AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX vs Intel Xeon 6724P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits this comparison into two distinct profiles. The Intel Xeon 6724P takes 6 wins, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX takes 7, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the win count suggests.

The most dramatic result in the entire dataset is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Xeon 6724P scores 6161 against the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX's 1807. That is a 241% advantage, an extraordinary gap that indicates the Xeon's per-core performance is in a different class entirely for this workload. Similarly, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon posts 43643 versus 29400, a 48.4% lead. These two results alone establish the Xeon as the dominant processor for Cinebench rendering workloads.

The Xeon also wins decisively in PassMark physics, scoring 5004 against the Ryzen's 2297, a 117.8% advantage. This suggests the Xeon handles physics simulation workloads with roughly double the throughput. In PassMark find prime numbers, the Xeon leads 372 to 273, a 36.3% margin. Floating-point math also favors Intel, with the Xeon at 135404 versus 121383, an 11.6% edge. Extended instructions go to the Xeon as well, 54101 to 51029, a 6% advantage.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX fights back in several PassMark subtests. The largest AMD win is in data encryption, where it scores 41974 against the Xeon's 34332, an 18.2% lead. Integer math also strongly favors AMD, 202883 versus 172216, a 15.1% margin. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 81775 versus 68477, a 16.3% edge. Single-thread performance in PassMark belongs to AMD, 3942 to 3279, a 16.8% lead, which directly contradicts the Cinebench single-core result and highlights how differently these workloads stress the processors.

Data compression favors AMD, 693741 to 627185, a 9.6% margin. The PassMark multithread score is close, with AMD at 53204 and Intel at 51345, a 3.5% difference. These mixed results mean the overall average benchmark scores are close: the Xeon averages 72396, while the Ryzen averages 69875, a gap of about 3.5%.

In the nearest-rival context, the Xeon sits at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with its closest competitor being the Intel Xeon 6517P at a 0.1% delta. The Ryzen also sits at the 94th percentile, with its nearest rival being the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F at a -0.2% delta. Both processors occupy the same performance tier in the database's overall rankings.

The Verdict

The data points to two different buyers. The Intel Xeon 6724P is the choice for compute-heavy, sustained multi-threaded workloads, particularly Cinebench rendering, physics simulation, and prime-number finding. Its 48.4% multi-core Cinebench lead and 117.8% physics lead are decisive. Anyone running professional rendering, scientific computing, or simulation tasks should select the Xeon based on these measurements.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins in PassMark's integer math, encryption, compression, string sorting, and single-thread tests. It also has a 3.5% edge in PassMark multithread. This profile suits general-purpose computing, data compression pipelines, encryption workloads, and everyday single-threaded responsiveness. The Ryzen's PassMark single-thread score of 3942 against the Xeon's 3279 indicates snappier interaction in lightly threaded applications.

For raw performance in the most demanding compute tasks, the Xeon wins. For a balanced mix of encryption, integer, and compression work, the Ryzen is competitive and often faster. The Cinebench R23 single-core anomaly, where the Xeon leads by 241%, is the single most important outlier in the dataset and should weigh heavily for anyone whose software relies on that benchmark's characteristics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon 6724P uses the Granite Rapids architecture, built on a 5 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It belongs to the Xeon 6 generation and targets the server and workstation segment. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, also on a 5 nm process but fabricated by TSMC. It is a mobile processor in the Ryzen 9 7000 series.

Both have 16 cores and 32 threads, so thread counts are identical. The core designs, however, diverge significantly. The Xeon runs a base clock of 3.60 GHz with a boost of 4.30 GHz, while the Ryzen runs a lower base of 2.40 GHz but boosts much higher to 5.20 GHz. The higher boost clock helps explain the Ryzen's PassMark single-thread win, while the Xeon's higher base clock and architecture give it the Cinebench single-core advantage.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Xeon provides 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 72 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Xeon has more cache at every level, which supports its strong multi-core performance in Cinebench.

