AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX across all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 3 201E does not secure a single victory in any measured test. However, the magnitude of the AMD advantage varies dramatically by workload type, which matters for interpreting these results.

The largest deltas appear in heavily parallel workloads. Data encryption shows a 340.2% advantage for the AMD part, prime number finding shows 340.4%, and extended instruction tests show 333.2%. These are workloads that scale with core count and thread count, where the AMD processor's 16 cores and 32 threads simply overwhelm the Intel part's 4 cores and 8 threads. The multithread PassMark score reflects this pattern with a 235.1% delta.

The smallest advantages appear in single-threaded tests. PassMark single-thread shows only an 11.3% delta, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows just 7.7%. These gaps are more modest, indicating that the Intel Core 3 201E is reasonably competitive on a per-thread basis. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz help narrow the single-core gap, though the AMD part still leads with a 5.30 GHz boost clock.

Physics simulation, which often depends on both core count and per-core efficiency, shows an 84.4% delta. Floating-point math shows a 242.5% delta, while integer math shows 331.1%. Data compression shows a 296.6% delta, and random string sorting shows a 323.9% delta. The pattern is consistent: the AMD processor wins everywhere, but the margin is workload-dependent.

The average benchmark score in the database places the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX at 81103, compared to 19056 for the Intel Core 3 201E. The AMD part sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part sits in the 73rd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry.

The AMD part is a 16-core, 32-thread processor with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Intel part is a 4-core, 8-thread processor with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The AMD processor has a 55 W TDP, while the Intel processor has a 60 W TDP. The higher base clock on the Intel part helps it in lightly threaded workloads, but the core count disparity dominates in threaded applications.

Cache organization differs substantially. The AMD processor provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel processor provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD L3 cache is more than five times larger in absolute terms, which benefits workloads with large working sets.

Memory support also differs. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD processor records 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel processor records 76.8 GB/s. The AMD part does not support ECC memory, while the Intel part does.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD processor provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part has more available PCIe lanes for expansion.

Integrated graphics differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Radeon 610M, while the Intel Core 3 201E uses UHD Graphics 730. The market segments differ: the AMD part is classified as mobile, while the Intel part is classified as desktop. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel processor does not. The AMD part is fabricated at TSMC with 13,140 million transistors across a 2x 71 mm² die configuration. The Intel part uses a single 163 mm² die with no transistor count recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 201E has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not.

Q: What is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX leads by 11.3% in PassMark single-thread and by 7.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: What is the multithread performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX leads by 235.1% in PassMark multithread and by 157.8% in Cinebench R23 multicore.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 3 201E uses 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for AMD and 3.60 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.30 GHz for AMD and 4.80 GHz for Intel. TDP is 55 W for AMD and 60 W for Intel.

The AMD part uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename. The Intel part uses the Bartlett Lake codename. Process nodes are 5 nm at TSMC for AMD and 10 nm at Intel for the Intel part. The AMD processor has 13,140 million transistors across a 2x 71 mm² die. The Intel processor has a 163 mm² die with no transistor count recorded. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700.

Cache layouts differ. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3.

Memory support differs. The AMD part supports DDR5 only with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. ECC support is absent on the AMD part and present on the Intel part. PCIe lanes are 28 for AMD and 16 for Intel, both Gen 5. The AMD integrated graphics is Radeon 610M, while the Intel integrated graphics is UHD Graphics 730.

The market segment differs: mobile for AMD, desktop for Intel. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, while the Intel multiplier is locked. The AMD part number is 100-000001849, and the Intel part number is SRVTR. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $134. The AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX scoring 5355 against 1271 for the Intel Core 3 201E, a 321.3% delta. This is one of the largest margins in the dataset. The single-core version of the same test shows 292 versus 179, a 63.1% delta.

Cinebench R23 multicore shows 32521 for AMD versus 12613 for Intel, a 157.8% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1917 versus 1780, a 7.7% delta. This single-core result is the closest margin of any recorded comparison, indicating that the Intel part is not far behind when only one thread is active.

PassMark data compression shows 650984 versus 164160, a 296.6% delta. Data encryption shows 39318 versus 8931, a 340.2% delta. Extended instructions show 47802 versus 11035, a 333.2% delta. Prime number finding shows 251 versus 57, a 340.4% delta. Floating-point math shows 113921 versus 33260, a 242.5% delta. Integer math shows 189221 versus 43894, a 331.1% delta.

PassMark multithread shows 49731 versus 14839, a 235.1% delta. Physics shows 2104 versus 1141, an 84.4% delta. Random string sorting shows 75381 versus 17783, a 323.9% delta. PassMark single-thread shows 3874 versus 3482, an 11.3% delta.

The data confirms that the AMD processor wins every recorded benchmark. The margins cluster into three groups: single-thread tests with single-digit to low-double-digit deltas, physics and floating-point tests with moderate deltas, and heavily parallel integer, encryption, and sorting tests with deltas above 300%.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear separation between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins every benchmark in the database, with the average benchmark score of 81103 placing it at the 95th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81115, the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81127, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 at 80762, and the Intel Xeon 638 at 80723. These deltas are all within 0.5%, meaning the AMD part competes at the top tier of desktop and workstation processors despite being classified as a mobile part.

The Intel Core 3 201E, with an average benchmark score of 19056, sits at the 73rd percentile. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at 19047, the Intel Core i5-12400F at 19039, the Intel Core i5-1335U at 18982, and the AMD EPYC 7773X at 18979. These are mainstream processors, and the Intel part performs at that level.

The selection between these two depends on workload requirements. For heavily threaded rendering, compilation, encryption, or data processing, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX delivers between 157.8% and 340.4% higher scores across multithreaded tests. For single-threaded responsiveness, the AMD part still leads, but the margin narrows to 7.7% to 11.3%. The Intel part offers ECC memory support, DDR4 compatibility, and a desktop socket, which may matter for specific system configurations. The AMD part offers an unlocked multiplier, more PCIe lanes, and a larger L3 cache.

The data does not show any workload category where the Intel Core 3 201E outperforms the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX. The Intel part's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz narrows but does not close the single-thread gap. The 64 MB L3 cache and 16-core configuration of the AMD part provide advantages that no benchmark in the database contradicts.