both processors are four-core, eight-thread mobile parts aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but they represent different generations and design philosophies from AMD. The Ryzen 5 7235HS is a 45-watt part from the 7000 series, while the Ryzen 3 8440U is a 28-watt part from the newer 8000 series. Despite the Ryzen 5's higher core count designation and power envelope, the benchmark data shows a clear trend: the Ryzen 3 8440U wins the vast majority of tests, with the Ryzen 5 7235HS taking a smaller set of niche workloads. The database records 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with the Ryzen 3 8440U taking 13 wins and the Ryzen 5 7235HS taking 4. Both chips land in the 70th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are very close, at 16902 for the Ryzen 5 and 16663 for the Ryzen 3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 3 8440U establishes a consistent lead across all Cinebench tests, which measure raw CPU rendering performance. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 3 scores 1097 against the Ryzen 5's 1050, a delta of -4.3% from the Ryzen 5's perspective. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern, with the Ryzen 3 at 154 and the Ryzen 5 at 148, also a -3.9% delta. This trend continues through Cinebench R20 and R23. In R20 multicore, the Ryzen 3 posts 4571 versus 4375, and in single-core it posts 645 versus 617, both at a -4.3% delta. The R23 multicore result is 10884 for the Ryzen 3 against 10418 for the Ryzen 5, with the single-core test at 1536 versus 1470. In every Cinebench iteration, the margin is nearly identical, hovering around 4%, which suggests a consistent architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Passmark suite reveals a more fragmented picture. The Ryzen 5 7235HS takes decisive wins in data compression and encryption. In data compression, it scores 152168 against 146273, a 4% lead. The encryption test is its strongest victory, with a score of 9051 versus 8012, a 13% advantage. The Ryzen 5 also edges out a win in floating point math, scoring 23091 versus 23017, a marginal 0.3% lead, and in integer math it scores 40174 against 37468, a 7.2% margin. These are significant wins for the older chip, particularly in integer workloads.

The Ryzen 3 8440U counters with equally decisive wins in other Passmark tests. Its most dramatic victory is in single-thread performance, scoring 3648 against the Ryzen 5's 2873, a massive 21.2% delta. It also wins the physics test with 685 versus 574, a 16.2% lead, and random string sorting with 17725 versus 15294, a 13.7% margin. In extended instructions, the Ryzen 3 scores 11059 against 10887, a 1.6% win, and in the find prime numbers test it scores 43 versus 31, a 27.9% advantage. The multithread test also goes to the Ryzen 3, with 12805 versus 12243, a 4.4% delta. The overall picture is clear: the Ryzen 3 dominates in single-core and memory-heavy tasks, while the Ryzen 5 holds its ground in encryption, integer math, and compression.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 7235HS is the clear choice for encryption-heavy workloads. Its 13% lead in data encryption and 7.2% win in integer math suggest it has a strong cryptographic engine and robust ALU performance. Data compression is also its territory, with a 4% win. For users who work with encrypted files, databases, or compression tools, the Ryzen 5's modest but consistent wins in these areas could translate to real-world time savings. Its floating point math performance is essentially a tie, with a 0.3% lead, so it does not lose any ground in scientific or rendering tasks that rely on FPU throughput.

The Ryzen 3 8440U is the winner for general productivity and single-threaded responsiveness. Its 21.2% lead in single-thread performance is the largest margin in the entire comparison, which directly impacts how snappy a system feels when launching applications or navigating the OS. The 16.2% win in physics tests indicates better performance in simulation and gaming physics calculations. The 13.7% lead in random string sorting points to superior memory latency and caching behavior, which benefits any application that shuffles data around. The Ryzen 3 also wins the multithread test by 4.4%, showing that its lower power envelope does not hurt it in multi-core scaling.

For Cinebench rendering workloads, the Ryzen 3 wins all six tests by roughly 4% each. This is a broad, consistent advantage that makes it the better all-around processor for content creation, even if the individual margins are not as dramatic as the single-thread or physics wins. The Ryzen 5's wins are narrower and more specialized, while the Ryzen 3's victories span both synthetic and real-world workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different architectures and manufacturing processes. The Ryzen 5 7235HS uses Zen 3+ architecture on a 6 nm TSMC node, codenamed Rembrandt-R. The Ryzen 3 8440U uses the newer Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC node, codenamed Hawk Point. The process node shrink from 6 nm to 4 nm is a significant factor in the Ryzen 3's performance-per-watt advantage, allowing it to achieve higher clock speeds and better efficiency despite a lower TDP.

