AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX vs Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M occupy different corners of the processor market: one is a mobile flagship built on a 5 nm process, the other a server/workstation part on 14 nm. Yet the recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall winner. Across 15 head-to-head tests, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX wins 13, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M takes only 2. The AMD part also posts a higher average benchmark score (60099 versus 58323) and both sit in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The pattern is clear: the Ryzen 9 dominates nearly every compute workload, while the Xeon Platinum only leads in Cinebench single-core tests, a narrow but consistent advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory belongs to the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 42703 against the Xeon's 17625, a 142.3% lead. That is more than double the Intel part's output. Similarly, in PassMark find prime numbers, the AMD scores 284 versus 141, a 101.4% advantage. These are extreme gaps that reflect the Ryzen's superior per-thread efficiency and higher boost clock.

In multi-threaded workloads, the AMD part is consistently ahead. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 78.5% lead (5289 versus 2963), while Cinebench R23 multicore is closer but still favors AMD: 33459 versus 29403, a 13.8% difference. PassMark multithread gives AMD a 57.7% edge (54548 versus 34592). Floating point math is another strong point: 123390 versus 73514, a 67.8% lead. Integer math follows with 207524 versus 129213, a 60.6% advantage. Extended instructions show a 45.9% gap (51834 versus 35529). Data compression is 23.2% ahead (707249 versus 573896), and random string sorting is 18.1% ahead (81736 versus 69236). Physics tests give AMD a 20.2% lead (2500 versus 2080).

Even in single-threaded PassMark, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX wins decisively: 4040 versus 2320, a 74.1% advantage. This is notable because the Intel Xeon has a higher Cinebench single-core score, but PassMark tells a different story. The AMD part's boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus the Xeon's 3.90 GHz likely explains this.

The Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M's only wins come in Cinebench single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 418 against AMD's 308, a 26.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is even larger: 4151 versus 1940, a 53.3% advantage. These are substantial margins, but they are isolated to one benchmark family. The Xeon's higher base clock (2.40 GHz) and older architecture do not translate to wins elsewhere.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX is the clear choice for any workload that stresses encryption, prime number calculation, floating point or integer math, data compression, random string sorting, physics simulation, and general multi-threaded processing. Its PassMark single-thread score also indicates strong per-core performance for everyday tasks. The only area where the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M shows superiority is in Cinebench's single-core tests, which are often used to gauge legacy single-threaded application performance. If a specific software suite relies on Cinebench-style single-thread execution, the Xeon may hold an edge, but the broader PassMark single-thread result contradicts that, suggesting the AMD part is actually faster in most real-world single-threaded scenarios.

For multi-threaded server workloads, the AMD part wins despite having fewer cores (16 versus 24) and threads (32 versus 48). This indicates that the Ryzen 9's Zen 4 architecture and higher boost clock more than compensate for the core count deficit. The Xeon's 24 cores and 48 threads do not translate into a win in any multi-threaded benchmark in this comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M has 24 cores and 48 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M boosts to 3.90 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX supports DDR5, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M supports DDR4.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M has a TDP of 165 W, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX has a TDP of 55 W.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX was released on 2023-01-03, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M was released on 2018-12-10.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX wins 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, with the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M winning only the two Cinebench single-core tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M has 24 cores and 48 threads. Base clocks are close (2.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz), but boost clocks diverge sharply: 5.40 GHz for AMD versus 3.90 GHz for Intel. TDP is a major difference: 55 W for AMD versus 165 W for Intel. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 3647. The AMD processor is unlocked (multiplier unlocked: true), while the Intel is locked (false). The AMD part has a part number of 100-000000870, while the Intel has SRF9JCD8069504201201.

Memory support differs: AMD uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while Intel uses DDR4 with no recorded bus or bandwidth. The AMD part has PCIe Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part has no PCIe data recorded. The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M has no integrated graphics. Market segments also differ: AMD is mobile, Intel is server/workstation. Release dates are 2023-01-03 for AMD and 2018-12-10 for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M uses a 14 nm process at Intel. The AMD part is based on Zen 4 architecture with the codename Dragon Range, while the Intel part uses Cascade Lake architecture with the codename Cascade Lake-SP. The AMD processor has 13,140 million transistors on a die size of 2x 71 mm², while the Intel part has 8,000 million transistors with no die size recorded.

Cache configurations differ in L3: the AMD has 64 MB shared L3, while the Intel has 35.75 MB shared L3. L1 and L2 are identical per core (64 KB and 1 MB respectively). Both support ECC memory, but the AMD part's memory support is DDR5, while the Intel uses DDR4. The AMD part has a higher boost clock and a much lower TDP, reflecting its newer process and mobile orientation. The Intel part has more cores and threads, but its older architecture and lower clock speed limit its performance in most tests.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX is the superior processor for the vast majority of workloads. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, including all multi-threaded tests, all PassMark tests, and even the PassMark single-thread test. Its average benchmark score of 60099 is higher than the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M's 58323. The only Intel wins are in Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core, where the Xeon leads by 26.3% and 53.3% respectively. These wins are real but narrow in scope.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded performance, encryption, math operations, or general compute throughput, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX is the clear pick. Its higher boost clock and modern Zen 4 architecture overcome the Intel part's core count advantage. For those who rely on Cinebench single-core scores as a proxy for legacy application performance, the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M may be worth considering, but the broader PassMark single-thread result suggests that advantage may not translate to real-world tasks. The data points to the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX as the better all-around processor.