AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX vs Intel Core Ultra X9 388H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors cleanly by workload type. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX wins 3 of the 11 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H takes 8. The margins tell the real story, and they are not subtle.

The Intel part dominates compute-heavy integer and floating-point tasks. In floating point math, the Core Ultra X9 388H scores 112,550 against 61,972 for the Ryzen 7 8745HX, a 44.9% advantage. Physics simulation shows an even larger gap: 3,226 versus 1,681, a 47.9% lead. Prime number finding, which stresses branch prediction and integer throughput, goes to Intel by 55.6% (358 versus 159). Data encryption also favors Intel, 28,490 versus 21,840, a 23.3% margin. Extended instructions, which covers SIMD-heavy code paths, go to Intel by 7.7% (29,943 versus 27,638).

The Ryzen 7 8745HX counters in integer math, where it posts 100,328 against 90,882, a 10.4% win. It also edges out Intel in data compression, 363,759 versus 361,763, a slim 0.6% margin. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 1.1% (44,494 versus 44,010). These are smaller wins than Intel's, but they show the AMD chip is not uniformly slower.

Single-thread performance favors Intel clearly. The Core Ultra X9 388H scores 4,280 in the PassMark single-thread test against 3,879 for the Ryzen, a 9.4% advantage. The multithread score also goes to Intel, 36,811 versus 31,517, a 14.4% lead. The aggregate picture is a processor that wins most head-to-head tests, often by double-digit percentages, while the AMD chip takes a narrower set of victories.

The overall average benchmark scores place the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX at 60,104, which sits at the 92nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H averages 44,466, at the 88th percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Ryzen 9 7945HX at 60,099 (0% delta), the Core i9-14900F at 60,008 (0.2% ahead), the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D at 59,641 (0.8% behind), and the Xeon Gold 6338T at 60,572 (0.8% ahead). Intel's nearest rivals are the Ryzen 5 7500X3D at 44,573 (0.2% ahead), the Core i9-13950HX at 44,342 (0.3% behind), the Ryzen AI Max 385 at 44,309 (0.4% behind), and the Core i5-13600 at 44,240 (0.5% behind). The AMD chip competes with desktop-class parts in average score, while the Intel chip sits in a lower performance tier overall despite winning most direct comparisons here.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX uses Zen 4 architecture on the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 6,570 million transistors and a 71 mm² die size. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H uses Panther Lake architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database.

Core configuration differs substantially. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel chip has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning it uses a design without hyperthreading or with all cores as physical cores. Its base clock is 2.10 GHz, much lower than AMD's, but its boost clock matches at 5.10 GHz. The lower base clock on Intel is likely why single-thread performance still favors it: the boost behavior carries the load.

Cache layouts are very different. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and only 18 MB of shared L3. Intel gives each core three times more L1 and L2, but AMD offers nearly double the shared L3. For workloads that fit in the larger L3, AMD benefits; for per-core working sets, Intel's larger private caches help.

Memory support also differs. The AMD chip uses DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel chip uses LPDDR5X on a dual-channel bus with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth, nearly double the AMD figure. The Intel chip also has far fewer PCIe lanes from the CPU: 4 Gen 5 lanes versus 28 Gen 5 lanes for AMD. That makes AMD the better fit for systems with many high-speed devices.

