AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core i7-14700K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and Intel Core i7-14700K are both 94th-percentile CPUs, but they achieve that status through very different designs and workloads. The Intel part holds a slight edge in overall benchmark wins (7 to 6), yet the AMD chip wins in several highly specialized tasks. With the Ryzen 9 7940HX being a mobile processor (55W TDP) and the Core i7-14700K a desktop part (125W TDP), the data shows a clash of engineering priorities: efficiency and specific compute strengths versus raw multi-threaded and single-threaded dominance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive benchmark in the dataset is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-14700K scores 33,440.5 against the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX's 29,400—a 12.1% advantage for Intel. This is the largest margin in any multi-threaded test and reflects the Intel CPU's 20 cores and 28 threads versus AMD's 16 cores and 32 threads. The single-core Cinebench R23 result is even more lopsided: Intel wins 2,160 to 1,807, a 16.3% delta. That single-thread gap carries over to PassMark's single-thread test, where Intel scores 4,472 to AMD's 3,942, an 11.9% lead. In both the synthetic Cinebench and PassMark single-thread tests, the Intel part is clearly faster per thread.

However, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX fights back in integer-heavy workloads. In PassMark integer math, AMD scores 202,883 versus Intel's 182,876, a 10.9% win. The AMD chip also dominates in extended instructions (51,029 vs. 40,632, a 25.6% lead) and in prime number finding (273 vs. 212, a 28.8% lead). These are substantial margins, indicating that the Zen 4 architecture in the 7940HX handles certain algorithmic tasks far more efficiently than Raptor Lake-R. The AMD part also wins PassMark multithread (53,204 vs. 52,392, a 1.5% lead) and random string sorting (81,775 vs. 74,733, a 9.4% lead), showing that despite fewer physical cores, the 32 threads of the 7940HX can outperform Intel's 28 threads in specific parallel workloads.

The Intel chip wins in floating-point math (134,222 vs. 121,383, a 9.6% lead) and in PassMark physics (2,964 vs. 2,297, a 22.5% lead). The physics test result is particularly striking—Intel's score is nearly 30% higher, suggesting a strong advantage in simulation or physics-based computations. Data compression is nearly a tie, with Intel taking it by just 0.2% (695,234 vs. 693,741), while AMD wins data encryption by 4.7% (41,974 vs. 40,091). Overall, the head-to-head shows a clear pattern: Intel wins in raw throughput and single-thread performance, while AMD wins in specific integer, encryption, and instruction-heavy tasks.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct buyers. The Intel Core i7-14700K is the choice for anyone who needs maximum single-thread performance and the highest multi-core scores in mainstream benchmarks like Cinebench. Its 16.3% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 12.1% lead in multi-core are decisive for productivity apps that rely on those workloads. The 22.5% win in PassMark physics further cements it as the better option for simulation or physics-based rendering tasks. If the workload is broad and general-purpose, the Intel part's 7 benchmark wins out of 13 give it the edge.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is the pick for specialized compute. Its 28.8% lead in prime number finding and 25.6% lead in extended instructions show that it executes certain algorithms much faster. The 10.9% integer math advantage is significant for cryptography, financial modeling, or any integer-bound workload. Furthermore, the 7940HX achieves these wins while operating at a 55W TDP versus Intel's 125W TDP—a factor that matters in mobile or power-constrained systems, though the data does not include direct power efficiency metrics. For a laptop user who needs strong multi-threading and excels in integer math, the AMD part is superior. For a desktop builder who wants the best all-around performance in standard benchmarks, the Intel part is the safer bet.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins in:

• Integer math (10.9% ahead)
• Extended instruction sets (25.6% ahead)
• Prime number calculation (28.8% ahead)
• Data encryption (4.7% ahead)
• Random string sorting (9.4% ahead)
• PassMark multithread (1.5% ahead)

These are tasks that reward high core counts and efficient instruction execution. The AMD chip's 32 threads and 64 MB of L3 cache appear to give it an edge in parallel integer workloads, while its 5 nm process node (TSMC) may contribute to lower latency in instruction-heavy operations.

Intel Core i7-14700K wins in:

• Cinebench R23 multi-core (12.1% ahead)
• Cinebench R23 single-core (16.3% ahead)
• PassMark single-thread (11.9% ahead)
• Floating-point math (9.6% ahead)
• PassMark physics (22.5% ahead)
• PassMark data compression (0.2% ahead)

The Intel part excels in floating-point operations and in tests that rely on high clock speeds (up to 5.60 GHz boost). Its 20-core hybrid design (with 28 threads) provides more raw multi-threaded power in Cinebench, while its larger die size (257 mm²) and 10 nm Intel process node deliver strong single-thread performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K scores 33,440.5, which is 12.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX's 29,400.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any benchmarks by a large margin?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins PassMark find prime numbers by 28.8% (273 vs. 212) and PassMark extended instructions by 25.6% (51,029 vs. 40,632).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. AMD has more threads, Intel has more cores.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare?

A: In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 4,472 to AMD's 3,942, an 11.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel wins 2,160 to 1,807, a 16.3% lead.

Q: Which CPU is better for floating-point math?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K wins in PassMark floating-point math with 134,222 versus AMD's 121,383, a 9.6% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a 55W TDP, while the Intel Core i7-14700K has a 125W TDP.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process, with a codename of Dragon Range and a die size of 2x 71 mm². It packs 13,140 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-14700K uses the Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 257 mm². The process node difference is significant: AMD's smaller 5 nm node (TSMC) likely contributes to its lower 55W TDP, while Intel's larger 10 nm die uses 125W. The AMD chip has 64 MB of L3 cache, while Intel has 33 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD's L1 cache is 64 KB per core and L2 is 1 MB per core, whereas Intel uses 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core. The AMD part supports only DDR5 memory, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. AMD's memory bandwidth is rated at 83.2 GB/s, while Intel's is not listed. AMD's PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FL1, while Intel uses the Socket 1700. Both have unlocked multipliers. The AMD part's integrated graphics is Radeon 610M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD chip does not support ECC memory, while Intel does.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ: the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i7-14700K has 20 cores and 28 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: AMD runs at 2.40 GHz, Intel at 3.40 GHz. Boost clocks also favor Intel: 5.20 GHz for AMD versus 5.60 GHz for Intel. The TDP is a major differentiator: 55W for AMD versus 125W for Intel. The memory support differs: AMD supports only DDR5, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD chip has a dual-channel memory bus, as does Intel, but AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s while Intel's is not specified. ECC support is present on Intel but absent on AMD. PCIe lane counts differ: AMD offers 28 lanes (Gen 5) while Intel offers 16 lanes (Gen 5). The integrated graphics differ: Radeon 610M on AMD, UHD Graphics 770 on Intel. The release dates differ: AMD launched on 2024-01-16, Intel on 2023-10-16. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $409; the AMD part has no listed MSRP. The process node differs: 5 nm for AMD (TSMC) versus 10 nm for Intel. The die sizes are 2x 71 mm² for AMD versus 257 mm² for Intel. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket FL1, while Intel uses the Socket 1700. The AMD chip has a part number of 100-000001486, while Intel's is SRN3X.