AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core 7 253PQE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is unusually clear-cut. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX takes the majority of the head-to-head tests, winning 8 of the 13 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE wins 5. The nature of those wins defines distinct workloads for each chip.

The AMD part dominates compute-heavy, multi-threaded integer and data workloads. Its largest margins come in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 41,974 against Intel's 25,515, a 64.5% advantage. Extended instruction throughput also favors AMD heavily, with 51,029 versus 32,390, a 57.5% gap. Integer math, random string sorting, and data compression all show AMD ahead by 47.2%, 50.8%, and 42.4% respectively. These are the sorts of workloads that scale with raw core count and memory bandwidth, and the Ryzen 9 7940HX uses its 16 cores and 32 threads to pull far ahead.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE wins where single-thread speed and lighter-thread responsiveness matter. The most dramatic example is Cinebench R23 single-core: Intel scores 4,431 against AMD's 1,807, a 59.2% advantage. That is not a small edge; it is a decisive one. PassMark single-thread tests show Intel ahead by 10.2%, at 4,389 versus 3,942. Intel also wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with 31,390 versus 29,400, a 6.3% margin, and PassMark physics with 2,970 versus 2,297, a 22.7% edge.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split. AMD's average is 69,875, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Intel's average is 55,919, sitting in the 91st percentile. Both are strong parts, but they achieve their positions through different means. The Ryzen 9 7940HX is a throughput monster, while the Core 7 253PQE is a high-frequency specialist.

The Verdict

The data points to two different buyers. For workloads that hammer many cores simultaneously, particularly encryption, compression, integer math, and extended instruction sets, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is the clear choice. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 64 MB L3 cache, deliver results that the Intel part cannot match in these areas. The margins are large enough that the choice is not subtle.

For users whose applications depend on single-thread performance, the Intel Core 7 253PQE is the stronger option. Its 5.70 GHz boost clock and 4,431 Cinebench R23 single-core score put it in a different class from the AMD part's 5.20 GHz boost and 1,807 score. The 59.2% single-core advantage in Cinebench is the single largest gap in either direction across the entire comparison. Intel also posts the higher multi-core Cinebench score, so for rendering workloads that use Cinebench's specific scaling pattern, Intel wins despite having only 10 cores and 20 threads.

The AMD part also carries a notable efficiency profile. Its TDP is 55 watts, compared to Intel's 125 watts, while still winning most of the throughput tests. The Intel chip uses more than twice the power budget to achieve its wins. That said, the Intel part is a desktop processor on Socket 1700, while AMD is a mobile processor on Socket FL1, so the comparison crosses form-factor lines.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for either side is Intel's Cinebench R23 single-core result. Intel scores 4,431, AMD scores 1,807, giving Intel a 59.2% lead. This is a massive gap for a single-thread test and indicates a fundamental difference in how the two architectures handle lightly threaded code. The Intel chip's 5.70 GHz boost clock versus AMD's 5.20 GHz explains part of it, but the size of the margin suggests the core design itself is more efficient per clock in this workload.

AMD's biggest win is PassMark data encryption, where it scores 41,974 to Intel's 25,515, a 64.5% advantage. This is likely a function of the Ryzen 9 7940HX's 16 full Zen 4 cores, each with 1 MB of L2 cache, allowing parallel encryption workloads to scale far beyond what 10 cores can manage. Extended instructions show a similar pattern: AMD at 51,029 versus Intel at 32,390, a 57.5% lead.

Integer math heavily favors AMD. The Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 202,883, while the Core 7 253PQE manages 137,795, a 47.2% gap. Random string sorting follows the same trend, with AMD at 81,775 and Intel at 54,222, a 50.8% difference. Data compression shows AMD at 693,741 against Intel's 487,335, a 42.4% edge. Floating-point math is closer but still AMD-favored: 121,383 versus 105,279, a 15.3% margin.

The PassMark multi-thread score gives AMD a 27.7% win, 53,204 versus 41,656. Prime number finding favors AMD by 32.5%, 273 versus 206. These results all point to the same conclusion: when the workload can use many threads, AMD's 16-core design produces substantially higher throughput.

Intel's other wins beyond single-core include PassMark physics, where it scores 2,970 against AMD's 2,297, a 22.7% margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core also goes to Intel, 31,390 versus 29,400, a 6.3% edge. That multi-core Cinebench result is interesting because it contradicts the PassMark multi-thread result. Cinebench scales differently than PassMark's suite, and Intel's architecture handles that specific rendering workload efficiently enough to overcome its core-count deficit.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX boosts to 5.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE wins decisively with a score of 4,431 versus AMD's 1,807, a 59.2% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX does not.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has an average benchmark score of 69,875, placing it in the 94th percentile. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has an average score of 55,919, placing it in the 91st percentile.

Q: Which processor consumes more power according to TDP?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE has a TDP of 125 watts. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a TDP of 55 watts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is built on TSMC's 5 nm process and uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range. It belongs to the Ryzen 9 generation and uses AMD Socket FL1. The chip contains 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with a die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core 7 253PQE is built on Intel's 10 nm process and uses the Bartlett Lake codename, with a desktop Socket 1700 package. Intel's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Core configurations differ substantially. AMD provides 16 cores and 32 threads with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Intel provides 10 cores and 20 threads with a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The AMD chip has a 55 watt TDP, while the Intel chip has a 125 watt TDP, making AMD the more power-efficient design on paper.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. Intel uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations reflect a design aimed at feeding fewer, faster cores, while AMD's larger L3 pool supports its 16-core scaling.

Memory support shows another split. AMD supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with a higher recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel also supports ECC memory, which AMD does not. PCIe connectivity favors AMD: it offers Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD includes the Radeon 610M, while Intel includes the UHD Graphics 770. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $409. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip does not. Release dates place AMD in January 2024 and Intel in March 2026. Both are listed as Active production status. AMD targets the mobile market segment, while Intel targets desktop.