AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 serve very different priorities within the mobile and embedded space. The 8940HX is a high-core-count, high-power part built for sustained throughput, while the P185 is a more efficient, denser processor with a newer architecture and a stronger integrated GPU. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the 8940HX dominates multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads, while the P185 counters in single-thread performance. The recorded results give a complete picture of where each processor belongs.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its victories span every category of parallel and math-heavy work. In data compression, it scores 650984 against 374429, a 73.9% advantage. Data encryption shows an even larger gap: 39318 versus 19612, a 100.5% lead. Extended instruction throughput favors the 8940HX by 80.1% (47802 vs 26544), and prime number finding by 94.6% (251 vs 129). Floating point math lands at 113921 versus 70587, a 61.4% edge, and integer math at 189221 versus 117832, a 60.6% edge. Multithread performance is 56.3% higher (49731 vs 31817), and random string sorting is 85.9% higher (75381 vs 40557). Physics results favor the 8940HX by a smaller 18.7% (2104 vs 1772).

The Ryzen AI Embedded P185 wins only two comparisons, both single-thread tests: passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, each scoring 3977 against the 8940HX's 3874. That is a 2.6% advantage. This is a narrow but consistent lead in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive work. The P185 does not approach the 8940HX in any multi-core metric, but its single-thread result shows a real architectural edge that matters for specific workloads.

Architecture Differences

The 8940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process, with the Dragon Range codename. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads. The P185 uses a hybrid Zen 5 / Zen 5c configuration on a 4 nm TSMC process, codenamed Gorgon Point, with 12 cores and 24 threads. The process node difference is small, but the architecture generation gap is significant: Zen 5 and Zen 5c are newer than Zen 4. The P185 also has a larger die at 233 mm², while the 8940HX uses two separate 71 mm² dies, totaling 142 mm². The 8940HX is built from 13,140 million transistors; the P185 does not have a recorded transistor count.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The 8940HX provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. The P185 provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, but only 16 MB L3. The 8940HX's four times larger L3 cache is a major factor in its multi-threaded dominance. The P185 compensates with a larger per-core L1 and a newer core design.

Memory support also diverges. The 8940HX supports DDR5 only, dual-channel, with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The P185 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, dual-channel, with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The P185 also supports ECC memory, while the 8940HX does not. PCIe connectivity favors the 8940HX with Gen 5 and 28 lanes, versus the P185's Gen 4 and 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the 8940HX uses Radeon 610M, while the P185 uses the stronger Radeon 890M. The P185 has a locked multiplier, while the 8940HX is unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the 8940HX is in data encryption. A 100.5% delta means it more than doubles the P185's score. This is a clear indicator for workloads involving cryptographic operations or secure data handling. Data compression follows at 73.9%, and random string sorting at 85.9%. These are memory-heavy, cache-sensitive tasks where the 8940HX's 64 MB L3 cache provides a decisive edge.

The extended instructions test shows an 80.1% lead, reflecting the 8940HX's higher core count and larger cache for SIMD-heavy code. Prime number finding is 94.6% higher, which is typical of a processor with many physical cores. Floating point math and integer math show 61.4% and 60.6% leads respectively, indicating that the 8940HX's raw compute throughput scales well beyond the P185's smaller core count.

Multithread performance at 56.3% is the most direct measure of overall parallel capability. The 8940HX scores 49731 versus 31817. This gap is smaller than some of the more specialized tests, but still substantial. Physics results show the smallest multi-core gap at 18.7%, suggesting that this particular workload does not scale perfectly with the 8940HX's extra cores.

The single-thread tests are the only bright spot for the P185. Its 3977 score beats the 8940HX's 3874 by 2.6%. This is a modest but repeatable advantage, and it appears in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread. The P185's newer Zen 5 cores deliver higher instructions-per-clock, which explains this result despite the lower boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 5.30 GHz on the 8940HX.

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 Embedded P185 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The 8940HX has a TDP of 55, while the P185 has a TDP of 28. This indicates a power envelope roughly half the size for the P185.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The 8940HX has 64 MB of L3 cache. The P185 has 16 MB. The 8940HX offers four times the L3 capacity.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The P185 supports ECC memory. The 8940HX does not.

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread benchmark score?

A: The P185 scores 3977 in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread. The 8940HX scores 3874. The P185 leads by 2.6%.

Q: What is the PCIe generation and lane count for each?

A: The 8940HX uses PCIe Gen 5 with 28 lanes. The P185 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear division of roles. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the choice for anyone who needs maximum multi-threaded throughput. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, and 64 MB L3 cache deliver decisive wins in every parallel benchmark. The 100.5% lead in data encryption and 94.6% lead in prime number finding show that heavy compute tasks run roughly twice as fast. The 8940HX also offers PCIe Gen 5 with 28 lanes, which matters for systems using fast storage or external GPUs. Its unlocked multiplier is an option for those who want to adjust clocks, though the base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost of 5.30 GHz already provide a strong baseline.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 is the pick for efficiency-conscious designs that still need respectable single-thread performance. Its 28 TDP is roughly half the 8940HX's 55 TDP. It uses a newer Zen 5 / Zen 5c architecture on a 4 nm process, which shows in its 2.6% single-thread win. The P185 also supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with higher bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s, and it includes ECC support, which is important for embedded reliability. The Radeon 890M integrated graphics are a meaningful upgrade over the Radeon 610M in the 8940HX, making the P185 more suitable for visual workloads without a discrete GPU.

The 8940HX occupies the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 81103. The P185 sits at the 93rd percentile with an average score of 62839. The 8940HX's closest rivals include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X and Intel Core i9-14949KS, both with near-identical average scores. The P185's nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX and Intel Core i7-13790F, with scores within 0.5% in either direction. These positions confirm that the 8940HX competes at a higher absolute performance tier, while the P185 trades raw power for efficiency and feature integration.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX | AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Series | 8000 series | null |

| Cores | 16 | 12 |

| Threads | 32 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.30 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 | 28 |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | null |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Gorgon Point |

| Generation | Ryzen 9 (Zen 4 (Dragon Range)) | Ryzen AI Embedded (Zen 5 / Zen 5c) |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | TSMC |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | null |

| Die Size | 2x 71 mm² | 233 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 16 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Radeon 890M |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | Active |

| Release Date | 2025-04-22 | 2026-02-28 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | true | false |

| Part Number | 100-000001849 | unknown |

The 8940HX is a larger, hotter, faster part with more cores, more cache, and newer PCIe. The P185 is smaller, cooler, more efficient, and uses a newer core architecture with more memory flexibility and ECC support. Both are active mobile processors, but the recorded data leaves no ambiguity about their intended roles.