AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core 7 253PE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX records an average benchmark score of 71,797, while the Intel Core 7 253PE records 40,557. This places the AMD part in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 87th percentile for the Intel part.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX scores 25,265 against the Intel Core 7 253PE's 24,880, a margin of 1.5%. The AMD chip also leads in the PassMark multi-thread test at 41,732 versus 29,271, a 42.6% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE takes a decisive win in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 3,512 against the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX's 1,857, a 47.1% lead. However, in PassMark single-thread, the two are nearly identical: 3,958 for AMD and 3,955 for Intel, a 0.1% difference.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads. Despite fewer cores, the Intel chip reaches a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 5.10 GHz for AMD.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX supports only DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core 7 253PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, whereas the AMD chip does not.

Q: How do the closest rivals compare for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX's nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, which scores 71,910, just 0.2% higher. For the Intel Core 7 253PE, the closest rival is the Intel Core 5 223PE at 40,585, only 0.1% higher.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and Intel Core 7 253PE represent fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD chip uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It packs 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 71 mm². The Intel chip uses the Bartlett Lake codename, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process, and the database lists no transistor count or die size for it.

Cache hierarchy differs substantially. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core 7 253PE offers more L1 per core at 80 KB and more L2 per core at 2 MB, but its shared L3 cache is 33 MB, roughly half of the AMD part's capacity. This larger L3 allocation likely contributes to the AMD chip's strong performance in data-heavy workloads.

The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 610M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. Both processors support PCIe Gen 5, but the AMD chip provides 28 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel chip provides 16 lanes. The AMD processor is an unlocked multiplier part, whereas the Intel chip is locked. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX targets the mobile segment with an AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel Core 7 253PE targets desktop with an Intel Socket 1700.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear split between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX dominates in heavily parallel workloads. It wins 12 of 13 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with its largest margins appearing in encryption, extended instruction handling, and random string sorting. The AMD chip appears optimized for tasks that leverage many cores and large shared caches, such as data compression, encryption, scientific floating-point math, and integer-heavy computation.

The Intel Core 7 253PE wins only one head-to-head benchmark: Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by 47.1%. This suggests the Intel chip excels in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks like general desktop responsiveness or applications that rely on a single fast core. Its higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 5.10 GHz supports this interpretation.

However, in PassMark single-thread, the two processors are effectively tied, with AMD leading by a razor-thin 0.1%. This suggests the Intel advantage in single-core may be workload-specific rather than universal. The Intel chip's win in Cinebench R23 single-core is striking, but the nearly identical PassMark single-thread scores indicate that real-world single-threaded performance could vary depending on instruction mix.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge across nearly every specification field. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX offers 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 7 253PE offers 10 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.90 GHz for AMD versus 2.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks invert the comparison: 5.10 GHz for AMD versus 5.50 GHz for Intel. Thermal design power also differs, with the AMD chip rated at 55 W and the Intel chip at 65 W.

Memory support separates them further. The AMD chip supports only DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is slightly higher on the Intel side at 89.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s for AMD, despite the AMD chip having a larger L3 cache. ECC memory is supported only by the Intel processor.

Process technology marks another difference: AMD uses a 5 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses its own 10 nm process. The AMD chip has a dual-die design with two 71 mm² dies, while the Intel chip's die size is not recorded. PCIe lane counts differ as well: 28 lanes for AMD versus 16 for Intel. The AMD processor is unlocked for overclocking; the Intel processor is not. The Intel chip carries a launch MSRP of $384, while the AMD chip has no recorded MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows a close contest. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX scores 25,265 versus 24,880 for the Intel Core 7 253PE, a 1.5% margin. This narrow lead suggests that in multi-threaded rendering, the two processors are nearly equivalent despite the AMD chip's 12 cores versus 10 for Intel.

The single-core Cinebench R23 result is the Intel chip's only victory, and it is overwhelming. Intel scores 3,512 against AMD's 1,857, a 47.1% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction across all tests. Yet the PassMark single-thread test tells a different story: AMD scores 3,958, Intel scores 3,955, and the AMD chip wins by 0.1%. The discrepancy between these two single-core tests is notable and suggests benchmark methodology heavily influences results.

The AMD chip's largest wins appear in PassMark's integer and data-heavy workloads. In find prime numbers, AMD scores 304 versus 138, a 120.3% advantage. Extended instructions show AMD at 36,527 versus 21,806, a 67.5% lead. Random string sorting favors AMD at 57,971 versus 32,777, a 76.9% margin. Data encryption shows AMD at 29,919 versus 18,385, a 62.7% lead. Data compression follows with AMD at 496,427 versus 339,133, a 46.4% advantage.

Multi-thread performance in PassMark favors AMD by 42.6%, with scores of 41,732 versus 29,271. Integer math shows AMD at 146,506 versus 114,158, a 28.3% lead. Physics tests give AMD 2,185 versus 1,845, an 18.4% margin. Floating-point math is closer: AMD at 86,747 versus 80,870, a 7.3% advantage.

Across all head-to-head benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins 12 tests and the Intel Core 7 253PE wins 1. The average score comparison reinforces this: AMD's 71,797 average places it near rivals like the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF at 71,910, while Intel's 40,557 average sits near the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H at 40,431.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the stronger overall processor for multi-threaded and data-intensive workloads. Its wins span encryption, compression, extended instruction sets, prime number finding, integer math, floating-point math, physics, random string sorting, and multi-thread performance. The 120.3% margin in prime number finding and the 76.9% margin in random string sorting demonstrate a substantial advantage in algorithmic and data manipulation tasks.

The Intel Core 7 253PE holds a clear single-core advantage in Cinebench R23, where it leads by 47.1%. This makes it the better choice for applications that depend heavily on a single thread's peak performance, such as certain legacy software or lightly threaded games. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory and a wider range of memory types, including DDR4, which may matter for specific system configurations.

The PassMark single-thread tie complicates the picture. With AMD leading by only 0.1%, the Intel chip's single-core superiority does not appear universal. The Cinebench R23 single-core result may reflect a specific instruction path where Intel's higher 5.50 GHz boost clock excels, while the PassMark test exercises a broader mix of instructions where the two processors perform nearly identically.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded throughput, data processing, or encryption workloads, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the clear choice based on the benchmark data. For users who need maximum single-thread performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the Intel Core 7 253PE offers a compelling alternative, though the near-tie in PassMark single-thread suggests the real-world gap may be narrower than the headline number implies. The AMD chip's 94th percentile ranking versus Intel's 87th percentile further supports the AMD processor as the higher-performing part overall.