AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors into distinct usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins 7 of 13 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins 6. The AMD part dominates throughput-heavy integer and compression workloads with massive margins, making it the stronger choice for multi-threaded productivity. The Intel part, however, delivers a decisive single-core performance edge and wins in physics simulation, indicating superior responsiveness for lightly threaded tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 9.7% (32553 vs 29400) and single-core by 60.7% (4595 vs 1807). That single-core gap is the largest performance disparity in the entire comparison. For users running applications that rely on one or two fast threads, the Intel part is clearly superior. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX counters with a 119.1% advantage in PassMark integer math (202883 vs 92603) and a 79.5% lead in data compression (693741 vs 386591). The AMD part also wins floating-point math (121383 vs 114500, a 6% margin) and multithread (53204 vs 38298, a 38.9% margin).

The database percentile ranking confirms the AMD part sits higher overall: 94th percentile versus 89th percentile for Intel. The average benchmark score also favors AMD at 69875 versus 47468. However, the Intel part draws closer in its nearest rival comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX trading blows with desktop-class CPUs like the Intel Core i7-14700KF (delta -0.4%) and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (delta 0.5%), while the Intel mobile part aligns with the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (delta -0.1%) and Intel Core i7-13700KF (delta 0.3%).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm process from TSMC, with a Dragon Range codename. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H uses the Panther Lake codename, built on Intel's 3 nm process, with 16 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The thread count difference is significant: AMD offers simultaneous multithreading, Intel does not.

Cache structures differ substantially. The AMD part allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a large 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel part provides 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD L3 cache is more than 3.5 times larger, which supports its dominant performance in data compression and random string sorting.

Memory architecture also diverges. AMD supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports LPDDR5X on a dual-channel bus with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth, an 84.7% higher theoretical memory bandwidth figure. The PCIe implementation differs as well: AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ, with AMD using Radeon 610M and Intel using Arc B390. The Intel part is not multiplier unlocked, while the AMD part is. The AMD part draws up to 55 W TDP, while the Intel part operates at 25 W TDP, a 30 W difference that reflects the Intel part's lower power envelope.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 4595 versus 1807 for the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, a 60.7% advantage. It also wins PassMark single-thread with 4453 versus 3942, an 11.5% lead.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX leads in PassMark multithread with 53204 versus 38298, a 38.9% margin. However, the Intel part wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 32553 versus 29400, a 9.7% lead, so the outcome depends on the specific benchmark workload.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: Both have 16 cores. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX supports 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H supports 16 threads. The AMD part's 32 threads give it a 2x thread advantage.

Q: How large are the L3 caches?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's L3 cache is significantly larger.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H supports LPDDR5X memory with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX supports DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. Intel's figure is higher by 70.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher overall benchmark ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69875. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H ranks in the 89th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 47468.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX | Intel Core Ultra X9 378H |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Series | 7000 series | Core Ultra Series 3 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | (not specified) |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Panther Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 9 (Zen 4 (Dragon Range)) | Ultra X9 (Panther Lake-H) |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | (not specified) |

| Die Size | 2x 71 mm² | (not specified) |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc B390 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2024-01-16 | 2026-04-03 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest AMD victories come in integer-heavy workloads. PassMark integer math shows a 119.1% advantage (202883 vs 92603), the widest margin in the entire benchmark set. PassMark random string sorting follows with an 83.2% lead (81775 vs 44648). Data compression shows a 79.5% margin (693741 vs 386591). Data encryption delivers a 40.7% win (41974 vs 29840), and extended instructions provide a 63% lead (51029 vs 31315). Floating-point math is closer, with AMD ahead by 6% (121383 vs 114500). PassMark multithread rounds out AMD's wins with a 38.9% margin (53204 vs 38298).

The Intel wins are concentrated in single-thread and physics performance. The most dramatic result is Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel leads by 60.7% (4595 vs 1807). Cinebench R23 multi-core also favors Intel, with a 9.7% margin (32553 vs 29400). PassMark physics shows Intel ahead by 32.5% (3404 vs 2297). PassMark single-thread and singlethread both record identical scores of 4453 versus 3942, an 11.5% lead for Intel. PassMark find prime numbers is the final Intel win, with a 23.5% margin (357 vs 273).

The overall win count is close at 7-6 in favor of AMD, but the distribution is telling. AMD's wins are often by very large margins (40% to 119%), while Intel's wins are mostly moderate except for the single-core Cinebench result. The two processors' average benchmark scores differ by 22407 points in AMD's favor, and the percentile ranking gap is 5 points. The data indicates two very different performance profiles: AMD for sustained multi-threaded throughput, Intel for fast single-thread response and lower power draw.