AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 5 211E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 211E has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two?

A: The AMD processor has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Intel processor has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz but a lower boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 5 211E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX records an average benchmark score of 81103, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 211E scores 37829 on average, placing it in the 86th percentile.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX delivers 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core 5 211E delivers 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a 64 MB L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core 5 211E has a 20 MB shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is built on TSMC's 5 nm process using the Zen 4 architecture. It uses the Dragon Range codename and belongs to the 8000 series. This is a mobile processor with a chiplet design: the die size is listed as 2x 71 mm², containing 13,140 million transistors. The Intel Core 5 211E, in contrast, uses Intel's 10 nm process, with the Bartlett Lake codename and a monolithic die of 257 mm². The transistor count for the Intel part is not recorded.

The AMD chip has 16 cores and 32 threads, with a 64 KB L1 cache per core and 1 MB L2 cache per core. Its L3 cache totals 64 MB. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a larger 80 KB L1 cache per core and 2 MB L2 cache per core, but a smaller 20 MB shared L3 cache. These cache configurations reflect different design priorities: AMD leans on a large pooled L3 for multi-threaded workloads, while Intel provides more private cache per core.

Memory support differs substantially. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, dual-channel, with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel, with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip also enables ECC memory, which the AMD chip does not. For PCIe, the AMD processor exposes Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while the Intel processor offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Radeon 610M. The Intel Core 5 211E uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is possible. The Intel part has a locked multiplier. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD chip is classified as a mobile part, while the Intel chip is a desktop part.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clear separation in workload types. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 12 of the 15 head-to-head tests, with decisive margins in heavily threaded and math-intensive tasks. The Intel Core 5 211E wins only 3 tests, all in single-threaded or lightly threaded scenarios.

The AMD chip dominates multi-core rendering. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 32521 versus 20389 for the Intel part. That is a 59.5% lead. The gap is even larger in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the AMD processor scores 5355 against 2055, a 160.6% advantage. This makes the AMD chip the clear choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, batch processing, and any workload that scales across many cores.

The AMD chip also wins every PassMark multithreaded category. Data compression shows an 87.7% lead. Data encryption is 119.2% ahead. Extended instructions are 121.4% ahead. Integer math is 114.7% ahead. Floating point math is 71.6% ahead. Physics simulation shows a 199.7% lead. The prime number finding test is the largest margin at 483.7%. Random string sorting is 119.7% ahead. The multithread score itself is 108.7% higher.

The Intel Core 5 211E wins in Cinebench R23 singlecore, scoring 2878 versus 1917, a 33.4% advantage. It also wins the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 4006 versus 3874, a 3.3% lead. The Cinebench R15 singlecore result is essentially a tie, with the AMD chip winning by just 1%.

For tasks like spreadsheet work, web browsing, or single-threaded application logic, the Intel chip holds an edge. For any parallel workload, the AMD chip is the stronger performer. The data indicates that the AMD processor is built for throughput, while the Intel processor has a small but real advantage in latency-sensitive single-core tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores versus 10 cores for the Intel Core 5 211E. Thread counts are 32 versus 16. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for AMD and 2.70 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.30 GHz for AMD and 4.90 GHz for Intel. The TDP is 55 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel.

Cache structures diverge significantly. L1 cache is 64 KB per core on AMD and 80 KB per core on Intel. L2 cache is 1 MB per core on AMD and 2 MB per core on Intel. L3 cache is 64 MB on AMD and 20 MB shared on Intel. The L3 difference is the most impactful, as the AMD chip has more than triple the shared cache.

Memory support: AMD uses DDR5 only, Intel uses DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD, 76.8 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is supported only on Intel. PCIe lanes are 28 on AMD, 16 on Intel, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on AMD and UHD Graphics 730 on Intel. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. Sockets are AMD Socket FL1 versus Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part is mobile; the Intel part is desktop.

