AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX has 12 cores and 24 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the Threadripper wins the majority of benchmark comparisons.

Q: How do their multicore performance scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Threadripper PRO 9945WX scores 48325 versus 32521 for the Ryzen 9 8940HX, a 32.7% advantage. However, in Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 9 wins with 5355 versus 4871, a 9.9% lead.

Q: Which chip has the higher clock speed?

A: The Threadripper PRO 9945WX has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Ryzen 9 8940HX has a lower base clock of 2.40 GHz but a boost clock of 5.30 GHz.

Q: What memory configurations do these processors support?

A: Both support DDR5 memory, but the Ryzen 9 8940HX uses a dual-channel memory bus with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Threadripper PRO 9945WX uses an eight-channel bus with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth. Only the Threadripper supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor delivers better single-thread performance?

A: The Threadripper PRO 9945WX dominates single-thread tests. It scores 687 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 292 for the Ryzen 9, a 57.5% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 6822 versus 1917, a 71.9% lead.

Q: How do the processors compare in overall average benchmark scores?

A: The Ryzen 9 8940HX has an average benchmark score of 81103 and sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs. The Threadripper PRO 9945WX has an average score of 76513, also at the 95th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, produced on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It incorporates 13,140 million transistors across a dual-chip design with each die measuring 71 mm². The Threadripper PRO 9945WX uses the newer Zen 5 architecture with the Shimada Peak codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process, also at TSMC. This chip packs 16,630 million transistors into two dies of 70.6 mm² each.

Cache configurations are nearly identical on paper. Both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. Neither chip includes 3D V-Cache technology. The real architectural separation appears elsewhere.

Memory subsystem differences are stark. The Ryzen 9 8940HX runs a dual-channel DDR5 memory bus delivering 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and it does not support ECC memory. The Threadripper PRO 9945WX operates an eight-channel DDR5 memory bus with 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth, nearly five times the throughput, and it supports ECC memory. That memory bandwidth advantage is central to understanding the Threadripper's workstation positioning.

PCIe connectivity also diverges sharply. The mobile Ryzen 9 exposes 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Threadripper PRO exposes 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The Threadripper also has no integrated graphics, whereas the Ryzen 9 includes a Radeon 610M iGPU. The Ryzen 9 targets the mobile segment on AMD Socket FL1 with a 55 W TDP, while the Threadripper targets server and workstation platforms on AMD Socket sTR5 with a 350 W TDP. Both parts have unlocked multipliers, and both are currently active in production. The Ryzen 9 launched on 2025-04-22, while the Threadripper followed on 2025-06-30.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data tells a story of two very different performance profiles. The Threadripper PRO 9945WX wins 11 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, but the Ryzen 9 8940HX secures four important victories that reveal its strengths.

Starting with the Ryzen 9's wins, the most striking is Cinebench R15 multicore. It scores 5355 against the Threadripper's 4871, a 9.9% advantage despite having fewer physical cores on the Threadripper side. In PassMark data encryption, the Ryzen 9 takes a 7.6% lead with 39318 versus 36540. Floating point math goes to the Ryzen 9 by a slim 2.1% margin (113921 versus 111566), and integer math follows with a 2% edge (189221 versus 185421). These wins suggest the mobile chip's higher core count helps in certain parallel workloads where the Threadripper's lower core count and different scheduling characteristics hold it back.

The Threadripper's victories are more numerous and often much larger. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it posts 48325 versus 32521, a commanding 32.7% lead. Single-core performance is where the Threadripper truly separates itself: a 57.5% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core (687 versus 292) and a 71.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (6822 versus 1917). PassMark single-thread testing shows a 15.3% advantage (4573 versus 3874). Physics testing delivers a 65.6% blowout in favor of the Threadripper (6118 versus 2104). The Threadripper also wins PassMark multithread by 12.5% (56854 versus 49731), extended instructions by 12.1% (54406 versus 47802), random string sorting by 10.8% (84498 versus 75381), find prime numbers by 25.1% (335 versus 251), and data compression by 3.1% (671963 versus 650984).

