AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX vs AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX are both 12-core, 24-thread processors, but they are built for entirely different platforms and deliver contrasting performance profiles. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Ryzen 9 7845HX dominates in most multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 posts surprising wins in specific rendering tests. This analysis breaks down the recorded measurements, architectural differences, and practical implications for each processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are lopsided in favor of the Ryzen 9 7845HX, which wins 12 of the 15 recorded comparisons. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the 7845HX scores 4320 against the PRO 5945's 2959, a 31.5% advantage. This is a massive gap for a workload that scales well with core count and memory bandwidth, and it sets the tone for the mobile chip's throughput superiority.

The 7845HX also wins decisively in Cinebench R15 single-core, but the direction is reversed: it scores 295 versus the PRO 5945's 417, meaning the PRO 5945 is 41.4% faster in that test. This is an odd result, as it contradicts the newer architecture's expected single-thread advantage. The data suggests the PRO 5945's Zen 3 cores are better optimized for this specific legacy benchmark, or the mobile chip's power management limited its peak performance in that run.

In Cinebench R23, the results flip again. The PRO 5945 wins multi-core with a score of 29366 versus 26876 for the 7845HX, a 9.3% margin. The single-core R23 result is even more lopsided: the PRO 5945 scores 4145 against the 7845HX's 1852, a staggering 123.8% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison, and it suggests the 7845HX's single-core performance in R23 is severely constrained, possibly due to thermal or power limits in a mobile chassis.

Outside of Cinebench, the 7845HX dominates the PassMark suite. In data compression, it scores 543539 versus 416599, a 23.4% lead. Data encryption shows a 19.8% gap (32789 vs 26313). Extended instructions, which measure AVX and similar workloads, favor the 7845HX by 34.1% (41020 vs 27031). Prime number finding, a test sensitive to integer throughput, shows a 30.7% lead for the 7845HX (329 vs 228). Floating point math is 25.4% faster on the 7845HX (94287 vs 70291), and integer math is 16.3% faster (155118 vs 129768).

The PassMark multi-thread score confirms the trend: 45010 for the 7845HX versus 34549 for the PRO 5945, a 23.2% gap. Physics simulation, which is heavily multi-threaded, shows a 24.5% lead for the 7845HX (2346 vs 1772). Random string sorting, a memory-latency-sensitive test, favors the 7845HX by 31.3% (63223 vs 43447). Even the single-thread PassMark score, which typically favors newer architectures, goes to the 7845HX: 3935 versus 3499, an 11.1% margin.

The overall average benchmark score reflects this split: the PRO 5945 averages 47527, while the 7845HX averages 46654. The PRO 5945 sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and the 7845HX in the 89th. Their nearest rivals confirm the tight competition: the PRO 5945 is within 0.7% of the Intel Core i9-12900F, and the 7845HX is essentially tied with the Intel Xeon w3-2535.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and manufacturing nodes. The PRO 5945 is a Zen 3 part, codenamed Vermeer, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. The 7845HX is Zen 4, codenamed Dragon Range, on a 5 nm process. The transistor counts reflect the node jump: the PRO 5945 has 8,300 million transistors across a 2x 74 mm² die, while the 7845HX has 13,140 million on a 2x 71 mm² die. The smaller die with more transistors on the 7845HX points to a denser, more advanced process.

Cache layouts differ in the L2 tier. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the PRO 5945 offers 512 KB of L2 per core, while the 7845HX doubles that to 1 MB per core. L3 is 64 MB on both, though the PRO 5945 lists it as a single pool and the 7845HX as shared. The larger L2 on the 7845HX likely contributes to its PassMark wins in data compression and sorting.

Memory support is a major divider. The PRO 5945 uses DDR4 with dual-channel access and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The 7845HX uses DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a much higher bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. That 62.5% bandwidth advantage helps explain the 7845HX's multi-threaded PassMark results, especially in bandwidth-hungry tests like floating point math.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The PRO 5945 offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 7845HX has Gen 5 with 28 lanes. The newer standard and higher lane count give the 7845HX more headroom for storage and graphics expansion, though the PRO 5945's desktop platform may have more physical slots available.

The 7845HX includes integrated graphics, a Radeon 610M, while the PRO 5945 has none. This makes the mobile chip capable of driving a display without a discrete GPU, which is expected for its market segment. The PRO 5945 is a desktop part, so it assumes a separate graphics card.

Clock speeds tell a clear story. Both have a 3.00 GHz base clock, but the boost clock differs: 4.70 GHz for the PRO 5945 versus 5.20 GHz for the 7845HX. That 500 MHz boost advantage should help the 7845HX in single-threaded tasks, yet the Cinebench R23 single-core result contradicts this, suggesting the mobile chip's boost is not sustained under load.

