AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record presents a decisive multi-threaded victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, which wins 8 of the 13 shared tests. The largest margin appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD part scores 202883 against 83111 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, a 144.1% advantage. Data compression follows a similar pattern: the Ryzen 9 7940HX records 693741 versus 336177, a 106.4% lead. Random string sorting also favors AMD heavily, with 81775 against 40990, a 99.5% difference. Extended instructions show an 82.9% gap (51029 versus 27898), and data encryption favors the AMD chip by 59.3% (41974 versus 26345).

Cinebench R23 multicore confirms the same hierarchy. The Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29400, while the Core Ultra 7 356H manages 18395, a 59.8% margin. PassMark multithread shows a 56.6% advantage (53204 versus 33978). Floating-point math is closer but still favors AMD: 121383 versus 103128, a 17.7% lead.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H takes the five remaining tests, and its wins are concentrated in single-threaded and latency-sensitive workloads. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the Intel part ahead at 2040 versus 1807, an 11.4% margin. PassMark single-thread records 4072 versus 3942, a 3.2% edge, and the duplicate PassMark singlethread result matches exactly. The largest Intel win is in PassMark physics, where it scores 2895 against 2297, a 20.7% advantage. Prime number finding also favors Intel: 327 versus 273, a 16.5% lead.

The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is 69875, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41215, which lands in the 87th percentile. The AMD part's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (average 69996, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i7-14700KF (70163, -0.4%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (69515, +0.5%), and the Intel Core i7-14700K (69355, +0.7%). The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H sits alongside the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (41208, 0%), the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (41263, -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (41376, -0.4%), and the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (40967, +0.6%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29400, which is 59.8% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H's 18395.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes. It wins 5 of the 13 shared tests: Cinebench R23 single-core (2040 versus 1807), PassMark single-thread (4072 versus 3942), PassMark physics (2895 versus 2297), and PassMark find prime numbers (327 versus 273).

Q: How large is the gap in PassMark integer math?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 202883, which is 144.1% higher than the Intel part's 83111. This is the largest single-test margin in the comparison.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX averages 69875, putting it in the 94th percentile. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41215, in the 87th percentile.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H support the same memory types as the AMD part?

A: No. The Intel chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX supports only DDR5.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX uses Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, part of the 7000 series and the "Ryzen 9 (Zen 4 (Dragon Range))" generation. It is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 13,140 million transistors across a 2x 71 mm² die configuration. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H uses Panther Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 3 and the "Ultra 7 (Panther Lake-H)" generation. It is built on a 3 nm process at Intel, and the database records no transistor count or die size for this part.

Core organization differs significantly. The AMD chip provides 16 cores and 32 threads. Cache is distributed as 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Intel chip also provides 16 cores but only 16 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. Its cache structure uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD pairs the Ryzen 9 7940HX with Radeon 610M graphics. Intel equips the Core Ultra 7 356H with Intel Xe3 Graphics. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not. The socket types are different: AMD Socket FL1 versus Intel BGA 2540.

Production status is Active for both, and both target the mobile market segment. Neither supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H runs at 1.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. Thermal design power differs substantially: 55 W for the AMD chip versus 25 W for the Intel chip.

Thread counts diverge despite equal core counts: 32 threads for AMD versus 16 for Intel. The L3 cache is 64 MB on the AMD part versus 18 MB shared on the Intel part. Per-core L1 and L2 caches also differ: 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core on AMD, versus 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core on Intel.

Memory support is another distinction. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, while the Intel chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the recorded bandwidth differs: 83.2 GB/s for AMD versus 115.2 GB/s for Intel.

PCIe connectivity is not identical. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only). The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only).

The process node differs: 5 nm at TSMC for AMD, 3 nm at Intel for the Intel part. The AMD chip has a stated transistor count of 13,140 million and a die size of 2x 71 mm², while the Intel chip has no recorded transistor or die size data. Release dates also differ: the AMD part entered the database with a release date of 2024-01-16, while the Intel part is dated 2026-01-04. The AMD part number is 100-000001486, and the Intel part number is SA4RGQ9EU. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear split by workload type. For multi-threaded, throughput-heavy tasks, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is the stronger processor. It leads by 59.8% in Cinebench R23 multicore, 56.6% in PassMark multithread, 106.4% in data compression, 144.1% in integer math, and 82.9% in extended instructions. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache, deliver a consistent advantage in every parallel workload captured in the database.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H counters in single-threaded and latency-sensitive tests. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 11.4%, PassMark single-thread by 3.2%, PassMark physics by 20.7%, and prime number finding by 16.5%. These results indicate that the Panther Lake architecture, with its higher per-core L1 and L2 caches and boost clock of 4.70 GHz, handles tasks that depend on single-core responsiveness more effectively. The 3 nm Intel process and the higher memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s also distinguish this part from the AMD offering.

The percentile data frames the overall positioning. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX sits in the 94th percentile with an average score of 69875, placing it among desktop-class performers such as the Intel Core i7-14700K and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H sits in the 87th percentile with an average score of 41215, grouping it with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and other mid-range parts.

Users with workloads that scale across many threads, such as rendering, compilation, or data processing, will find the AMD part's margins decisive. Users prioritizing single-thread speed, physics simulation, or prime number workloads will find the Intel part competitive. The power envelope also matters: the Intel chip runs at 25 W TDP versus 55 W for AMD, which may influence system design choices. Both are active mobile processors, but they occupy different positions in the performance and power spectrum.