The single-thread results are particularly noteworthy. A 71.9% gap in Cinebench R23 single-core is enormous, and it points to the Zen 5 architecture's substantial per-core efficiency gains over Zen 4, combined with the Threadripper's much higher base clock of 4.70 GHz versus 2.40 GHz. The Ryzen 9's boost clock of 5.30 GHz is close to the Threadripper's 5.40 GHz, but sustained single-thread performance clearly favors the workstation chip.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a clear split. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the better choice for workloads that favor high core counts with lower power envelopes: it wins Cinebench R15 multicore, data encryption, floating point math, and integer math. Its 16 cores and 32 threads give it a raw parallel advantage in those specific tests, and its 55 W TDP makes it suitable for mobile platforms.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX is the dominant performer overall, winning 11 of 15 comparisons. Its Zen 5 architecture, higher clocks, and massive memory bandwidth (409.6 GB/s over eight channels versus 83.2 GB/s over two channels) produce decisive victories in single-thread and physics-heavy workloads. The 32.7% Cinebench R23 multicore lead, combined with the 65.5% physics advantage, positions it for workstation and server tasks where ECC memory support adds further appeal.

For users needing the Ryzen 2 8940HX, the data suggests prioritizing scenarios where its encryption and math throughput matter more than raw per-core speed. The Threadripper PRO 9945WX, meanwhile, suits environments where the 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and eight-channel memory bandwidth enable heavy data movement and computational density. Both chips sit at the 95th percentile among all CPUs, so neither is a weak performer in absolute terms, the Threadripper simply has a wider performance envelope skewed toward different workload types.

Neither processor has a launch MSRP listed in the database, so the data alone cannot determine price-based decisions. Platform costs, motherboard requirements, and ecosystem factors like socket compatibility remain outside the measured data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Ryzen 9 8940HX uses 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Threadripper PRO 9945WX uses 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz and 4.70 GHz respectively, with boost clocks of 5.30 GHz and 5.40 GHz. TDP ratings are 55 W versus 350 W. Sockets differ: AMD Socket FL1 for the mobile chip, AMD Socket sTR5 for the workstation chip. Architecture generations diverge with Zen 4 (Dragon Range) against Zen 5 (Shimada Peak). Process nodes are 5 nm versus 4 nm, with transistor counts of 13,140 million versus 16,630 million. Die sizes are 2x 71 mm² versus 2x 70.6 mm². Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s versus 409.6 GB/s, and memory channels are dual versus eight. ECC memory support is false for the Ryzen 9 and true for the Threadripper. PCIe lanes are 28 versus 128, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M versus N/A. Market segments are Mobile versus Server/Workstation. Release dates are 2025-04-22 versus 2025-06-30. Part numbers are 100-000001849 versus 100-000000726. Cache configurations are identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. Both use DDR5 memory, both have unlocked multipliers, and both are produced by TSMC.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins in four benchmark categories: Cinebench R15 multicore by 9.9%, PassMark data encryption by 7.6%, PassMark floating point math by 2.1%, and PassMark integer math by 2%. These wins indicate strengths in encryption workloads, math-heavy parallel processing, and specific multicore rendering tests where its 16 cores outperform the Threadripper's 12 cores. The mobile form factor, with its 55 W TDP and integrated Radeon 610M graphics, makes it suitable for laptop and compact systems that need strong compute without a discrete GPU.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX wins in 11 categories, including Cinebench R23 multicore by 32.7%, Cinebench R15 single-core by 57.5%, Cinebench R23 single-core by 71.9%, PassMark multithread by 12.5%, PassMark physics by 65.6%, PassMark extended instructions by 12.1%, PassMark find prime numbers by 25.1%, PassMark random string sorting by 10.8%, PassMark data compression by 3.1%, and PassMark single-thread by 15.3%. Its advantages are most pronounced in single-thread and physics workloads, where the Zen 5 architecture and high base clock deliver outsized gains. The eight-channel memory bus and 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes make it the clear choice for workstation and server deployments requiring massive bandwidth and expansion capability, plus ECC memory for data integrity. The Threadripper's 350 W TDP reflects its workstation orientation, trading power efficiency for raw performance across a broader range of tasks.