AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS and Intel Core Ultra 5 225H land in the same performance tier, with average benchmark scores of 31,593 and 31,508 respectively, a 0.3% gap that places both at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs. The head-to-head data shows a near-split decision: AMD wins 9 of the 17 compared tests, while Intel wins 8, making the choice heavily dependent on workload type rather than overall capability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS takes decisive wins in integer-heavy and compression tasks. Its most lopsided victory comes in PassMark integer math, scoring 103,044 against Intel’s 68,520, a 50.4% advantage. Data compression shows a 28.9% lead (365,352 vs 283,451), and random string sorting favors AMD by 25.9% (42,386 vs 33,654). Extended instructions also lean heavily toward AMD, with a 25.4% margin (27,480 vs 21,915). In multi-threaded rendering, AMD maintains a clear edge: Cinebench R23 multicore shows 16,713 vs 14,629.5 (14.2% lead), Cinebench R15 multicore shows 2,656 vs 2,397.5 (10.8% lead), and Geekbench multicore shows 12,724 vs 11,526 (10.4% lead). PassMark multithread favors AMD by 7% (30,098 vs 28,119), and data encryption is a narrow 1.6% win for AMD (21,777 vs 21,428).

Intel Core Ultra 5 225H counters with dominant scores in floating-point math and prime-number finding. PassMark floating-point math shows Intel at 86,540 versus AMD’s 62,897, a 27.3% lead. The prime-number test is Intel’s biggest win by far: 220 vs 92, a 58.2% margin. Physics simulation also favors Intel, with 1,877 vs 1,450 (22.7% lead). Single-thread performance consistently goes to Intel: PassMark single-thread shows 4,258 vs 3,878 (8.9% lead), Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1,969 vs 1,790 (9.1% lead), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 288.5 vs 283 (1.9% lead). Geekbench single-core is nearly identical, with Intel ahead by just 0.3% (2,151 vs 2,144).

The pattern is clear: AMD wins where integer throughput and compression matter, while Intel wins where floating-point precision and single-thread responsiveness dominate. The multi-core Cinebench results reinforce AMD’s advantage in heavily threaded workloads, while the single-core results show Intel’s architectural efficiency at lower thread counts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS uses Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with 8 cores and 16 threads. Its die size is 178 mm², and it packs 25,000 million transistors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H uses Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm TSMC process, with 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning it has no hyperthreading. Intel’s die size and transistor count are not listed in the data, but the process node advantage (3 nm vs 4 nm) suggests a denser design.

Cache configurations differ substantially. AMD allocates 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 18 MB shared L3. Intel’s larger per-core cache sizes and greater total L3 (18 MB vs 16 MB) likely contribute to its single-thread wins, while AMD’s simultaneous multithreading (16 threads vs 14) helps its multi-core scores.

Memory support also differs. Both support DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but Intel adds LPDDR5X support and achieves higher bandwidth: 102.4 GB/s versus AMD’s 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports PCIe Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes, while AMD uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. AMD supports ECC memory, Intel does not. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD pairs with Radeon 780M, while Intel uses Arc Graphics 130T. AMD’s socket is FP8, Intel’s is BGA 2049. Intel has a release date of 2025-01-12, while AMD’s release date is not provided.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS has an average benchmark score of 31,593, compared to Intel’s 31,508, a 0.3% difference. Both sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Why does AMD win multi-core tests despite having fewer cores?

A: AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel has 14 cores and 14 threads. AMD’s simultaneous multithreading effectively doubles its thread count, and its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16,713 exceeds Intel’s 14,629.5 by 14.2%.

Q: What is Intel’s largest single benchmark win?

A: Intel’s biggest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 220 versus AMD’s 92, a 58.2% lead. This indicates a strong advantage in specific arithmetic workloads.

Q: How do the processors compare in single-thread performance?

A: Intel wins every single-thread test. PassMark single-thread shows 4,258 vs 3,878 (8.9% lead), Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1,969 vs 1,790 (9.1% lead), and Geekbench single-core shows 2,151 vs 2,144 (0.3% lead).

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H does not list ECC support.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H offers 102.4 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS offers 89.6 GB/s. Intel also supports LPDDR5X memory in addition to DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every core specification. AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel offers 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clock speeds are 4.00 GHz for AMD and 1.70 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 5.20 GHz for AMD and 4.90 GHz for Intel. TDP ratings are 35 W for AMD and 28 W for Intel. AMD uses Socket FP8, Intel uses BGA 2049. The process node is 4 nm (TSMC) for AMD and 3 nm (TSMC) for Intel. AMD’s architecture is Zen 4 (Phoenix), Intel’s is Arrow Lake (Arrow Lake-H). AMD’s die size is 178 mm² with 25,000 million transistors; Intel’s die size and transistor count are not reported.

Cache allocation differs: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Memory support: AMD lists DDR5 only, Intel lists DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 102.4 GB/s for Intel. ECC support is present on AMD, absent on Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD, Gen 5 with 8 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics: Radeon 780M on AMD, Arc Graphics 130T on Intel. Intel has a listed release date of 2025-01-12; AMD’s release date is not provided. Both have locked multipliers. AMD’s part numbers are 100-000000954(FP7r2), 100-000000963(FP7), and 100-000001128(FP8); Intel’s is SRQAM.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS wins in workloads that stress integer arithmetic, data compression, and heavily threaded rendering. Its 50.4% lead in PassMark integer math and 28.9% lead in data compression make it the clear choice for database operations, file archiving, and any task involving large integer sets. The 14.2% Cinebench R23 multicore advantage suggests it handles video rendering and 3D scene compilation more efficiently. The 25.4% lead in extended instructions points to strength in SIMD-heavy multimedia code. With 16 threads versus 14, AMD also wins in passmark multithread by 7%, making it preferable for general productivity where all cores are tapped.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H wins in floating-point math, physics simulation, and single-thread responsiveness. Its 27.3% lead in floating-point math (86,540 vs 62,897) makes it better suited for scientific calculations and financial modeling. The 58.2% margin in prime-number finding indicates superior handling of iterative arithmetic loops. Physics simulation at 1,877 vs 1,450 (22.7% lead) suggests better game physics performance. Intel’s consistent single-thread wins across PassMark, Cinebench, and Geekbench mean it excels in everyday applications that rely on one or two cores, such as web browsing, office documents, and light code compilation. The 18 MB L3 cache and larger per-core L1/L2 likely contribute to these wins.

The Verdict

The data supports a workload-based split rather than an overall winner. Choose the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS for multi-threaded integer workloads, rendering, and compression tasks. Its 14.2% Cinebench R23 multicore lead and 50.4% integer math advantage make it the stronger option for content creation pipelines, data processing, and any application that scales with thread count. The 16 threads provide a tangible benefit in parallel tasks, and ECC memory support adds reliability for data-critical systems.

Choose the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H for single-thread performance, floating-point math, and physics simulation. Its 9.1% Cinebench R23 single-core lead and 27.3% floating-point math advantage indicate superiority in interactive workloads, scientific computation, and legacy single-threaded software. The 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and LPDDR5X support offer a faster memory subsystem, and the 3 nm process node gives it a manufacturing advantage. For users who prioritize snappy desktop response over multi-core throughput, Intel is the data-backed pick. Both processors sit at the 82nd percentile, so neither is a wrong choice; the correct one depends on whether the workload leans integer-heavy or floating-point-heavy.