AMD Ryzen 5 40 vs AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a completely one-sided performance landscape. Across all fifteen recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 takes the win, with the Ryzen 5 40 failing to secure a single victory. This is not a close contest with trade-offs; it is a decisive sweep in favor of the newer, larger, and more power-hungry part.

The Ryzen 5 40, based on the Zen 2 architecture, sits in a lower performance tier. Its wins are essentially non-existent in the measured metrics. Where it might have an advantage, it is not in raw compute performance but rather in its lower thermal design point of 15 watts, compared to the 28 watts of the Ryzen AI 7 445. For workloads that prioritize battery life or sustained operation in a thin chassis, the lower TDP is a tangible benefit, even if it does not appear in the benchmark scores. The data shows that the Ryzen 5 40 operates in a different efficiency class, but the AI 7 445 wins every performance contest.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 is the clear choice for any compute-intensive task. Its wins span single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, integer and floating-point math, encryption, compression, and physics simulations. The largest margins are found in integer-heavy and extended instruction workloads, while the smallest, though still substantial, margins are in single-threaded tasks. For any application that relies on the CPU for heavy lifting, the AI 7 445 is the only contender in this comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of AMD design, and the architectural gap explains the benchmark disparity. The Ryzen 5 40 uses the Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Mendocino codename, built on a 6 nm process node. The Ryzen AI 7 445 is a Zen 5 part, codenamed Gorgon Point, manufactured on a 4 nm process. The smaller process node for the AI 7 445 allows for higher transistor density and improved power efficiency per core, contributing to its performance lead.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Ryzen 5 40 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This 50% increase in core count and thread count provides a substantial advantage in multi-threaded benchmarks, which is evident in the Cinebench multi-core results.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Ryzen 5 40 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen AI 7 445 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the AI 7 445 reduce latency for frequently accessed data, boosting single-threaded performance and helping in workloads like game physics or random string sorting.

Memory support further separates the two. The Ryzen 5 40 supports LPDDR5 memory, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The AI 7 445 also has a slightly higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s versus 88.0 GB/s. ECC memory support is exclusive to the AI 7 445, a feature absent on the Ryzen 5 40. PCIe connectivity is another differentiator: the Ryzen 5 40 has Gen 3 with 4 lanes, while the AI 7 445 has Gen 4 with 14 lanes, offering more bandwidth for peripherals and storage.

The integrated graphics differ, with the Ryzen 5 40 using Radeon 610M and the AI 7 445 using Radeon 840M. The sockets are also incompatible, with the Ryzen 5 40 on AMD Socket FT6 and the AI 7 445 on AMD Socket FP8. The base clock of the Ryzen 5 40 is higher at 2.80 GHz versus 2.00 GHz for the AI 7 445, but the boost clock of the AI 7 445 is higher at 4.60 GHz versus 4.30 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a massive multi-core gap. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen AI 7 445 scores 10590 against 4841 for the Ryzen 5 40, a delta of 54.3% in favor of the AI 7 445. The R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 1723 versus 790, a 54.1% lead. These results confirm that the extra cores and newer architecture translate directly into multi-threaded rendering performance.

Single-threaded performance is also clearly in favor of the AI 7 445, though the margin is smaller. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AI 7 445 scores 1806 against 1150, a 36.3% advantage. The R15 single-core test shows 254 versus 165.5, a 34.8% lead. The higher boost clock of the AI 7 445 and the newer Zen 5 core design drive this single-thread superiority.

PassMark results reinforce the pattern. In integer math, the AI 7 445 scores 58332 versus 31598, a 45.8% lead. Floating-point math shows an even larger gap: 39362 versus 15194, a 61.4% advantage. Extended instructions see the AI 7 445 at 15826 versus 6437, a 59.3% lead. The largest delta is in prime number finding, where the AI 7 445 scores 56 versus 20, a 64.3% margin.

Data compression and encryption also favor the AI 7 445. Compression scores are 215812 versus 141533, a 34.4% lead. Encryption shows 10519 versus 6646, a 36.8% advantage. Physics simulation results show the AI 7 445 at 976 versus 432, a 55.7% lead. Random string sorting has the AI 7 445 at 23488 versus 15124, a 35.6% margin. The multithreaded PassMark score is 18115 for the AI 7 445 versus 9341 for the Ryzen 5 40, a 48.4% lead. Single-thread PassMark scores are 3591 versus 2477, a 31% advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 40 has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the Ryzen AI 7 445 in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Ryzen AI 7 445 scores 10590, which is 54.3% higher than the Ryzen 5 40's score of 4841.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 40 does not.

Q: What is the difference in core count between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 40 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a smaller process node?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 is built on a 4 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 5 40 is built on a 6 nm process.

Q: In which benchmark does the Ryzen AI 7 445 have its largest performance lead?

A: The largest lead is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Ryzen AI 7 445 scores 56 versus 20, a 64.3% advantage.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 40 in every single benchmark recorded. The average benchmark score for the AI 7 445 is 26936, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen 5 40 has an average score of 15882 and sits in the 70th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AI 7 445 include the Intel Core i7-1370P and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G, with score deltas of 0.1% and -0.4% respectively, placing it in a competitive mid-range tier. The Ryzen 5 40, by contrast, sits near the AMD EPYC 75F3 and Intel Core Ultra 5 134U, with deltas of 0.1% and -0.2%.

For users selecting a processor based on benchmark performance, the Ryzen AI 7 445 is the only rational choice. Its 54.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 36.3% lead in single-core make it suitable for rendering, compilation, and general productivity. The Ryzen 5 40, with its lower TDP of 15 watts, may be appropriate for fanless or ultra-portable designs where thermal output is the primary constraint, but the performance penalty is severe. The architecture gap between Zen 2 and Zen 5, combined with the core count difference, ensures that the AI 7 445 remains the superior silicon in this comparison. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the Ryzen 5 40 offers a performance advantage.