AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS vs Intel Core i9-11980HK Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11980HK and AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, yet they represent two very different design philosophies and eras. The Intel part, from the 11th Gen Tiger Lake-H series, launched in 2021 and is now end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, built on Zen 4 (Hawk Point), is an active product from late 2023. Benchmark data shows a clear split: AMD dominates the majority of workloads, claiming 12 wins out of 15 head-to-head tests, but Intel secures notable victories in specific Cinebench and prime-number tests. The average benchmark scores are extremely close, with Intel at 30422 and AMD at 29955, yet the underlying performance profiles are starkly different. This analysis breaks down the architectural reasons for these differences and identifies where each processor excels.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i9-11980HK wins decisively, scoring 2628 points compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS's 1769 points, a substantial 48.6% delta in Intel's favor. This is the largest single-test margin in the entire comparison.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-threaded Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS is the clear winner here, scoring 2575 points versus Intel's 1876 points. This represents a 27.1% performance advantage for AMD in this specific legacy benchmark.

Q: What is the overall benchmark average score for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-11980HK has an average benchmark score of 30422, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS sits at 29955. The difference is less than 1.6%, placing both processors in the same overall performance tier, with both holding an 81st percentile ranking versus all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS has a higher maximum boost clock of 5.10 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i9-11980HK's 5.00 GHz. However, the Intel part has a lower base clock of 2.60 GHz versus AMD's 3.80 GHz.

Q: In the PassMark integer math test, which CPU comes out ahead?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS outperforms the Intel Core i9-11980HK, scoring 97747 versus 78682. This gives AMD a 19.5% lead in this integer-heavy workload.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same memory standard?

A: No, they are not. The Intel Core i9-11980HK supports DDR4 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS supports DDR5. This reflects the generational gap between the two platforms.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural gap between these two CPUs is vast. The Intel Core i9-11980HK is built on Intel's 10 nm process node and uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS is manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process node and utilizes the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point. This process node difference is a key factor in efficiency and performance density, with AMD's newer node offering a significant transistor count advantage: 25,000 million transistors versus Intel's unspecified count.

Cache hierarchies also differ markedly. The Intel part features a larger L3 cache at 24 MB (shared), while the AMD chip has 16 MB (shared). However, AMD's per-core L1 and L2 caches are slightly smaller at 64 KB and 1 MB per core, respectively, compared to Intel's 80 KB and 1.25 MB per core. The die sizes are comparable, with Intel at 190 mm² and AMD at 178 mm². Both CPUs support dual-channel memory, but AMD's memory bandwidth is significantly higher at 89.6 GB/s versus Intel's 51.2 GB/s, thanks to its DDR5 support. They also differ in integrated graphics, with Intel featuring UHD Graphics 750 and AMD featuring the Radeon 780M. Finally, the Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD chip is locked, and they use different sockets (Intel BGA 1787 vs AMD Socket FP8).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a split personality between these two processors. The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core i9-11980HK delivers a massive 48.6% performance advantage over the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, scoring 2628 versus 1769. This is a counter-intuitive result given AMD's newer architecture, but the data is clear. Intel also wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, but by a much smaller margin of 15%, scoring 18617 against AMD's 16192. In the PassMark find prime numbers test, Intel also takes the win, scoring 100 versus AMD's 87, a 14.9% difference.

However, AMD's dominance is pervasive across the rest of the benchmark suite. In the legacy Cinebench R15 multi-core test, AMD wins with 2575 points versus Intel's 1876, a 27.1% lead. The single-core R15 test is closer, with AMD winning by just 4.3% (276 vs 264). The PassMark suite is where AMD truly pulls ahead. In data compression, AMD scores 344439 against Intel's 266571, a 22.6% advantage. Data encryption shows an even larger gap at 32.3% (20416 vs 13813). Extended instructions tests show AMD leading by 31.2% (25642 vs 17654). Floating point math is 21.9% in AMD's favor (59254 vs 46262), and integer math is 19.5% higher (97747 vs 78682). The multi-threaded PassMark score also favors AMD at 28498 versus 22436, a 21.3% lead. Physics tests show AMD ahead by 17.4% (1347 vs 1112), and random string sorting is 23.5% in AMD's favor (41446 vs 31709). Finally, single-thread performance in PassMark is 12.8% better on AMD (3738 vs 3261).

Specification Differences

The specification sheets show clear generational and design divergences. The most fundamental difference is the process node: Intel uses a 10 nm process while AMD uses a 4 nm TSMC process. This is paired with different architectures, Tiger Lake-H for Intel and Zen 4 (Hawk Point) for AMD. The base clocks are significantly different, with Intel at 2.60 GHz and AMD at 3.80 GHz, although their boost clocks are closer at 5.00 GHz and 5.10 GHz, respectively. Memory support is another major split, with Intel on DDR4 and AMD on DDR5, leading to a memory bandwidth difference of 51.2 GB/s for Intel versus 89.6 GB/s for AMD. The L3 cache sizes differ, with Intel offering 24 MB shared and AMD offering 16 MB shared. The integrated graphics are different as well: Intel has UHD Graphics 750, while AMD has Radeon 780M. The Intel CPU has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD CPU does not. Their sockets are also incompatible, with Intel using BGA 1787 and AMD using Socket FP8. The release dates are nearly two and a half years apart, with Intel launching on 2021-05-10 and AMD on 2023-12-05. Intel's production status is end-of-life, while AMD's is active. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $583; AMD's launch MSRP is not provided.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-11980HK is the winner in scenarios that heavily favor its specific strengths. Its 48.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is a massive outlier, suggesting that certain single-threaded workloads that are sensitive to this benchmark's specific instructions will see a dramatic performance boost on Intel. The 15% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core further reinforces that this Intel chip excels in this particular rendering engine. The win in the PassMark find prime numbers test, a classic integer workload, also points to strengths in specific algorithmic tasks. For users whose primary applications are based on these specific Cinebench workloads or prime-number calculations, the Intel part is the clear choice.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS is the more versatile and consistent performer, winning 12 of the 15 head-to-head tests. Its wins are broad and substantial, spanning data compression, encryption, extended instructions, floating-point and integer math, and multi-threaded throughput. The 27.1% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and the 21.3% lead in PassMark multi-thread indicate strong all-core performance. The 32.3% margin in data encryption and 31.2% in extended instructions highlight AMD's efficiency in security-related and complex instruction workloads. The 12.8% lead in PassMark single-thread is also notable, showing that AMD is generally faster in that suite's single-core test, despite losing the Cinebench R23 single-core matchup. For general-purpose computing, content creation, and most productivity tasks, the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS is the superior processor based on the benchmark data.