AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285 Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 and AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX occupy different corners of the hardware spectrum: one is a desktop flagship built for maximum throughput, the other a mobile processor designed for efficiency within power limits. The benchmark database shows a decisive performance gap between them, with the Intel part winning all 13 head-to-head comparisons. However, the Ryzen 7 8840HX is not without merit, offering a compelling feature set for its intended laptop segment. This analysis breaks down the recorded data to illustrate where each processor excels and what the specifications reveal about their divergent design philosophies.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded measurements, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins in every single benchmark category where both processors were tested. The database shows 13 wins for the Intel part and zero for the AMD chip. The most dramatic difference appears in single-core Cinebench R23, where the Intel part scores 6909 against the AMD's 1857, a 272.1% advantage. This suggests the Intel desktop chip has a substantial edge in lightly-threaded workloads such as everyday application responsiveness and legacy software.

The Ryzen 7 8840HX, despite losing every head-to-head test, still holds relevance in its own context. Its 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs places it near the top of the performance spectrum, even if the Intel part's 95th percentile sits one notch higher. For mobile users, the AMD chip offers 24 threads and a 5.10 GHz boost clock, making it a capable option for productivity on the go. The data shows its Passmark multi-thread score of 41732 is respectable, though it trails the Intel's 56602 by 35.6%. The real advantage of the Ryzen part lies in its platform: a 55W TDP and AMD Socket FL1 indicate it is designed for high-performance laptops, not desktop towers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 leads decisively. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 48945 versus the Ryzen 7 8840HX's 25265, a 93.7% margin. The Passmark multithread test confirms the trend, with Intel at 56602 and AMD at 41732.

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

A: The Intel part dominates here as well. Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel at 6909 and AMD at 1857, a gap of 272.1%. Passmark single-thread results are closer but still favor Intel: 4881 versus 3958, a 23.3% difference.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 8840HX a low-end processor?

A: No. Its 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs places it in the top 6% of processors tested. Its nearest rivals include Intel Xeon server parts like the Xeon 6517P and Xeon 6724P, showing it holds its own against enterprise-grade silicon.

Q: Which chip has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores, twice as many as the Ryzen 7 8840HX's 12. Both processors support 24 threads, meaning the AMD part relies on simultaneous multithreading while the Intel part uses a one-to-one core-to-thread ratio.

Q: What are the power requirements for each processor?

A: The Intel chip has a TDP of 65W, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 55W. The lower power draw of the Ryzen part is consistent with its mobile market segment, whereas the Intel part targets desktop systems with more robust cooling.

Q: Can both processors use the same memory?

A: Both support DDR5 memory and dual-channel configurations. However, the Intel part offers a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the AMD part is rated at 83.2 GB/s. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, which the AMD chip does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 tests reveal the starkest contrast between the two processors. In the multicore test, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 posts 48945 against the Ryzen 7 8840HX's 25265, a 93.7% lead. This near-doubling of performance aligns with the Intel part's 24 physical cores versus the AMD's 12 cores with 24 threads. The single-core test widens the gap even further: Intel's 6909 eclipses AMD's 1857 by 272.1%, indicating that the Arrow Lake architecture delivers far superior per-thread execution in this workload.

Passmark's suite of tests shows similar dominance, though the margins vary by workload type. The floating-point math test is particularly lopsided: Intel scores 194988 versus AMD's 86747, a 124.8% advantage. This suggests Intel's design handles scientific and engineering calculations with significantly more headroom. Physics simulations also favor Intel heavily, with a score of 3598 against AMD's 2185, a 64.7% delta. Encryption tasks show Intel ahead by 56.9%, posting 46949 versus 29919, which points to stronger AES acceleration or more efficient cryptographic instruction handling.

Some tests are closer, though Intel still wins. Integer math sees Intel at 164869 and AMD at 146506, a modest 12.5% lead. Data compression favors Intel by 21.3%, with scores of 602121 and 496427 respectively. The Passmark multithread test shows a 35.6% gap, Intel at 56602 and AMD at 41732. Random string sorting, a measure of memory access patterns and cache behavior, gives Intel a 27% edge with 73651 versus 57971. Even in the find prime numbers test, which often highlights integer throughput, Intel wins 459 to 304, a 51% margin.

The only benchmark categories where the AMD chip comes within spitting distance are integer math and single-thread performance, but even those show a clear Intel victory. The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is not merely faster; it is categorically superior in every measured metric, with the largest gaps appearing in tests that stress raw compute throughput and per-core efficiency.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge sharply on core count and clock speeds. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 packs 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX offers 12 cores and 24 threads, running at a 2.90 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost. Despite the AMD chip's higher base frequency, the Intel part's superior boost clock and core count give it the overall performance edge.

Power and platform requirements separate them further. The Intel chip draws 65W TDP and uses Intel Socket 1851, while the AMD chip operates at 55W TDP and uses AMD Socket FL1. The Intel part targets desktop systems, whereas the AMD part is built for mobile laptops. This is reflected in their memory bandwidth ratings: Intel supports 102.4 GB/s, AMD supports 83.2 GB/s. ECC memory support also differs, with Intel including it and AMD omitting it.

PCIe connectivity shows a notable difference. The Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes. The AMD part's higher lane count could benefit mobile workstations with multiple NVMe drives or GPUs, though the Intel part still delivers ample bandwidth for most desktop configurations. The integrated graphics also differ: Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, while AMD relies on the Radeon 610M. Neither is a gaming powerhouse, but the Intel part's larger GPU may offer better media encode or display output capabilities.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these chips is generational. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is built on Arrow Lake, a 3nm process from TSMC, with a transistor count of 17,800 million on a 243 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX uses Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, fabricated on a 5nm TSMC process with 13,140 million transistors spread across a dual-die design of 2x 71 mm². The Intel part's newer node and larger transistor budget contribute to its higher performance and efficiency in the measured benchmarks.

Cache hierarchies reveal different design priorities. The Intel chip features 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a larger 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part's bigger L3 pool may help in certain data-heavy workloads, but the benchmark results show Intel's smaller but faster cache arrangement winning across the board. Neither chip offers 3D V-Cache, so the Ryzen 7 8840HX relies on its standard memory hierarchy.

The Intel part's 24 cores are split between performance and efficiency types, a hallmark of the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. The AMD chip's 12 cores are all full Zen 4 cores, with simultaneous multithreading providing the 24-thread count. This means the Intel chip does not use hyperthreading, relying instead on its physical core advantage. The AMD part's unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, while the Intel part is locked. Production status for both is active, with the Intel part released in late 2024 and the AMD part appearing in early 2025. The Intel chip carries a launch MSRP of $579, though pricing details for the AMD chip are not recorded in the database.