AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 represent two very different philosophies for mobile computing. The 7940HX is a high-core-count, high-power behemoth designed for maximum throughput, while the AI 5 PRO 440 is a more efficient, lower-power part with a newer architecture. The benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the specific strengths of each processor tell a more nuanced story.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the performance gap in single-threaded workloads?

A: In the PassMark single-thread test, the Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 3942, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 scores 3785. This gives the 7940HX a 4.1% lead.

Q: How do the processors compare in multi-threaded performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 7940HX dominates in the PassMark multi-thread test with a score of 53204, compared to the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440's 21054. This represents a 152.7% advantage for the 7940HX.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which is higher than the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440's boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Ryzen 9 7940HX supports DDR5, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has a TDP of 28, which is significantly lower than the Ryzen 9 7940HX's TDP of 55. This indicates the AI 5 PRO 440 is designed for lower power consumption.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is fundamental. The Ryzen 9 7940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, and is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses the newer Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Gorgon Point, and is fabricated on a 4 nm process, also at TSMC. The process node shrink is a key difference, though the 7940HX compensates with a much larger transistor count of 13,140 million spread across a die size of 2x 71 mm². The AI 5 PRO 440 has a single die of 195 mm² but its transistor count is not recorded.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The 7940HX has 64 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a large 64 MB of L3 cache. The AI 5 PRO 440 has 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of L3 cache. This gives the 7940HX a massive 56 MB advantage in L3 cache, which is crucial for multi-threaded workloads. The AI 5 PRO 440 also uses a mixed core layout, as its generation is described as Zen 5 / Zen 5c, suggesting a combination of performance and efficiency cores.

Other key differences include the socket (AMD Socket FL1 for the 7940HX versus AMD Socket FP8 for the AI 5 PRO 440), PCIe support (Gen 5 with 28 lanes versus Gen 4 with 16 lanes), and integrated graphics (Radeon 610M versus Radeon 840M). The AI 5 PRO 440 supports ECC memory, while the 7940HX does not. The 7940HX has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AI 5 PRO 440 is locked. The 7940HX was released on 2024-01-16, while the AI 5 PRO 440 has a later release date of 2026-01-04.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are overwhelmingly one-sided. In the PassMark suite, the Ryzen 9 7940HX wins all 11 recorded tests against the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. The largest margin is in data encryption, where the 7940HX scores 41974 versus 12418, a 238% advantage. This is followed closely by find prime numbers, where the 7940HX leads by 254.5% with a score of 273 against 77.

The multi-threaded tests show the expected pattern. In integer math, the 7940HX scores 202883 against 65991, a 207.4% lead. Floating point math shows a similar story: 121383 versus 42934, a 182.7% advantage. The data compression test gives the 7940HX a 170.5% lead (693741 versus 256420), and extended instructions show a 176.5% margin (51029 versus 18456). Random string sorting is another big win for the 7940HX, with a 200.1% advantage (81775 versus 27252).

The multi-thread score itself is a 152.7% win for the 7940HX, and the physics test shows a 105.3% lead (2297 versus 1119). The only narrow contest is the single-thread test, where the 7940HX edges out the AI 5 PRO 440 by just 4.1% (3942 versus 3785). This single result suggests that despite the architectural generation gap, the higher boost clock and older but powerful Zen 4 design of the 7940HX still delivers slightly superior single-core performance.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is the superior processor in terms of raw performance. Its 11 wins out of 11 head-to-head benchmarks, combined with its 94th percentile ranking versus all CPUs, puts it in a different class from the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440, which ranks in the 87th percentile. The 7940HX's average benchmark score of 69875 is far higher than the AI 5 PRO 440's 41208.

However, this verdict comes with a significant caveat regarding power consumption. The 7940HX has a TDP of 55, nearly double the 28 TDP of the AI 5 PRO 440. For a mobile workstation or a large gaming laptop, the 7940HX is the clear choice for maximum compute power. For a thin-and-light laptop where battery life and heat are primary concerns, the AI 5 PRO 440 makes more sense, despite its lower scores. The choice depends on the intended use case: raw throughput versus portability and efficiency.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX | AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 55 | 28 |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 5 |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Gorgon Point |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 4 nm |

| Die Size | 2x 71 mm² | 195 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 8 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Radeon 840M |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2024-01-16 | 2026-01-04 |

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 7940HX wins every benchmark category recorded. Its largest victories are in compute-heavy, multi-threaded tasks. It is the clear winner for data encryption, integer and floating-point math, data compression, extended instruction sets, and random string sorting. The 170.5% to 238% leads in these areas make it ideal for content creation, 3D rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that can use all 16 cores and 32 threads. Its 64 MB of L3 cache is likely a major factor in these results.

The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440, despite losing all tests, still has a defined role. Its only close loss is in the single-thread test, where it trails by a mere 4.1%. This means it offers strong single-core performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, office productivity, and light application use. Its significantly lower TDP of 28 and support for LPDDR5X memory make it the more practical choice for a portable device. The ECC memory support also makes it suitable for specific professional applications where data integrity is critical, even if the raw speed is lower. In short, the 7940HX is for users who need maximum performance and can handle the power draw, while the AI 5 PRO 440 is for users who prioritize efficiency and mobility over raw compute power.