AMD Ryzen 9 7940H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a genuinely split picture between the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H. Across the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, Intel claims 11 wins while AMD takes 6, but the margins tell a more complex story than the raw win count suggests.

Intel’s most dominant victory comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 7 356H scores 327 against AMD’s 81, a staggering 303.7% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it indicates a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle integer-heavy, branch-dependent workloads. Similarly, in PassMark physics, Intel posts 2895 versus AMD’s 1300, a 122.7% lead. The floating-point math test shows Intel ahead by 66.2%, with scores of 103128 and 62057 respectively.

The Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore tests also favor Intel, though by smaller margins. In R15 multicore, Intel scores 3055 against AMD’s 2490, a 22.7% difference. In R20 multicore, Intel’s 12153 beats AMD’s 10375 by 17.1%. Notably, Intel also wins the R20 single-core test by the same 17.1% margin, scoring 1715 versus 1464. The PassMark multithread test continues the pattern, with Intel at 33978 and AMD at 29063, a 16.9% gap.

Intel’s data encryption score of 26345 tops AMD’s 21096 by 24.9%, and extended instructions favor Intel 27898 to 26804, a 4.1% edge. In single-threaded PassMark, Intel leads 4072 to 3952, a modest 3% advantage.

AMD’s wins are concentrated in a few specific areas, but they are substantial. The most striking is Cinebench R23 multicore, where AMD scores 24703 against Intel’s 18395, a 25.5% lead. This is a significant reversal from the R15 and R20 results, suggesting the R23 workload’s longer duration and different scaling characteristics favor AMD’s architecture. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD dominates even more decisively, scoring 3487 versus 2040, a 41.5% advantage. Interestingly, AMD also wins Cinebench R15 single-core, 351 to 303, a 13.7% margin, yet loses R20 single-core to Intel by 17.1%. This inconsistency across Cinebench versions is notable and suggests workload-specific behavior rather than a general single-thread superiority.

In PassMark integer math, AMD’s 101977 beats Intel’s 83111 by 18.5%. Data compression slightly favors AMD, 352077 to 336177, a 4.5% edge, and random string sorting goes to AMD by 2.6%, 42093 to 40990.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split. Intel’s average is 41215, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while AMD’s average is 40431, also in the 87th percentile. The nearest rivals in the database confirm these are closely matched parts. Intel’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 with an average score of 41208 (0% delta), followed by the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H at 41263 (-0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X at 41376 (-0.4%), and the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H at 40967 (0.6%). AMD’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6507P at 40426 (0% delta), the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H at 40518 (-0.2%), the Intel Xeon 6369P at 40327 (0.3%), and the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40313 (0.3%). Both processors sit within a narrow band of their peers, and the 784-point difference in their average scores (41215 versus 40431) represents roughly a 1.9% gap.

The Verdict

The data does not support a single universal recommendation. Instead, the choice depends entirely on the workload profile.

For users whose primary applications are heavily multithreaded, long-running render tasks, or integer math, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H is the stronger pick. Its 25.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 18.5% advantage in PassMark integer math are decisive. The 41.5% margin in Cinebench R23 single-core is particularly compelling for any workload that relies heavily on single-thread performance in that specific benchmark family.

For users running a broader mix of workloads, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H offers more consistent wins across the majority of tests. It wins 11 of 17 head-to-head matchups, including all three PassMark math tests (floating point, find prime numbers, extended instructions), both encryption and multithread tests, and the Cinebench R15 and R20 suites. The 303.7% advantage in find prime numbers and 122.7% in physics are extreme outliers that suggest Intel’s architecture excels at specific computation patterns.

The database shows both processors occupy the same 87th percentile overall, and their nearest rivals overlap in score ranges. Neither part is categorically superior. The AMD part is better for certain Cinebench workloads and integer math, while the Intel part is better for encryption, physics, floating-point math, and most PassMark tests. Buyers should match the processor to their dominant application type rather than rely on an aggregate score.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins 11 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H wins 6.

