AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 366H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the overall head-to-head benchmark count?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H takes 7 wins out of 13 shared tests, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX takes 6 wins. The Intel part edges ahead by a single benchmark category.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H scores 4020 versus the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX's 1857, a delta of -53.8% from the AMD side. This means Intel's chip delivers more than double the single-core score.

Q: Where does the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX show its largest advantage?

A: The biggest AMD win is in PassMark integer math, scoring 146506 against Intel's 83695, a 75% advantage. Data compression also favors AMD by 51.6%, with scores of 496427 versus 327455.

Q: What do the average benchmark scores indicate about overall positioning?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has an average benchmark score of 71797, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H averages 41263, placing it in the 87th percentile.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H boosts to 4.80 GHz. Despite the higher boost, Intel wins most single-threaded tests in the shared benchmark set.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H supports 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX supports 83.2 GB/s. Intel's figure is roughly 38% higher based on the recorded data.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H uses the Panther Lake architecture with the Panther Lake-H codename, built on a 3 nm process by Intel. These process nodes differ by two generations of lithography, with Intel's part using the smaller node.

Core counts diverge significantly. The AMD chip has 12 cores and 24 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to reach double the thread count. The Intel chip has 16 cores and 16 threads, with no thread doubling. This gives Intel more physical cores but AMD more logical threads.

Cache layouts differ in structure and capacity. The AMD processor provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. Intel's per-core cache is larger, but AMD's shared L3 pool is substantially bigger overall.

Base clocks differ notably. AMD runs at 2.90 GHz, Intel at 2.00 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with AMD reaching 5.10 GHz and Intel reaching 4.80 GHz. The AMD part has a 55 W TDP, while the Intel part has a 25 W TDP, indicating different thermal envelopes.

Socket and platform requirements separate the two completely. AMD uses the AMD Socket FL1, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2540. AMD supports DDR5 memory only, while Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

PCIe lane counts differ. AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, Intel provides Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: AMD carries Radeon 610M, Intel carries Intel Xe3 Graphics.

The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. Transistor count and die size are recorded for AMD (13,140 million transistors, 2x 71 mm² dies), but those figures are not recorded for Intel. The AMD part is from the 8000 series, while the Intel part is from Core Ultra Series 3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H dominates in Cinebench R23, both multi-core and single-core. In multi-core, Intel scores 28477 versus AMD's 25265, an 11.3% advantage. In single-core, the gap is far larger: Intel scores 4020 versus AMD's 1857, a 53.8% difference. This single-core result is the largest proportional win in either direction across all shared tests.

AMD responds with decisive wins in several PassMark workloads. Integer math shows AMD at 146506 against Intel's 83695, a 75% margin. Data compression gives AMD 496427 versus 327455, a 51.6% edge. Random string sorting favors AMD by 45.6% (57971 versus 39814). Extended instructions go AMD's way by 35.8% (36527 versus 26901). Data encryption adds another AMD win, 29919 versus 25845, a 15.8% difference.

Intel wins the remaining PassMark categories. Floating point math shows Intel at 103615 versus AMD's 86747, a 16.3% margin. Physics tests give Intel 2880 versus AMD's 2185, a 24.1% advantage. Find prime numbers goes to Intel by 6.7% (326 versus 304). Single-thread scores are close: Intel at 4043, AMD at 3958, a 2.1% edge for Intel.

The multithread test in PassMark goes to AMD, scoring 41732 versus Intel's 33429, a 24.8% margin. This result aligns with AMD's thread advantage of 24 threads versus 16. However, the Cinebench R23 multi-core result contradicts that pattern, as Intel wins there despite fewer threads.

Overall, Intel wins the test count 7 to 6, but AMD wins the larger-margin categories. The average benchmark scores reflect this split: AMD sits at 71797 (94th percentile), Intel at 41263 (87th percentile). AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF at a -0.2% delta, putting AMD within statistical noise of that desktop chip. Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H at 0.1% and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 at 0.1%, showing tight clustering around Intel's average.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification field. Core counts: AMD has 12, Intel has 16. Threads: AMD has 24, Intel has 16. Base clock: AMD at 2.90 GHz, Intel at 2.00 GHz. Boost clock: AMD at 5.10 GHz, Intel at 4.80 GHz. TDP: AMD at 55 W, Intel at 25 W.

Process node: AMD on 5 nm (TSMC), Intel on 3 nm (Intel). Architecture: AMD Zen 4, Intel Panther Lake. Codename: AMD Dragon Range, Intel Panther Lake. Socket: AMD Socket FL1, Intel BGA 2540.

Cache per core: AMD L1 at 64 KB and L2 at 1 MB; Intel L1 at 192 KB and L2 at 2.5 MB. Shared L3: AMD at 64 MB, Intel at 18 MB. Memory support: AMD DDR5 only, Intel DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth: AMD at 83.2 GB/s, Intel at 115.2 GB/s.

PCIe: AMD Gen 5 with 28 lanes, Intel Gen 5 with 12 lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon 610M, Intel Xe3 Graphics. Multiplier: AMD unlocked, Intel locked. Transistors and die size recorded only for AMD (13,140 million, 2x 71 mm²), with no recorded values for Intel.

Both processors target the mobile segment, both are active in production, and neither supports ECC memory. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split. For single-threaded workloads and applications that rely on floating-point math or physics simulation, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H is the stronger choice. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4020 is more than double AMD's 1857, and it also wins floating-point math (103615 versus 86747) and physics (2880 versus 2185).

For multi-threaded integer work, data compression, encryption, and string processing, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX delivers decisive margins. Its 75% lead in integer math and 51.6% lead in data compression are the largest recorded deltas in the entire comparison. The PassMark multithread score confirms AMD's strength at 41732 versus 33429.

The average benchmark score heavily favors AMD at 71797 versus 41263, and AMD's 94th percentile ranking versus Intel's 87th percentile reflects that overall average. Yet Intel wins more individual tests in the head-to-head set. This contradiction indicates that AMD's wins are in high-magnitude categories while Intel's wins are more numerous but often smaller in margin.

The 55 W TDP of the AMD part versus the 25 W TDP of the Intel part suggests different platform expectations. AMD's higher power envelope aligns with its higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 2.00 GHz) and its 24-thread configuration. Intel's lower TDP aligns with its more numerous but lower-clocked cores.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins: integer math (146506 versus 83695, +75%), data compression (496427 versus 327455, +51.6%), random string sorting (57971 versus 39814, +45.6%), extended instructions (36527 versus 26901, +35.8%), PassMark multithread (41732 versus 33429, +24.8%), and data encryption (29919 versus 25845, +15.8%). These results point to workloads involving compression algorithms, encryption routines, large integer calculations, and general multi-threaded throughput.

Intel Core Ultra 7 366H wins: Cinebench R23 single-core (4020 versus 1857, +53.8%), Cinebench R23 multi-core (28477 versus 25265, +11.3%), physics (2880 versus 2185, +24.1%), floating-point math (103615 versus 86747, +16.3%), find prime numbers (326 versus 304, +6.7%), and single-thread PassMark (4043 versus 3958, +2.1%). These results point to workloads involving per-core responsiveness, physics engines, floating-point calculations, and lightly threaded applications.

The overall scoreboard reads 7 wins for Intel, 6 for AMD. However, the average benchmark score favors AMD by a wide margin (71797 versus 41263). The recorded percentiles place AMD at 94 versus Intel at 87, meaning AMD sits higher relative to the full CPU population tracked in the database. The verdict depends entirely on which workload family matters more.