AMD Ryzen 7 8840U vs Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 85,740 against the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V's 44,019, a 94.8% advantage. This is a near-double performance gap that speaks to the AMD part's raw integer throughput. The Ryzen also dominates in data compression, scoring 267,525 versus 186,521, a 43.4% lead, and in random string sorting, where it posts 32,158 to the Intel's 22,622, a 42.2% gap. These three workloads are heavily dependent on memory bandwidth and parallel execution, and the AMD chip's 16 threads give it a structural edge.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V takes its biggest win in the prime number test, scoring 195 against the AMD's 78, a 60% lead. This is a striking reversal: the Intel part is far more efficient at this specific single-threaded, latency-sensitive task. The Intel also wins floating point math with 59,536 versus 48,820, an 18% advantage, and physics with 1,637 versus 1,176, a 28.2% lead. In single-thread PassMark, Intel scores 4,274 versus 3,543, a 17.1% gap, and it repeats that margin in both single-thread entries.

In Cinebench, the story is split by core count. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 12,972 against 10,178, a 27.5% lead, and R15 multicore with 2,024 against 1,583, a 27.9% margin. But the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 1,950 versus 1,703, a 12.7% gap, and R15 single-core with 301.5 versus 266, an 11.8% lead. The pattern is consistent: Intel's single-core performance is clearly ahead, but AMD's multi-threaded design recovers and surpasses it in heavily parallel workloads.

Data encryption also favors AMD, 16,072 versus 14,141, a 13.7% lead, and extended instructions go to AMD, 18,654 versus 15,613, a 19.5% gap. Overall, the AMD part wins 8 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, while Intel wins 7. The average benchmark score puts AMD at 23,982 and Intel at 23,219, a 3.3% gap. Both chips sit at the 76th percentile among all CPUs in the database, which means they are closely matched in overall standing despite their very different strengths.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is built on Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, using an 8-core, 16-thread configuration. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V uses Lunar Lake architecture, also from TSMC but on a 3 nm process. It is an 8-core, 8-thread part, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading entirely. The process node difference is small, but the transistor count and die size for Intel are not recorded in the database.

Cache layouts differ substantially. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Intel's per-core L1 and L2 are larger, but AMD's L3 pool is larger by 4 MB. This cache configuration affects how each chip handles working sets: Intel's bigger private caches favor single-threaded bursts, while AMD's larger shared L3 benefits multi-threaded workloads that share data.

Memory support also diverges. AMD uses DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel uses LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with a much higher bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. That 52.3% bandwidth advantage for Intel is significant, yet the benchmark data does not always favor Intel in memory-heavy tasks like compression. This suggests that AMD's extra threads and cache strategy compensate for lower raw memory bandwidth. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity is another key difference. AMD offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while Intel offers PCIe Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes. For a mobile processor, this matters if you plan to connect high-speed storage or external GPUs. AMD's lane count is far more generous, even if the generation is older. Both chips are unlocked multipliers? No, both are locked, so no manual overclocking is possible.

The integrated graphics also differ. AMD pairs with Radeon 780M, while Intel uses Arc 140V. The database does not provide direct graphics benchmarks, but the architecture differences in memory bandwidth will affect iGPU performance. Intel's 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth is a strong asset for integrated graphics, which often scale with memory speed. AMD's lower bandwidth is a potential disadvantage there, but again, no direct graphics numbers are recorded for comparison.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split decision. If your primary workload is multi-threaded, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is the stronger choice. It wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 27.5%, PassMark multithread by 17.8%, and integer math by 94.8%. The 16 threads are a decisive advantage in rendering, encoding, compression, and any task that scales across cores. The AMD also leads in data encryption and random string sorting, making it the better pick for database work and file archiving.

If your workload is single-threaded or latency-sensitive, the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is the better option. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 12.7%, PassMark single-thread by 17.1%, and prime number finding by 60%. It also wins floating point math and physics. This makes it a strong choice for interactive applications, spreadsheet calculations, and workloads that do not use more than a few threads.

The average benchmark scores are close: AMD at 23,982 and Intel at 23,219, a 3.3% gap. Both sit at the 76th percentile. The AMD chip is the one to pick for productivity and parallel tasks. The Intel chip is the one to pick for single-threaded responsiveness and floating point heavy work. Neither is a universal winner, and the 8-to-7 win split in head-to-head tests confirms that this is a close matchup.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has 16 threads from its 8 cores, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has 8 threads from 8 cores. AMD's multithreading advantage is reflected in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 12,972 versus Intel's 10,178.

Q: Is the Intel chip faster in single-core performance?

A: Yes. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 1,950 against AMD's 1,703, a 12.7% lead. It also wins PassMark single-thread with 4,274 versus 3,543, a 17.1% margin.

Q: Which CPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has 136.5 GB/s versus AMD's 89.6 GB/s. Intel uses LPDDR5X memory, while AMD uses DDR5. Both are dual-channel.

Q: What is the process node for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is on TSMC's 4 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is on TSMC's 3 nm process. AMD's die is 178 mm² with 25,000 million transistors; Intel's die size and transistor count are not recorded.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. AMD provides far more connectivity options for storage and expansion.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U and the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V do not support ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U wins in every multi-threaded benchmark recorded in the database. It takes Cinebench R15 and R23 multicore, PassMark multithread, integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting. The 94.8% lead in integer math is the single largest margin between the two chips. If you are compiling code, running virtual machines, batch processing files, or doing any form of parallel rendering, the AMD part is the one to buy.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V wins in every single-threaded benchmark and in two math-specific workloads. It takes Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core, PassMark single-thread, prime number finding, floating point math, and physics. The 60% lead in prime number finding is the largest for Intel, and it also holds an 18% edge in floating point math. These results point to a chip that excels in scientific computing, simulation, and any workload that relies on quick single-thread responses.

The split is clean: AMD for throughput, Intel for responsiveness. In practical terms, a laptop with the AMD chip will feel faster when exporting video or running heavy multi-threaded code. A laptop with the Intel chip will feel faster when opening applications, scrolling complex documents, or running single-threaded simulations. The average benchmark scores are close enough that your specific workload should dictate the choice.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel has 8 cores and 8 threads. Both have a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. AMD's TDP is 28 W, Intel's is 30 W. AMD uses Socket FP8, Intel uses BGA 2833. AMD is on Zen 4 (Hawk Point), Intel is on Lunar Lake. AMD's process is 4 nm, Intel's is 3 nm. AMD has 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die; Intel's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Cache differs: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB L3 shared. Intel has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB L3 shared. Memory support is DDR5 for AMD and LPDDR5X for Intel, both dual-channel, but with bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s versus 136.5 GB/s. Neither supports ECC. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD, Gen 5 with 4 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 780M for AMD and Arc 140V for Intel. Both are mobile parts, both are active in production, and both have locked multipliers. The AMD part numbers include 100-000001323 (FP7r2), 100-000001375 (FP7), and 100-000001312 (FP8), while Intel lists SRPMS, SRPMW, Q5JT, Q5JU, and Q5KW.