AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U vs Intel Core i9-11980HK Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11980HK and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U occupy the same performance percentile (81st) but achieve it through very different designs. The newer AMD part wins 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, yet the older Intel chip holds specific strengths in integer math, prime number finding, and data compression. The benchmark data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U is the faster all-around mobile processor, delivering a 6.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 12.6% lead in Passmark single-thread. The Intel Core i9-11980HK remains relevant only for workloads that specifically favor its architecture, such as prime number calculation where it leads by 28.2%.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for most buyers: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U. It outperforms the Intel chip in every Cinebench test, with margins ranging from 6.8% to 7.0% across R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core. The AMD part also wins in Passmark multithread (22,795 vs 22,436) and in single-thread (3,732 vs 3,261). This makes it the better choice for productivity, rendering, and general responsiveness. The Intel Core i9-11980HK is a niche pick for users running prime number sieving or heavy integer math, where it leads by 28.2% and 5.1%, respectively. However, those are narrow workloads. For everything else—encryption, floating-point, physics, and sorting—the AMD chip either wins or stays competitive. The Intel part does hold a slight edge in data compression (2.2%) and floating-point math (2.2%), but these gains are small compared to the AMD chip's broad superiority. Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U for its balanced performance and lower power draw; choose the Intel Core i9-11980HK only if your software is heavily dependent on integer operations or prime finding.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U scores 19,982 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 6.8% higher than the Intel Core i9-11980HK's score of 18,617.

Q: How big is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The AMD chip leads by 12.6% in Passmark single-thread (3,732 vs 3,261). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part scores 2,821 versus 2,628, a 6.8% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-11980HK wins 4 of 17 tests: Passmark data compression (266,571 vs 260,925), prime numbers (100 vs 78), floating-point math (46,262 vs 45,265), and integer math (78,682 vs 74,875).

Q: What is the largest performance difference in either direction?

A: The biggest win for the AMD chip is in Passmark data encryption, where it scores 15,843 versus 13,813, a 12.8% lead. The biggest win for Intel is in prime number finding, with a 28.2% lead.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-11980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel chip supports DDR4 memory, while the AMD chip supports DDR5. The AMD part also has a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i9-11980HK is built on Tiger Lake-H, a 10 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 190 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U uses Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors. The AMD chip uses a newer, denser process, which contributes to its efficiency and higher clock speeds despite fewer cores.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has smaller per-core caches: 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2, with 16 MB of shared L3. Despite the smaller cache, the AMD chip's Zen 4 architecture and higher base clock compensate in most benchmarks.

The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 750, while AMD uses Radeon 760M. Additionally, the AMD chip supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Intel part. The AMD processor also carries a different production status—active versus end-of-life for the Intel—and a much later release date. These architectural changes explain the AMD chip's ability to win on efficiency and single-thread performance while using fewer cores.

Specification Differences

The most obvious spec gap is core count: Intel offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads. However, the AMD chip compensates with a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for Intel. The Intel part has a higher TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD part is rated at 28 watts.

Memory support differs: Intel uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth; AMD uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is available only on the AMD chip. Both use the same PCIe Gen 4 interface with 20 lanes. The socket is different: Intel uses BGA 1787, AMD uses Socket FP7. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part is locked. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $583; the AMD chip has no listed MSRP. The AMD chip is active in production, while the Intel chip is end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2,014 versus 1,876, a 6.9% lead. In single-core, it wins by 7.0% (284 vs 264). This pattern continues in R20 and R23, where the AMD chip leads by 6.8% in both multi-core and single-core tests. The consistency of this margin across all Cinebench versions indicates a fundamental performance advantage in both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads.

The Passmark results show a more nuanced picture. The AMD chip wins in data encryption by 12.8% (15,843 vs 13,813) and in extended instructions by 7.7% (19,130 vs 17,654). It also takes the Passmark multithread test by 1.6% (22,795 vs 22,436), physics by 3.6% (1,154 vs 1,112), random string sorting by 1.3% (32,114 vs 31,709), and single-thread by 12.6% (3,732 vs 3,261). These wins cover a broad range of real-world tasks, from encryption to sorting.

The Intel Core i9-11980HK fights back in four specific areas. Its biggest win is in prime number finding, where it scores 100 versus 78, a massive 28.2% lead. It also wins in integer math by 5.1% (78,682 vs 74,875) and in floating-point math by 2.2% (46,262 vs 45,265). The Intel chip also edges out the AMD part in data compression by 2.2% (266,571 vs 260,925). These wins suggest that Intel's architecture retains a strength in calculation-heavy, non-memory-bound tasks. However, these four wins are outweighed by the AMD chip's 13 victories, which include all the Cinebench tests and the more common Passmark workloads like encryption and single-thread performance. The net result is an average benchmark score of 30,254 for AMD versus 30,422 for Intel, a nearly identical overall performance level, but with the AMD chip winning the majority of individual tests.