AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a decisive outcome: the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. The 8940HX reaches the 95th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 sits at the 87th percentile. The average benchmark score for the 8940HX is 81,103, compared to 41,208 for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440, a gap of roughly 97%. The Ryzen 9 8940HX is the clear choice for workloads that demand high throughput, particularly multi-threaded tasks, given its 16 cores and 32 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440, with its lower 28 W TDP and Zen 5 architecture, makes sense for systems prioritizing efficiency and portability, though its benchmark results remain far behind in every measured category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses Zen 5 architecture with the Gorgon Point codename, built on a 4 nm process, also at TSMC. The 8940HX features a dual-die design with a die size of 2x 71 mm² and 13,140 million transistors, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses a single 195 mm² die with no transistor count listed. The 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, whereas the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache configurations differ substantially: the 8940HX provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 offers 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and only 8 MB L3. The newer Zen 5 architecture in the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 does not compensate for the much larger core count and cache pool of the 8940HX in the measured benchmarks. Socket types also differ, with the 8940HX on AMD Socket FL1 and the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 on AMD Socket FP8.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: How do their multi-threaded benchmark scores compare?

A: In the passmark_multithread test, the 8940HX scores 49,731, which is 136.2% higher than the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440's score of 21,054.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 wins?

A: No. Across all 11 head-to-head benchmark records, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins every test, with the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 recording zero wins.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures for each processor?

A: The 8940HX has a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has a slightly higher 89.6 GB/s, despite the latter having a smaller L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score?

A: The 8940HX scores 3,874 in the passmark_single_thread test, which is 2.4% higher than the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440's score of 3,785.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for the 8940HX and 2.00 GHz for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440, while boost clocks are 5.30 GHz and 4.80 GHz, respectively. TDP differs significantly: 55 W for the 8940HX and 28 W for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. The 8940HX uses Zen 4 architecture with Dragon Range codename, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses Zen 5 with Gorgon Point. The process node is 5 nm for the 8940HX and 4 nm for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. The 8940HX has a die size of 2x 71 mm² with 13,140 million transistors; the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has a 195 mm² die with no transistor count listed. L1 cache is 64 KB per core on the 8940HX versus 80 KB per core on the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. L3 cache is 64 MB for the 8940HX versus 8 MB for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. Memory support differs: the 8940HX supports DDR5 only, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth favors the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 at 89.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s for the 8940HX. ECC memory is supported only on the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. PCIe versions differ: Gen 5 with 28 lanes for the 8940HX versus Gen 4 with 16 lanes for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. Integrated graphics differ, with the 8940HX using Radeon 610M and the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 using Radeon 840M. The 8940HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 is locked. Sockets are FL1 and FP8, respectively. Release dates also differ, with the 8940HX released on 2025-04-22 and the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 on 2026-01-04.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows the 8940HX leading in every category, but the margins vary considerably. The largest win comes in passmark_find_prime_numbers, where the 8940HX scores 251 versus 77, a 226% advantage. This test is highly sensitive to core count and raw integer throughput, so the 16-core part dominates. Data encryption shows a 216.6% delta, with scores of 39,318 versus 12,418. Integer math also heavily favors the 8940HX: 189,221 versus 65,991, a 186.7% difference. Random string sorting shows a 176.6% gap, at 75,381 versus 27,252. Floating point math delivers a 165.3% advantage, with 113,921 versus 42,934. Extended instructions show a 159% delta, at 47,802 versus 18,456. Data compression follows at 153.9%, with 650,984 versus 256,420. Multi-threaded performance shows a 136.2% gap, at 49,731 versus 21,054. Physics scores are 88% higher for the 8940HX, at 2,104 versus 1,119. The narrowest margin appears in single-threaded tests: 3,874 versus 3,785, a 2.4% difference. This suggests that the Zen 5 architecture in the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 nearly closes the single-thread gap against the older Zen 4 design, but the 8940HX still holds the edge. The overall pattern indicates that the 8940HX excels most in heavily parallel workloads, while the single-thread advantage remains modest.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins in every measured category. Workloads involving encryption, prime number calculation, integer math, floating point math, data compression, random string sorting, extended instructions, physics simulation, and general multi-threaded operations all favor the 8940HX by significant margins. The 8940HX also edges out the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 in single-threaded performance, though only by 2.4%. The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 offers no benchmark wins in the recorded data. Its advantages lie outside performance metrics: lower TDP of 28 W versus 55 W, support for ECC memory, support for LPDDR5X memory in addition to DDR5, a newer 4 nm process node, and a newer Zen 5 architecture. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the 8940HX is the only choice according to the data. For those prioritizing power efficiency, ECC support, or the newer memory options, the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 presents those specific capabilities, but it does not deliver competitive performance in any recorded benchmark. The 8940HX also ranks higher in overall CPU percentile at 95 versus 87, reinforcing its position as the higher-performing part in the database.