AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor delivers the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H records a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32553, which is 22.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX score of 25265.

Q: Does the AMD processor have any workload advantages over the Intel part?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins in six of the thirteen recorded head-to-head benchmarks, including data compression (496427 vs 386591, a 28.4% lead), integer math (146506 vs 92603, a 58.2% lead), and multithread (41732 vs 38298, a 9% lead).

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H posts a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4595, which is 59.6% higher than the AMD result of 1857. In PassMark single-thread, Intel leads 4453 vs 3958, an 11.1% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the better overall benchmark percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H sits in the 89th percentile. The AMD chip also has a higher average benchmark score of 71797 compared to 47468 for the Intel chip.

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 Ultra X9 378H has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning the AMD part provides simultaneous multithreading while the Intel part does not.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock and boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, part of the 8000 series. It uses a 5 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The design includes 12 cores and 24 threads, enabled by simultaneous multithreading. The transistor count is listed at 13,140 million, spread across a dual-chiplet die size of 2x 71 mm². Cache organization is per-core: 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 64 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3, with the Panther Lake codename (Panther Lake-H). It is fabricated on a 3 nm process node at Intel. This processor has 16 cores but only 16 threads, indicating no hyperthreading. Cache configuration differs substantially: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip uses a different socket (Intel BGA 2540) compared to the AMD Socket FL1.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD part supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel part supports LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus and a much higher memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s. PCIe connectivity is another major split: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD chip uses the Radeon 610M, while the Intel chip uses the Arc B390.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel processor is locked. The AMD part number is 100-000001850, while the Intel part number is listed as unknown. The Intel part has a lower TDP of 25 watts compared to 55 watts for the AMD chip. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The AMD chip was released in the database on 2025-04-22, and the Intel chip on 2026-04-03.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows 13 benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX winning 6 and the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H winning 7. The results split cleanly by workload type.

Intel dominates the heavy multi-threaded and floating-point tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 32553 against AMD's 25265, a 22.4% margin. The single-core gap is even larger in Cinebench R23: Intel scores 4595 versus AMD's 1857, a 59.6% difference. Floating-point math also favors Intel, with 114500 against 86747, a 24.2% lead. The physics test shows Intel at 3404 versus AMD at 2185, a 35.8% advantage. Prime number finding goes to Intel as well: 357 versus 304, a 14.8% edge. In PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests (the same result recorded twice), Intel leads 4453 to 3958, an 11.1% margin.

AMD counters with large wins in integer-heavy and data-manipulation workloads. Integer math is a decisive victory: AMD scores 146506 against Intel's 92603, a 58.2% lead. Data compression goes to AMD at 496427 versus 386591, a 28.4% margin. Random string sorting favors AMD at 57971 versus 44648, a 29.8% edge. Extended instructions show AMD ahead at 36527 versus 31315, a 16.6% lead. PassMark multithread goes to AMD at 41732 versus 38298, a 9% difference. Data encryption is nearly tied, with AMD at 29919 and Intel at 29840, a 0.3% margin.

The average benchmark scores in the database place the AMD part at 71797 and the Intel part at 47468. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF (71910, delta -0.2%), the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 (71370, delta 0.6%), the Intel Xeon 6517P (72350, delta -0.8%), and the Intel Xeon 6724P (72396, delta -0.8%). For Intel, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (47527, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i7-13700KF (47330, delta 0.3%), Intel Core Ultra 7 265T (47697, delta -0.5%), and Intel Core i9-12900F (47176, delta 0.6%). These figures indicate that the AMD chip competes near the top of the overall CPU distribution, while the Intel chip sits lower in the aggregate ranking despite winning several individual tests.

The Verdict

The data describes two processors with opposite strengths. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H is the stronger choice for rendering and numerically intensive workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32553 is 22.4% above the AMD result, and the single-core score of 4595 is 59.6% higher. Floating-point math and physics simulations also favor Intel by 24.2% and 35.8% respectively. For users running Cinebench, scientific floating-point code, or physics calculations, the Intel part delivers materially better results.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the better option for data transformation and integer-heavy tasks. The 58.2% lead in integer math, 28.4% lead in data compression, and 29.8% lead in random string sorting show a clear advantage in data processing. The multithread score of 41732 versus 38298 also favors AMD, and the overall average benchmark score is far higher for AMD at 71797 versus 47468. The AMD part also reaches the 94th percentile of all CPUs in the database, compared to the 89th percentile for Intel.

The core and thread configuration explains part of this split. AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads, using simultaneous multithreading to handle parallel integer workloads. Intel has 16 physical cores and 16 threads, no multithreading, but a newer 3 nm process and higher memory bandwidth at 153.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s. The Intel part also has a much lower TDP of 25 watts versus 55 watts, which may matter for thermal design in mobile systems.

Selection depends on the workload profile. For floating-point, single-thread, and rendering tasks, the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H shows clear benchmark superiority. For integer math, compression, sorting, and overall multithread throughput, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the stronger performer. The two processors also occupy different sockets: AMD Socket FL1 for the Ryzen part, Intel BGA 2540 for the Ultra part, so platform compatibility is a deciding factor. The AMD chip is unlocked and supports 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Intel chip is locked and supports 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification field except dual-channel memory bus support and the absence of ECC memory.

• Cores: AMD has 12 cores; Intel has 16 cores.
• Threads: AMD has 24 threads; Intel has 16 threads.
• Base clock: AMD at 2.90 GHz; Intel at 2.00 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD at 5.10 GHz; Intel at 5.00 GHz.
• TDP: AMD at 55 watts; Intel at 25 watts.
• Socket: AMD Socket FL1; Intel BGA 2540.
• Architecture: AMD Zen 4; Intel not listed (Panther Lake codename).
• Process node: AMD 5 nm (TSMC); Intel 3 nm (Intel).
• Transistors: AMD 13,140 million; Intel not listed.
• Die size: AMD 2x 71 mm²; Intel not listed.
• L1 cache: AMD 64 KB per core; Intel 192 KB per core.
• L2 cache: AMD 1 MB per core; Intel 2.5 MB per core.
• L3 cache: AMD 64 MB shared; Intel 18 MB shared.
• Memory support: AMD DDR5; Intel LPDDR5X.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD 83.2 GB/s; Intel 153.6 GB/s.
• PCIe: AMD Gen 5, 28 lanes; Intel Gen 5, 4 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon 610M; Intel Arc B390.
• Multiplier: AMD unlocked; Intel locked.
• Part number: AMD 100-000001850; Intel unknown.
• Release date: AMD 2025-04-22; Intel 2026-04-03.