AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The 7940HX also carries a higher base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to 2.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost for the AI 7 445.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29,400, which is 177.6% higher than the AI 7 445's 10,590. The 7940HX wins all 13 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with no wins recorded for the AI 7 445.

Q: What is the difference in single-thread performance?

A: The gap is much smaller in single-thread tests. The Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 1,807 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1,806 for the AI 7 445, a delta of only 0.1%. In PassMark single-thread, the 7940HX leads with 3,942 against 3,591, a 9.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor has a newer architecture and process node?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process node, codenamed Gorgon Point. The Ryzen 9 7940HX uses Zen 4 on a 5 nm node, codenamed Dragon Range. The AI 7 445 belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation, while the 7940HX is part of the 7000 series.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The Ryzen 9 7940HX includes Radeon 610M graphics, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 includes Radeon 840M graphics. The database does not provide direct graphics benchmark scores for either processor, so comparison is limited to their specifications.

Q: What are the memory and PCIe differences?

A: Both support dual-channel memory, but the AI 7 445 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the 7940HX supports DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s. The 7940HX uses PCIe Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, whereas the AI 7 445 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 9 7940HX and Ryzen AI 7 445 represent two distinct design generations from AMD. The 7940HX is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, and uses a 5 nm process from TSMC. It contains 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design measuring 2x 71 mm². The AI 7 445 moves to Zen 5, codenamed Gorgon Point, on a 4 nm process. The database does not list transistor counts or die sizes for the AI 7 445.

Cache organization differs substantially. The 7940HX provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a 64 MB L3 cache. The AI 7 445 offers 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of L3 cache. This 16x difference in L3 capacity directly affects workloads that rely on large shared data sets.

The socket interface also separates the two. The 7940HX uses AMD Socket FL1, while the AI 7 445 uses AMD Socket FP8. The 7940HX has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, whereas the AI 7 445 is locked. The AI 7 445 supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the 7940HX. The memory controllers differ as well: the 7940HX handles only DDR5, while the AI 7 445 adds LPDDR5X support and achieves a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity shows a clear generational split. The 7940HX provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, double the lane count of the AI 7 445's Gen 4 with 14 lanes. For mobile platforms, this makes the 7940HX more suitable for discrete GPUs and high-speed storage, while the AI 7 445 targets lower-power designs. The thermal envelope reinforces this: the 7940HX has a TDP of 55 watts, the AI 7 445 only 28 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep: the Ryzen 9 7940HX wins all 13 recorded benchmark comparisons, leaving the Ryzen AI 7 445 without a single victory. The wins are not uniform in magnitude, however, and the distribution reveals where each processor holds relative strength.

The Ryzen 9 7940HX dominates in throughput-heavy workloads. Its largest margins appear in integer math (247.8% ahead), random string sorting (248.2%), data compression (221.5%), and extended instructions (222.4%). These tasks scale with core count and cache capacity, both of which favor the 7940HX heavily. For compute-bound rendering, the Cinebench R23 multi-core result shows a 177.6% gap, confirming the advantage in heavily threaded content creation.

The AI 7 445 comes closest in single-threaded tests. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,806 trails the 7940HX by only 0.1%, effectively a tie. In PassMark single-thread, the gap widens to 9.8%, still the smallest relative deficit for the AI 7 445. This indicates that Zen 5's per-core efficiency narrows the architectural gap, even though the 7940HX's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus 4.60 GHz maintains the lead.

For battery-conscious mobile use, the AI 7 445's 28-watt TDP and support for LPDDR5X memory position it for sustained low-power operation. The 7940HX, with its 55-watt TDP and 16 cores, targets performance-first laptops where plugging in is expected. The data shows no scenario where the AI 7 445 outperforms the 7940HX, but its efficiency profile makes it a plausible choice for lighter workloads despite the benchmark deficit.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Ryzen 9 7940HX uses 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 uses 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.20 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. The 7940HX has a TDP of 55 watts, the AI 7 445 a TDP of 28 watts.

Architecture and process node separate the pair: Zen 4 on 5 nm for the 7940HX, Zen 5 on 4 nm for the AI 7 445. The 7940HX uses Dragon Range silicon with 13,140 million transistors and a 2x 71 mm² die size, while the AI 7 445's Gorgon Point silicon has no listed transistor or die measurements. Cache capacities differ: L1 is 64 KB per core on the 7940HX versus 80 KB per core on the AI 7 445, L2 is 1 MB per core on both, and L3 is 64 MB versus 4 MB.

Memory support shows the AI 7 445 adding LPDDR5X alongside DDR5, while the 7940HX supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel buses, but bandwidth favors the AI 7 445 at 89.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s. ECC memory is available only on the AI 7 445. PCIe generation and lane counts differ: Gen 5 with 28 lanes for the 7940HX, Gen 4 with 14 lanes for the AI 7 445.

The integrated graphics units are different models, Radeon 610M for the 7940HX and Radeon 840M for the AI 7 445. Sockets differ as well, FL1 versus FP8. The 7940HX has an unlocked multiplier, the AI 7 445 does not. Release dates are 2024-01-16 for the 7940HX and 2026-01-04 for the AI 7 445. Neither processor has a launch MSRP in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results show the Ryzen 9 7940HX leading in every test, but the margins vary significantly. The largest single gap appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the 7940HX scores 273 against 56, a 387.5% advantage. This test heavily rewards the 7940HX's core count and cache depth.

PassMark data encryption shows a 299% lead, with 41,974 versus 10,519. Integer math follows at 247.8%, scoring 202,883 against 58,332. Random string sorting yields a 248.2% delta, 81,775 versus 23,488. Extended instructions post a 222.4% advantage, with 51,029 versus 15,826. Data compression comes in at 221.5%, scoring 693,741 versus 215,812. Floating-point math shows a 208.4% lead, 121,383 versus 39,362.

Multi-threaded aggregate scores display a similar pattern. PassMark multithread gives the 7940HX 53,204 against 18,115, a 193.7% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 29,400 versus 10,590, a 177.6% difference. PassMark physics contributes 2,297 versus 976, a 135.3% lead. These results confirm the expected scaling from 16 cores with 32 threads versus 6 cores with 12 threads.

The narrowest margins appear in single-threaded workloads. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1,807 versus 1,806, a 0.1% delta that is effectively negligible. PassMark single-thread records 3,942 versus 3,591, a 9.8% gap. The single-thread data reveals that the AI 7 445's Zen 5 architecture nearly matches the 7940HX's peak core performance, despite the 7940HX's higher boost clock and much larger cache. The 0.1% margin in Cinebench R23 single-core is the closest result in the entire comparison set.

Overall, the database lists 13 wins for the Ryzen 9 7940HX and 0 for the Ryzen AI 7 445. The average benchmark score for the 7940HX is 69,875, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The AI 7 445 averages 26,936, in the 79th percentile. Nearest rivals for the 7940HX include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (average 69,996, -0.2% delta) and Intel Core i7-14700KF (70,163, -0.4%). For the AI 7 445, nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1370P (26,900, +0.1%) and AMD Ryzen 7 5700G (27,051, -0.4%).