The TDP ratings are counterintuitive. The PRO 5945 has a 65 W TDP, while the 7845HX is rated at 55 W. Despite the lower TDP, the 7845HX wins most benchmarks, which indicates its 5 nm process is significantly more efficient per watt.

Socket and market segment differ fundamentally. The PRO 5945 uses AMD Socket AM4, a desktop standard, and is locked (multiplier not unlocked). The 7845HX uses AMD Socket FL1, a mobile socket, and has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The PRO 5945 was released in April 2022, the 7845HX in January 2023.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 reaches 4.70 GHz.

Q: Why does the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 win in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The PRO 5945 scores 4145 versus 1852 for the 7845HX, a 123.8% advantage. The recorded data does not explain the cause, but the gap suggests the mobile chip's single-core boost is not sustained under that workload.

Q: Does the Ryzen 9 7845HX support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, the 7845HX supports DDR5 with dual-channel access and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The PRO 5945 supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen 9 7845HX includes a Radeon 610M iGPU. The Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark multi-thread performance?

A: The 7845HX scores 45010, which is 23.2% higher than the PRO 5945's 34549.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Ryzen 9 7845HX was released in January 2023, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 was released in April 2022.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX is the stronger processor for most compute-heavy tasks, winning 12 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks. Its wins span compression, encryption, math, physics, and sorting, with margins from 11.1% to 34.1%. The only areas where the PRO 5945 wins are Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core.

The PRO 5945's Cinebench R23 multi-core win is notable, as it is a modern, demanding workload. But the 7845HX's overall benchmark average of 46654 is close to the PRO 5945's 47527, a difference of only 1.8%. The PRO 5945's percentile ranking is 90 versus 89 for the 7845HX, so they are statistically near-neighbors in the database.

For users who prioritize sustained multi-threaded throughput, the 7845HX is the obvious choice. Its DDR5 bandwidth and larger L2 cache drive consistent wins in PassMark suites. For users who rely on Cinebench R23, the PRO 5945 is unexpectedly faster, particularly in single-core, but this is an outlier relative to the broader benchmark set.

The PRO 5945 is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP and an AM4 socket, while the 7845HX is a mobile part with a 55 W TDP and an FL1 socket. The 7845HX's unlocked multiplier and integrated graphics make it more flexible for portable systems, while the PRO 5945 fits into existing AM4 motherboards with DDR4 memory.

Specification Differences

• Architecture: Zen 3 (Vermeer) for the PRO 5945, Zen 4 (Dragon Range) for the 7845HX
• Process node: 7 nm for the PRO 5945, 5 nm for the 7845HX
• Transistors: 8,300 million for the PRO 5945, 13,140 million for the 7845HX
• Die size: 2x 74 mm² for the PRO 5945, 2x 71 mm² for the 7845HX
• Boost clock: 4.70 GHz for the PRO 5945, 5.20 GHz for the 7845HX
• TDP: 65 W for the PRO 5945, 55 W for the 7845HX
• Socket: AM4 for the PRO 5945, FL1 for the 7845HX
• L2 cache: 512 KB per core for the PRO 5945, 1 MB per core for the 7845HX
• Memory support: DDR4 for the PRO 5945, DDR5 for the 7845HX
• Memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s for the PRO 5945, 83.2 GB/s for the 7845HX
• PCIe: Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the PRO 5945, Gen 5 with 28 lanes for the 7845HX
• Integrated graphics: None for the PRO 5945, Radeon 610M for the 7845HX
• Multiplier unlocked: No for the PRO 5945, Yes for the 7845HX
• Release date: April 2022 for the PRO 5945, January 2023 for the 7845HX

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 7845HX wins in the majority of workloads. It is faster in data compression (23.4%), data encryption (19.8%), extended instructions (34.1%), prime number finding (30.7%), floating point math (25.4%), integer math (16.3%), multi-thread (23.2%), physics (24.5%), random string sorting (31.3%), and single-thread PassMark (11.1%). It also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 31.5%. This makes it the better choice for content creation, scientific computing, and any task that leverages AVX instructions or high memory bandwidth.

The Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 wins in three specific tests: Cinebench R15 single-core (41.4% faster), Cinebench R23 multi-core (9.3% faster), and Cinebench R23 single-core (123.8% faster). Its R23 multi-core win is significant for 3D rendering and similar workloads that use that engine. Its single-core R23 result is exceptional, but the inconsistency with other single-threaded tests suggests it is workload-specific rather than a general advantage.

In practical terms, the 7845HX suits mobile workstations that need maximum throughput per watt, given its 55 W TDP against the PRO 5945's 65 W. The PRO 5945 suits desktop builds on AM4 with DDR4, where users can leverage existing motherboards and expect strong Cinebench performance. The 7845HX's unlocked multiplier adds overclocking potential, while the PRO 5945 is locked. The integrated graphics on the 7845HX make it self-sufficient for display output, whereas the PRO 5945 requires a discrete GPU.