AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core 5 211E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits this comparison into two very distinct profiles. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the dominant force in nearly every multi-threaded and compute-heavy workload, taking 10 of the 13 recorded head-to-head tests. Its wins are broad and deep, covering integer math, floating point math, encryption, compression, sorting, physics simulation, and extended instruction sets. The Intel Core 5 211E, by contrast, wins only in the single-core domain, where it takes three tests: Cinebench R23 single-core, PassMark single-thread, and the duplicate PassMark single-thread entry.

For users whose workload scales across cores, the AMD part is the clear choice. The data shows a 75.1% advantage in PassMark multithread, a 23.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore, and a 211.3% margin in PassMark physics. These are not marginal differences; they indicate a processor that is fundamentally better suited to rendering, scientific computing, and any task that can use more than a couple of threads. The Intel part, however, demonstrates a meaningful edge in lightly threaded applications. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2878 versus 1857 for the AMD means a 35.5% advantage, which is substantial for workloads like legacy software, certain database operations, or applications that serialize on a single thread.

The PassMark single-thread test shows a much narrower gap, with Intel leading by only 1.2% (4006 versus 3958). This suggests that the Cinebench R23 single-core result is an outlier in favor of Intel, possibly reflecting different instruction sensitivities between the two benchmark suites. Still, the Intel part wins both single-thread metrics in the database, so the pattern is consistent: Intel for single-thread, AMD for everything else.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX uses the Zen 4 architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a chiplet design that the database records as a die size of 2x 71 mm². It packs 13,140 million transistors. The Intel Core 5 211E uses the Bartlett Lake architecture on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a monolithic die of 257 mm².

The core counts differ significantly. The AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel has 10 cores and 16 threads. This 2-core and 8-thread advantage is a primary driver of the AMD's multithreaded dominance. Cache configurations also differ. The AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a large 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 20 MB of shared L3. The AMD's 64 MB L3 is triple the Intel's 20 MB, which helps in workloads with large working sets.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD supports only DDR5, while the Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD has a higher peak memory bandwidth at 83.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for the Intel. The Intel supports ECC memory, while the AMD does not. PCIe connectivity favors the AMD with Gen 5 and 28 lanes, compared to Gen 5 and 16 lanes for the Intel.

The AMD is a mobile part on AMD Socket FL1 with a 55 W TDP and a Radeon 610M integrated GPU. The Intel is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700 with a 65 W TDP and UHD Graphics 730. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel is locked. The AMD's release date is later, 2025-04-22, versus 2025-01-12 for the Intel. The Intel has a recorded launch MSRP of $221; the AMD has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the dataset belongs to the AMD in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 304 versus 43, a delta of 607%. This is an extreme outlier, likely reflecting a workload that heavily favors the AMD's combination of high core count and large cache. It is not representative of typical performance, but it does show that the AMD can be exceptionally strong in specific algorithmic patterns.

In PassMark physics, the AMD scores 2185 versus 702, a 211.3% advantage. This is another very large gap, indicating that the AMD's thread scaling is highly effective in simulation workloads. PassMark multithread shows a 75.1% lead for the AMD (41732 versus 23833), which aligns with the core and thread count differences.

The AMD also wins decisively in integer and floating point math. PassMark integer math shows 146506 versus 88117, a 66.3% advantage. PassMark extended instructions shows 36527 versus 21592, a 69.2% advantage. PassMark data encryption shows 29919 versus 17938, a 66.8% advantage. PassMark random string sorting shows 57971 versus 34308, a 69% advantage. PassMark data compression shows 496427 versus 346757, a 43.2% advantage. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 25265 versus 20389, a 23.9% advantage.

The Intel's wins are concentrated in single-thread tests. Cinebench R23 single-core is its best result, scoring 2878 versus 1857, a 35.5% advantage. This is a large margin and suggests that the Intel's architecture, despite fewer cores, has a higher per-core performance ceiling in certain workloads. The PassMark single-thread test, however, shows a much smaller lead: 4006 versus 3958, only a 1.2% advantage. The database records both "passmark_single_thread" and "passmark_singlethread" with identical scores, confirming this narrow margin.

The average benchmark scores place the AMD at 71797 with a 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The Intel sits at 37829 with an 86th percentile ranking. The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF (delta -0.2%), Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 (delta 0.6%), and Intel Xeon 6517P (delta -0.8%). The Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (delta 0.1%), AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 (delta 0.2%), and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (delta -0.2%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2878, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX scores 1857. This gives Intel a 35.5% advantage in that specific test.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX leads Cinebench R23 multicore with 25265 versus 20389 for Intel, a 23.9% advantage. In PassMark multithread, the AMD leads by 75.1% with 41732 versus 23833.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference in the dataset?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD scores 304 and the Intel scores 43, a 607% advantage for AMD. This is an outlier but indicates a strong algorithmic advantage for AMD.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 211E supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX does not.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX provides 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Intel Core 5 211E provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

Q: How do the two processors compare in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 211E leads narrowly with a score of 4006 versus 3958 for AMD, a 1.2% advantage. This is much closer than the Cinebench R23 single-core result.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the superior processor for multi-threaded workloads, and the Intel Core 5 211E holds a narrow but real advantage in single-thread performance. The AMD wins 10 of 13 benchmark tests, with margins ranging from 23.9% to 607%. The Intel wins 3 tests, with its best margin being 35.5% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

For rendering, scientific computing, data compression, encryption, and any parallel workload, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the definitive choice. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, and 64 MB of L3 cache deliver a 75.1% lead in multithread throughput and a 211.3% lead in physics simulation. The 94th percentile ranking versus the Intel's 86th percentile confirms the overall performance hierarchy.

For users whose primary applications are single-thread bound, the Intel Core 5 211E offers a meaningful edge. The 35.5% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core is significant, though the PassMark single-thread margin of 1.2% suggests this advantage is workload-dependent. The Intel also supports ECC memory, which could be a deciding factor for specific reliability-sensitive use cases.

The AMD is a mobile part with a 55 W TDP and an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP and a locked multiplier. The Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD supports only DDR5. The Intel has a recorded launch MSRP of $221, while the AMD has no recorded launch MSRP.

The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward. Choose the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX for maximum multi-threaded performance and broad compute capability. Choose the Intel Core 5 211E for single-thread performance, ECC memory support, or dual memory type compatibility. The two processors serve different primary use cases, and the benchmark results reflect that division clearly.