AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX vs AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 Comparison

AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors, but they target different segments of the laptop market. The 8745HX belongs to the 8000 series Dragon Range family, built for high-performance gaming and creator laptops. The Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is part of the Ryzen AI PRO 400 series, designed for professional and business ultraportables. The recorded benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the 8745HX dominating multi-threaded workloads while the AI 7 PRO 450 takes a narrow lead in single-thread efficiency. This analysis walks through the head-to-head results, architectural differences, and the practical implications for each processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The PassMark benchmark suite reveals a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX, which wins 9 of the 11 recorded comparisons. The largest margin appears in the prime number search test, where the 8745HX scores 159 against 84 for the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, a delta of 89.3%. This result indicates a substantial advantage in integer-heavy, branch-predictor-intensive workloads.

Data encryption shows the 8745HX at 21840 versus 14925, a 46.3% lead. This is a significant gap for cryptographic operations, which rely heavily on the processor's ability to execute complex instruction sequences quickly. The random string sorting test follows a similar pattern, with the 8745HX scoring 44494 compared to 32344, a 37.6% difference. This suggests the 8745HX handles memory-access-heavy sorting tasks with considerably more throughput.

Extended instructions, which measure SIMD and other specialized operations, show the 8745HX at 27638 against 20778 for the AI 7 PRO 450, a 33% advantage. The multithread score, a broad measure of parallel processing capability, sees the 8745HX at 31517 versus 24779, a 27.2% win. The physics test, which simulates rigid body dynamics, gives the 8745HX 1681 points compared to 1337, a 25.7% margin.

Data compression shows the 8745HX at 363759 versus 294298, a 23.6% lead. Floating point math results in a 61972 score for the 8745HX against 52971 for the AI 7 PRO 450, a 17% difference. Integer math follows with 100328 versus 86227, a 16.4% advantage for the 8745HX.

The only category where the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 wins is single-thread performance. It scores 3955 in both the single_thread and singlethread tests, compared to 3879 for the 8745HX. This margin is small, only 1.9%, but it is consistent across both recorded test entries. The AI 7 PRO 450 also holds the higher percentile rank in the database at 85 versus 92 for the 8745HX, though this reflects its placement among all CPUs rather than a direct comparison.

The average benchmark score for the 8745HX is 60104, placing it alongside the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX at 60099 and the Intel Core i9-14900F at 60008. The AI 7 PRO 450 averages 37093, which puts it near the Intel Core i9-12900T at 37112 and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H at 37161. This data shows the 8745HX operates in a higher performance tier entirely.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different Zen architectures and manufacturing nodes. The Ryzen 7 8745HX is built on Zen 4, codenamed Dragon Range, and fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 uses Zen 5, codenamed Gorgon Point, on a 4 nm node, also from TSMC. The newer process node for the AI 7 PRO 450 allows for a denser transistor layout, though the die size for the AI 7 PRO 450 is 195 mm² compared to 71 mm² for the 8745HX. The 8745HX has a recorded transistor count of 6,570 million, while the AI 7 PRO 450 does not have a published transistor figure in the database.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The 8745HX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The AI 7 PRO 450 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of L3. The larger L3 pool on the 8745HX provides a substantial advantage for workloads that repeatedly access a working set larger than 8 MB, which helps explain its dominance in data compression and sorting tests.

The base clock speeds are where the biggest architectural difference shows. The 8745HX runs at 3.60 GHz base, while the AI 7 PRO 450 sits at 2.00 GHz base. Both processors boost to 5.10 GHz. The higher base clock of the 8745HX allows it to sustain higher throughput under continuous load, which is a key factor in its multithread lead. The AI 7 PRO 450 compensates with the Zen 5 architecture's improved instructions per clock, which is why it edges ahead in single-thread tests despite the lower base frequency.

