AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Core Ultra X9 388H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX records an average benchmark score of 69,875, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 44,466. The AMD part sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part is in the 88th percentile.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 29,400 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 55.5% higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H's 18,911. This is the largest single benchmark gap recorded between the two in this test.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins 5 of the 13 head-to-head comparisons. Its strongest victory is in PassMark physics (3,226 vs. 2,297, a 28.8% advantage), and it also leads in Cinebench R23 single-core (2,200.5 vs. 1,807, a 17.9% margin), PassMark find prime numbers (358 vs. 273, a 23.7% margin), and PassMark single-thread (4,280 vs. 3,942, a 7.9% margin).

Q: What is the thread count difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has 16 threads. Both have 16 cores, but the AMD part supports simultaneous multithreading while the Intel part does not.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H supports LPDDR5X memory with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth, which is nearly double the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX's DDR5 bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: How do the two chips compare in PassMark integer math?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 202,883 in PassMark integer math, which is 123.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H's 90,882. This is the largest percentage advantage for the AMD part across all tested benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is built on TSMC's 5 nm process and uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename. It belongs to the Ryzen 9 generation within the 7000 series. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H uses Intel's own 3 nm process and the Panther Lake architecture, belonging to the Core Ultra Series 3 generation with the Panther Lake-H designation.

The AMD chip packs 16 cores and 32 threads, enabled by simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel chip also has 16 cores but only 16 threads, indicating no hyperthreading support. The transistor count for the AMD part is recorded at 13,140 million across a dual-die design with each die measuring 71 mm². Intel does not list transistor or die size data for the Panther Lake part.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD processor uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a large 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel processor uses a much larger 192 KB L1 per core and 3 MB L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives AMD a significant total cache advantage, particularly in the last-level cache.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD part uses DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part uses LPDDR5X with 153.6 GB/s. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics units are different. AMD equips the Ryzen 9 7940HX with the Radeon 610M, while Intel pairs the Core Ultra X9 388H with the Arc B390. Both processors are unlocked for overclocking? No, only the AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part is locked.

The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2540. Power targets also differ: AMD lists a 55 W TDP, while Intel lists a 25 W TDP, suggesting very different thermal envelopes. The release dates are apart as well, with AMD launching in January 2024 and Intel in January 2026.

The Verdict

The data points to two different performance profiles. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX dominates heavy multi-threaded workloads, winning 8 of the 13 direct benchmark comparisons. Its advantages are most pronounced in integer math (123.2% ahead), data compression (91.8% ahead), and extended instructions (70.4% ahead). For users running rendering, compression, encryption, or database workloads that scale with thread count, the AMD part is the clear choice based on benchmark results.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins 5 comparisons, all in single-threaded or lightly-threaded scenarios. Its Cinebench R23 single-core lead of 17.9% and PassMark single-thread lead of 7.9% show that Intel's Panther Lake architecture has a per-core performance advantage. The physics test result also favors Intel, with a 28.8% margin, which could matter for certain simulation workloads.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split: AMD's 69,875 vs. Intel's 44,466, a 57.1% gap in favor of AMD. The percentile rankings place AMD at 94th vs. Intel's 88th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel chip sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Intel Core i9-13950HX in average score, while the AMD part rivals the Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.

Mobile system designers should consider the TDP difference: AMD at 55 W vs. Intel at 25 W. The Intel part delivers competitive single-thread performance at less than half the power target. The AMD part, with its 32 threads and larger cache, delivers substantially higher multi-thread throughput but at a higher power envelope. The choice depends on whether the workload is thread-limited or power-limited.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |

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

| Cores | 16 | 16 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Process Node | 5 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (Intel) |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB per core | 3 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 | Gen 5, 4 lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc B390 |

| Multiplier | Unlocked | Locked |

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

| Part Number | 100-000001486 | SA4QWQ9EK |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins decisively in multi-threaded workloads. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 29,400 vs. 18,911, a 55.5% advantage. This is the second-largest margin in the comparison. PassMark multithread also favors AMD at 53,204 vs. 36,811, a 44.5% lead. These results correlate with the thread count difference: 32 threads vs. 16.

The largest single margin belongs to AMD in PassMark integer math. The 202,883 score vs. 90,882 represents a 123.2% advantage. Data compression follows closely with AMD at 693,741 vs. 361,763, a 91.8% margin. Extended instructions show AMD ahead at 51,029 vs. 29,943, a 70.4% margin. Random string sorting also favors AMD: 81,775 vs. 44,010, an 85.8% advantage. Data encryption completes AMD's wins: 41,974 vs. 28,490, a 47.3% margin. Floating point math is closer but still AMD: 121,383 vs. 112,550, a 7.8% advantage.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins in single-threaded and mixed workloads. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,200.5 vs. 1,807, a 17.9% margin. PassMark single-thread shows 4,280 vs. 3,942, a 7.9% margin. The physics test gives Intel its largest win: 3,226 vs. 2,297, a 28.8% margin. Find prime numbers also favors Intel: 358 vs. 273, a 23.7% margin.

The two-passmark single-thread tests (listed as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread) both record identical values for each chip, confirming consistency in the measurement. AMD wins 8 benchmarks, Intel wins 5, with no ties recorded. The average benchmark score gap (69,875 vs. 44,466) aligns with the multi-thread-heavy test suite, where AMD's thread advantage and larger L3 cache produce outsized gains in parallel workloads.