AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U. The largest single margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 459 versus AMD’s 76, a delta of -83.4% from the AMD perspective. That means the Intel part delivers more than six times the result in that specific test. The second-largest gap is in floating point math, with Intel at 194,988 and AMD at 50,746, a -74% delta. Integer math shows the smallest multicore-style gap at -46.4% (164,869 versus 88,339), while the single-thread PassMark gap is -25.4% (4,881 versus 3,641).

Cinebench results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 4,933 against AMD’s 2,041 (-58.6%). The single-core R15 test shows 696 versus 288, also -58.6%. Moving to R20, Intel’s multicore score is 20,556 versus 8,506 (-58.6%), and single-core is 2,901 versus 1,200 (-58.6%). Cinebench R23 multicore gives Intel 48,945 and AMD 20,254 (-58.6%), with single-core at 6,909 versus 2,859 (-58.6%). The consistency of that -58.6% delta across all six Cinebench runs indicates the relative performance gap is stable regardless of workload scaling, at least within that benchmark family.

PassMark data compression shows Intel at 602,121 versus AMD’s 272,664 (-54.7%). Data encryption is closer in absolute terms but still a wide margin: Intel 46,949, AMD 16,441 (-65%). Extended instructions yield Intel 45,357, AMD 19,132 (-57.8%). Multithread PassMark gives Intel 56,602 versus AMD 23,850 (-57.9%). Physics simulation shows Intel 3,598, AMD 1,174 (-67.4%). Random string sorting has Intel at 73,651 and AMD at 33,109 (-55%).

The average benchmark score in the database places the Intel part at 75,488, which sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD part averages 32,233, placing it in the 83rd percentile. The Intel processor’s nearest rivals in the database are AMD EPYC 8224P (75,582, delta -0.1%), AMD EPYC 4545P (75,373, delta 0.2%), AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (75,716, delta -0.3%), and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (75,738, delta -0.3%). The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U’s nearest rivals are Intel Core i9-11900 (32,226, delta 0%), Intel Core i5-14400F (32,279, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i7-12800H (32,121, delta 0.3%), and Intel Core i5-14400 (32,115, delta 0.4%). This suggests the AMD part competes with mid-range desktop and mobile chips from a few generations back, while the Intel part sits alongside server-class and high-end Ryzen PRO parts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U uses Zen 4 architecture under the codename Hawk Point, belonging to the 8000 series. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, in the Core Ultra Series 2. It uses a 3 nm process, also at TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. Despite the smaller transistor count, the Intel die is larger in area, and the process node is one step finer.

Core counts differ sharply. AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel provides 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel part has no hyperthreading equivalent in this configuration, so thread count equals core count. AMD’s base clock is 3.30 GHz with a boost of 5.10 GHz. Intel’s base clock is lower at 2.50 GHz, but its boost reaches 5.60 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) is 28 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel, reflecting the desktop versus mobile positioning.

Cache hierarchies are distinct. AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The Intel part has more than double the L3 capacity and larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations. Neither part supports 3D V-Cache.

Memory support is DDR5 for both, with dual-channel buses. AMD’s memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s, while Intel’s is 102.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: AMD packs a Radeon 780M, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units.

Sockets and market segments reinforce the divide. AMD uses AMD Socket FP7 and is classified as a mobile processor. Intel uses Intel Socket 1851 and is a desktop processor. The AMD part’s release date is 2024-04-15, while Intel’s is 2024-12-31. Both are active production parts. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $579; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set, so there is no single test where the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U comes out ahead. The question becomes which workloads see the largest or smallest margins. The smallest Intel advantage is in PassMark single-thread work, with only -25.4% delta. That means for lightly threaded tasks, the AMD part is relatively less disadvantaged. Integer math also shows a relatively smaller gap at -46.4%. These two tests suggest that AMD’s Zen 4 cores retain decent per-thread efficiency, even though Intel’s higher boost clock and newer architecture pull ahead.

For heavily parallel workloads, the Intel advantage grows. The floating point math gap of -74% and the find prime numbers gap of -83.4% point to workloads that scale with core count and raw throughput. The Intel part’s 24 cores versus AMD’s 8 cores explains much of this. Data encryption shows a -65% delta, physics simulation -67.4%, and multithread PassMark -57.9%. Cinebench multicore tests all sit at -58.6%, indicating a consistent scaling advantage.

