AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two processors by workload type more sharply than their average scores suggest. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins 10 of 13 head-to-head tests and posts an average benchmark score of 71,797, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T averages 30,468, sitting in the 82nd percentile. The AMD part is the clear choice for multi-threaded and parallel workloads, while the Intel part takes single-thread performance by a meaningful margin. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the processor for rendering, compilation, data compression, and any task that scales across cores. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is the processor for lightly threaded applications where a single core's speed matters most, and it also offers a more modern desktop platform with a newer process node. For users who prioritize raw multi-core throughput, the AMD part's 15% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and its 146.1% lead in PassMark integer math make the decision straightforward. For users who need the fastest possible single-core response, the Intel part's 9% lead in PassMark single-thread and 40.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core defines its advantage.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with a combined die size of 2x 71 mm². The chip belongs to the 8000 series and the Ryzen 7 generation, uses AMD Socket FL1, and targets the mobile market segment. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture on the Arrow Lake-S codename, built on a 3 nm process also at TSMC. It packs 17,800 million transistors on a single 243 mm² die. This chip belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 and the Ultra 5 generation, uses Intel Socket 1851, and targets the desktop market segment. Both processors support DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, and neither supports ECC memory. The AMD part exposes 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part exposes 20 Gen 5 lanes. The AMD chip includes Radeon 610M integrated graphics; the Intel chip includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX released on 2025-04-22, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T released on 2024-12-31. The Intel part uses a smaller 3 nm node and carries a higher transistor count, while the AMD part uses a larger 5 nm node but a smaller combined die footprint.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads, meaning it has no hyper-threading and offers fewer concurrent threads than the AMD part.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins both single-core tests in the head-to-head data. It scores 3,101 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1,857 for the AMD part, a 40.1% advantage, and 4,348 in PassMark single-thread versus 3,958, a 9% advantage.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, so the Intel part offers about 23% more theoretical bandwidth.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is built on a 5 nm process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is built on a 3 nm process. Both use TSMC as the foundry.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX boosts to 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T boosts to 4.90 GHz, so the AMD part has a 0.20 GHz higher boost clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX uses 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses 10 cores and 10 threads. The AMD base clock is 2.90 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for Intel. The AMD boost clock is 5.10 GHz versus 4.90 GHz for Intel. The AMD TDP is 55 W, while the Intel TDP is 65 W. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FL1; the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1851. The architectures differ completely: Zen 4 on Dragon Range for AMD, Arrow Lake on Arrow Lake-S for Intel. The process nodes differ: 5 nm for AMD, 3 nm for Intel. Transistor counts differ: 13,140 million for AMD, 17,800 million for Intel. Die sizes differ: 2x 71 mm² for AMD versus 243 mm² for Intel. L1 cache is 64 KB per core for AMD and 192 KB per core for Intel. L2 cache is 1 MB per core for AMD and 3 MB per core for Intel. L3 cache is 64 MB shared for AMD and 20 MB shared for Intel. Memory bandwidth differs: 83.2 GB/s for AMD versus 102.4 GB/s for Intel. PCIe lanes differ: 28 Gen 5 lanes for AMD versus 20 Gen 5 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 610M for AMD versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU for Intel. The market segments differ: mobile for AMD, desktop for Intel. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. Release dates differ: 2025-04-22 for AMD versus 2024-12-31 for Intel. The AMD part number is 100-000001850; the Intel part number is listed as unknown.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX dominates the multi-threaded and throughput-oriented tests. In PassMark integer math, the AMD part scores 146,506 against 59,543 for Intel, a 146.1% advantage, the largest single delta in the comparison. PassMark data compression shows AMD at 496,427 versus 233,998, a 112.2% lead. PassMark random string sorting gives AMD 57,971 versus 28,774, a 101.5% lead. PassMark extended instructions shows AMD at 36,527 versus 20,083, an 81.9% advantage. PassMark multithread scores 41,732 for AMD versus 25,358 for Intel, a 64.6% lead. PassMark data encryption gives AMD 29,919 versus 18,289, a 63.6% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows AMD at 25,265 versus 21,971, a 15% lead. PassMark find prime numbers gives AMD 304 versus 284, a 7% advantage. PassMark physics shows AMD at 2,185 versus 2,053, a 6.4% lead. PassMark floating point math gives AMD 86,747 versus 82,751, a 4.8% edge.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins the single-core tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel at 3,101 versus 1,857 for AMD, a 40.1% advantage. PassMark single-thread shows Intel at 4,348 versus 3,958, a 9% lead. The same PassMark single-thread result appears twice in the recorded data under slightly different test labels, and both entries confirm the same Intel advantage.

The wins break down as 10 for AMD and 3 for Intel when counting the duplicated single-thread entry once, or 10 for AMD and 2 for Intel when counting the duplicate separately. Either way, AMD holds a commanding majority of benchmark victories, but the Intel wins are concentrated in the exact tests that matter for single-core responsiveness.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins in every multi-threaded category measured. Its 24 threads give it a structural advantage over the Intel part's 10 threads, and the data confirms this translates into real performance. PassMark integer math, data compression, random string sorting, extended instructions, multithread, and data encryption all show AMD leads between 63.6% and 146.1%. Cinebench R23 multi-core, the most commonly cited render benchmark, shows a 15% AMD lead. The AMD part also wins the smaller-margin tests: find prime numbers, physics, and floating point math, where its leads range from 4.8% to 7%. The AMD chip is the pick for rendering, encryption, compression, scientific floating-point work, and any workload that can use more than 10 threads. Its 64 MB of L3 cache and 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes also support data-heavy and expansion-heavy configurations.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins in single-core performance. Its 40.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is enormous, and its 9% lead in PassMark single-thread confirms the trend. The Intel part also carries advantages in platform-level specifications: a 3 nm process node, a higher transistor count of 17,800 million, a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, larger per-core L1 and L2 caches (192 KB and 3 MB per core), and a desktop socket with a 65 W TDP. The Intel chip is the pick for single-thread-bound applications, lightly threaded productivity, and scenarios where per-core cache capacity and memory bandwidth matter more than raw core count. The AMD part's higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz does not translate into single-core benchmark wins, which indicates the Intel architecture extracts more instructions per clock in those tests despite the lower nominal boost. The overall average benchmark scores reflect the multi-core bias of the test suite: AMD's 71,797 average dwarfs Intel's 30,468, and AMD's nearest rivals are high-end server and desktop parts like the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, Intel Xeon Platinum 8270, Intel Xeon 6517P, and Intel Xeon 6724P, all within 0.8% of its average score. Intel's nearest rivals are mobile and older desktop parts like the Intel Core i9-11980HK, AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS, Intel Core i5-13600H, and AMD Ryzen 7 7736U, all within 0.3% of its average. That comparison alone shows the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX competes several tiers above the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T in overall throughput.