AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear division of labor between these two mobile processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX takes the remaining 5. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

AMD's largest victories are concentrated in integer-heavy and multi-threaded workloads. In PassMark integer math, the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D scores 201217 against Intel's 127126, a commanding 58.3% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in the entire comparison. Physics simulation also heavily favors AMD, with the Ryzen scoring 4321 versus 2926, a 47.7% lead. The 3D V-Cache-equipped chip also dominates data compression, posting 699988 against 515143, a 35.9% gap. Random string sorting follows closely at 34.1% (83919 vs 62591), and extended instruction throughput is 26.8% higher (52310 vs 41247).

Multi-threaded rendering benchmarks tell a mixed story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD leads with 5600 versus 4916, a 13.9% margin. However, in the newer Cinebench R23 multicore test, the gap nearly disappears: AMD scores 32782, Intel scores 32612, a razor-thin 0.5% edge. This suggests that the Intel part scales better as the workload duration extends, or that the specific instruction mix of R23 favors Intel's architecture more than R15 does.

Intel's wins come in single-threaded performance and one notable floating-point test. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 4562 versus AMD's 4050, an 11.2% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 10.5% advantage (2163 vs 1935), and R15 single-core is 4.9% higher (327 vs 311). The most surprising Intel win is in PassMark floating-point math, where it scores 160624 versus AMD's 121619, a 24.3% lead. This is a significant inversion, since AMD usually dominates in FP heavy loads; here Intel's wider FP unit or better instruction scheduling pays off.

In data encryption, AMD wins by a modest 7.3% (42367 vs 39499). Prime number finding favors AMD by 11.5% (446 vs 400). The overall PassMark multithread score goes to AMD at 57476 versus 48234, a 19.2% lead. The overall average benchmark score in the database gives Intel the edge: 62738 for the Ultra 7 versus 59641 for the Ryzen 9, which places Intel in the 93rd percentile versus AMD's 92nd. That aggregate metric, however, includes non-head-to-head tests that favor Intel's strong single-thread showing.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D wins by a very narrow margin, scoring 32782 against the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX's 32612, a 0.5% difference. The results are effectively tied in this test.

Q: How large is Intel's single-thread lead?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 2163 versus AMD's 1935, a 10.5% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the lead is 11.2% (4562 vs 4050).

Q: Does the AMD chip win every multi-threaded benchmark?

A: No. While AMD wins most multi-threaded tests, the Intel chip wins PassMark floating-point math by 24.3% (160624 vs 121619) and loses by less than 1% in Cinebench R23 multicore.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX has a higher average benchmark score of 62738, versus 59641 for the AMD, placing it in the 93rd percentile versus the AMD's 92nd percentile.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark difference between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark integer math, where AMD leads by 58.3% (201217 vs 127126). Intel's largest win is floating-point math at 24.3%.

Q: How does the AMD part compare to its own sibling without 3D V-Cache?

A: The database shows the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D's average score of 59641 is 0.8% lower than the non-X3D Ryzen 9 7945HX's 60099, meaning the 3D cache model trades a tiny bit of average throughput for the cache advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architecture designs. The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D uses Zen 4 on the Dragon Range platform, manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. Its die is composed of 2x 71 mm² chiplets, totaling 17,840 million transistors. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX uses Arrow Lake-HX, and also uses TSMC, but at a 3 nm node, with a monolithic 243 mm² die containing 17,800 million transistors.

AMD's design is a chiplet approach with two CCDs. The core configuration is 16 cores and 32 threads. Each core has 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2. The L3 cache is a shared 128 MB pool, which includes a single 64 MB 3D V-Cache slice. This is a massive amount of L3, nearly 4.3 times the size of Intel's L3.

Intel's design uses 20 cores and 20 threads, meaning no hyper-threading on the performance cores. Each core has 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2, which is larger per-core than AMD. However, the shared L3 is only 30 MB, which is far less than AMD's 128 MB. The Intel part also does not have any 3D stacked cache.

Memory bandwidth is a significant difference. Intel supports DDR5 dual-channel with a theoretical bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while AMD's dual-channel DDR5 is rated at 83.2 GB/s. That is a 23.2% bandwidth advantage for Intel. However, the raw bandwidth does not fully compensate for the huge L3 difference in most workloads.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: AMD has a Radeon 610M, Intel has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64. Intel supports no ECC memory, whereas AMD does support ECC.

The base and boost clocks differ slightly. AMD has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost of 5.40 GHz. Intel has a base of 2.40 GHz and a boost of 5.20 GHz. Both parts are unlocked, and both have a TDP of 55 W. Sockets are not compatible: AMD uses AMD Socket FL1, Intel uses Intel BGA 2114.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a split recommendation based on workload type. For users who prioritize integer math, data compression, encryption, physics simulation, and random string sorting, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D is clearly the stronger choice. The 58.3% lead in integer math and 47.7% lead in physics are substantial enough to shift real-world application performance. For content creation and coding tasks that rely on heavy integer operations, AMD is the pick.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX is the better choice for single-threaded performance and floating-point math. The 11.2% single-thread lead and 24.3% floating-point lead are significant, but the rest of the multi-threaded suite is dominated by AMD. The Intel part's higher average benchmark score, 62738 versus 59641, shows it also has a broader overall throughput, but the margin is only 5.2%.

For a mobile workstation that runs a mix of integer and floating-point loads, the data slightly favors Intel in average score. For pure throughput in integer-heavy workloads, AMD wins decisively. The Intel part also has a higher memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s vs 83.2 GB/s) and more cores (20 vs 16) but fewer threads (20 vs 32). The huge L3 cache on AMD (128 MB vs 30 MB) provides a clear advantage in cache-sensitive tasks.

Given the 3D V-Cache on the AMD part, the data indicates it is optimized for specific compute patterns, not for general all-round. The Intel part, with 20 full cores and no hyperthreading, is more balanced across different instruction types. The verdict is: choose the AMD for maximum integer and multi-threaded workloads with heavy data reuse; choose the Intel for single-threaded responsiveness, floating-point math, and a better overall average score.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel has 20 cores and 20 threads. The AMD's base clock is 2.30 GHz, Intel's is 2.40 GHz; the AMD boost is 5.40 GHz, Intel's is 5.20 GHz. Both are 55 W TDP.

The AMD uses a socket AMD Socket FL1, the Intel uses Intel BGA 2114. The AMD is Zen 4 on Dragon Range, the Intel is Arrow Lake-HX. The process node is 5 nm for AMD, 3 nm for Intel. The AMD die size is 2x 71 mm², the Intel is 243 mm². Transistors are 17,840 million vs 17,800 million, respectively.

L1 cache is 64 KB per core for AMD, 192 KB per core for Intel. L2 is 1 MB per core for AMD, 3 MB per core for Intel. L3 is 128 MB shared for AMD, 30 MB shared for Intel. The AMD also has a 64 MB V-Cache slice, which Intel does not have.

Memory support is DDR5 for both, dual-channel for both. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD, 102.4 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is supported on AMD, but not on Intel. PCIe is Gen 5 with 28 lanes on AMD, Gen 5 with 20 lanes on Intel.

Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M (AMD) versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU (Intel). The AMD has a release date of 2023-07-26, the Intel of 2025-01-12. The production status is active for both. The AMD part number is 100-000001086, the Intel is SRVFG. Both are unlocked multipliers, and both have no recorded launch MSRP.