AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135H Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS is the faster processor in nearly every measurable workload. Across the 15 head-to-head comparisons recorded in the database, the AMD part wins 13, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H manages only 2 victories. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen is 29,955, compared to 29,093 for the Intel, placing both at the 81st percentile among all CPUs. For buyers who prioritize raw compute, the Ryzen 7 8845HS is the clear choice. However, the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H holds specific niches: it wins in prime number finding and physics simulations, and it carries a lower 28 W TDP versus the AMD’s 45 W, making it the more power-conscious pick for those specific workloads. The Intel chip also has a launch MSRP of $342, which can be stated once here as a reference point.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, and manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process. It integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H uses the Meteor Lake architecture, also codenamed Meteor Lake, from Intel's own 7 nm process node. Notably, the database does not record transistor count or die size for the Intel part, which itself indicates a divergence in how these chips are constructed and documented.

Core counts differ dramatically. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip has 14 cores and 18 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD processor still wins the majority of multi-threaded tests, which points to the efficiency of the Zen 4 core design. Cache hierarchies also differ: the Ryzen uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part uses 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. So Intel has more cache per core and more total L3, but this does not translate into benchmark dominance.

Memory support is DDR5 for both, with dual-channel buses and identical 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ, with AMD using the Radeon 780M and Intel using Arc Xe-LPG 96EU. Both are mobile parts, both are currently active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part was released on December 5, 2023, while the Intel part followed on December 13, 2023.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest single victory for the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS comes in the PassMark extended instructions test, where it scores 25,642 versus Intel's 15,028, a 70.6% advantage. This is a massive gap and indicates that the AMD architecture handles advanced instruction sets far more efficiently. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 2,575 against Intel's 1,718, a 49.9% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 36.3% advantage (16,192 versus 11,875.5). PassMark data compression is another strong AMD win: 344,439 versus 251,651, a 36.9% delta. Data encryption follows at 35.9% (20,416 versus 15,026). Integer math shows a 33% lead (97,747 versus 73,509), and multi-threaded PassMark is 27.1% better (28,498 versus 22,422).

Random string sorting favors AMD by 43% (41,446 versus 28,980). Cinebench R15 single-core is 13.1% better for AMD (276 versus 244), and Cinebench R23 single-core is 4.1% better (1,769 versus 1,700). PassMark single-thread is 6.2% better (3,738 versus 3,521). Floating point math is 8% better (59,254 versus 54,867).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H wins only two tests. PassMark find prime numbers goes to Intel by a narrow 2.2% (89 versus 87). PassMark physics also goes to Intel by 9.1% (1,482 versus 1,347). These are the only two areas where Intel shows an edge, and they are isolated to specific numeric workloads rather than general processing.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H has 14 cores and 18 threads. Base clock speeds are 3.80 GHz for AMD and 3.60 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.10 GHz for AMD and 4.60 GHz for Intel. TDP is 45 W for AMD and 28 W for Intel. The AMD socket is AMD Socket FP8, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2049. The process node is 4 nm for AMD (TSMC) and 7 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). Transistor count is 25,000 million for AMD, and not recorded for Intel. Die size is 178 mm² for AMD, and not recorded for Intel.

Cache structures differ as noted: L1 is 64 KB per core for AMD versus 112 KB per core for Intel; L2 is 1 MB per core for AMD versus 2 MB per core for Intel; L3 is 16 MB shared for AMD versus 18 MB shared for Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD versus Gen 5 with 8 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 780M for AMD versus Arc Xe-LPG 96EU for Intel. The release dates are December 5, 2023 for AMD and December 13, 2023 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $342; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Both support DDR5, dual-channel memory, 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster overall?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS wins 13 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, with an average benchmark score of 29,955 versus 29,093 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H. Both sit at the 81st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Where does the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H actually win?

A: Intel wins only two tests: PassMark find prime numbers (89 versus 87, a 2.2% edge) and PassMark physics (1,482 versus 1,347, a 9.1% edge).

Q: How big is the AMD lead in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD leads by 49.9% (2,575 versus 1,718). In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the lead is 36.3% (16,192 versus 11,875.5). PassMark multi-thread shows a 27.1% lead (28,498 versus 22,422).

Q: Does the Intel chip's higher core count help it?

A: The Intel chip has 14 cores versus AMD's 8, and 18 threads versus 16, but it still loses most multi-threaded benchmarks. The AMD architecture delivers higher performance per core, as shown by the 13.1% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 4.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: What is the difference in power draw?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS has a 45 W TDP, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H has a 28 W TDP. The Intel chip draws less power, though it also delivers lower performance in most tests.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The AMD chip uses the Radeon 780M, while the Intel chip uses Arc Xe-LPG 96EU. The database does not provide direct benchmark scores for these iGPUs, but the Radeon 780M is widely regarded as a strong mobile graphics solution.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS is the dominant choice for compute-heavy tasks. Its 70.6% lead in extended instructions makes it ideal for workloads that leverage advanced CPU instruction sets, such as scientific computing, encryption, and compression. The 36.9% lead in data compression and 35.9% lead in data encryption reinforce this. For content creation, the 36.3% Cinebench R23 multi-core advantage indicates strong rendering performance. The 33% lead in integer math and 43% lead in random string sorting make it suitable for database operations, file processing, and general productivity. Single-thread performance is also better, with a 6.2% lead in PassMark single-thread, so everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications will favor AMD.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H is not without purpose. Its win in PassMark physics (9.1% ahead) suggests it handles physics simulation workloads better, which could matter in certain engineering or gaming physics contexts. Its win in find prime numbers (2.2% ahead) is narrow but real, indicating a slight edge in prime-related computation. The lower 28 W TDP also makes it a more power-efficient option for the specific tasks it wins, and its 14 cores and 18 threads provide a wider core count for workloads that scale by thread count rather than per-core performance. However, given that it loses 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, its role is limited to those specific niches and power-constrained scenarios. The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS is the better all-around processor by a substantial margin.