AMD Ryzen 7 8840U vs Intel Core 5 210H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U and Intel Core 5 210H is decisively one-sided. Across the 15 head-to-head tests recorded in the database, the AMD processor claims 14 wins, while the Intel part manages only a single victory. The margin of victory is often substantial, with several workloads showing double-digit percentage gaps.

The most lopsided results favor the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U in computational throughput tests. In PassMark integer math, the AMD chip scores 85740 against Intel's 61503, a 39.4% advantage. Extended instruction handling shows an even larger gap: 18654 versus 13370, a 39.5% delta. Prime number finding is the biggest single margin, with AMD at 78 versus Intel at 53, a 47.2% lead. These are not marginal differences; they represent a generational efficiency gap in raw compute per thread.

Memory and data manipulation workloads reinforce the pattern. Random string sorting sees AMD at 32158 versus Intel's 23451, a 37.1% advantage. Data encryption shows AMD at 16072 versus 12187, a 31.9% lead, and data compression delivers AMD at 267525 versus 217805, a 22.8% edge. These results suggest the AMD architecture handles memory-bound and parallel data operations with significantly higher throughput.

Multi-threaded rendering tests confirm the trend. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 12972 versus Intel's 11830, a 9.7% lead. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows AMD at 2024 versus 1757, a 15.2% gap. PassMark multithread scores 23346 for AMD versus 18252 for Intel, a 27.9% advantage. Physics simulation also favors AMD, 1176 versus 1040, a 13.1% difference.

Single-thread performance tells a more nuanced story. The Intel Core 5 210H wins Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1771 versus AMD's 1703, a 3.8% margin. However, AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core, 266 versus 247, a 7.7% edge. In PassMark single-thread tests, the two are nearly identical, with AMD at 3543 and Intel at 3539, a 0.1% difference. The data shows that for lightly threaded tasks, these processors are close, with the Intel part holding a narrow edge in one specific rendering workload.

The aggregate database scores place the Intel Core 5 210H slightly ahead overall, with an average benchmark score of 24872 compared to AMD's 23982. Both sit in the 76th to 77th percentile against all CPUs tracked. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13620H at 24911 (0.2% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX at 24822 (0.2% behind). The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G at 24089 (0.4% ahead) and the Intel Xeon 6333P at 23823 (0.7% behind). The average scores suggest the Intel chip's single benchmark win in Cinebench R23 single-core, combined with its higher aggregate, does not translate into dominance in the workloads where AMD excels.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, and fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 5 210H uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H, on Intel's 10 nm process. The process node difference is significant, as the AMD chip packs 25,000 million transistors into a 178 mm² die, while Intel does not disclose transistor count or die size in the database.

Core configurations differ in threading strategy. Both processors have 8 cores, but the AMD chip supports 16 threads, while the Intel chip supports 12. This indicates a hybrid core arrangement for Intel, likely with performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not specify the split. The AMD chip's uniform Zen 4 cores all support simultaneous multithreading.

Cache hierarchies show distinct approaches. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U provides 64 KB L1 cache per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 210H offers 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may help with certain workloads, but AMD's larger L3 pool (16 MB versus 12 MB) benefits data sharing across cores.

Clock speeds differ in both base and boost. The AMD chip runs at a 3.30 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.10 GHz. The Intel chip has a 2.20 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The AMD chip's higher base clock is notable given its much lower thermal design power, which the database lists at 28 watts for AMD versus 45 watts for Intel.

Memory support diverges. The AMD chip supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database does not list a bandwidth figure. Neither chip supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differentiate the platforms. AMD includes the Radeon 780M, while Intel ships Iris Xe Graphics with 48 execution units. The database does not include benchmark scores for these iGPUs, but the architectural differences are clear. The AMD chip uses socket FP8, while Intel uses BGA 1744. The AMD part launches with three part numbers listed, while Intel lists one. Release dates differ by roughly a year, with AMD launching in December 2023 and Intel in December 2024.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U wins in almost every measured workload category. Its largest margins come in integer math (39.4%), extended instructions (39.5%), and prime number finding (47.2%). These results indicate a strong advantage in computation-heavy tasks that stress arithmetic logic and instruction-level parallelism. Data encryption (31.9% lead) and random string sorting (37.1% lead) suggest superior memory subsystem efficiency and cache management under random access patterns.

