AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data is unambiguous on the win distribution. Across all eleven head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS takes every single win. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 does not record a single victory in any measured workload. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins by margins ranging from 20.2% in single-threaded work to a massive 46.2% in prime number finding.

For the Ryzen 7 170, the most competitive area is single-thread performance, where it trails by 20.2%. The delta narrows to 22.9% in integer math, which is still a substantial gap but the smallest of the multithreaded workloads. The data shows that the Ryzen 7 170 is not the faster part in any category that the database measures, which makes the use-case split quite simple: if you want the faster processor, the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the choice across the board.

The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS shows its largest advantages in prime number finding at 46.2% ahead, followed by physics at 37.8% and random string sorting at 37.8%. Extended instructions show a 34.7% lead, and multithread performance is 31.7% ahead. These are not marginal wins; the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is decisively faster in every measured category. The benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the stronger processor for any workload represented in the database, from compression and encryption to floating point and integer math.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing nodes. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt-R codename, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 210 mm². The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is denser and smaller, which is consistent with its newer process technology.

Both processors have 8 cores and 16 threads, and both use the same AMD Socket FP7. The Ryzen 7 170 belongs to the Ryzen 7 generation built on Zen 3+ (Rembrandt), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS belongs to the 8000 series and the Ryzen 9 generation built on Zen 4 (Hawk Point). Cache configurations differ in L2: the Ryzen 7 170 has 512 KB of L2 per core, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 1 MB of L2 per core. Both share 16 MB of L3, and both have 64 KB of L1 per core.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 7 170 carries a Radeon 680M, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS carries a Radeon 780M. Both support DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but the memory bandwidth differs: the Ryzen 7 170 records 76.8 GB/s, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS records 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, and both have locked multipliers. The Ryzen 7 170 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.75 GHz, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS draws a 45 W TDP compared to 35 W for the Ryzen 7 170, which is a plausible contributor to its higher performance.

The release dates differ significantly. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS was released on 2024-04-15, while the Ryzen 7 170 was released later on 2025-09-30. Both processors are listed as Active in production status, and both target the Mobile market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS records a single-thread score of 3920, which is 20.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 170's 3128. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the faster part for single-thread performance.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multithreaded performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS scores 30378 in the PassMark multithread test, while the Ryzen 7 170 scores 20760. That is a 31.7% advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads. The performance difference comes from other factors such as architecture, clock speeds, cache, and memory bandwidth, not from core count.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Ryzen 7 170 records 76.8 GB/s, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS records 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor has the larger L2 cache?

A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 1 MB of L2 per core, while the Ryzen 7 170 has 512 KB of L2 per core. Both share 16 MB of L3.

Q: In which workload does the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS have the biggest advantage?

A: The largest margin is in prime number finding, where the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS scores 91 versus 49 for the Ryzen 7 170, a 46.2% lead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The Ryzen 7 170 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a base clock of 4.00 GHz. The boost clock is 4.75 GHz for the Ryzen 7 170 and 5.20 GHz for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. TDP is 35 W for the Ryzen 7 170 and 45 W for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS.

Architecture differs: Zen 3+ with Rembrandt-R codename for the Ryzen 7 170, Zen 4 with Hawk Point codename for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. The process node is 6 nm for the Ryzen 7 170 and 4 nm for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. Die size is 210 mm² for the Ryzen 7 170 and 178 mm² for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. Transistor count is only recorded for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS at 25,000 million.

Cache L2 per core is 512 KB for the Ryzen 7 170 and 1 MB for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. Memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s for the Ryzen 7 170 and 89.6 GB/s for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. Integrated graphics are Radeon 680M for the Ryzen 7 170 and Radeon 780M for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. The release dates are 2025-09-30 for the Ryzen 7 170 and 2024-04-15 for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. The part numbers also differ: 100-000000989 for the Ryzen 7 170, and 100-000001314(FP7r2) or 100-000001386(FP7) for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS.

The Ryzen 7 170 lists its series as null, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS belongs to the 8000 series. Both share the same socket, memory support, memory bus, ECC support, PCIe configuration, core count, thread count, L1 cache, L3 cache, market segment, production status, and multiplier lock status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 91 against 49 for the Ryzen 7 170, a 46.2% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and indicates a major difference in workloads that stress integer-heavy iterative computation.

PassMark physics shows a 37.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS, with scores of 1430 versus 890. Random string sorting also shows a 37.8% lead, with 44668 versus 27804. Extended instructions follow at 34.7%, with 27714 versus 18107. Multithread performance is 31.7% ahead at 30378 versus 20760. Floating point math records a 29.2% lead at 63490 versus 44979. Data compression shows 368884 versus 265920, a 27.9% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. Data encryption is 26.3% ahead at 21820 versus 16078. Integer math shows a 22.9% lead at 103390 versus 79738. Single-thread performance is the narrowest gap at 20.2%, with 3920 versus 3128.

The Ryzen 7 170 does not win any of the eleven recorded head-to-head tests. Its closest result is in single-thread performance, where it comes within 20.2% of the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS. The data shows a consistent pattern: the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS leads in every category, with the margins varying from roughly one-fifth to nearly one-half depending on the workload.

Both processors land at the 88th percentile among all CPUs in the database, which places them in the same overall performance tier despite the large head-to-head deltas. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 7 170 is 43689, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS averages 41963. The Ryzen 7 170 actually has a higher average score in the database, which reflects the different test sets included in each processor's average. The nearest rivals for the Ryzen 7 170 include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43704 with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 7 260 at 43717 with a -0.1% delta, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 at 43431 with a 0.6% delta, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 at 43326 with a 0.8% delta. The nearest rivals for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS include the Intel Core i7-14700T at 41914 with a 0.1% delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 at 42055 with a -0.2% delta, the Intel Core i7-12850HX at 41779 with a 0.4% delta, and the Intel Core 7 251TE at 41650 with a 0.8% delta.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the faster processor in every workload the database measures, with advantages ranging from 20.2% in single-thread performance to 46.2% in prime number finding. If the priority is maximum performance for compute-heavy tasks such as compression, encryption, physics, floating point math, or multithreaded workloads, the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the processor to pick.

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is not without its place. It carries a lower 35 W TDP compared to 45 W for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS, which matters for systems where power draw is a concern. It also has a smaller die at 210 mm² versus 178 mm², and it was released more recently on 2025-09-30 compared to 2024-04-15. However, the benchmark results show that the Ryzen 7 170 trails in every recorded test, so the choice comes down to whether the lower TDP is worth the performance gap.

For a builder who prioritizes raw throughput, the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the obvious selection. It wins every head-to-head test, offers higher clock speeds, more L2 cache, higher memory bandwidth, a newer architecture on a smaller process node, and a stronger integrated GPU. For a builder who needs a lower-power part and can accept a significant performance deficit, the Ryzen 7 170 is the only one of the two that fits that profile. The database does not record a single workload where the Ryzen 7 170 comes out ahead, so the verdict is straightforward: choose the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS for performance, or choose the Ryzen 7 170 for its lower power envelope.