AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165H Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS are both 28 W mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but they approach performance from very different angles. The Intel part leans on a hybrid core layout and higher core/thread counts, while AMD counters with a newer process node and higher boost clocks. Benchmark data reveals a near-split decision: the AMD chip wins 8 of 15 head-to-head tests, while Intel takes 7, but the margins tell a more nuanced story about which workload types favor which silicon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory in this comparison belongs to Intel in the PassMark physics test. The Core Ultra 7 165H scores 1806 against AMD’s 1149, a 57.2% advantage that reflects the Intel part’s ability to marshal its 16 cores and 22 threads for heavily parallel physics simulation. Similarly, in PassMark’s find prime numbers workload, Intel nearly doubles AMD’s output, scoring 118 versus 79 — a 49.4% lead. These are the kind of integer-heavy, multi-threaded tasks where Intel’s extra cores provide a substantial edge.

Intel also dominates the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, posting 2641 to AMD’s 2045, a 29.1% gap. The R23 multi-core result narrows that lead to 11.2% (14551 vs 13082), but Intel still holds a clear advantage in sustained all-core rendering. Floating-point math also favors Intel, with a 26% lead (66273 vs 52582). The PassMark multi-thread score is closer, with Intel ahead by just 3.8% (25933 vs 24990), suggesting that some multi-threaded workloads do not scale perfectly with Intel’s core count.

AMD’s wins are narrower but consistent in single-thread and certain memory-latency-sensitive tasks. The Ryzen 7 8840HS takes the Cinebench R15 single-core test by 4.8% (270 vs 257) and the PassMark single-thread test by 3.2% (3626 vs 3509). In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel ekes out a 1.3% win (1759 vs 1737), showing that AMD’s higher 5.10 GHz boost clock does not always translate to a win. AMD’s strongest single-test victory is in PassMark extended instructions, where it leads by 16.5% (20714 vs 17299), indicating better SIMD and AVX-512-related throughput.

The remaining tests are close calls. AMD wins data compression by 0.6% (292888 vs 291161), data encryption by 2.7% (17650 vs 17169), integer math by 1.1% (90382 vs 89415), and random string sorting by 5.8% (35517 vs 33473). These are all sub-6% margins, falling within typical run-to-run variance for mobile parts. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this parity: Intel’s average is 34083 versus AMD’s 33667, a difference of just over 1%. Both CPUs sit at the 84th percentile among all CPUs, and their nearest rivals include desktop parts like the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, indicating that either chip offers desktop-class compute in a 28 W envelope.

Where Each One Wins

Intel’s Core Ultra 7 165H is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity and content creation. The data shows a 29.1% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and an 11.2% lead in R23 multi-core, which translates to faster video encoding, 3D rendering, and compilation tasks. The 49.4% advantage in prime number finding and the 26% lead in floating-point math further cement Intel’s position for scientific computing and financial modeling. The 57.2% physics score gap suggests that simulation and CAD workloads will run noticeably better on the Intel part.

AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS wins where single-thread responsiveness and instruction-level parallelism matter. The 4.8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 3.2% in PassMark single-thread mean snappier day-to-day application launches and lighter workloads. The 16.5% advantage in extended instructions points to a strong showing in encryption, compression, and media codecs that leverage advanced SIMD. The 5.8% win in random string sorting suggests better performance in database and text-processing tasks. For users who primarily run office suites, browse the web, and do light photo editing, AMD’s edge in these narrow tests will be more perceptible than Intel’s multi-core wins.

The two chips are effectively tied in integer math (AMD ahead by 1.1%) and data compression (AMD ahead by 0.6%), so those workloads will not differentiate them. The PassMark multi-thread score favors Intel by 3.8%, but that is a small enough margin that most users will not notice a real-world difference. The choice ultimately comes down to whether the workload is heavily threaded (Intel) or mixed single-threaded and SIMD-heavy (AMD).

Architecture Differences

The Core Ultra 7 165H is built on Intel’s Meteor Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 7 nm process. It uses a hybrid core design with 16 cores and 22 threads, which implies a mix of performance and efficiency cores, though the FACT PACK does not specify the exact breakdown. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS uses AMD’s Zen 4 architecture on Hawk Point, manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm node. The 4 nm process gives AMD a density and power-efficiency advantage, but Intel compensates with more raw cores and threads.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. Intel provides 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. AMD offers 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel’s larger per-core L2 (2 MB vs 1 MB) and bigger L3 (24 MB vs 16 MB) likely contribute to its strong showing in multi-threaded tests that benefit from larger working sets. AMD’s smaller cache footprint is offset by the higher 5.10 GHz boost clock versus Intel’s 5.00 GHz.

The integrated graphics also diverge. Intel pairs the CPU with Arc Xe-LPG 128EU, while AMD uses Radeon 780M. The FACT PACK does not include iGPU benchmark scores, so no direct performance comparison is possible here. Both chips support dual-channel DDR5 memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, so memory throughput is identical. Neither supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. Intel has 16 cores and 22 threads, while AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.80 GHz for Intel and 3.30 GHz for AMD, but AMD’s boost clock is higher at 5.10 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. Both have a 28 W TDP. Intel uses the Intel BGA 2049 socket, while AMD uses AMD Socket FP8. Intel’s PCIe support is Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), whereas AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This means AMD provides more PCIe lanes but at an older generation.

The process node and foundry are key differentiators: Intel uses its own 7 nm process, while AMD uses TSMC’s 4 nm node. AMD’s transistor count is listed at 25,000 million with a die size of 178 mm², while Intel’s transistor count and die size are not provided. Cache per core differs as noted, with Intel offering 112 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 versus AMD’s 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2. Shared L3 is 24 MB on Intel versus 16 MB on AMD. Intel’s launch MSRP was $460; AMD’s launch MSRP is not listed. Both are mobile market segments, currently active in production, and have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has 16 cores and 22 threads, compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS with 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest difference is in PassMark physics, where Intel scores 1806 versus AMD’s 1149, a 57.2% advantage. The second-largest is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel leads by 49.4%.

Q: In which tests does the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS outperform Intel?

A: AMD wins in Cinebench R15 single-core (270 vs 257), PassMark single-thread (3626 vs 3509), extended instructions (20714 vs 17299), data compression (292888 vs 291161), data encryption (17650 vs 17169), integer math (90382 vs 89415), and random string sorting (35517 vs 33473).

Q: Do both CPUs have the same memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, both support dual-channel DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H boosts to 5.00 GHz.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: Intel’s average benchmark score is 34083, while AMD’s is 33667. Both place at the 84th percentile among all CPUs.