AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and the Intel Core 3 304 is heavily one-sided. Across the 13 recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD processor wins all 13, with zero victories for the Intel part. The largest margin appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD scores 202,883 against the Intel's 24,640, a 723.4% advantage. This type of workload, which stresses arithmetic operations per cycle, benefits enormously from the AMD's 16 cores and 32 threads.

Data compression shows a similarly extreme gap. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX records 693,741 in PassMark data compression, while the Intel Core 3 304 manages 114,775, a 504.4% delta. Compression tasks scale well with core count and memory bandwidth, two areas where the AMD part holds a substantial hardware advantage. The Intel processor's 5 cores and single-channel memory interface cannot match the parallel throughput of the AMD's dual-channel setup and larger L3 cache.

Random string sorting also reveals a massive divide. AMD scores 81,775, Intel scores 13,659, a 498.7% difference. Sorting algorithms are sensitive to cache hierarchy and memory latency, and the AMD's 64 MB of L3 cache versus the Intel's 6 MB shared L3 helps explain the outcome. The AMD's 2x 71 mm² chiplet design with Zen 4 cores also contributes to faster per-thread execution.

Extended instructions, which cover SIMD and vector workloads, show AMD ahead by 426.8%. The AMD scores 51,029, the Intel 9,686. This metric often correlates with AVX-512 or similar wide instruction support, and the recorded data suggests the AMD's implementation is far more capable. Encryption workloads follow the same pattern: AMD scores 41,974, Intel 8,501, a 393.8% delta.

The multi-core Cinebench R23 test is a marquee result. AMD scores 29,400, Intel 5,263, a 458.6% difference. This benchmark is highly parallel, and the 16-core AMD processor with 32 threads simply overwhelms the 5-core, 5-thread Intel part. The single-core Cinebench R23 scores are much closer: AMD at 1,807, Intel at 1,765, a modest 2.4% delta. This indicates that per-core IPC is similar, but the AMD's advantage emerges from core count and thread count.

Floating point math shows AMD at 121,383 versus Intel's 29,722, a 308.4% gap. Prime number finding is also lopsided: AMD 273, Intel 68, a 301.5% difference. PassMark multithread, which aggregates many parallel tests, gives AMD 53,204 and Intel 11,625, a 357.7% lead. Physics simulation in PassMark shows AMD at 2,297 and Intel at 868, a 164.6% advantage, the smallest multi-core margin in the set. Single-thread PassMark scores are the closest overall: AMD 3,942, Intel 3,614, a 9.1% delta. This confirms that the Intel Core 3 304 is competitive on a per-core basis but collapses under threaded workloads.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It contains 13,140 million transistors spread across a 2x 71 mm² die configuration. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process at Intel, though the database does not list a transistor count or die size for this part. The AMD's 16 cores and 32 threads come from a dual-chiplet design, while the Intel part uses 5 cores and 5 threads, indicating no simultaneous multithreading.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Intel offers 192 KB of total L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD's L3 alone is more than ten times larger than the Intel's entire L3 allocation. This cache disparity directly impacts workloads that reuse data, such as sorting, compression, and physics.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only with a single-channel bus, capping bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s. The AMD's higher bandwidth feeds its many cores more effectively. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). This makes the AMD better suited for discrete GPUs or high-speed storage.

Integrated graphics differ. The AMD uses Radeon 610M, a basic part. The Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, which may handle lightweight display tasks but neither is positioned as a gaming GPU. Both processors target the mobile segment and are currently in active production. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel does not. The AMD's part number is 100-000001486, the Intel's is SAE3K.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins every recorded benchmark category. Its strengths appear in heavily threaded tasks: video rendering, 3D scene compilation, data compression, encryption, and scientific computation. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29,400 places it in a different performance tier than the Intel Core 3 304. The PassMark multithread score of 53,204 confirms this pattern. For any workload that can utilize more than a few cores, the AMD is the clear choice.

The Intel Core 3 304 does not win any head-to-head test, but its single-thread scores show it is not a weak processor per se. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1,765 versus the AMD's 1,807, a 2.4% deficit. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3,614 versus 3,942, a 9.1% deficit. This means for lightly threaded tasks such as web browsing, office documents, or basic scripting, the Intel part is within striking distance of the AMD. However, the AMD still wins those tests outright.

The Intel's advantage lies elsewhere: efficiency. Its TDP is 15 watts versus the AMD's 55 watts. The 3 nm process node, made at Intel's foundry, likely contributes to lower power draw. The Intel also supports LPDDR5X memory, which can reduce system power further. For a thin-and-light laptop where battery life matters more than raw throughput, the Intel Core 3 304 may be the practical pick despite losing every benchmark.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every recorded specification. Core and thread counts: AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads, Intel has 5 cores and 5 threads. Base clock: AMD 2.40 GHz, Intel 1.50 GHz. Boost clock: AMD 5.20 GHz, Intel 4.30 GHz. TDP: AMD 55 watts, Intel 15 watts. Socket: AMD uses Socket FL1, Intel uses BGA 1516.

Process node: AMD 5 nm from TSMC, Intel 3 nm from Intel. Cache: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, 64 MB L3; Intel has 192 KB total L1, 2.5 MB L2, 6 MB shared L3. Memory bus: AMD dual-channel, Intel single-channel. Memory bandwidth: AMD 83.2 GB/s, Intel 59.7 GB/s. PCIe: AMD Gen 5 with 28 lanes, Intel Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon 610M, Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe).

Both support DDR5, neither supports ECC. Both are mobile parts and active in production. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel does not. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $309, which can be stated once. The AMD has no launch MSRP in the database. Release dates differ: AMD released on 2024-01-16, Intel on 2026-04-15.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: How much faster is the AMD in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD scores 29,400 versus the Intel's 5,263, a 458.6% advantage.

Q: Is the Intel Core 3 304 close in single-thread performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 1,807 and the Intel scores 1,765, a 2.4% gap. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD scores 3,942 and the Intel 3,614, a 9.1% gap.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD provides 83.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. The Intel provides 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD has 64 MB of L3. The Intel has 6 MB of shared L3.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD has a 55-watt TDP. The Intel has a 15-watt TDP.

Q: Did the Intel part win any benchmark?

A: No. The database records 13 head-to-head tests, and the AMD wins all 13. The Intel records 0 wins.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX outperforms the Intel Core 3 304 in every recorded benchmark, often by margins exceeding 300% in multi-threaded tasks. The AMD's 16-core, 32-thread configuration with 64 MB of L3 and dual-channel memory provides a massive throughput advantage. Users who run rendering, compilation, compression, encryption, or scientific workloads should select the AMD part. The single-thread scores are close, but the AMD still wins those by 2.4% to 9.1%.

The Intel Core 3 304 has a role only in efficiency-sensitive scenarios. Its 15-watt TDP and 3 nm process make it suitable for low-power mobile designs where battery life takes priority over performance. Its 5 cores handle basic productivity tasks adequately, and the single-thread scores are respectable. However, for any workload that scales across cores, the Intel part falls far behind. The AMD's 55-watt TDP is higher, but the performance return is substantial. The launch MSRP for the Intel is $309, but the database does not provide a price for the AMD. Based purely on benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is the superior processor for performance-oriented mobile systems.