Process node and cache are not the only differences. The 8745HX uses AMD Socket FL1, while the AI 7 PRO 450 uses AMD Socket FP8. The 8745HX supports PCIe Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, whereas the AI 7 PRO 450 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The AI 7 PRO 450 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, while the 8745HX supports DDR5 only. The AI 7 PRO 450 has ECC memory support, which the 8745HX lacks. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the 8745HX featuring Radeon 610M and the AI 7 PRO 450 featuring Radeon 860M.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 8745HX wins in every multi-threaded and compute-intensive PassMark category. Its 89.3% lead in prime number finding and 46.3% lead in encryption make it the clear choice for workloads such as scientific computing, cryptography, and any task that scales across all 16 threads. The 33% advantage in extended instructions points to strengths in SIMD-heavy applications like video encoding and 3D rendering. The 27.2% multithread win confirms it handles parallel compilation, simulation, and batch processing with notably higher throughput.

The AI 7 PRO 450 wins only in single-thread performance, by a 1.9% margin. This makes it better suited for lightly threaded applications where each core's efficiency matters more than raw core count. Typical examples include legacy software, certain database queries, and day-to-day productivity tasks that rely on a single fast core. Its lower TDP of 28 watts versus 55 watts for the 8745HX indicates it operates in a more power-efficient envelope, which is relevant for thin-and-light laptops where thermal headroom is limited.

The 8745HX also wins the physics test by 25.7%, which suggests better performance in games that use physics simulation. The AI 7 PRO 450's integrated Radeon 860M is a newer graphics solution, but the benchmark data does not include GPU scores, so no direct comparison of graphics performance can be made from these records.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The 8745HX has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AI 7 PRO 450 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz. Both share a 5.10 GHz boost clock. The TDP is 55 watts for the 8745HX and 28 watts for the AI 7 PRO 450. The 8745HX uses AMD Socket FL1, the AI 7 PRO 450 uses AMD Socket FP8. The process node is 5 nm for the 8745HX and 4 nm for the AI 7 PRO 450. The 8745HX has a die size of 71 mm², the AI 7 PRO 450 has a die size of 195 mm². The 8745HX has 6,570 million transistors, the AI 7 PRO 450 has no recorded transistor count.

Cache sizes differ in L1 and L3. The 8745HX has 64 KB L1 per core and 32 MB shared L3, while the AI 7 PRO 450 has 80 KB L1 per core and 8 MB L3. Both have 1 MB L2 per core. Memory support differs: the 8745HX supports DDR5, the AI 7 PRO 450 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for the 8745HX and 89.6 GB/s for the AI 7 PRO 450. ECC memory is not supported on the 8745HX but is supported on the AI 7 PRO 450. PCIe generation and lanes differ: Gen 5 with 28 lanes for the 8745HX, Gen 4 with 16 lanes for the AI 7 PRO 450. The multiplier is unlocked on the 8745HX but locked on the AI 7 PRO 450. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M for the 8745HX and Radeon 860M for the AI 7 PRO 450. The release dates are April 2025 for the 8745HX and January 2026 for the AI 7 PRO 450.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX has an average benchmark score of 60104, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 has an average of 37093.

Q: How many benchmark tests does each processor win?

A: The 8745HX wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head PassMark tests, and the AI 7 PRO 450 wins 2.

Q: What is the single-thread score difference?

A: The AI 7 PRO 450 scores 3955 in single-thread tests, which is 1.9% higher than the 8745HX's 3879.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the L3 cache size for each processor?

A: The 8745HX has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AI 7 PRO 450 has 8 MB.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AI 7 PRO 450 supports ECC memory, while the 8745HX does not.

The Verdict

The benchmark data directs different buyers toward each processor. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is the stronger choice for users who prioritize multi-threaded compute performance. Its 27.2% lead in multithread, 46.3% lead in encryption, and 89.3% lead in prime number finding make it suitable for content creation, software development, scientific analysis, and any workload that uses all 16 threads. The 92nd percentile rank among all CPUs confirms its position in the high-performance tier, and its unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking on supported platforms.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 serves a different purpose. Its single-thread advantage, though small at 1.9%, combined with a 28-watt TDP and ECC memory support, makes it appropriate for professional laptops that need reliability and efficiency over raw speed. The 85th percentile rank and average score of 37093 place it in a more modest performance class, but its support for LPDDR5X memory and newer Radeon 860M graphics are features that the 8745HX does not offer. For users who value lower power consumption, ECC support, and the latest Zen 5 architecture, the AI 7 PRO 450 is the logical pick. For those who need maximum throughput in multi-threaded tasks, the 8745HX is the clear winner based on the recorded data.