AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a stark split between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins only a single head-to-head comparison, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX dominates the remaining fourteen tests. The most significant victory for the 8940HX comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 5355 against 4305, a 24.4% advantage. This is the only benchmark where the 8940HX leads, and it is a substantial one, indicating a notable edge in that particular legacy multi-threaded workload.

However, the 8945HX's wins are comprehensive and often decisive. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the 8945HX scores 6030 compared to the 8940HX's 1917, a staggering 68.2% delta. This is the largest performance gap in the entire dataset. Similarly, in Cinebench R15 singlecore, the 8945HX posts 607 against 292, a 51.9% advantage. These single-threaded results are not minor differences; they represent a generational leap in per-core capability for the 8945HX.

The multicore picture is more nuanced. While the 8940HX wins Cinebench R15 multicore, the 8945HX takes Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 42713 versus 32521, a 23.9% lead. This reversal suggests that the newer Cinebench version favors the 8945HX's architectural traits, while the older R15 version responds better to the 8940HX's configuration. The average benchmark scores reflect this overall trend: the 8940HX averages 81103, while the 8945HX averages 76212, placing the 8940HX slightly ahead in the aggregate despite losing most individual tests.

In the Passmark suite, the 8945HX wins every single test, though the margins are far smaller than in Cinebench. The largest Passmark delta is in random string sorting, where the 8945HX scores 78781 versus 75381, a 4.3% lead. Data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime numbers, floating point, integer math, multithread, physics, and single-thread tests all show the 8945HX ahead by margins ranging from 0.8% to 4.2%. These consistent, if modest, wins across the Passmark workload spectrum indicate that the 8945HX is the more balanced performer in everyday computational tasks.

The single-thread Passmark scores are nearly identical, with the 8945HX at 3907 and the 8940HX at 3874, a 0.8% difference. This closeness contrasts sharply with the massive Cinebench singlecore deltas, suggesting that the Passmark single-thread test measures a different aspect of performance, possibly one less sensitive to the clock speed differences between the two chips.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX as the superior processor for most users. It wins 14 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Passmark tests and the more modern Cinebench R23 workloads. Its single-core performance, as measured by Cinebench R15 and R23, is dramatically higher, with deltas of 51.9% and 68.2% respectively. For applications that rely on strong single-threaded performance, such as many productivity tools and games, the 8945HX is the clear choice.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is not without merit. Its victory in Cinebench R15 multicore by 24.4% shows that it can outperform the 8945HX in specific legacy multi-threaded workloads. Additionally, its average benchmark score of 81103 is higher than the 8945HX's 76212, a 6.4% difference. This indicates that across the entire benchmark database, the 8940HX holds a slight edge in overall aggregated performance, likely due to its strong showing in the Cinebench R15 multicore test and its placement among high-end rivals.

The 8940HX's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X and Intel Core i9-14900KS, both with average scores around 81100, which places it in elite company. The 8945HX, with an average of 76212, sits near the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which are still powerful but represent a slightly lower performance tier. Ultimately, the 8945HX is the better choice for modern workloads, while the 8940HX appeals to those running specific legacy applications where its Cinebench R15 multicore advantage matters.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same fundamental architecture: Zen 4 with the Dragon Range codename, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. They share identical core and thread counts, with 16 cores and 32 threads, and both feature a 64 MB L3 cache, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 KB L1 per core. The transistor count is the same at 13,140 million, and the die size is identical at 2x 71 mm². Both use the AMD Socket FL1 and support DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s.

The key architectural difference lies in clock speeds. The 8940HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the 8945HX has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This 100 MHz advantage in both base and boost clocks for the 8945HX explains much of its performance edge, particularly in single-threaded workloads where higher boost clocks directly translate to faster execution.

Both processors share the same integrated graphics, the Radeon 610M, and the same PCIe configuration: Gen 5 with 28 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have unlocked multipliers, indicating they are intended for overclocking in suitable mobile platforms. The part numbers differ, with the 8940HX using 100-000001849 and the 8945HX using 100-000001848, but the production status is active for both.

The release dates are identical, both on 2025-04-22, meaning they launched simultaneously. The absence of a launch MSRP in the database for either chip suggests that pricing information is not available, and the analysis must rely solely on performance metrics. Both are classified under the 8000 series and the Ryzen 9 generation, reinforcing their close relationship as variants of the same design differentiated primarily by clock speeds.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has an average benchmark score of 81103, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212.

Q: How many benchmarks does the 8940HX win?

A: The 8940HX wins only 1 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, specifically Cinebench R15 multicore.

Q: What is the largest performance delta between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R23 singlecore, where the 8945HX leads by 68.2%, scoring 6030 versus 1917.

Q: Do both processors use the same integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX feature the Radeon 610M integrated graphics.

Q: Are the core counts the same for both processors?

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

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the winner for any workload that prioritizes single-threaded performance. Its Cinebench R15 singlecore score of 607 is more than double the 8940HX's 292, and its Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 6030 is over three times the 8940HX's 1917. This makes it the superior choice for applications like web browsing, office productivity, and older games that rely on a few fast cores. The 8945HX also wins every Passmark test, including data compression, encryption, floating point math, and integer math, making it the better all-rounder for general computing tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a narrow but specific advantage in Cinebench R15 multicore, scoring 5355 versus 4305. This test appears to favor the 8940HX's configuration, possibly due to differences in how the workload scales with the 8940HX's clock characteristics. Users running legacy software that uses this specific benchmark's methodology may notice better performance on the 8940HX. Additionally, the 8940HX's higher average benchmark score of 81103 indicates that across the entire database, it edges out the 8945HX in aggregate performance, though this is driven by its placement among rivals rather than its head-to-head wins.

For modern multi-threaded workloads, the 8945HX is superior, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 42713 versus 32521. This makes it the better option for video editing, 3D rendering, and other content creation tasks that use current software. The 8945HX's Passmark multithread score of 51405 also exceeds the 8940HX's 49731, confirming its broader multi-threaded superiority outside of the legacy R15 test.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only a few specification fields, all related to clock speeds. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This 100 MHz difference in both base and boost clocks is the sole specification disparity.

All other specifications are identical. Both have 16 cores, 32 threads, a TDP of 55, the AMD Socket FL1, Zen 4 architecture, Dragon Range codename, 5 nm process node, TSMC foundry, 13,140 million transistors, and a die size of 2x 71 mm². The cache hierarchy is the same: 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. Memory support is DDR5 with dual-channel and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is not supported for either. PCIe is Gen 5 with 28 lanes from the CPU, and both integrate the Radeon 610M graphics. The market segment is mobile for both, production status is active, and the release date is 2025-04-22 for both. Both have unlocked multipliers, and their part numbers are 100-000001849 for the 8940HX and 100-000001848 for the 8945HX.