AMD Ryzen 7 7736U vs AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 7736U and AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors from AMD, yet they occupy different tiers within the mobile lineup. The 7736U is a 15 W part from the 7000 series built on Zen 3+, while the 8845HS is a 45 W part from the 8000 series built on Zen 4. Benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap between the two, with the 8845HS winning 17 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons. This analysis breaks down the magnitude of those wins, the architectural reasons behind them, and the practical implications for workload selection.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 8845HS dominates every single benchmark in the comparison, with no wins recorded for the 7736U. The most dramatic difference appears in Geekbench multicore, where the 8845HS scores 12212 against the 7736U’s 7453, a 39% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire dataset and signals a substantial multi-threaded throughput gap. In single-threaded Geekbench, the lead narrows to 17.3%, with scores of 2081 versus 1721, indicating that the architectural advantage carries into lightly threaded workloads as well.

Cinebench results reinforce this pattern. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the 8845HS posts 16192 versus 12768, a 21.1% lead. The single-core R23 test shows a 12.5% advantage (1769 vs 1548). Interestingly, the multicore deltas in Cinebench are smaller than the Geekbench multicore delta, suggesting that the 8845HS’s advantage scales differently depending on the workload’s memory access patterns or instruction mix. In Cinebench R15, the multicore delta is 21.6% (2575 vs 2019), and the single-core delta is 10.9% (276 vs 246).

PassMark tests paint a consistent picture of superiority for the 8845HS, though the margins vary significantly by workload type. The smallest gap is in single-thread performance, where the 8845HS scores 3738 against 3350, a 10.4% lead. The largest PassMark delta is in random string sorting, where the 8845HS leads by 32% (41446 vs 28172). Prime number finding shows a 35.6% advantage (87 vs 56), which is notable given that this workload is sensitive to both clock speed and architectural efficiency. Floating point math favors the 8845HS by 24.9% (59254 vs 44499), while integer math shows a 19.4% gap (97747 vs 78821). Data compression favors the 8845HS by 20.3% (344439 vs 274440), and data encryption by 23.4% (20416 vs 15635).

The multithread PassMark score shows a 23.8% lead for the 8845HS (28498 vs 21725), while physics simulation shows a 25.2% gap (1347 vs 1007). Extended instruction workloads favor the 8845HS by 24.4% (25642 vs 19384). Across all 17 benchmarks, the 8845HS maintains a lead ranging from roughly 10% to 39%, with no single test where the 7736U manages to close the gap. The average benchmark score for the 7736U is 30364, while the 8845HS sits at 29955; this counterintuitive inversion occurs because the 7736U’s dataset lacks the low-scoring 3DMark results that drag down the 8845HS average.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in their underlying architecture. The 7736U is built on Zen 3+ with the Rembrandt-R codename, while the 8845HS uses Zen 4 with the Hawk Point codename. This generational jump is reflected in the process node: the 7736U uses TSMC’s 6 nm process, whereas the 8845HS uses a 4 nm process. The 8845HS also has a smaller die size at 178 mm² compared to the 7736U’s 208 mm², despite packing 25,000 million transistors (the 7736U’s transistor count is not listed).

Cache configurations differ significantly in the L2 tier. Both share 64 KB of L1 per core and 16 MB of shared L3, but the 8845HS doubles the L2 cache to 1 MB per core versus 512 KB per core on the 7736U. This larger L2 cache likely contributes to the 8845HS’s advantage in latency-sensitive workloads like random string sorting and prime number finding. Both processors support DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but the 8845HS has higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for the 7736U.

Clock speeds also favor the 8845HS, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz, compared to 2.70 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost on the 7736U. The TDP difference is substantial: 45 W for the 8845HS versus 15 W for the 7736U, which explains much of the performance gap but also implies significantly different thermal and power requirements. Both use AMD Socket FP7 (the 8845HS also lists FP7r2 and FP8 compatibility), and both have PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the 7736U has Radeon 680M, while the 8845HS has Radeon 780M. ECC memory support is present on the 7736U but absent on the 8845HS. The 7736U was released on 2023-01-03, while the 8845HS came later on 2023-12-05. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Ryzen 7 8845HS outperforms the Ryzen 7 7736U in every measured benchmark. For users who prioritize raw performance, the 8845HS is the clear choice, offering at least a 10% advantage in single-threaded tests and up to 39% in multi-threaded workloads. The 8845HS also benefits from a newer architecture, a smaller process node, doubled L2 cache, and higher memory bandwidth. However, the 7736U’s 15 W TDP versus 45 W suggests it is designed for efficiency-focused devices, where lower power draw and thermal output are more critical than maximum performance. The 8845HS sits at the 81st percentile versus all CPUs, as does the 7736U, but the 8845HS’s closest rival is the Ryzen 7 7840HS with a 0% delta, while the 7736U’s closest rival is the Ryzen 5 7640HS at -0.1%. This indicates the 7736U is competing in a slightly lower performance class despite similar percentile rankings.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 7 8845HS has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, compared to 4.70 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7736U.

Q: How much larger is the L2 cache on the 8845HS?

A: The 8845HS has 1 MB of L2 per core, double the 512 KB per core on the 7736U. Both share 16 MB of L3.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The 8845HS has a 45 W TDP, while the 7736U has a 15 W TDP, a threefold difference.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The 7736U supports ECC memory, while the 8845HS does not.

Q: What is the largest benchmark delta between the two?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench multicore, where the 8845HS leads by 39% (12212 vs 7453).

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The 8845HS uses a 4 nm process, while the 7736U uses a 6 nm process, both from TSMC.

Where Each One Wins

The 8845HS wins in every workload category measured, but the margin of victory varies. For single-threaded tasks, the 8845HS’s lead is relatively modest at around 10-17%, as seen in Cinebench R15 single-core (10.9%), Cinebench R23 single-core (12.5%), Geekbench single-core (17.3%), and PassMark single-thread (10.4%). This suggests that for basic responsiveness and lightly threaded applications, the difference is noticeable but not overwhelming. The 8845HS’s higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 4.70 GHz explains part of this edge.

For multi-threaded workloads, the 8845HS’s advantage grows, ranging from 19.4% in integer math to 39% in Geekbench multicore. The 8845HS shows particularly strong results in memory-intensive and latency-sensitive tasks, with a 32% lead in random string sorting and a 35.6% lead in prime number finding. These workloads benefit from the doubled L2 cache and higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s vs 76.8 GB/s). The 8845HS also excels in floating point math (24.9% lead) and data encryption (23.4% lead), making it better suited for scientific computing, financial modeling, and compression workloads.

The 7736U’s only advantage lies in its efficiency profile. With a 15 W TDP, it is designed for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermal management take precedence. While no benchmark data exists for power consumption, the threefold TDP difference implies the 7736U generates significantly less heat and likely consumes less power under load. For users who need sustained multi-threaded performance in a compact chassis, the 8845HS is the superior choice, but for users who prioritize portability and battery endurance, the 7736U’s lower power envelope makes it a viable option despite its lower scores. The 8845HS’s integrated Radeon 780M also gives it an edge in graphics workloads over the 7736U’s Radeon 680M, though no benchmark scores are available to quantify this difference.