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

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 327 versus AMD’s 81, a 303.7% advantage for Intel.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H have its biggest win?

A: AMD’s biggest win is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3487 against Intel’s 2040, a 41.5% lead.

Q: How do the overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: Intel’s average benchmark score is 41215, while AMD’s is 40431. Both processors are in the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any multicore tests?

A: Yes, AMD wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 24703 versus Intel’s 18395, a 25.5% lead. However, Intel wins Cinebench R15 multicore (3055 to 2490) and R20 multicore (12153 to 10375).

Q: Which processor is better for encryption workloads?

A: Intel is better for encryption. It scores 26345 in PassMark data encryption, which is 24.9% higher than AMD’s 21096.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification category. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel’s base clock is 1.90 GHz, considerably lower than AMD’s 4.00 GHz. Intel’s boost clock is 4.70 GHz, while AMD boosts to 5.20 GHz. The thermal design power differs as well, with Intel rated at 25 W and AMD at 35 W.

The memory subsystems are not identical. Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, while AMD supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the bandwidth figures diverge: Intel records 115.2 GB/s, while AMD records 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory support is another differentiator: AMD supports ECC, while Intel does not.

PCIe capabilities also differ. Intel provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This means Intel has the newer PCIe generation, but AMD offers more total lanes.

The integrated graphics are different as well. Intel uses Intel Xe3 Graphics, while AMD uses Radeon 780M. The sockets are incompatible with each other: Intel uses Intel BGA 2540, and AMD uses AMD Socket FP8. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier.

The manufacturing data shows notable differences. Intel is built on a 3 nm process at Intel’s foundry, while AMD is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. AMD’s transistor count is listed at 25,000 million, and its die size is 178 mm². Intel’s transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Cache structures differ substantially. Intel’s L1 cache is 192 KB per core, while AMD’s is 64 KB per core. Intel’s L2 is 2.5 MB per core, while AMD’s is 1 MB per core. Intel’s shared L3 is 18 MB, while AMD’s shared L3 is 16 MB.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is fundamental. Intel’s Core Ultra 7 356H is built on the Panther Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 3 generation, and is fabricated on a 3 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. AMD’s Ryzen 9 7940H uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix codename, part of the 7000 series, and is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. AMD’s generation is listed as Ryzen 9 (Zen 4 (Phoenix)), while Intel’s generation is Ultra 7 (Panther Lake-H).

The core counts reflect different design philosophies. Intel pairs 16 cores with 16 threads, indicating a design that does not use simultaneous multithreading in its recorded specifications. AMD pairs 8 cores with 16 threads, indicating each core supports two threads. This explains how AMD achieves 16 threads from fewer physical cores.

The clock strategy also differs. AMD’s base clock of 4.00 GHz is more than double Intel’s 1.90 GHz base, while AMD’s 5.20 GHz boost is 0.50 GHz higher than Intel’s 4.70 GHz. The 25 W TDP for Intel versus 35 W for AMD suggests different power envelopes, though the database does not record sustained power behavior.

Cache hierarchies reflect the different core designs. Intel allocates more L1 and L2 cache per core, while AMD’s shared L3 of 16 MB is only 2 MB smaller than Intel’s 18 MB. The per-core L2 difference is significant: Intel’s 2.5 MB per core versus AMD’s 1 MB per core means Intel’s total L2 capacity is substantially larger given its 16 cores.

Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 115.2 GB/s versus AMD’s 89.6 GB/s, a 28.6% advantage. Intel also supports LPDDR5X in addition to DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5. AMD counters with ECC memory support, which Intel lacks, and a higher PCIe lane count at 20 versus Intel’s 12, though Intel’s lanes are Gen 5 versus AMD’s Gen 4.

The integrated graphics solutions are entirely different products, with Intel shipping Xe3 Graphics and AMD shipping Radeon 780M. The database records no benchmark scores for either iGPU, so no performance comparison is possible from this data. The production status for both is Active, and both target the mobile market segment. The release date is recorded for Intel as January 4, 2026, while AMD’s release date is not recorded. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.