The integrated graphics differ. AMD pairs the Ryzen 7 8745HX with a Radeon 610M, while Intel uses an Arc B390. The Arc B390 is a more capable iGPU in terms of feature set, though the database records no direct graphics benchmark scores for either. Power and socket also diverge: AMD uses a 55 W TDP on Socket FL1, while Intel uses a 25 W TDP on BGA 2540. The AMD chip supports an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. AMD's production status is active, as is Intel's, but Intel's release date is later: January 5, 2026 versus April 23, 2025 for AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins in raw compute density and memory bandwidth. Its 44.9% lead in floating point math and 47.9% lead in physics simulation point to workloads like scientific computing, rendering, and physics-based simulation running materially faster on the Intel chip. The 55.6% prime number advantage suggests strong integer branch and loop performance. The 23.3% encryption win indicates faster cryptography tasks. The multithread score, 14.4% higher than AMD's, confirms that the 16-core Intel design scales better in parallel workloads, even without hyperthreading. The 9.4% single-thread win makes it the better choice for lightly threaded applications that depend on peak core speed. The doubled memory bandwidth, 153.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s, supports memory-hungry tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX wins in a few specific niches. Its 10.4% integer math win suggests better general-purpose integer code. Data compression and random string sorting, both by small margins under 1.2%, show slightly better data manipulation in those specific algorithms. The 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus Intel's 4 give AMD a decisive advantage for systems with multiple NVMe drives, external GPUs, or other high-bandwidth peripherals. The larger 32 MB L3 cache can help workloads with large shared data sets. The unlocked multiplier also makes it the only one of the two suited for overclocking, though the mobile 55 W TDP limits headroom.

Power consumption is a clear differentiator. Intel's 25 W TDP versus AMD's 55 W means the Intel chip is far easier to cool in thin laptops. The database records no battery life figures, but the power draw difference is direct. For sustained all-core loads, the AMD chip will demand more from the cooling solution and battery.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 4,280 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 9.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX's 3,879. Intel also wins the single-thread variant of the same test by the same margin.

Q: How do the two compare in multithreaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 36,811 in PassMark multithread, 14.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX's 31,517. Intel also has 16 cores to AMD's 8, though both have 16 threads.

Q: Does the AMD processor have any benchmark wins over Intel?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX wins integer math by 10.4% (100,328 versus 90,882), data compression by 0.6% (363,759 versus 361,763), and random string sorting by 1.1% (44,494 versus 44,010).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H supports LPDDR5X with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX supports DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s. Intel's memory bandwidth is nearly double.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX has 28 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has only 4 Gen 5 lanes. AMD offers significantly more expansion capability.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX has an average benchmark score of 60,104, placing it at the 92nd percentile. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H averages 44,466, at the 88th percentile. The AMD chip sits in a higher performance tier despite losing most direct head-to-head tests.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ across nearly every major specification category.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |

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

| Cores | 8 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Panther Lake |

| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 6,570 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 71 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 3 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 32 MB shared | 18 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 lanes | Gen 5, 4 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc B390 |

| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2025-04-22 | 2026-01-04 |

Both support dual-channel memory, neither supports ECC, and both are active mobile parts. The Intel process node is 3 nm versus AMD's 5 nm, meaning Intel uses a newer manufacturing process.

The Verdict

The data supports a split decision based on workload priority. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is the faster processor in most direct comparisons. It wins 8 of 11 head-to-head tests, with double-digit leads in floating point math, physics, prime numbers, encryption, and multithread performance. Its single-thread lead of 9.4%, combined with 153.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and a 25 W TDP, makes it the stronger choice for compute-heavy mobile workloads like rendering, simulation, and cryptography, especially in thin laptops where power and cooling are limited.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is not a weak processor. It holds a higher overall average benchmark score of 60,104 versus 44,466, and it sits at the 92nd percentile of all CPUs versus Intel's 88th. That gap comes from a broader set of database results, not from these direct comparisons. Its 28 Gen 5 PCIe lanes, larger 32 MB L3 cache, and unlocked multiplier make it the better fit for a mobile workstation with many peripherals or for users who plan to overclock. Its wins in integer math, data compression, and random string sorting show it handles those specific tasks slightly better.

For a user prioritizing raw compute throughput, memory bandwidth, and power efficiency in a compact chassis, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is the pick. For a user who needs expansion capability, larger shared cache, or an overclockable mobile CPU and can tolerate a 55 W TDP, the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is the choice. The benchmark record does not crown one as universally superior; it separates them by workload and system requirements.