AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 are both mobile processors, but they target different performance profiles. The 8840HX is a 12-core, 24-thread part from the 8000 series based on Zen 4 architecture, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 is an 8-core, 16-thread part from the Ryzen AI 400 series based on Zen 5 architecture. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear split: the 8840HX dominates multi-threaded and compute-heavy tasks, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 wins in single-core Cinebench performance. The following analysis breaks down the recorded measurements, architecture differences, and detailed benchmark results.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins 12 of the 13 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its victories span nearly every category of the PassMark suite, including data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread performance, physics, and random string sorting. The largest margins appear in prime number finding (241.6% ahead), encryption (84.2% ahead), and integer math (65.5% ahead). This indicates a processor built for sustained throughput across a wide range of computational workloads, from data processing to scientific calculations.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 wins exactly one head-to-head comparison: Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2038 against the 8840HX’s 1857, a difference of 8.9%. This single win is significant because it shows the newer Zen 5 architecture has a higher peak single-thread performance, even with fewer cores and a lower base clock. The Ryzen AI 7 450 also comes close in PassMark single-thread tests, scoring 3901 against 3958 for the 8840HX, a margin of only 1.5% in favor of the older chip.

The use-case split is therefore clear. The Ryzen 7 8840HX is for multi-threaded workloads: rendering, video encoding, data compression, and any task that scales with core count. The Ryzen AI 7 450 is for lightly threaded tasks that depend on a single fast core, such as certain spreadsheet operations, web browsing, and older software that cannot use many threads. The average benchmark score reinforces this: the 8840HX has an average of 71797 across all tests, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 has an average of 39485, a difference of roughly 82% in favor of the 8840HX.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different core architectures, process nodes, and sockets. The Ryzen 7 8840HX uses Zen 4, codenamed Dragon Range, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, a base clock of 2.90 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its thermal design power (TDP) is 55 watts. The Ryzen AI 7 450 uses Zen 5, codenamed Gorgon Point, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.00 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its TDP is 28 watts, which is 27 watts lower than the 8840HX.

The cache layouts differ substantially. The 8840HX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 64 MB L3 cache. The Ryzen AI 7 450 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and only 8 MB of L3 cache. The 64 MB L3 on the 8840HX is eight times larger than the 8 MB on the Ryzen AI 7 450, which helps explain its strength in data-heavy multi-threaded workloads. The Ryzen AI 7 450 has a larger L1 per core, which may contribute to its single-core advantage.

The dies also differ. The 8840HX has a die size of 2x 71 mm², indicating a chiplet design, with a transistor count of 13,140 million. The Ryzen AI 7 450 has a monolithic die of 195 mm², with no transistor count listed. The 8840HX uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 uses AMD Socket FP8. The 8840HX supports DDR5 memory only, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Ryzen AI 7 450 at 89.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s on the 8840HX. Both are dual-channel.

PCIe support differs: the 8840HX offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the 8840HX using Radeon 610M and the Ryzen AI 7 450 using Radeon 860M. The Ryzen AI 7 450 supports ECC memory, while the 8840HX does not. The 8840HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 does not. Release dates differ: the 8840HX was released in April 2025, and the Ryzen AI 7 450 was released in January 2026.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multicore test shows the 8840HX scoring 25265 against 18316 for the Ryzen AI 7 450, a lead of 37.9%. This is a direct result of the 8840HX having 12 cores versus 8, plus a much larger L3 cache. The single-core Cinebench R23 test reverses the result: the Ryzen AI 7 450 scores 2038 against 1857, a 8.9% advantage. This shows that Zen 5 delivers higher instructions per clock in lightly threaded workloads.

PassMark data compression heavily favors the 8840HX: 496427 versus 315906, a 57.1% difference. Data encryption shows an even larger gap: 29919 versus 16247, a 84.2% advantage for the 8840HX. Extended instructions (SIMD, AVX-512 style workloads) show the 8840HX at 36527 against 22400, a 63.1% lead. Prime number finding is the most lopsided result: 304 versus 89, a 241.6% difference. This suggests the 8840HX has significantly better integer throughput for iterative calculations.

