AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H. Out of the 13 recorded head-to-head comparisons, the AMD processor wins 7, while the Intel processor wins 6. The decisive factor is not the count of wins, but the magnitude of the victories on each side.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX dominates in multi-threaded and integer-heavy workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 25,265 against the Intel chip's 18,395, a 37.3% advantage. The largest single delta appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD processor delivers 146,506 points versus 83,111 points for the Intel part, a massive 76.3% lead. Data compression also heavily favors AMD: 496,427 points versus 336,177 points, a 47.7% difference. Random string sorting goes to AMD with 57,971 points against 40,990 points, a 41.4% margin. Extended instructions show a 30.9% AMD advantage (36,527 versus 27,898). PassMark multithread score is 41,732 versus 33,978, a 22.8% lead for AMD. Data encryption is closer, with AMD winning by 13.6% (29,919 versus 26,345).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H takes the single-thread and floating-point categories. Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel ahead at 2,040 points versus 1,857 points, a 9% advantage. PassMark single-thread results are closer: 4,072 points versus 3,958 points, a 2.8% lead for Intel. The most striking Intel win is in PassMark floating-point math, where the Intel chip scores 103,128 against 86,747 for AMD, a 15.9% margin. Physics simulation also favors Intel: 2,895 points versus 2,185 points, a 24.5% lead. Find prime numbers shows a narrow Intel win, 327 versus 304, a 7% difference.

The overall average benchmark score tells the same story. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX averages 71,797 points across its recorded tests, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41,215 points, placing it in the 87th percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF with an average score of 71,910 and a delta of -0.2%, indicating the AMD chip essentially trades blows with that desktop part. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H sits close to the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (41,208, 0% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (41,263, -0.1% delta).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX belongs to the 8000 series, uses the Zen 4 architecture, and carries the Dragon Range codename. It is built on a 5nm process at TSMC, with 13,140 million transistors spread across a 2x 71 mm² die configuration. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, part of Core Ultra Series 3, uses the Panther Lake architecture and codename. It is built on a 3nm process at Intel's own foundry. The database does not record transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Core configuration differs substantially. The AMD chip has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. It unlocks its multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel chip has 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its multiplier is locked. The thread count discrepancy is notable: despite having four fewer cores, AMD provides eight more threads than Intel, a result of simultaneous multithreading on the Zen 4 cores. The Intel Panther Lake part appears to have no multithreading per core.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip therefore has more than three times the L3 capacity, which partially explains its large lead in data compression and integer math, workloads that benefit from larger working sets in cache. The Intel chip's higher per-core L1 and L2 values suggest a design favoring single-thread responsiveness.

Memory support differs. Both support DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, but the Intel chip also supports LPDDR5X. The measured memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 115.2 GB/s for Intel, a significant advantage for the Intel platform. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with only 12 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present on both: AMD uses the Radeon 610M, while Intel uses the Xe3 Graphics architecture.

Power and packaging are distinctly different. The AMD chip has a TDP of 55 watts and uses AMD Socket FL1. The Intel chip has a TDP of 25 watts and uses Intel BGA 2540. The release dates are separated by roughly eight months: AMD launched on 2025-04-22, Intel on 2026-01-04. Both are active mobile parts. Neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates two different priorities. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the stronger multi-threaded processor. Its 37.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 76.3% lead in integer math are decisive. The 64 MB L3 cache and 24 threads give it a substantial edge in workloads that scale across cores and benefit from large shared caches. It also sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the Intel chip's 87th percentile. The AMD chip's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, scores 71,910, only 0.2% above AMD's 71,797 average, meaning the Ryzen 7 8840HX performs at the level of a desktop-class part.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the stronger single-threaded and floating-point processor. Its wins in Cinebench R23 single-core, PassMark single-thread, floating-point math, physics, and prime number finding indicate a design that prioritizes per-core efficiency and FPU throughput. The 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and 3nm process likely contribute to its floating-point advantage. The Intel chip also draws less power, 25 watts versus 55 watts, which suggests better efficiency per watt in light workloads.

For workloads that use many cores, heavy integer operations, data compression, or large datasets that fit in L3, the data points to the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX. For single-threaded tasks, floating-point computation, physics simulation, and scenarios where lower power draw matters, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H holds the advantage. The choice depends on the workload mix, and the benchmark results are unambiguous about which chip leads where.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX. It scores 25,265 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 18,395 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, a 37.3% advantage. Its PassMark multithread score is 41,732 versus 33,978, a 22.8% lead.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H. It scores 2,040 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1,857 for AMD, a 9% lead. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4,072 versus 3,958, a 2.8% advantage.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD chip has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel chip has 16 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, AMD provides eight more threads due to simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD's L3 is more than three times larger.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H. Its memory bandwidth is 115.2 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX measures 83.2 GB/s.

Q: What are the TDP values for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a TDP of 25 watts.

Q: Which chip has a higher overall benchmark average?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX averages 71,797 points and sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41,215 points and sits in the 87th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins in every test that stresses parallelism and memory capacity. Data compression is its second-largest margin at 47.7%. Integer math is its largest at 76.3%. Extended instructions follow at 30.9%. Random string sorting at 41.4% and multithread at 22.8% round out the parallel workload wins. Data encryption, at 13.6%, is the closest AMD victory. These results align with the 24-thread configuration and the 64 MB L3 cache, which reduces memory traffic for repeated access patterns. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 25,265 confirms that rendering and content creation workloads should strongly favor AMD.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins in tests that stress per-core speed and floating-point pipelines. The physics test shows its largest margin at 24.5% (2,895 versus 2,185). Floating-point math follows at 15.9% (103,128 versus 86,747). Single-core wins are smaller but consistent: 9% in Cinebench R23 and 2.8% in PassMark single-thread. Find prime numbers goes to Intel by 7% (327 versus 304). The 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth likely helps the FPU feed data faster, and the 3nm process enables higher clock efficiency per watt. The 16 physical cores without multithreading still deliver competitive physics results, suggesting strong per-core FP throughput.

The split is clean. AMD owns integer-heavy, cache-hungry, highly parallel tasks. Intel owns floating-point, physics, and single-threaded tasks. No test in the recorded data contradicts this division.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX uses 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H uses 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz for AMD and 1.90 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.10 GHz for AMD and 4.70 GHz for Intel. TDP is 55 watts for AMD and 25 watts for Intel.

Process node and foundry differ: AMD uses 5nm at TSMC, Intel uses 3nm at Intel. The AMD chip reports 13,140 million transistors and a 2x 71 mm² die size; the database records no transistor count or die size for Intel. Cache per core differs: AMD has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, Intel has 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core. Shared L3 is 64 MB for AMD and 18 MB for Intel.

Memory support shows AMD limited to DDR5, while Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 115.2 GB/s for Intel. PCIe lanes are 28 for AMD and 12 for Intel, both Gen 5 CPU-only. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 610M for AMD, Intel Xe3 Graphics for Intel. Sockets are AMD Socket FL1 versus Intel BGA 2540. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. Release dates are 2025-04-22 for AMD and 2026-01-04 for Intel. Both are active mobile parts with no ECC support. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.