Power envelopes are wildly different. The Xeon has a 210 W TDP, while the Ryzen is rated at 55 W. This reflects their market segments: the Xeon is a server part designed for socket 4710, and the Ryzen is a mobile part on socket FL1. The Ryzen is multiplier-unlocked, while the Xeon is not.

Memory architecture also separates them. The Xeon supports eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC memory. The Ryzen supports dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s and no ECC. The Xeon's memory bandwidth is nearly five times higher, which is critical for server workloads. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Xeon offers 88 Gen 5 lanes, the Ryzen offers 28 Gen 5 lanes. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Ryzen includes a Radeon 610M. The Ryzen's transistor count is listed at 13,140 million across a 2x 71 mm² die, while the Xeon's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon 6724P scores 43643, which is 48.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX's 29400.

Q: How do the PassMark single-thread scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 3942 in PassMark single-thread, while the Intel Xeon 6724P scores 3279, giving AMD a 16.8% lead.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon 6724P has a TDP of 210 W, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a TDP of 55 W.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon 6724P supports eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX's dual-channel 83.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor wins in PassMark data encryption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 41974 versus the Intel Xeon 6724P's 34332, an 18.2% advantage for AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6724P wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core, PassMark physics, find prime numbers, floating-point math, and extended instructions. These are compute-heavy workloads that stress the CPU's arithmetic and simulation capabilities. The Xeon's 48.4% multi-core Cinebench lead makes it the clear choice for render farms, scientific simulation, and any application built on Cinebench-like rendering engines. The 117.8% physics advantage suggests strong performance in physics-based workloads, including engineering simulation and game physics processing.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX wins in PassMark data compression, data encryption, integer math, multithread, random string sorting, and single-thread. These workloads emphasize memory manipulation, data transformation, and integer arithmetic. The Ryzen's 18.2% encryption lead and 15.1% integer math lead make it suitable for data centers handling encryption workloads, compression pipelines, and general integer-heavy processing. Its PassMark multithread win, though modest at 3.5%, indicates competitive overall throughput in mixed workloads.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the PassMark data favors the Ryzen by 16.8%, but the Cinebench single-core data favors the Xeon by 241%. The choice depends on which benchmark better matches the target software.

The Xeon's 94th percentile ranking and average score of 72396 place it slightly above the Ryzen's 69875 average. The Xeon's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon 6517P, is within 0.1%, while the Ryzen's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, is within 0.2%. Both are elite performers in the database.

Specification Differences

The Intel Xeon 6724P and AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX differ across nearly every specification category.

Clock speeds: the Xeon runs at 3.60 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, while the Ryzen runs at 2.40 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. TDP: the Xeon draws 210 W, the Ryzen draws 55 W. Sockets: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 4710, the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FL1.

Architecture and generation: the Xeon is Granite Rapids from the Xeon 6 generation, the Ryzen is Zen 4 from the Ryzen 9 7000 series, codenamed Dragon Range. The Xeon is fabricated by Intel on a 5 nm process, the Ryzen by TSMC on a 5 nm process. The Ryzen lists 13,140 million transistors on a 2x 71 mm² die; the Xeon has no recorded transistor or die size data.

Cache: the Xeon has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 72 MB shared L3. The Ryzen has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. Memory: the Xeon supports eight-channel DDR5 with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC, the Ryzen supports dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe: the Xeon offers 88 Gen 5 lanes, the Ryzen offers 28 Gen 5 lanes.

Integrated graphics: the Xeon has none, the Ryzen has Radeon 610M. Market segment: the Xeon is Server/Workstation, the Ryzen is Mobile. The Xeon is multiplier-locked, the Ryzen is multiplier-unlocked. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $3622, while the Ryzen has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates differ: the Xeon launched on 2025-02-23, the Ryzen on 2024-01-16. Both are active production parts. The Xeon's part number is SRVUA, the Ryzen's is 100-000001486.