In the database, the AMD part’s average score of 32,233 places it near the Intel Core i9-11900 (32,226) and Intel Core i5-14400 (32,115). That context matters: the AMD chip is a mobile processor that competes with older desktop i9 and current mid-range desktop i5 parts. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285, with an average of 75,488, sits near AMD EPYC server processors and high-end Ryzen PRO parts, meaning it belongs to a much higher performance tier.

For users who need single-thread responsiveness, the Intel part still wins by a quarter in PassMark, but the gap is manageable. For users who need multi-core throughput, the Intel part is roughly 2.4 to 6 times faster depending on the test, with the extreme case being prime number calculations where it is about 6 times faster. The AMD part’s only viable niche in this comparison is its much lower TDP (28 watts versus 65 watts) and its mobile form factor, which the benchmark data does not directly measure but which appears in the specification fields.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has an average benchmark score of 75,488, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U averages 32,233. That places Intel in the 95th percentile of all CPUs and AMD in the 83rd percentile.

Q: How much faster is the Intel part in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 scores 48,945 in Cinebench R23 multicore, compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U’s 20,254. The delta is -58.6% from AMD’s perspective, meaning Intel is about 2.4 times faster.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 winning all 17 recorded comparisons. The AMD part has zero wins in that set.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap between the two?

A: The smallest gap is in PassMark single-thread performance, where Intel scores 4,881 and AMD scores 3,641, a delta of -25.4%. That is the only test where the AMD part comes within a quarter of Intel’s result.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 list ECC memory support as true.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads, with no hyperthreading.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification field. Core count: AMD 8, Intel 24. Threads: AMD 16, Intel 24. Base clock: AMD 3.30 GHz, Intel 2.50 GHz. Boost clock: AMD 5.10 GHz, Intel 5.60 GHz. TDP: AMD 28 W, Intel 65 W. Socket: AMD Socket FP7 versus Intel Socket 1851. Architecture: Zen 4 (Hawk Point) versus Arrow Lake (Arrow Lake-S). Process node: 4 nm versus 3 nm. Transistors: 25,000 million versus 17,800 million. Die size: 178 mm² versus 243 mm².

Cache: L1 per core is 64 KB for AMD and 192 KB for Intel. L2 per core is 1 MB for AMD and 3 MB for Intel. L3 shared is 16 MB for AMD and 36 MB for Intel. Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s. PCIe generation: Gen 4 versus Gen 5, both with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics: Radeon 780M versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop. Release date: 2024-04-15 versus 2024-12-31. Launch MSRP: AMD has none listed, Intel lists $579. Part numbers: AMD lists 100-000001317(FP7r2) and 100-000001377(FP7), Intel lists SRQD4.

Fields that match: both use DDR5 memory, both have dual-channel memory buses, both support ECC memory, both are active production parts, both have locked multipliers, and neither supports 3D V-Cache. The manufacturer is the only other matching field alongside the memory support items.

The Verdict

The data does not support any scenario where the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 9 285. Across 17 benchmark comparisons, Intel wins every one, with margins ranging from -25.4% to -83.4%. The average benchmark score difference is substantial: 75,488 versus 32,233, a gap of roughly 2.3 times. The Intel part sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 83rd percentile.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is a mobile processor with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 28 W TDP. Its benchmark profile aligns with desktop parts like the Intel Core i9-11900 and Intel Core i5-14400, which are older or lower-tier desktop chips. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is a desktop processor with 24 cores, 24 threads, and a 65 W TDP. Its benchmark profile aligns with server-class AMD EPYC processors and high-end Ryzen PRO parts.

For workloads that depend on single-thread speed, the Intel part still leads, but the gap narrows to -25.4% in PassMark single-thread. For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel part leads by roughly 2.4 to 6 times, depending on the specific test. The largest lead appears in prime number finding, where Intel scores 459 versus AMD’s 76. The smallest multi-core lead is in integer math at -46.4%.

The AMD part does offer a lower TDP and a mobile socket, which are relevant for system design but not measured by the benchmark scores. The Intel part offers a higher boost clock, larger caches, more cores, and a newer process node. The Intel part also has a higher memory bandwidth and PCIe Gen 5 support. The AMD part has a smaller die and more transistors per area, but that does not translate into a performance win in any recorded test.

Given the full sweep of wins, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is the clear performance choice in every benchmark category recorded. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U would only be appropriate for use cases that prioritize its mobile form factor and lower power envelope, but the benchmark data itself shows no performance advantage for AMD in any of the 17 head-to-head tests. The verdict from the numbers alone is unambiguous: Intel wins every measured comparison, and the AMD part’s nearest rivals are all older or lower-tier Intel chips, not the Intel Core Ultra 9 285.