Process node and die size differ: AMD uses 5 nm from TSMC with a 2x 71 mm² die, Intel uses 10 nm with a 257 mm² die. Transistor count is recorded only for AMD at 13,140 million. The release dates also differ: the AMD processor launched on 2025-04-22, while the Intel processor launched on 2025-01-12.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single benchmark win for the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is in PassMark find prime numbers. The AMD chip scores 251, while the Intel chip scores 43. That is a 483.7% delta, meaning the AMD part completes the task more than five times faster. This result is indicative of raw integer throughput and efficient branch handling across many cores.

Physics simulation follows closely. The AMD chip scores 2104 versus 702, a 199.7% lead. This test is often used to represent gaming physics or rigid body calculations, and the AMD processor's 16 cores provide a substantial advantage.

Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 160.6% win for AMD, with scores of 5355 versus 2055. This is a classic CPU rendering test, and the margin reflects the core count difference. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD chip scores 32521 versus 20389, a 59.5% lead. The smaller margin in R23 compared to R15 suggests the Intel chip scales better in the newer test, but it still loses decisively.

Data encryption and extended instructions both show large AMD wins. Encryption scores 39318 versus 17938, a 119.2% lead. Extended instructions score 47802 versus 21592, a 121.4% lead. Random string sorting shows a 119.7% lead, with scores of 75381 versus 34308. Integer math is 189221 versus 88117, a 114.7% lead. The multithread score is 49731 versus 23833, a 108.7% lead.

The AMD chip also wins data compression with a 87.7% lead, scoring 650984 versus 346757. Floating point math is 113921 versus 66402, a 71.6% lead.

The Intel Core 5 211E takes the single-core wins. Cinebench R23 singlecore is its best result, scoring 2878 versus 1917, a 33.4% lead. PassMark single-thread shows a smaller 3.3% lead, with scores of 4006 versus 3874. The Cinebench R15 singlecore test is nearly even, with the AMD chip winning by a marginal 1%, scoring 292 versus 289.

Across all 15 head-to-head tests, the AMD processor wins 12 and the Intel processor wins 3. The AMD wins are generally large, often exceeding 100% margins. The Intel wins are either moderate (33.4%) or small (3.3%). The overall result is a processor that is far more capable in parallel workloads, with only a narrow single-threaded edge for the competitor.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the dominant processor in this comparison for almost every measured workload. It holds a 95th percentile ranking versus the Intel Core 5 211E's 86th percentile. The average benchmark score of 81103 for the AMD part is more than double the Intel part's 37829. The closest rivals to the AMD chip are the Intel Xeon w5-3535X and Intel Core i9-14900KS, both with average scores around 81115 and 81127, essentially matching the AMD chip. The Intel Core 5 211E sits in a different performance class, with rivals like the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 around the 37800 to 37900 mark.

For users running rendering, compilation, data processing, or any multi-threaded application, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the clear selection. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 64 MB L3 cache, deliver margins of 59.5% to 483.7% over the Intel part in those tests. The AMD chip also offers more PCIe lanes, higher memory bandwidth, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

The Intel Core 5 211E is the better choice only for workloads that rely heavily on a single core. Its Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 2878 is 33.4% higher than the AMD part. It also supports ECC memory, which the AMD chip does not. For embedded or desktop applications where ECC is required and single-threaded performance is the priority, the Intel part has a valid niche. The Intel chip also supports DDR4, which can be a practical advantage in systems with existing DDR4 memory.

The data does not support the Intel chip as a general-purpose alternative. The AMD processor wins the multithread, physics, integer math, floating point math, encryption, compression, and sorting tests by wide margins. The only tests the Intel chip wins are the two single-thread tests and the single-core rendering test. The Intel chip's higher base clock of 2.70 GHz and lower boost clock of 4.90 GHz do not compensate for the core count difference.

The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 5 211E is $221, recorded in the database. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has no recorded launch MSRP. The production status for both is listed as Active. The AMD part is a mobile processor, while the Intel part is a desktop processor, so the socket and platform differences are expected. The final choice depends on whether the workload is parallel or single-threaded. For parallel work, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the stronger part by every measured metric. For single-threaded work with ECC support, the Intel Core 5 211E holds a specific, narrow advantage.