AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two AMD processors is lopsided, with the Ryzen 7 9700X taking 14 of 17 head-to-head tests while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins three. The separation follows a clear pattern tied to workload type rather than raw core count.

The Ryzen 7 9700X dominates single-threaded and lightly threaded scenarios. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2211 beats the HX 375's 1988 by 11.2%, and the Geekbench single-core result shows an even larger 45.1% gap (3023 vs 2084). PassMark single-thread testing confirms the trend, with the 9700X scoring 4654 against 3867, a 20.4% advantage. This makes the desktop part the clear choice for applications that depend on one or two fast cores: legacy software, scripting, and responsiveness in everyday tasks.

The Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins in sustained multi-threaded rendering through Cinebench. It posts 3334 in R15 multi-core (4.7% ahead of 3178) and 21812 in R23 multi-core (6.1% ahead of 20485). PassMark integer math also goes to the mobile part by a narrow 1.3% margin (121754 vs 120142). These results highlight the HX 375's strength in heavily parallel, CPU-bound rendering workloads where its 12 cores and 24 threads can stretch their legs.

The 9700X counters in most other multi-threaded tests despite having fewer cores. Geekbench multi-core favors it by 28.3% (17906 vs 13957), and PassMark multithread shows a 12.9% lead (37161 vs 32916). Data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, physics simulation, and random string sorting all go to the desktop chip, with margins ranging from 4.9% to 57.4%. The largest single victory is in prime number finding, where the 9700X scores 192 against 122.

The practical interpretation is straightforward. The 9700X delivers superior per-core performance across nearly every measured category, which translates to wins in both single-threaded work and many multi-threaded tasks that respond well to high clock speeds. The HX 375's advantage is confined to specific render workloads where its additional cores overcome the per-core deficit.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use AMD's Zen 5 architecture and are built on TSMC's 4 nm process, but they are fundamentally different chips. The Ryzen 7 9700X uses the Granite Ridge die, which measures 70.6 mm² and contains 8,315 million transistors. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 uses the Strix Point die at 233 mm², with no transistor count recorded in the database.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The 9700X has 8 cores and 16 threads, all presumably uniform Zen 5 cores. The HX 375 packs 12 cores and 24 threads using a hybrid arrangement of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, which allows higher core density at the cost of per-core clock potential. This explains the base clock difference: 3.80 GHz for the 9700X versus 2.00 GHz for the HX 375. Boost clocks are closer, with the desktop part reaching 5.50 GHz and the mobile part hitting 5.10 GHz.

Cache allocation also differs. Both provide 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core. The L3 cache, however, is 32 MB shared on the 9700X versus 16 MB on the HX 375. That is a 2x difference in the last-level cache, which partially explains the desktop chip's strong performance in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and extended instruction testing.

Memory support shows a notable split. Both use dual-channel buses with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, but the 9700X supports DDR5 only and includes ECC memory capability. The HX 375 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, which suits mobile designs, but it lacks ECC support. PCIe connectivity also favors the desktop part: Gen 5 with 24 lanes versus Gen 4 with 16 lanes on the mobile chip.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The 9700X includes Radeon Graphics, while the HX 375 features the Radeon 890M, a more capable integrated GPU for mobile use. The desktop processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the mobile processor does not. Market segments reflect the intended use: Desktop for the 9700X, Mobile for the HX 375.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show the clearest split. In R15 multi-core, the HX 375 wins with 3334 over 3178, a 4.7% margin. In R23 multi-core, it extends that to 6.1%, scoring 21812 versus 20485. These are the mobile chip's strongest showings, driven by its 50% core advantage (12 vs 8). Single-core Cinebench flips completely: the 9700X takes R15 at 346 versus 301 (15% ahead) and R23 at 2211 versus 1988 (11.2% ahead).

Geekbench produces the most dramatic divergence. The 9700X leads single-core by 45.1% (3023 vs 2084) and multi-core by 28.3% (17906 vs 13957). The single-core gap is the largest percentage difference in the entire head-to-head set, indicating a substantial per-clock advantage for the desktop part that goes beyond just clock speed.

PassMark tests split unevenly. The 9700X wins data compression by 8% (437140 vs 404918), data encryption by 4.9% (21815 vs 20802), extended instructions by 20.7% (35318 vs 29269), prime numbers by 57.4% (192 vs 122), floating point math by 5.1% (78999 vs 75153), multithread by 12.9% (37161 vs 32916), physics by 23.2% (2241 vs 1819), and random string sorting by 5% (46782 vs 44552). The HX 375 takes only integer math at 121754 versus 120142, a narrow 1.3% margin. The single-thread PassMark result repeats the single-core theme: 4654 for the 9700X versus 3867 for the HX 375, a 20.4% lead.

The database shows that the 9700X's wins are broad and consistent, while the HX 375's wins are concentrated in Cinebench multi-core and one PassMark subtest. The average benchmark score in the database reflects this: the HX 375 posts 46030 with an 89th percentile, while the 9700X posts 37943 with an 86th percentile. The mobile chip's higher average comes from its 3DMark results, which are recorded for the 9700X but absent from the HX 375's benchmark list.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 9700X | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 24 |

| Base clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.50 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 28 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Strix Point |

| Die size | 70.6 mm² | 233 mm² |

| L3 cache | 32 MB shared | 16 MB |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 lanes | Gen 4, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | Radeon 890M |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2024-08-07 | 2024-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $359 | Not recorded |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

The TDP difference is stark: 65 W for the desktop chip versus 28 W for the mobile chip. That 2.3x power envelope explains much of the clock and performance gap, yet the HX 375 still manages to win Cinebench multi-core tests through sheer core count. The die size difference (70.6 mm² vs 233 mm²) reflects the HX 375's additional cores, integrated GPU, and mobile-oriented design.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Why does the Ryzen 7 9700X win most benchmark tests despite having fewer cores?

A: The 9700X has higher base and boost clocks (3.80 GHz and 5.50 GHz versus 2.00 GHz and 5.10 GHz), double the L3 cache (32 MB versus 16 MB), and a 65 W TDP compared to 28 W, which allows sustained high-frequency operation.

Q: In which benchmarks does the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 outperform the Ryzen 7 9700X?

A: The HX 375 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (3334 vs 3178), Cinebench R23 multi-core (21812 vs 20485), and PassMark integer math (121754 vs 120142).

Q: What is the largest performance gap recorded between these two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the 9700X leads by 45.1% with a score of 3023 versus 2084 for the HX 375.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, only the Ryzen 7 9700X supports ECC memory. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score in the database?

A: The Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has a higher average benchmark score of 46030, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen 7 9700X averages 37943 at the 86th percentile.