AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core i9-14901KE Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and Intel Core i9-14901KE occupy different corners of the processor market, one a mobile flagship and the other a desktop part. The recorded data shows the AMD chip is a 16-core, 32-thread Zen 4 processor built on TSMC's 5 nm node, while the Intel chip is an 8-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake part on Intel's 10 nm process. The benchmark database contains extensive scores for the AMD processor, but the Intel processor currently has no recorded benchmark results, no average score, and no listed rivals. This creates a one-sided comparison where the analysis must rely on architectural differences and the AMD part's measured performance relative to its known competitors.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the clock speeds of the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core i9-14901KE has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core i9-14901KE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX supports DDR5 memory only. The Intel Core i9-14901KE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: Do either of the processors support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901KE has ECC memory support. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX does not have ECC memory support.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is a mobile processor, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE is a desktop processor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i9-14901KE uses the Raptor Lake architecture under the Raptor Lake-R codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. This node difference matters for power efficiency and transistor density. The AMD chip integrates 13,140 million transistors across a die size of 2x 71 mm², while the Intel chip has a die size of 257 mm² with no transistor count recorded in the database.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD part has 16 cores and 32 threads, double the core and thread count of the Intel part, which has 8 cores and 16 threads. Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD processor uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel processor uses 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, with 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches on the Intel side do not compensate for the smaller total L3 pool.

Clock speed strategy differs as well. The Intel Core i9-14901KE has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.80 GHz compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX's 2.40 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. However, the AMD part has a TDP of 55 watts versus 125 watts for the Intel part, reflecting its mobile positioning and the efficiency of the 5 nm process. Both processors have unlocked multipliers.

Memory support shows another divergence. The AMD processor only supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. The AMD part provides 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the AMD chip using a Radeon 610M and the Intel chip using UHD Graphics 770. The AMD processor uses an AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel processor uses an Intel Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database has no direct head-to-head benchmark results between these two processors, and the Intel Core i9-14901KE has no recorded benchmark scores of its own. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, however, has a full set of measured results across multiple test suites, and these can be read against its nearest rivals to establish its performance position.

In 3DMark testing, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 12501 in the 16-thread test, 2001 in the 2-thread test, 3844 in the 4-thread test, 7158 in the 8-thread test, 13447 in the max-thread test, and 1027 in the single-thread test. The max-thread score of 13447 exceeds the 16-thread score of 12501, which suggests the processor continues to gain from additional threads beyond 16, an expected result for a 16-core, 32-thread part.

Cinebench R23 results show a multicore score of 29400 and a single-core score of 1807. The multicore result is substantially higher than what an 8-core processor would typically deliver, reinforcing the advantage of having 16 physical cores. The single-core score of 1807 reflects the 5.20 GHz boost clock.

PassMark results cover a wide range of workloads. The AMD processor scores 53204 in the multithread test, 3942 in the single-thread test, 202883 in integer math, 121383 in floating point math, 51029 in extended instructions, 41974 in data encryption, 693741 in data compression, 81775 in random string sorting, 273 in find prime numbers, and 2297 in physics. The integer math and floating point math scores are particularly strong, indicating heavy compute workloads benefit from the core count.

The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is 69875, and it ranks in the 94th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals provide context. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average score of 69996, which is 0.2 percent higher than the 7940HX. The Intel Core i7-14700KF averages 70163, 0.4 percent higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X averages 69515, 0.5 percent lower. The Intel Core i7-14700K averages 69355, 0.7 percent lower. These deltas are small, placing the 7940HX in a tight performance cluster with several high-end desktop parts despite being a mobile chip.

The Intel Core i9-14901KE has an average benchmark score of 0 and sits in the 50th percentile, with no rivals listed. The absence of recorded data means no direct comparison can be made, and the Intel part cannot be positioned against the AMD chip using measured results.

The Verdict

The data supports the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX as the stronger processor on paper, based on its 16 cores, 32 threads, 64 MB of L3 cache, and a full set of benchmark results that place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 69875 is comparable to desktop processors like the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Core i7-14700KF, with deltas of only 0.2 and 0.4 percent respectively. The Intel Core i9-14901KE cannot be evaluated from recorded performance because the database contains no benchmarks for it, no average score, and no rival comparisons. The Intel part does offer a higher boost clock of 5.80 GHz, a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz, ECC memory support, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which are legitimate advantages for specific use cases. However, its 8-core, 16-thread configuration and 36 MB of shared L3 cache suggest it will trail the AMD part in heavily threaded workloads. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is the clear choice for multithreaded performance based on available data, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE remains an unmeasured quantity in this database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for the AMD part and 3.80 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clocks are 5.20 GHz for the AMD part and 5.80 GHz for the Intel part. TDP is 55 watts for the AMD part and 125 watts for the Intel part.

Socket types differ, with the AMD part using AMD Socket FL1 and the Intel part using Intel Socket 1700. The process node is 5 nm for the AMD part and 10 nm for the Intel part. The foundry is TSMC for the AMD part and Intel for the Intel part. Transistor count is 13,140 million for the AMD part, with no figure recorded for the Intel part. Die size is 2x 71 mm² for the AMD part and 257 mm² for the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ across all levels. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 only for the AMD part and DDR4 plus DDR5 for the Intel part. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for the AMD part, with no figure recorded for the Intel part. ECC memory support is absent on the AMD part and present on the Intel part. PCIe lanes are 28 Gen 5 lanes for the AMD part and 16 Gen 5 lanes for the Intel part. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M for the AMD part and UHD Graphics 770 for the Intel part. Market segment is mobile for the AMD part and desktop for the Intel part. Both parts have unlocked multipliers and active production status.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins in scenarios that demand high multithreaded throughput. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache, make it suited for rendering, compilation, data compression, and scientific computing. The recorded Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29400 and PassMark multithread score of 53204 support this. The 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms broad strength across the database. The 5 nm process and 55 watt TDP also make it the more efficient choice for the performance it delivers, which matters in mobile systems.

The Intel Core i9-14901KE wins in scenarios where its higher clock speeds matter. A boost clock of 5.80 GHz and a base clock of 3.80 GHz give it an advantage in lightly threaded tasks that depend on raw frequency. The larger per-core L1 cache of 80 KB and L2 cache of 2 MB could help in latency-sensitive workloads. ECC memory support makes it a candidate for error-sensitive desktop workstation tasks, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives flexibility in system memory selection. The desktop market segment and Intel Socket 1700 place it in a different platform context than the mobile AMD part.

The absence of benchmark data for the Intel Core i9-14901KE means its wins are positional rather than measured. The recorded database shows no tests, no average score, and no rivals for the Intel part. For any direct performance comparison, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has the only usable data, and that data is strong. Users choosing between these two parts should weigh the AMD processor's proven multithreaded performance against the Intel processor's higher clocks and desktop-specific features, but only the AMD part can currently be evaluated from measured results.