AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core 5 211TE Comparison

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and Intel Core 5 211TE represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD part is a 16-core, 32-thread mobile flagship built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename. It uses a 5 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, with the die composed of 2x 71 mm² chiplets. The Intel Core 5 211TE is a 10-core, 16-thread desktop processor using the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process node, with a monolithic 215 mm² die.

Cache organization highlights the divergence. The AMD chip carries 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 64 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel's design uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The AMD processor's larger L3 pool is nearly twice the size in aggregate, which benefits workloads that repeatedly access large working sets.

Clock behavior differs meaningfully. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and boosts to 5.20 GHz. Intel's Core 5 211TE starts at 1.70 GHz base and reaches 4.80 GHz boost. The AMD part also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. Both support dual-channel memory, but AMD only supports DDR5 with a theoretical bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, whereas Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s theoretical bandwidth. The AMD processor lacks ECC memory support; Intel's chip includes it.

PCIe connectivity also splits the pair. AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 610M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD chip targets the mobile segment on AMD Socket FL1, while Intel's part is a desktop component on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor is built around Zen 4 with a transistor count of 13,140 million; Intel's transistor count is not recorded in the database. The AMD part was released in January 2024, Intel's in January 2025.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall winner. Across 13 head-to-head tests, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins every single one. The Intel Core 5 211TE records zero wins. The average benchmark score for AMD is 69,875, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Intel's average score is 15,370, which lands in the 69th percentile.

The nearest rivals for each chip underscore their positioning. AMD's average score sits within 0.7% of the Intel Core i7-14700K, the Intel Core i7-14700KF, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. Intel's average score is within 2.3% of the AMD EPYC 7543, AMD EPYC 7702P, AMD Ryzen 3 7440U, and Intel Core i3-1315U. This means the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX competes with high-end desktop and mobile flagships, while the Intel Core 5 211TE aligns with entry-level and server-class processors from previous generations.

For users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is the clear choice. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache, deliver more than double the multi-core performance of the Intel part in Cinebench R23. For workloads that are lightly threaded, the AMD chip still leads, albeit by a smaller margin, with a 4.9% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core.

The Intel Core 5 211TE offers ECC memory support and DDR4 compatibility, which the AMD chip cannot match. That makes it more suitable for systems requiring error-correcting memory or using existing DDR4 infrastructure. Its 45 W TDP is lower than the AMD's 55 W TDP, and the Intel part is a desktop processor with a launch MSRP of $221. The AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP. The data does not support choosing Intel for raw performance, but the feature set around memory flexibility and ECC gives it a distinct niche.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins in every benchmark category recorded. Its largest advantages appear in compute-heavy and data-intensive workloads. The PassMark integer math test shows a 496.9% lead, the extended instructions test shows a 492.3% lead, and data encryption shows a 480.5% lead. These are workloads that scale with core count, thread count, and cache capacity, all areas where the AMD processor is substantially stronger.

The Intel Core 5 211TE has no benchmark wins in the database. Its strengths are not reflected in the recorded performance tests. The chip's ECC memory support, DDR4 memory compatibility, and lower 45 W TDP are architectural advantages that do not appear in the scoring. For applications that require ECC or legacy memory modules, the Intel part is the only option between the two. Its desktop form factor on Socket 1700 also means it integrates into standard desktop platforms, while AMD's mobile Socket FL1 targets laptops.

The AMD chip's 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide more expansion headroom than Intel's 16 lanes. That matters for systems with multiple high-bandwidth devices such as GPUs, NVMe storage, or capture cards. AMD's higher memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s also gives it an edge in memory-bound workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking difference appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29,400 against Intel's 12,201, a 141% advantage. That is more than double the Intel chip's output and aligns with the 16-core versus 10-core configuration. Single-core performance is closer: AMD scores 1,807 versus Intel's 1,722, a 4.9% lead. The higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz on AMD versus 4.80 GHz on Intel helps explain that edge.

PassMark integer math shows AMD at 202,883 versus Intel's 33,991, a 496.9% delta. Floating-point math follows a similar pattern: AMD scores 121,383, Intel scores 26,150, a 364.2% lead. Extended instructions produce AMD's largest margin at 492.3% (51,029 versus 8,615). Data encryption shows 41,974 versus 7,231, a 480.5% gap. Data compression is 693,741 versus 133,434, a 419.9% delta.

Random string sorting gives AMD 81,775 versus Intel's 14,838, a 451.1% advantage. The multi-thread PassMark score is 53,204 versus 11,685, a 355.3% lead. Prime number finding shows 273 versus 72, a 279.2% delta. Physics simulation scores 2,297 versus 1,278, a 79.7% gap. Single-thread PassMark results are 3,942 versus 1,408, a 180% lead.

The pattern is consistent: the AMD chip dominates in all multi-threaded and math-heavy tests, with the smallest margin occurring in single-core Cinebench R23. That 4.9% gap indicates the architectures are closer in lightly threaded scenarios, but the core and cache advantages of AMD become overwhelming as thread counts increase.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 29,400 versus Intel's 12,201, giving AMD a 141% lead. In PassMark multi-thread, AMD scores 53,204 versus 11,685, a 355.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX does not support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core 5 211TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX boosts to 5.20 GHz, and the Intel Core 5 211TE boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores and percentiles?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has an average benchmark score of 69,875 and sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 211TE has an average score of 15,370 and sits in the 69th percentile.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a TDP of 55 W, while the Intel Core 5 211TE has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark integer math, where AMD leads by 496.9% (202,883 versus 33,991).