AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS vs Intel Core i9-11980HK Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS and Intel Core i9-11980HK represent two distinct eras of mobile computing, with the former leveraging AMD's modern Zen 4 architecture and the latter being Intel's last high-end 11th Gen part. Benchmark data reveals a clear generational shift, but the Intel chip still holds some surprising advantages in specific workloads. The Ryzen PRO wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head tests, yet the Intel i9 takes 4 wins that hint at its raw core-count advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS come in single-threaded and encryption workloads. In PassMark single-thread testing, the AMD scores 3858 against Intel's 3261, a commanding 18.3% lead. This pattern repeats across every Cinebench iteration: the Ryzen PRO wins R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests by a consistent 6.1% margin, posting scores of 280, 1170, and 2787 respectively. The Intel i9-11980HK trails with 264, 1103, and 2628 in those same tests. This suggests the Zen 4 core design delivers substantially higher instructions-per-clock than Tiger Lake.

Multi-core Cinebench results tell a similar story, with the AMD winning all three versions by exactly 6.0%. The R23 multi-core score of 19742 for the Ryzen PRO versus 18617 for the Intel chip shows that despite having only 6 cores and 12 threads against Intel's 8 cores and 16 threads, the AMD processor's architectural efficiency overcomes the core deficit. The PassMark multithread test confirms this trend, with AMD winning 23569 to 22436, a 5% margin.

The encryption test shows the largest single delta. The Ryzen PRO scores 17387 in PassMark data encryption, a massive 25.9% ahead of Intel's 13813. Similarly, extended instructions (AVX-512 and related workloads) favor AMD by 20.2%, with scores of 21212 versus 17654. These results indicate the Zen 4 architecture has significantly stronger cryptographic and vector processing capabilities.

However, the Intel Core i9-11980HK fights back in integer-heavy tasks. PassMark integer math shows Intel winning 78682 to 72740, a 7.6% advantage. Prime number finding is even more lopsided: Intel scores 100 versus AMD's 73, a 27% blowout. Floating-point math also slightly favors Intel at 46262 versus 45481, a 1.7% edge. Data compression is nearly a tie, with Intel edging out AMD 266571 to 265826, a mere 0.3% difference.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural gap is stark. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS uses TSMC's 4 nm process node with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core i9-11980HK relies on Intel's 10 nm process with a 190 mm² die size. This manufacturing advantage translates directly into the performance-per-clock gains seen in the benchmarks.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD chip uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel's design uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a larger 24 MB of shared L3. Despite having less total cache, the AMD processor still outperforms in most tests, suggesting the Zen 4 memory subsystem is more efficient at utilizing available cache.

Memory support represents another generational split. The AMD Ryzen PRO supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus delivering 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel chip uses DDR4 with the same dual-channel configuration but only 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This 75% bandwidth advantage for AMD likely contributes to its strong performance in data-intensive workloads like encryption and random string sorting, where it wins 35472 to 31709 (an 11.9% margin).

Both processors share the same 45 W TDP and use Gen 4 PCIe with 20 CPU lanes. However, the AMD chip is built on the Hawk Point codename with Zen 4 architecture, while Intel uses Tiger Lake-H. The AMD part is currently Active in production, while Intel has been marked End-of-life. The Intel chip does offer an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD does not.

FAQ

Q: Why does the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS win most benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads versus Intel's 8 cores and 16 threads, but it uses the newer Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process. The benchmark data shows AMD winning 13 of 17 tests, including all Cinebench multi-core tests, indicating that per-core efficiency and memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s) more than compensate for the core deficit.

Q: Where does the Intel Core i9-11980HK still outperform the AMD chip?

A: The Intel chip wins 4 tests: PassMark integer math (78682 versus 72740), prime number finding (100 versus 73), floating-point math (46262 versus 45481), and data compression (266571 versus 265826). These wins suggest that in pure arithmetic and compression workloads, the higher core count (8 versus 6) provides a tangible advantage.

Q: How significant is the single-threaded performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen PRO leads by 18.3% in PassMark single-thread (3858 versus 3261) and by 6.1% across all Cinebench single-core tests. This consistent margin indicates the Zen 4 architecture delivers substantially higher per-core throughput than Tiger Lake.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth and why does it matter?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. The 75% bandwidth advantage helps the AMD chip in workloads like data encryption (25.9% faster) and random string sorting (11.9% faster), where memory access patterns are critical.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS features Radeon 760M graphics, while the Intel Core i9-11980HK uses UHD Graphics 750. The benchmark data does not include graphics tests, but the specification difference indicates AMD's integrated solution is from a more recent generation.

Q: What is the production status difference between these processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS is listed as Active in production and was released on 2024-04-15. The Intel Core i9-11980HK is End-of-life, having been released on 2021-05-10. This means the AMD chip represents current technology, while the Intel part is a previous-generation product.

The Verdict

The data makes a clear case for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS as the superior processor overall. It wins 13 of 17 benchmarks, has a higher average benchmark score of 30879 versus 30422, and ranks at the 82nd percentile against all CPUs compared to Intel's 81st. The AMD chip's performance in encryption (25.9% faster), extended instructions (20.2% faster), and single-thread workloads (18.3% faster) demonstrates that Zen 4 represents a substantial generational leap over Tiger Lake.

However, the Intel Core i9-11980HK retains value for specific use cases. Its 27% advantage in prime number finding and 7.6% lead in integer math suggest that heavily arithmetic workloads still benefit from its 8-core, 16-thread configuration. The nearly identical data compression scores (within 0.3%) show that Intel's larger cache hierarchy can keep pace in memory-sequential tasks.

For most users, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS is the logical choice. It offers better performance in the majority of tests, supports modern DDR5 memory, and remains an active production part. The Intel chip, while end-of-life, still has the edge in pure math-heavy tasks, which may matter for specific scientific or financial computing applications.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS | Intel Core i9-11980HK |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 4.30 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Tiger Lake-H |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | 190 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 760M | UHD Graphics 750 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2024-04-15 | 2021-05-10 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | 100-000001315 (FP7r2), 100-000001388 (FP7) | SRKSZ |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS dominates in single-threaded performance, making it the better choice for everyday responsiveness, web browsing, office applications, and any software that relies heavily on per-core speed. Its 18.3% lead in PassMark single-thread and 6.1% lead in all Cinebench single-core tests indicates snappier application performance. The AMD chip also wins decisively in data encryption (25.9%) and extended instructions (20.2%), making it the superior option for security-sensitive workloads, virtual private networks, and any application using modern SIMD instructions. Random string sorting (11.9% faster) and physics calculations (8.6% faster) further cement its advantage in simulation and data processing scenarios.

The Intel Core i9-11980HK carves out its niche in pure computational math. Its 27% lead in prime number finding makes it the better choice for cryptography research, number theory computations, and certain mathematical modeling tasks. The 7.6% advantage in integer math suggests it handles general arithmetic operations more efficiently, which could benefit database indexing, financial calculations, and legacy software. The 1.7% lead in floating-point math and 0.3% edge in data compression are marginal but real, indicating that for these specific workloads, the two extra cores and larger 24 MB L3 cache provide just enough of a boost to overcome the architectural disadvantage.