AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 5 223PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a clear division of labor between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 223PE takes 5. The margin of victory, however, tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Starting with the multi-core workloads, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 5355 against Intel's 2666, a delta of 100.9%. That is more than double the Intel part's output. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a narrower but still decisive gap: 32521 versus 26455, a 22.9% advantage for AMD. The PassMark multi-thread test reinforces this pattern, with AMD at 49731 and Intel at 31124, a 59.8% lead.

The AMD part also wins every PassMark computational workload except physics. Data compression shows 650984 versus 346623, a 87.8% delta. Data encryption is even more lopsided: 39318 versus 18448, a 113.1% advantage. Extended instructions deliver 47802 against 24672, a 93.8% margin. Integer math lands at 189221 versus 99819, a 89.6% difference. Floating-point math produces 113921 against 76468, a 49% lead. Prime number finding shows 251 versus 159, a 57.9% delta. Random string sorting rounds out the AMD sweep with 75381 versus 35798, a 110.6% gap.

The Intel Core 5 223PE counters in single-threaded and latency-sensitive tests. Cinebench R15 single-core shows Intel at 376 versus AMD's 292, a 22.3% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest Intel win: 3734 versus 1917, a 48.7% delta. PassMark single-thread shows 4219 versus 3874, an 8.2% edge. PassMark physics delivers 2493 versus 2104, a 15.6% advantage. These five wins are consistent: Intel's microarchitecture extracts more performance per clock in lightly threaded scenarios.

The average benchmark scores place the AMD at 81103 with a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The Intel sits at 40585 with an 87th percentile. The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81115 and the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81127, both with 0% delta, plus the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 at 80762 with 0.4% delta. The Intel's nearest rivals are the Intel Core 7 253PE at 40557 with 0.1% delta, the Intel Xeon 6357P at 40630 with -0.1% delta, and the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H at 40518 with 0.2% delta. Both processors sit within a tight cluster of comparable chips in their respective performance tiers.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that these two processors serve fundamentally different primary workloads. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX with 16 cores and 32 threads delivers consistently higher throughput in every heavy compute test that scales with core count. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core result at 100.9% ahead of the Intel part is the standout figure, but the 113.1% encryption lead and the 110.6% sorting lead confirm that parallel workloads are its domain.

The Intel Core 5 223PE with 8 cores and 16 threads wins every single-threaded comparison in the recorded data. The Cinebench R23 single-core delta of 48.7% is substantial, and the PassMark single-thread lead of 8.2% holds across both recorded variants of that test. The physics result at 15.6% ahead also points to workloads that favor higher per-core performance over raw parallelism.

For buyers whose applications are multi-threaded renderers, compressors, encryptors, or number crunchers, the data points squarely at the AMD. For workloads that are latency-bound or rely on a few fast cores, the Intel part shows a measurable advantage. The overall percentile rankings place the AMD in the 95th percentile versus the Intel's 87th, but that gap reflects the average benchmark score, which is heavily weighted by the multi-core tests where AMD leads by large margins. The Intel part is not a poor performer; it simply competes in a different performance envelope.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on the Dragon Range codename, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The transistor count is listed at 13,140 million across a die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core 5 223PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel. The database does not record a transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ notably. The AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD's larger L3 pool likely contributes to its multi-threaded performance, while the Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 align with its single-thread strengths.

Memory support splits as well. The AMD supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with a slightly higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel also supports ECC memory, while the AMD does not.

PCIe lanes differ: the AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 CPU-only lanes, the Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes. The integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on the AMD and UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel. The AMD uses the AMD Socket FL1, the Intel uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel does not. The AMD is classified as a mobile segment part, the Intel as desktop. The AMD's release date is recorded as 2025-04-22, the Intel's as 2026-03-08. The Intel lists a launch MSRP of $232; the AMD has no recorded launch MSRP.

The process node difference is significant: 5 nm versus 10 nm. The AMD's smaller process node with a higher transistor count (13,140 million versus no recorded figure for Intel) helps explain its ability to pack 16 cores while maintaining a 55 W TDP. The Intel runs at a 65 W TDP despite having half the cores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds?

A: The AMD has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Intel has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 223PE wins all recorded single-threaded benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3734 versus 1917, a 48.7% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4219 versus 3874, an 8.2% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins all recorded multi-threaded benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 32521 versus 26455, a 22.9% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 5355 versus 2666, a 100.9% advantage.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD supports DDR5 only. The Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Intel has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, the AMD 83.2 GB/s.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The AMD is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins in every test that scales with core count and parallel execution. Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core, PassMark multi-thread, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, and random string sorting all favor the AMD. The largest margins appear in data encryption at 113.1% and random string sorting at 110.6%, which indicates workloads that benefit from the 16-core, 32-thread configuration. The 64 MB L3 cache and the 5 nm process with 13,140 million transistors provide the structural basis for these results.

The Intel Core 5 223PE wins in single-threaded and physics-bound tests. Cinebench R15 single-core at 22.3% ahead, Cinebench R23 single-core at 48.7% ahead, PassMark single-thread at 8.2% ahead, and PassMark physics at 15.6% ahead are its recorded victories. The larger per-core L1 cache at 80 KB and per-core L2 cache at 2 MB, combined with the higher base clock of 2.90 GHz, support these results. The physics test result is notable because it is not strictly a single-thread test, yet the Intel still manages a 15.6% lead.

The socket and market segment differences reinforce the use-case split. The AMD is a mobile part on AMD Socket FL1 with a 55 W TDP, which suits high-core-count laptops and mobile workstations. The Intel is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700 with a 65 W TDP, which suits desktop builds where single-threaded responsiveness matters more than parallel throughput. The Intel's ECC memory support further positions it for reliability-focused desktop workloads, while the AMD's unlocked multiplier targets overclocking scenarios.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX | Intel Core 5 223PE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 8 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.30 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not recorded |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 2x 71 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2025-04-22 | 2026-03-08 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $232 |