AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 target very different segments of the mobile market, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly. The 8940HX, a 16-core, 32-thread Dragon Range part, is built for maximum throughput, while the 6-core, 12-thread Ryzen AI 7 445 is a more efficient, lower-power option. Across every recorded benchmark in the database, the Ryzen 9 8940HX posts the higher score, with a 15-0 sweep in head-to-head comparisons.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive wins for the Ryzen 9 8940HX come in heavily multithreaded workloads where its core count and thread count provide a massive structural advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 8940HX scores 32,521 against the Ryzen AI 7 445's 10,590, a delta of 207.1%. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar gap: 5,355 versus 1,723, a 210.8% advantage. PassMark integer math delivers 189,221 versus 58,332, a 224.4% lead, while floating-point math is 113,921 versus 39,362, a 189.4% edge. The single largest percentage gap in the entire comparison is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the 8940HX scores 251 versus 56, a 348.2% difference.

Encryption and compression workloads also heavily favor the 8940HX. PassMark data encryption shows 39,318 versus 10,519, a 273.8% lead, and data compression is 650,984 versus 215,812, a 201.6% delta. Random string sorting follows the same pattern: 75,381 versus 23,488, a 220.9% gap. The extended instructions test, which measures SIMD and AVX performance, gives the 8940HX a 47,802 score against 15,826, a 202% advantage. PassMark multithread, an aggregate measure, is 49,731 versus 18,115, a 174.5% lead, and the physics test is 2,104 versus 976, a 115.6% delta.

Single-threaded performance is a much closer contest, though the 8940HX still wins every time. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1,917 versus 1,806, a 6.1% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core is 292 versus 254, a 15% advantage. PassMark single-thread is 3,874 versus 3,591, a 7.9% delta. These gaps show that the Zen 4 architecture in the 8940HX retains a measurable IPC advantage over the Zen 5 cores in the Ryzen AI 7 445 in these specific tests, even with the lower clock speeds on the latter part. The 8940HX boosts to 5.30 GHz, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 tops out at 4.60 GHz.

The average benchmark score in the database tells the same story from a broader perspective. The Ryzen 9 8940HX averages 81,103 points and sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81,115, the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81,127, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 at 80,762, and the Intel Xeon 638 at 80,723, all within a 0.5% delta. The Ryzen AI 7 445 averages 26,936 points and ranks in the 79th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-1370P at 26,900, the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U at 26,849, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G at 27,051, and the Intel Core i9-9900K at 27,097, with deltas between -0.6% and 0.3%.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 8940HX wins every single recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude of the advantage rather than by which processor takes a given category. In pure multi-core throughput, the 8940HX is in a different class. Cinebench R23 multi-core, integer math, and data compression all show deltas above 200%, which points to workloads like video rendering, 3D scene compilation, code builds, and large-scale data processing as areas where the 8940HX dominates. The 273.8% encryption lead suggests a strong advantage in security-related tasks that rely on AES acceleration and other cryptographic instructions.

The Ryzen AI 7 445, despite losing every test, has a more competitive showing in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 single-core delta is only 6.1%, and the PassMark single-thread delta is 7.9%. This means that for everyday responsiveness, office productivity, and applications that rely on a few fast cores, the Ryzen AI 7 445 operates at a level much closer to the 8940HX. Its 4 nm process node and Zen 5 architecture deliver respectable per-core performance, even if the absolute scores are lower.

The Ryzen AI 7 445 also has a significantly lower TDP at 28 watts versus 55 watts for the 8940HX. The data does not include battery life or thermals, but the power envelope suggests that the Ryzen AI 7 445 is better suited to thin-and-light designs where sustained multi-core bursts are less common. The 8940HX, with its 55-watt TDP and 16 cores, is designed for high-performance laptops that can dissipate more heat and draw more power. The Ryzen AI 7 445 supports LPDDR5X memory in addition to DDR5, which is typically associated with more power-efficient, compact systems.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear stratification. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the superior processor in every measured benchmark, with an average score of 81,103 that places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. Its 16 cores and 32 threads deliver multi-threaded performance that outstrips the Ryzen AI 7 445 by margins of 174.5% to 348.2% across the PassMark suite and by over 200% in Cinebench multi-core tests. Anyone selecting between these two strictly on benchmark performance should choose the 8940HX.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 is not without merit. It lands in the 79th percentile, and its 26,936 average score places it alongside established desktop parts like the Intel Core i9-9900K and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G. Its single-thread scores are within 6.1% to 15% of the 8940HX, which narrows the gap in everyday tasks. The 28-watt TDP, 4 nm process, and support for LPDDR5X make it the more power-conscious option for portable systems.

For a buyer prioritizing raw computational output, the 8940HX is the only choice. For a buyer prioritizing efficiency and portability, the Ryzen AI 7 445 offers a more balanced trade-off, though it sacrifices substantial multi-core capability to get there. The database records 15 benchmark wins for the 8940HX and zero for the Ryzen AI 7 445; that is the full extent of the comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 8940HX scores 1,917 versus 1,806 for the Ryzen AI 7 445, a 6.1% lead. In PassMark single-thread, the scores are 3,874 versus 3,591, a 7.9% lead.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark advantage of the Ryzen 9 8940HX?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the 8940HX scores 251 versus 56, a 348.2% advantage.

Q: Does the Ryzen AI 7 445 win any benchmark?

A: No. The database records 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Ryzen 9 8940HX wins all 15.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Ryzen 9 8940HX has a TDP of 55 watts. The Ryzen AI 7 445 has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The 8940HX averages 81,103, with rivals like the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81,115 and the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81,127 within a 0% delta. The Ryzen AI 7 445 averages 26,936, with the Intel Core i7-1370P at 26,900 and the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U at 26,849 within a 0.1% to 0.3% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different architectures and process nodes. The Ryzen 9 8940HX is built on Zen 4 with the codename Dragon Range, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It uses a dual-die design with a die size of 2x 71 mm² and contains 13,140 million transistors. It fits in AMD Socket FL1 and is part of the 8000 series. The Ryzen AI 7 445 uses Zen 5 with the codename Gorgon Point, fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation and uses AMD Socket FP8. The database does not record a die size or transistor count for the Ryzen AI 7 445.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The 8940HX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen AI 7 445 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of L3 cache. The L1 cache per core is larger on the newer Zen 5 part, but the total L3 cache is far larger on the 8940HX, which contributes to its multi-threaded dominance.

Memory support also differs. The 8940HX supports DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration with 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth and does not support ECC memory. The Ryzen AI 7 445 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a dual-channel configuration with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth and does support ECC memory. The Ryzen AI 7 445 has a slightly higher memory bandwidth figure despite its lower overall performance profile.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The 8940HX offers PCIe Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only). The Ryzen AI 7 445 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). The 8940HX also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 is locked. Integrated graphics differ as well: the 8940HX uses the Radeon 610M, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 uses the Radeon 840M. The release dates are recorded as April 22, 2025 for the 8940HX and January 4, 2026 for the Ryzen AI 7 445. Both processors are listed as Active in production status and target the mobile market segment.