AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H are both mobile processors, but they occupy different positions in the performance spectrum. The Ryzen 9 7940HX is a 16-core, 32-thread part from AMD’s 7000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture with a 55 W TDP. The Core Ultra 5 338H is a 12-core, 12-thread chip from Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3, using the Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm node with a 25 W TDP. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the AMD part dominates multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads, while the Intel part wins in single-thread and specific physics-based tasks. This analysis covers the use-case split, architectural differences, head-to-head results, and specification deltas.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins 8 of the 13 shared benchmarks in the database, and its victories are concentrated in heavily parallel workloads. The largest margin comes in integer math, where the AMD part scores 202883 against the Intel part’s 64934, a 212.4% advantage. Data compression also shows a massive gap: 693741 versus 276539, a 150.9% delta. Extended instructions follow with a 113.5% lead, and random string sorting shows a 139.9% edge. These results indicate the Ryzen 9 7940HX is built for sustained multi-threaded throughput, which aligns with its 32 threads versus the Intel chip’s 12 threads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins 5 benchmarks, all of them in single-thread or low-thread-count scenarios. The most notable win is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2044 against the AMD’s 1807, an 11.6% advantage. PassMark single-thread also favors Intel: 4180 versus 3942, a 5.7% lead. The Intel chip also wins in find prime numbers (304 versus 273, a 10.2% edge) and physics (2697 versus 2297, a 14.8% lead). These wins suggest the Core Ultra 5 338H has superior per-core efficiency and higher clock-for-clock performance, which is consistent with its smaller 12-core count and more modern process node.

For users prioritizing multi-core rendering, video encoding, or database workloads, the Ryzen 9 7940HX is the clear choice. For tasks that rely on single-thread responsiveness or light-thread physics simulation, the Core Ultra 5 338H delivers better results. The overall average benchmark score reflects this: the Ryzen 9 7940HX sits at 69875, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 338H averages 33989, in the 84th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is based on Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, and is manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It uses a chiplet design with a die size of 2x 71 mm² and contains 13,140 million transistors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses Panther Lake architecture, which is also its codename, and is built on Intel’s 3 nm process. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Core counts differ significantly: the AMD chip has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel chip has 12 cores and 12 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading. Cache hierarchies diverge as well. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a large 64 MB shared L3. The Intel part offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. Despite having fewer cores, the Intel chip has a larger per-core L1 and L2 allocation, which can help in latency-sensitive single-thread workloads.

Memory support also separates the two. The Ryzen 9 7940HX uses DDR5 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 338H uses LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with a higher bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. Neither chip supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: the AMD part has Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part has Gen 5 with only 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are distinct too: the AMD chip uses Radeon 610M, while the Intel chip uses Arc B370. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel processor is locked. The Ryzen 9 7940HX uses AMD Socket FL1, and the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2540.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the largest single benchmark gap in absolute terms. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29400, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 16331, an 80% delta in favor of AMD. This result reflects the 20-thread advantage and larger L3 cache of the AMD chip. In contrast, Cinebench R23 single-core flips the result: Intel scores 2044 versus AMD’s 1807, an 11.6% Intel lead, indicating that the Intel core design has a higher single-thread ceiling.

PassMark integer math provides the most extreme margin. AMD’s 202883 is 212.4% higher than Intel’s 64934. This test likely benefits from the AMD chip’s 32 threads and higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus Intel’s 4.70 GHz. Data compression shows a 150.9% AMD lead (693741 versus 276539), and extended instructions show a 113.5% lead (51029 versus 23906). Random string sorting is another AMD win at 139.9% (81775 versus 34082). Floating-point math favors AMD by 44.4%: 121383 versus 84067. PassMark multi-thread shows an 85.3% AMD advantage (53204 versus 28717), and data encryption shows a 96.4% lead (41974 versus 21367).

The Intel wins are narrower. In find prime numbers, Intel scores 304 versus AMD’s 273, a 10.2% edge. PassMark physics gives Intel 2697 versus 2297, a 14.8% lead. PassMark single-thread (and the duplicate singlethread entry) shows Intel at 4180 versus AMD’s 3942, a 5.7% advantage. These results indicate that while Intel wins in per-thread efficiency, the AMD part’s sheer thread count overwhelms it in any parallel workload.

The database also includes additional Intel-only benchmarks: Cinebench R15 multi-core (2504) and single-core (305), plus Cinebench R20 multi-core (10213) and single-core (1441). These are not directly comparable to AMD results since no AMD scores exist for those tests in the database, but they provide context for the Intel part’s performance in older render tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on multiple specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads; the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for AMD and 1.90 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.20 GHz for AMD and 4.70 GHz for Intel. TDP is 55 W for AMD and 25 W for Intel. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2540. Architecture is Zen 4 (Dragon Range) for AMD and Panther Lake for Intel. Process nodes are 5 nm (TSMC) for AMD and 3 nm (Intel) for Intel. The AMD chip has 13,140 million transistors and a die size of 2x 71 mm²; the Intel chip has no listed transistor count or die size. L1 cache is 64 KB per core for AMD and 192 KB per core for Intel. L2 cache is 1 MB per core for AMD and 2.5 MB per core for Intel. L3 cache is 64 MB for AMD and 18 MB for Intel. Memory support is DDR5 for AMD and LPDDR5X for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 136.5 GB/s for Intel. PCIe lanes are 28 (Gen 5) for AMD and 4 (Gen 5) for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M for AMD and Arc B370 for Intel. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. Release dates are 2024-01-16 for AMD and 2026-01-04 for Intel. Neither chip has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29400, which is 80% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H’s 16331.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins 5 benchmarks, including Cinebench R23 single-core (2044 versus 1807), PassMark single-thread (4180 versus 3942), find prime numbers (304 versus 273), and physics (2697 versus 2297).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a higher memory bandwidth at 136.5 GB/s, compared to 83.2 GB/s for the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 18 MB.

Q: What are the TDP values for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a TDP of 55 W, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a TDP of 25 W.