The cache hierarchies differ as well. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 8 MB of shared L3 cache, but the L2 cache is different. The Ryzen 5 has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Ryzen 3 has 1 MB per core, double the amount. This larger L2 cache likely contributes to the Ryzen 3's wins in single-thread and random string sorting tests, as more data can be kept closer to the cores.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Ryzen 5 7235HS comes with a Radeon 660M, while the Ryzen 3 8440U has a Radeon 740M. The newer Radeon 740M on the Ryzen 3 is expected to offer better iGPU performance, but the database does not include specific graphics benchmarks. The transistor count and die size are also different, with the Ryzen 3 having 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the Ryzen 5's die size is 210 mm², though its transistor count is not listed. The smaller die on a more advanced node is a clear architectural advantage for the Ryzen 3.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is the TDP. The Ryzen 5 7235HS has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Ryzen 3 8440U has a TDP of 28 watts. Despite the lower power budget, the Ryzen 3 manages to outperform the Ryzen 5 in most tests, which confirms the Zen 4 architecture's efficiency. The base and boost clocks also differ: the Ryzen 5 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the Ryzen 3 has a lower base clock of 3.00 GHz but a significantly higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Memory bandwidth is another key difference. The Ryzen 5 has a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Ryzen 3 has 89.6 GB/s, a 16.7% advantage. Both support DDR5 memory and dual-channel buses, but the Ryzen 3's higher bandwidth likely contributes to its wins in memory-sensitive tests like random string sorting. ECC memory support is present on the Ryzen 5 but absent on the Ryzen 3, which is a consideration for users who require error-correcting memory for data integrity.

PCIe lane counts also differ. The Ryzen 5 has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Ryzen 3 has 14 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. This gives the Ryzen 5 more headroom for connecting multiple NVMe drives or discrete GPUs, despite its overall performance disadvantage. The Ryzen 5 has a release date that is not listed, while the Ryzen 3 was released on 2023-12-05. Both use the AMD Socket FP7, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS's boost clock of 4.20 GHz.

Q: How does the single-thread performance compare?

A: The Ryzen 3 8440U is significantly faster in single-threaded tasks. In the Passmark single-thread test, it scores 3648 against the Ryzen 5's 2873, a 21.2% advantage.

Q: Is there a difference in L2 cache size?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 3 8440U has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Ryzen 5 7235HS has 512 KB per core.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Ryzen 5 7235HS has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Ryzen 3 8440U has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Ryzen 5 7235HS has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Ryzen 3 8440U has 14 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal regarding overall performance. The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U wins 13 of 17 benchmarks and takes every Cinebench test, every single-thread test, and the majority of Passmark workloads. Its 21.2% lead in single-thread performance and 16.2% lead in physics make it the better choice for the vast majority of users, from general productivity to light content creation. The Ryzen 3 also does this with a 28-watt TDP, which is significantly lower than the Ryzen 5's 45-watt TDP, meaning it will generate less heat and likely offer better battery life in mobile devices.

The Ryzen 5 7235HS is not without its merits. Its 13% lead in data encryption and 7.2% lead in integer math make it the better pick for specialized workloads that rely heavily on those operations. It also offers more PCIe lanes and ECC memory support, which are enterprise-oriented features that the Ryzen 3 lacks. For users who prioritize encryption performance, data compression, or need ECC memory, the Ryzen 5 is the correct choice.

For everyone else, the Ryzen 3 8440U is the superior processor. It is faster in almost every measurable way, more power-efficient, and built on a newer architecture. The only reason to pick the Ryzen 5 7235HS is if the specific workloads or platform requirements align with its strengths. The benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen 3 8440U is the better all-around mobile processor, delivering higher performance with lower power consumption. The Ryzen 5's wins are real but narrow, and they do not compensate for its losses in the broader benchmark suite.