AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U vs Intel Core i7-1360P Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the Intel Core i7-1360P and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is not a simple matter of one chip dominating every workload. The recorded data shows Intel winning 10 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while AMD claims 7, but the margins and workload types tell a more nuanced story.

The Intel Core i7-1360P builds its advantage primarily around raw computational throughput in math-heavy and physics-based workloads. Its largest wins come in floating-point math, where it scores 45,997 against AMD's 34,865, a commanding 31.9% lead. The physics benchmark shows a similar pattern, with Intel at 1,280 versus AMD's 983, a 30.2% gap. Integer math also favors Intel heavily, 67,963 versus 56,738, a 19.8% advantage. These three tests alone establish the Intel part as the clear choice for compute-bound tasks that rely on extensive arithmetic processing.

The Intel chip also holds notable leads in the Cinebench R15 suite, both multi-core and single-core. Its multi-core score of 1,858 beats AMD's 1,557 by 19.3%, and the single-core result of 258 versus 219 gives Intel a 17.8% edge. Additional wins come in prime number finding, where Intel scores 78 versus AMD's 66, an 18.2% difference, and in data encryption, where Intel's 12,463 narrowly edges AMD's 12,319 by 1.2%. The multithread PassMark test also goes to Intel, 18,632 versus 18,218, a 2.3% margin.

Where the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U excels is in newer Cinebench versions and in specific instruction-heavy and memory-access patterns. The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD scores 15,456 against Intel's 11,266.5, a 27.1% reversal in Intel's favor on older Cinebench tests. Single-core R23 also goes to AMD, 2,182 versus 1,829, a 16.2% advantage. The extended instructions test shows AMD's strength with a score of 15,410 versus Intel's 11,581, a 24.8% lead. AMD also wins random string sorting, 24,797 versus 22,522, a 9.2% edge, and the PassMark single-thread test, 3,563 versus 3,461, a 2.9% margin. Data compression is nearly tied, with AMD at 205,703 and Intel at 203,746, a 1% difference.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1360P is built on Raptor Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U uses Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm node. The process node difference is substantial, and AMD's chip packs 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, figures not available for the Intel part.

Core counts diverge significantly. Intel offers 12 cores and 16 threads, while AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel's hybrid arrangement relies on a larger core count to achieve its multi-threaded results, whereas AMD compensates with higher clock speeds. The Intel base clock is 2.20 GHz with a 5.00 GHz boost, while AMD starts higher at 3.20 GHz and boosts to 4.90 GHz. Both parts share a 28 W TDP, placing them in the same power envelope despite their different internal designs.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part therefore has more cache at every level, which may contribute to its strong showing in math workloads that benefit from larger working sets.

Memory support is another differentiator. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while AMD supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but AMD lists an explicit memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure not provided for Intel. AMD also supports ECC memory, which Intel does not. PCIe lane counts favor Intel, with 20 CPU-only Gen 4 lanes versus AMD's 14 CPU-only Gen 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. Intel pairs its chip with Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while AMD includes the Radeon 740M. The release dates are separated by more than a year, with Intel launching on 2023-01-03 and AMD on 2024-04-15. Intel carries a launch MSRP of $480, while no MSRP is recorded for AMD.

The Verdict

The data suggests distinct user profiles for each processor. The Intel Core i7-1360P is the stronger choice for workloads dominated by floating-point arithmetic, physics calculations, integer math, and prime number generation. Its 31.9% lead in floating-point math and 30.2% lead in physics are the largest margins in the entire comparison. Anyone running simulation software, scientific computing tasks, or other math-heavy applications should favor Intel based on these recorded results.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is the better option for newer Cinebench workloads, extended instruction sets, and single-threaded PassMark performance. Its 27.1% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the single biggest margin in either direction, and the 24.8% lead in extended instructions suggests superior handling of modern SIMD or specialized instruction workloads. The AMD chip also wins the PassMark single-thread test, making it attractive for lightly threaded applications where per-core efficiency matters.

The overall benchmark averages tell a close story. Intel's average benchmark score is 24,344, while AMD's is 23,709. Intel sits at the 76th percentile among all CPUs, and AMD also sits at the 76th percentile. Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H at 24,364, a 0.1% difference, and the Intel Core i5-13400 at 24,280, a 0.3% difference. AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11500 at 23,718, a 0% difference, and the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U at 23,982, a 1.1% difference. Both chips are firmly in the same performance tier.

For users who prioritize the Cinebench R23 suite, which is a common proxy for modern rendering and content creation, AMD is the clear pick. For users whose workloads resemble the PassMark math and physics tests, Intel is the better fit. The choice depends entirely on which benchmark family best represents the target workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1360P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-1360P boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U boosts to 4.90 GHz.

Q: Which chip wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U wins with a score of 15,456, beating the Intel Core i7-1360P's 11,266.5 by 27.1%.

Q: Does the Intel processor support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-1360P supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U supports only DDR5.

Q: Which processor has ECC memory support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-1360P does not.

Q: How do the two chips compare in the PassMark floating-point math test?

A: The Intel Core i7-1360P scores 45,997, which is 31.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U's score of 34,865.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench family shows an interesting inversion across versions. In Cinebench R15, Intel dominates with 1,858 multi-core versus AMD's 1,557, a 19.3% advantage, and 258 single-core versus 219, a 17.8% edge. The R20 results are nearly identical, with Intel at 6,530 multi-core versus AMD's 6,491, a 0.6% margin, and 921 single-core versus 916, a 0.5% edge. But the R23 results flip entirely. AMD's multi-core score of 15,456 crushes Intel's 11,266.5 by 27.1%, and AMD's single-core 2,182 beats Intel's 1,829 by 16.2%. This pattern suggests AMD's architecture scales better in newer, more demanding render workloads, while Intel holds its advantage in the older test versions.

The PassMark suite provides the clearest separation of strengths. Intel wins the physics test, 1,280 versus 983, a 30.2% margin, and the floating-point math test, 45,997 versus 34,865, a 31.9% margin. These are Intel's two largest wins in the entire comparison. Intel also takes integer math, 67,963 versus 56,738, a 19.8% lead, and prime number finding, 78 versus 66, an 18.2% advantage. The multithread test goes to Intel as well, 18,632 versus 18,218, a 2.3% margin.

AMD's PassMark wins are concentrated in different areas. The extended instructions test shows a 24.8% lead, with AMD at 15,410 and Intel at 11,581. Random string sorting favors AMD, 24,797 versus 22,522, a 9.2% difference. The single-thread test goes to AMD, 3,563 versus 3,461, a 2.9% margin, and data compression is essentially even, with AMD at 205,703 and Intel at 203,746, a 1% difference. Data encryption is the only PassMark test where Intel wins narrowly, 12,463 versus 12,319, a 1.2% margin.

The overall win count of 10 for Intel and 7 for AMD reflects the distribution of workload types. Intel's wins are often large, with four tests showing margins above 18%. AMD's wins are also decisive in two tests, the R23 multi-core at 27.1% and extended instructions at 24.8%, but its other wins are smaller. The average benchmark scores remain close, with Intel at 24,344 and AMD at 23,709, a difference of roughly 2.7%. This is a matchup where the specific benchmark matters more than any overall ranking, and users should map their own workloads to the test results above before making a choice.