AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS vs Intel Core 9 270H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and Intel Core 9 270H are both mobile processors, but they target different priorities. The database records 15 direct head-to-head benchmarks, and the Intel part wins 13 of them, while the AMD part takes 2. Despite that, the AMD chip holds a higher aggregate score (39603 vs 38335) and a higher percentile (87th vs 86th), which suggests the head-to-head suite does not capture every workload. This analysis breaks down where each processor excels, the key specification and architecture differences, and which buyer should choose which.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 270H dominates the head-to-head suite, winning 13 of 15 tests. Its wins span nearly every category: Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core and single-core, Passmark data compression, data encryption, find prime numbers, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and single-thread. The largest margins come in physics (31.3% ahead), find prime numbers (25% ahead), and Cinebench R15 single-core (21.8% ahead). These results indicate that the Intel part is the stronger choice for rendering, physics simulation, and general single-threaded responsiveness.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS wins only two head-to-head tests: Passmark extended instructions (22298 vs 20079, an 11.1% lead) and Passmark random string sorting (37922 vs 36867, a 2.9% lead). The extended instructions result suggests AMD's Zen 4 architecture handles certain instruction sets more efficiently, which can matter for specialized workloads like cryptography or vectorized code. The random string sorting win points to a slight advantage in memory access patterns or cache behavior for that specific task.

In the aggregate database score, the AMD part sits at 39603 versus 38335 for Intel, and its percentile is 87th compared to Intel's 86th. This means that across a broader set of benchmarks, the AMD chip performs slightly better on average, even though the direct head-to-head suite favors Intel. The head-to-head tests are a curated selection, and the aggregate includes additional workloads that may play to AMD's strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 9 270H. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2040 versus 1724 for the AMD, a 15.5% lead. The R15 single-core test shows an even larger gap: 347 vs 271.5, a 21.8% difference.

Q: Which CPU is better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: The Intel Core 9 270H. It scores 18000 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD scores 14784, a 17.9% advantage. The R15 multi-core test is nearly tied, with Intel ahead by only 0.2% (2464 vs 2458).

Q: Does the AMD part win any benchmark?

A: Yes, two. It leads in Passmark extended instructions (22298 vs 20079, 11.1% higher) and Passmark random string sorting (37922 vs 36867, 2.9% higher).

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 270H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS supports ECC memory (true), while the Intel Core 9 270H does not (false).

Q: Which CPU has a lower TDP?

A: The AMD part has a TDP of 28W, while the Intel part is rated at 45W. This makes the AMD chip more suitable for power-constrained thin-and-light designs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 9 270H's biggest win is in Passmark physics, where it scores 1966 against the AMD's 1351, a 31.3% margin. This is a substantial lead for any workload that relies on physics simulation, such as certain games or engineering applications. The next largest gap is in Passmark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 112 versus 84, a 25% difference. This test is often sensitive to integer throughput and cache efficiency, and Intel's larger cache and higher boost clock likely contribute.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 347 versus 271.5, a 21.8% lead. This is the largest single-threaded gap in the suite. The R23 single-core test shows a 15.5% lead (2040 vs 1724). These results confirm that Intel's Raptor Lake architecture has a clear single-threaded advantage, likely due to its higher boost clock of 5.80 GHz versus 5.10 GHz for AMD.

Floating point math is another strong area for Intel: 70640 vs 55739, a 21.1% lead. This is relevant for scientific computing and 3D rendering. The multi-core Cinebench R23 result shows Intel ahead by 17.9% (18000 vs 14784), which is a significant margin for multi-threaded workloads. The R15 multi-core test is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by only 0.2% (2464 vs 2458), indicating that at lower thread counts the two are comparable.

Intel also wins Passmark multithread (28764 vs 26646, 7.4% ahead), integer math (97654 vs 93342, 4.4% ahead), data compression (333785 vs 311199, 6.8% ahead), and data encryption (19369 vs 18838, 2.7% ahead). The single-thread Passmark test shows Intel at 3944 versus 3692, a 6.4% lead.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS wins Passmark extended instructions by 11.1% (22298 vs 20079). This is a notable result because extended instruction sets (like AVX-512 or similar) can accelerate specific workloads, and AMD's Zen 4 architecture appears to handle them more efficiently. The other AMD win is in random string sorting, where it scores 37922 versus 36867, a 2.9% margin. This test involves memory access patterns and sorting algorithms, and AMD's cache hierarchy may be better suited to it.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 9 270H has 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for AMD and 2.70 GHz for Intel, but boost clocks reverse the order: 5.10 GHz for AMD and 5.80 GHz for Intel. TDP is 28W for AMD and 45W for Intel, a significant difference for mobile thermal design.

Sockets differ: AMD uses AMD Socket FP7, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1744. The AMD part is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, while Intel uses a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD chip has 25,000 million transistors and a die size of 178 mm²; Intel does not report transistor count or die size in the database.

Cache configurations are different. AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches and larger L3 give it a potential advantage in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support: AMD supports only DDR5, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both are dual-channel. AMD reports a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; Intel does not list a bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on AMD but not on Intel. PCIe support also differs: AMD has Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel has Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Radeon 780M on AMD and Iris Xe Graphics 96EU on Intel.

Release dates are April 15, 2024 for AMD and December 17, 2024 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $697; the AMD part has no listed MSRP. Both are active production parts and are not multiplier-unlocked.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS is based on Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, part of the 8000 series. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, which is a more advanced node than Intel's 10 nm process. The Intel Core 9 270H uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H, part of the Core 9 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation. The process node is 10 nm, fabricated by Intel.

The cache hierarchy reflects the architectural differences. Intel's per-core L1 is 80 KB versus 64 KB for AMD, and L2 is 2 MB versus 1 MB. Intel's shared L3 is 24 MB versus 16 MB. This gives Intel a larger total cache footprint, which can help with data-heavy workloads.

Memory support is another architectural split: AMD only supports DDR5, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. This means Intel systems can use older, cheaper memory, but AMD's exclusive DDR5 support may offer higher bandwidth (89.6 GB/s is listed for AMD). PCIe generation also differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 8 lanes. Gen 5 offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but AMD has more lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: AMD has Radeon 780M, while Intel has Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. The database does not provide performance numbers for these iGPUs, so no direct comparison is possible. ECC support is present on AMD but absent on Intel, which may matter for reliability in certain professional or server-like workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. If you need maximum performance in the tested head-to-head suite, the Intel Core 9 270H is the stronger choice. It wins 13 of 15 benchmarks, with particularly large leads in physics, find prime numbers, single-core Cinebench, and floating point math. Its higher boost clock (5.80 GHz) and larger cache (24 MB L3) likely drive these results. The Intel part also has more cores and threads (14/20 vs 8/16), which helps in multi-threaded workloads, though the R15 multi-core test shows the two are nearly tied.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS wins in extended instructions and random string sorting, and it has a lower TDP (28W vs 45W), making it more suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency is critical. Its aggregate score and percentile are higher, indicating that outside the head-to-head suite it performs well on average. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which is a niche but important feature for some users.

For a buyer who prioritizes raw performance in rendering, physics, and single-threaded tasks, the Intel Core 9 270H is the obvious pick. For a buyer who needs a power-efficient processor with ECC support and specific instruction-set advantages, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS is the better fit. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $697, but the AMD part has no listed price, so any cost comparison is left to the reader.