Floating point math: 86747 versus 54447, a 59.3% lead for the 8840HX. Integer math: 146506 versus 88531, a 65.5% lead. PassMark multithread: 41732 versus 26350, a 58.4% lead. Physics: 2185 versus 1578, a 38.5% lead. Random string sorting: 57971 versus 35648, a 62.6% lead. PassMark single-thread is the closest result: 3958 versus 3901, a 1.5% lead for the 8840HX. This single-thread margin is small enough that run-to-run variance could flip it, but the recorded data shows the 8840HX ahead.

The percentile rankings place the 8840HX at the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 sits at the 87th percentile. The nearest rivals for the 8840HX include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF with an average score of 71910 (0.2% lower), the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 with 71370 (0.6% higher), and the Intel Xeon 6517P with 72350 (0.8% lower). The nearest rivals for the Ryzen AI 7 450 include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS with an average score of 39603 (0.3% lower), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS with 39325 (0.4% higher), and the AMD EPYC 4245P with 39215 (0.7% higher). These rival comparisons confirm that the 8840HX competes in a higher performance tier, while the Ryzen AI 7 450 sits among more efficient, lower-power parts.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the stronger processor for multi-threaded performance. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, and 64 MB L3 cache deliver leads of 37.9% in Cinebench R23 multicore and 57.1% to 84.2% in most PassMark workloads. It wins 12 of 13 head-to-head comparisons and sits at the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Anyone running rendering, data compression, encryption, or scientific computing should choose the 8840HX based on these measurements.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 is the better choice for single-core performance. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 8.9%, which indicates that Zen 5’s architectural improvements are real. It also has lower power consumption at 28 watts versus 55 watts, supports ECC memory, and uses a smaller 4 nm process. For tasks that depend on a single thread, such as older software or certain productivity applications, the Ryzen AI 7 450 offers a measurable advantage. However, its 8 MB L3 cache and 8 cores limit its multi-threaded performance, as shown by its 87th percentile ranking and average score of 39485.

The choice comes down to workload. The 8840HX delivers roughly 82% higher average benchmark scores, but it consumes more power and uses an older architecture. The Ryzen AI 7 450 offers newer Zen 5 cores, higher memory bandwidth, and better single-core results, but it loses most multi-threaded tests by significant margins. The recorded data does not support using the Ryzen AI 7 450 for heavy multi-threaded work, nor does it support using the 8840HX for single-core-sensitive tasks where the 8.9% Cinebench lead matters.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 wins with a score of 2038 against 1857 for the 8840HX, a lead of 8.9%.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 has 8 MB of L3 cache.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX does not.

Q: What are the release dates for the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX was released in April 2025, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 was released in January 2026.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX ranks at the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 ranks at the 87th percentile.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Series: The 8840HX belongs to the 8000 series; the Ryzen AI 7 450 has no series listed.
• Cores: 12 versus 8.
• Threads: 24 versus 16.
• Base clock: 2.90 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.
• Boost clock: Both are 5.10 GHz.
• TDP: 55 watts versus 28 watts.
• Socket: AMD Socket FL1 versus AMD Socket FP8.
• Architecture: Zen 4 versus Zen 5.
• Codename: Dragon Range versus Gorgon Point.
• Process node: 5 nm versus 4 nm.
• Transistors: 13,140 million versus not listed.
• Die size: 2x 71 mm² versus 195 mm².
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core.
• L3 cache: 64 MB shared versus 8 MB.
• Memory support: DDR5 versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X.
• Memory bandwidth: 83.2 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s.
• ECC memory: Not supported versus supported.
• PCIe: Gen 5, 28 lanes versus Gen 4, 16 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: Radeon 610M versus Radeon 860M.
• Multiplier unlocked: Yes versus no.
• Part number: 100-000001850 versus 100-000001868.
• Release date: April 2025 versus January 2026.