AMD Ryzen 7 260 vs AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 are both active mobile processors built on TSMC's 4 nm node and sharing the AMD Socket FP8. The data, however, shows two distinctly different performance profiles. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, a Zen 5 design, dominates the shared benchmark suite, while the Ryzen 7 260, based on Zen 4, holds a notable advantage in the database’s overall average score metric.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is decisively in favor of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which wins all 15 recorded comparisons. The largest margin appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the HX 370 scores 126 versus the Ryzen 7 260’s 77, a delta of -38.9% for the latter. This substantial gap indicates a significant advantage in integer-heavy, single-threaded workloads.

The multi-core Cinebench results reinforce this trend. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 21761, which is 20.9% ahead of the Ryzen 7 260’s 17211.5. The R15 multi-core test shows a similar story, with the HX 370’s 3409.5 outpacing the 260’s 2747.5 by 19.4%. The physics workload in PassMark also highlights the performance delta, with the HX 370 scoring 1881 against 1218 for the Ryzen 7 260, a difference of 35.2%.

Single-threaded performance is closer but still favors the Zen 5 part. The PassMark single-thread test shows the HX 370 at 3973, only 6% ahead of the Ryzen 7 260’s 3736. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the HX 370’s 2018 is 12.3% higher than the 1770.5 posted by the Ryzen 7 260. This suggests the architectural improvements in Zen 5 provide a measurable, though not overwhelming, single-thread uplift.

The remaining PassMark workloads all follow the same pattern. Data compression shows the HX 370 at 445719, a 21.1% advantage over 351517. Floating point math favors the HX 370 by 22.7% (76892 versus 59462). Integer math is 21.3% higher for the HX 370 (122933 versus 96737). Even data encryption, a workload often sensitive to memory and core count, shows an 8.9% lead for the HX 370 (22252 versus 20267). The overall PassMark multithread score lands at 35148 for the HX 370 versus 28078 for the Ryzen 7 260, a 20.1% gap.

The Ryzen 7 260’s only statistical claim is its higher average benchmark score. The database lists an average benchmark score of 43717 for the Ryzen 7 260, compared to 37904 for the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. This places the Ryzen 7 260 in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the HX 370 sits in the 86th percentile. The Ryzen 7 260’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43704 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 170 at 43689 (0.1% delta). The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i9-14901E at 37911 (0% delta), followed by the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X at 37943 (-0.1% delta).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher core and thread count?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do the base clock speeds compare between the two processors?

A: The Ryzen 7 260 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz, which is significantly higher than the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370’s base clock of 2.00 GHz. Both processors share the same 5.10 GHz boost clock.

Q: What is the difference in their thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The Ryzen 7 260 has a TDP of 45 watts, whereas the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has a lower TDP of 28 watts.

Q: Which processor delivers a higher score in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 21761 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 20.9% higher than the Ryzen 7 260’s score of 17211.5.

Q: Do both processors use the same memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, both the Ryzen 7 260 and the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 support dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a larger die size?

A: The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has a die size of 233 mm², which is larger than the Ryzen 7 260’s 178 mm² die.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is clear. The Ryzen 7 260 uses the Zen 4 architecture and carries the Hawk Point codename, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses the Zen 5 architecture and carries the Strix Point codename. The HX 370’s generation is listed as Ryzen AI 300 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c), indicating a hybrid core design, whereas the 260 is a straight Zen 4 part.

The core and cache structures differ accordingly. The Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, for a total of 16 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores with 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, also with 16 MB of L3. The larger L1 per core on the HX 370 aligns with its higher single-thread performance in the benchmarks.

Process technology is identical: both are built by TSMC on a 4 nm process. The transistor counts differ, with the Ryzen 7 260 listed at 25,000 million transistors, while the HX 370’s transistor count is not listed in the database. The die size difference is notable, with the HX 370 measuring 233 mm² versus 178 mm² for the Ryzen 7 260. The HX 370’s larger die accommodates its additional cores.

Memory support varies slightly. The Ryzen 7 260 supports DDR5, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Ryzen 7 260 provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the HX 370 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well, with the Ryzen 7 260 featuring the Radeon 780M and the HX 370 featuring the Radeon 890M.

The Verdict

The benchmark data consistently points to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 as the stronger performer in the tested workloads. It wins every head-to-head comparison, with the largest margins in prime number calculation (38.9% ahead), physics (35.2% ahead), and floating-point math (22.7% ahead). For users prioritizing raw multi-core throughput or single-thread speed in the Cinebench and PassMark suites, the HX 370 is the clear choice based on the recorded scores.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260, however, presents a different trade-off. Its average benchmark score of 43717 is higher than the HX 370’s 37904, and it ranks in the 88th percentile versus the HX 370’s 86th. The 260 also carries a higher TDP of 45 watts, suggesting a different performance envelope. Its higher base clock of 3.80 GHz may offer responsiveness in short bursts, but the benchmark results show it trailing in sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks.

The choice depends on whether the user weighs the aggregate database average or the direct head-to-head results. The HX 370 delivers higher scores in every shared test, making it the superior option for the specific workloads measured. The Ryzen 7 260’s higher average score and percentile ranking indicate it holds its own in a broader dataset, but the direct comparisons favor the Zen 5 part.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The base clock is 3.80 GHz for the 260 and 2.00 GHz for the HX 370, with both sharing a 5.10 GHz boost clock. The TDP is 45 watts for the 260 and 28 watts for the HX 370. The architecture is Zen 4 for the 260 and Zen 5 for the HX 370. Codename is Hawk Point for the 260 and Strix Point for the HX 370. The die size is 178 mm² for the 260 and 233 mm² for the HX 370. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core for the 260 and 80 KB per core for the HX 370. The L2 cache is 1 MB per core for both. The L3 cache is 16 MB shared for the 260 and 16 MB for the HX 370. Memory support is DDR5 for the 260 and DDR5 plus LPDDR5X for the HX 370. PCIe lanes are 20 for the 260 and 16 for the HX 370, both Gen 4. The integrated graphics are Radeon 780M for the 260 and Radeon 890M for the HX 370. The part numbers are 100-000001724 for the 260 and 100-000000994 for the HX 370. The release dates are 2025-01-05 for the 260 and 2024-06-30 for the HX 370.