Multi-threaded productivity workloads clearly favor AMD. The 27.9% lead in PassMark multithread, the 15.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and the 9.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core position the AMD chip as the stronger choice for rendering, compilation, and other parallel workloads. The higher thread count of 16 versus 12 directly supports this outcome.

The Intel Core 5 210H wins exactly one benchmark: Cinebench R23 single-core, with a 3.8% margin. This single result shows Intel's peak single-core performance can edge out AMD in a specific rendering task. However, the AMD chip wins the other single-core tests, including Cinebench R15 single-core by 7.7% and PassMark single-thread by a hair (0.1%). The Intel chip also holds a slightly higher aggregate average benchmark score (24872 versus 23982), which places it in the 77th percentile versus AMD's 76th.

For use-case planning, the data suggests AMD for compute-heavy and multi-threaded workloads, including video rendering, data compression, encryption, and scientific calculations. Intel's single win indicates it can match or slightly exceed AMD in certain single-threaded rendering tasks, but the overall pattern does not support choosing Intel for general single-thread performance, given AMD's wins in the other single-thread tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U scores 12972 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 9.7% higher than the Intel Core 5 210H's 11830.

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

A: The results are mixed. Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 1771 versus 1703 (3.8% lead), but AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 266 versus 247 (7.7% lead). In PassMark single-thread, AMD edges out Intel by 0.1%, scoring 3543 versus 3539.

Q: What is the difference in thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 210H has 8 cores and 12 threads. This gives AMD 4 additional threads for parallel workloads.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 210H has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD's L3 is 4 MB larger.

Q: Does the Intel chip support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 210H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U supports only DDR5.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has a TDP of 28 watts. The Intel Core 5 210H has a TDP of 45 watts. AMD's chip consumes less power while delivering higher performance in most tests.

The Verdict

The recorded data makes a clear case. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is the stronger processor across the vast majority of benchmark workloads. It wins 14 of 15 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 0.1% (PassMark single-thread) to 47.2% (prime number finding). The only Intel win is a narrow 3.8% margin in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Users who prioritize multi-threaded performance, data processing, encryption, compression, or floating-point math should choose the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U. Its 16 threads, larger L3 cache, and higher base clock deliver measurable advantages. The 28-watt TDP, compared to Intel's 45 watts, adds an efficiency dimension that favors AMD in thermally constrained mobile designs.

The Intel Core 5 210H is the pick only for those who specifically need its single Cinebench R23 single-core advantage. It also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (24872 versus 23982), placing it in the 77th percentile, one point above AMD's 76th. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which may appeal to system builders with existing DDR4 modules. Its PCIe Gen 5 interface offers newer connectivity than AMD's Gen 4, though with fewer lanes (8 versus 20).

For most workloads, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is the better choice. The benchmark data does not support selecting the Intel chip unless the specific Cinebench R23 single-core workload is the primary use case.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications:

• Threads: AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has 16 threads; Intel Core 5 210H has 12 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD runs at 3.30 GHz; Intel runs at 2.20 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD boosts to 5.10 GHz; Intel boosts to 4.80 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is rated at 28 watts; Intel is rated at 45 watts.
• Process Node: AMD uses 4 nm TSMC; Intel uses 10 nm Intel.
• Architecture: AMD is Zen 4 (Hawk Point); Intel is Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-H).
• L1 Cache: AMD has 64 KB per core; Intel has 80 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: AMD has 1 MB per core; Intel has 2 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD has 16 MB shared; Intel has 12 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD supports DDR5 only; Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD lists 89.6 GB/s; Intel does not list a figure.
• PCIe: AMD provides Gen 4, 20 lanes; Intel provides Gen 5, 8 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD includes Radeon 780M; Intel includes Iris Xe Graphics 48EU.
• Socket: AMD uses FP8; Intel uses BGA 1744.
• Release Date: AMD launched December 2023; Intel launched December 2024.
• Transistors: AMD lists 25,000 million; Intel does not list a figure.
• Die Size: AMD lists 178 mm²; Intel does not list a figure.
• Launch MSRP: Intel lists $342; AMD does not list a value.