AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and Intel Core 7 251TE serve entirely different segments despite both carrying 32 threads. The Ryzen 9 7940HX is a 16-core, 32-thread mobile processor built on TSMC's 5 nm process with Zen 4 architecture, while the Core 7 251TE is a 24-core, 32-thread desktop part on Intel's 10 nm process with Bartlett Lake architecture. The benchmark data shows the AMD part wins 12 of 13 head-to-head comparisons, with the sole Intel victory coming in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core 7 251TE scores 3602 against 1807, a 49.8% margin. That single-thread dominance is real and significant, but it does not offset the AMD processor's overwhelming lead in multi-threaded and specialized workloads.

The Ryzen 9 7940HX achieves an average benchmark score of 69875, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F at 69996 (-0.2%), the Intel Core i7-14700KF at 70163 (-0.4%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X at 69515 (+0.5%), and the Intel Core i7-14700K at 69355 (+0.7%). The Core 7 251TE, by contrast, averages 41650, sitting in the 88th percentile with closest competitors like the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H at 41621 (+0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-14650HX at 41576 (+0.2%). The gap between the two units is substantial: the Ryzen 9 7940HX delivers roughly 67.7% higher average benchmark score.

For users prioritizing multi-core throughput, data compression, encryption, or extended instruction workloads, the Ryzen 9 7940HX is the clear choice from the recorded data. For workloads that are heavily dependent on single-core performance, the Core 7 251TE holds a decisive advantage. The Intel part also offers ECC memory support and a higher boost clock, but the AMD processor counters with a lower TDP of 55 watts against 45 watts, which is counterintuitive given the performance gap. The data indicates the Ryzen 9 7940HX is the stronger overall processor, while the Core 7 251TE is a specialized option for single-thread-centric tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins 12 of the 13 head-to-head comparisons, losing only the Cinebench R23 single-core test.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29400 versus 25518 for the Core 7 251TE, a 15.2% advantage.

Q: Does the Core 7 251TE have any meaningful advantages?

A: Yes, it wins single-core Cinebench R23 by 49.8% (3602 vs 1807), supports ECC memory, and has a higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz compared to 5.20 GHz.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Ryzen 9 7940HX averages 69875, while the Core 7 251TE averages 41650, placing the AMD part 67.7% higher.

Q: Which processor has better data compression performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 693741 in Passmark data compression, more than double the Core 7 251TE's 334399, a 107.5% difference.

Q: How do the processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Core 7 251TE has a higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s, while the Ryzen 9 7940HX reaches 83.2 GB/s; both use dual-channel memory buses.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 9 7940HX uses AMD's Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, fabricated on TSMC's 5 nm process. It packs 13,140 million transistors across a die size of 2x 71 mm², indicating a chiplet design. The Core 7 251TE, built on Intel's 10 nm process with the Bartlett Lake codename, uses a monolithic 215 mm² die. The manufacturing contrast is stark: TSMC's 5 nm node versus Intel's 10 nm node, with the AMD part integrating roughly 13.14 billion transistors compared to the Intel part's unspecified transistor count.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The Ryzen 9 7940HX offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Core 7 251TE provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. While the Intel processor has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, the AMD chip's 64 MB L3 is nearly double the Intel part's 36 MB, which likely contributes to its strong performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 9 7940HX includes a Radeon 610M, while the Core 7 251TE carries UHD Graphics 770. The AMD processor is unlocked for overclocking, whereas the Intel part has a locked multiplier. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Ryzen 9 7940HX supports Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while the Core 7 251TE supports Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The AMD chip is a mobile part on AMD Socket FL1, and the Intel chip is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts present an interesting paradox. The Core 7 251TE has 24 cores, but only 32 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. This indicates the Intel part likely relies on a hybrid core arrangement where not all cores contribute equally to thread count, whereas the AMD part uses 16 full cores with simultaneous multithreading. Base clocks differ substantially: the Ryzen 9 7940HX runs at 2.40 GHz, and the Core 7 251TE at 1.40 GHz. Boost clocks reverse the trend, with the Intel chip reaching 5.40 GHz versus 5.20 GHz for the AMD chip.

Thermal design power favors the Intel part at 45 watts, while the AMD processor is rated at 55 watts. Memory support differs in flexibility: the Core 7 251TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ryzen 9 7940HX only supports DDR5. The Intel processor also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the AMD chip. Memory bandwidth slightly favors the Intel part at 89.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s.

The Core 7 251TE has a launch MSRP of $384. The Ryzen 9 7940HX has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD processor is marked as Active in production status with a release date of January 16, 2024, while the Intel part is also Active with a release date of January 12, 2025. The AMD chip uses part number 100-000001486, and the Intel chip uses SRQAXQ5ZG.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive AMD victory comes in Passmark extended instructions, where the Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 51029 against 16974 for the Core 7 251TE, a 200.6% advantage. This workload, which tests SIMD and advanced instruction set performance, shows the Zen 4 architecture's strength in complex computational tasks. Data compression follows closely, with the AMD part scoring 693741 versus 334399, a 107.5% lead. Random string sorting shows a similar pattern: 81775 for the AMD chip versus 39643 for the Intel chip, a 106.3% difference.

Encryption workloads favor the Ryzen 9 7940HX by 89.3%, with scores of 41974 and 22176. Multi-threaded Passmark results show the AMD processor at 53204 versus 30022, a 77.2% margin. Integer math delivers a 61.4% advantage for the AMD part (202883 vs 125739), while floating-point math shows a 41.8% lead (121383 vs 85607). Prime number finding favors the AMD chip by 95% (273 vs 140), and physics tests show an 18.5% advantage (2297 vs 1938). Single-thread Passmark results are closer, with the AMD part winning 3942 to 3568, a 10.5% margin.

The Cinebench R23 results tell a split story. In multi-core, the Ryzen 9 7940HX delivers 29400 versus 25518, a 15.2% win. In single-core, the Core 7 251TE reverses the outcome with 3602 versus 1807, a 49.8% margin. That single-core result is the Intel processor's only head-to-head victory, and it is a substantial one. The overall pattern from the recorded data shows the Ryzen 9 7940HX dominating in throughput-oriented and specialized workloads, while the Core 7 251TE excels specifically in latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks. The Core 7 251TE also holds a 5.40 GHz boost clock, which likely contributes to its single-core performance, but the AMD part's larger L3 cache and higher thread efficiency appear to carry the day elsewhere.