AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS vs Intel Core i9-11900 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a stark split. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS wins 13 of the 15 recorded comparisons, often by substantial margins. The Intel Core i9-11900 wins only 2, but those victories are striking in their magnitude.

The most dramatic Intel win comes in Cinebench R23 single-core. The i9-11900 scores 2680 against the Ryzen 9's 1790, a 49.7% advantage. That is not a small gap; it is a generational statement about Intel's peak single-thread design in Rocket Lake. The other Intel win is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i9-11900 scores 18985 versus 16713, a 13.6% lead. So in the modern Cinebench R23 workload, Intel holds the edge in both single and multi-threaded results.

The Ryzen 9's wins are broad and consistent. In the older Cinebench R15 test, the AMD part leads multi-core by 28% (2656 versus 1913) and single-core by 4.6% (283 versus 270). The PassMark suite tells a similar story across nearly every category. Data compression favors AMD by 21.9% (365352 versus 285159). Data encryption sees AMD ahead by 36% (21777 versus 13942). Extended instructions show a 28.5% AMD lead (27480 versus 19654). Floating point math is 22.2% higher on AMD (62897 versus 48948), integer math is 18.6% higher (103044 versus 83893), and the multithread aggregate score is 25.4% higher (30098 versus 22456). Physics simulation shows a 32.6% AMD advantage (1450 versus 977), while random string sorting is 22% faster (42386 versus 33054). Prime number finding is 31.5% higher (92 versus 63), and single-thread PassMark still favors AMD by 13% (3878 versus 3373).

What does this pattern imply? The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS dominates in throughput-oriented and encryption workloads. The Intel i9-11900 counters in the specific Cinebench R23 tests, particularly single-core. The data suggests that Intel's architecture retains a niche for certain rendering workloads, while AMD's newer design is more consistently faster across general computing tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras. The Intel Core i9-11900 is a desktop part built on the Rocket Lake architecture, using Intel's 14 nm process node and a 276 mm² die. It is an 8-core, 16-thread chip with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is a mobile processor on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Phoenix, fabricated by TSMC on a 4 nm node with a 178 mm² die. It also has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and the same 5.20 GHz boost clock.

The process node difference is stark: 14 nm versus 4 nm. This explains much of the efficiency and performance-per-watt gap. The die sizes also tell a story: Intel's larger 276 mm² die versus AMD's 178 mm² die, with AMD packing 25,000 million transistors onto that smaller area.

Cache configurations differ in the L2 tier. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. However, Intel provides 512 KB of L2 per core, while AMD doubles that to 1 MB per core. That extra L2 capacity likely contributes to AMD's strong PassMark data compression and encryption results.

Memory support diverges entirely. Intel uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. AMD uses DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. That 75% bandwidth advantage (89.6 versus 51.2 GB/s) is a major factor in AMD's favor for memory-intensive workloads. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not.

The integrated graphics differ as well. Intel pairs the i9-11900 with UHD Graphics 750, while AMD includes the Radeon 780M. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part is a desktop chip on Socket 1200, while AMD uses the mobile FP8 socket. Intel's TDP is 65 watts, while AMD's is 35 watts, reflecting the mobile design target.

The production statuses differ: Intel's i9-11900 is end-of-life, while the Ryzen 9 7940HS is active. Intel's launch MSRP is $439, while AMD's is not listed. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The recorded data paints a clear picture for most workloads. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is the faster processor in 13 of 15 head-to-head comparisons. It leads in every PassMark subtest, including single-thread performance by 13%. It also wins the older Cinebench R15 tests. For general computing, data processing, encryption, physics, and memory bandwidth, the Ryzen 9 is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core i9-11900 is not obsolete, but its wins are specific. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it leads by 13.6%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it leads by a massive 49.7%. If the primary application is Cinebench R23 rendering, the Intel part is clearly superior. Those who rely on that specific benchmark for validation should take note.

The percentile rankings are identical: both sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs. The average benchmark scores are close: Intel at 32226 versus AMD at 31593. The nearest rivals for Intel include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (delta 0%), Intel Core i5-14400F (delta -0.2%), and Intel Core i7-12800H (delta 0.3%). AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13500 (delta 0.3%), Intel Core Ultra 5 225H (delta 0.3%), and AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX (delta 0.3%). This suggests that in the broader database, these two chips are considered peers in overall capability despite their workload-specific differences.

The choice depends entirely on the workload. For a desktop user running Cinebench R23, Intel wins. For almost everything else in the recorded data, AMD wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900 scores 2680, which is 49.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS's score of 1790.

Q: Which processor wins in PassMark data encryption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS leads with a score of 21777, which is 36% higher than Intel's 13942.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core i9-11900 supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads. They also share the same boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L2 cache per core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel Core i9-11900 has 512 KB per core.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900 uses Intel's 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS uses TSMC's 4 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is the clear winner for data-centric workloads. PassMark data compression shows a 21.9% advantage, data encryption a 36% lead, and extended instructions a 28.5% edge. For floating point math (22.2% ahead), integer math (18.6% ahead), and physics simulation (32.6% ahead), AMD dominates. The multithread PassMark score is 25.4% higher, and even single-thread PassMark is 13% higher. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and larger L2 cache likely drive these results. For general productivity, scientific computing, encryption, and any workload that stresses memory or parallel integer operations, the data points to the Ryzen 9.

The Intel Core i9-11900 wins specifically in Cinebench R23. The single-core score of 2680 is 49.7% above AMD's 1790, and the multi-core score of 18985 is 13.6% above AMD's 16713. This makes Intel the choice for users whose primary benchmark is Cinebench R23, which often correlates with certain 3D rendering and animation tasks. The 65 watt TDP and desktop socket also suggest a different use case: a stationary workstation where power draw is less critical than peak performance in a specific test.

There is a split between the older Cinebench R15 and newer R23 results. In R15, AMD wins both single and multi-core. In R23, Intel wins both. This inconsistency is worth investigating. It may reflect different optimization paths in the benchmark itself rather than a fundamental architectural superiority.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every physical and platform specification. Intel uses a 14 nm process with a 276 mm² die, while AMD uses a 4 nm process with a 178 mm² die and 25,000 million transistors. Base clocks differ: Intel at 2.50 GHz, AMD at 4.00 GHz. Boost clocks are identical at 5.20 GHz. TDP differs: Intel at 65 watts, AMD at 35 watts.

Cache hierarchies diverge at L2: Intel has 512 KB per core, AMD has 1 MB per core. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for Intel and DDR5 for AMD, with bandwidths of 51.2 GB/s and 89.6 GB/s respectively. AMD supports ECC memory, Intel does not. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750 on Intel and Radeon 780M on AMD.

Sockets and market segments differ: Intel uses Socket 1200 for desktop, AMD uses FP8 for mobile. The Intel part is end-of-life with a launch MSRP of $439, while AMD is active with no listed launch MSRP. Both have the same core count, thread count, PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. AMD lists multiple part numbers for different FP variants, while Intel has a single part number.