AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

This comparison places two very different mobile processors side by side: the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and the Intel Core 5 315. The recorded data shows a clear split in their intended workloads, with one designed for maximum throughput and the other for efficiency in constrained environments.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates the benchmark suite in nearly every category, taking 13 of the 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons. This is a processor built for heavy, sustained workloads. Its wins are concentrated in multi-threaded applications, content creation, and data processing tasks. The Intel Core 5 315, by contrast, secures only two wins, both in single-threaded PassMark tests, indicating its strength lies in lightweight, responsive tasks where power draw is a primary concern.

The AMD chip’s wins span the entire productivity spectrum. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 32521 against the Intel’s 12981, a 150.5% advantage. Data compression results are even more lopsided: 650984 versus 146143, a 345.4% delta. Encryption workloads show a 253.6% lead for AMD. These are not marginal differences; they represent a different performance class entirely.

The Intel Core 5 315 wins only the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 4021 against the AMD’s 3874, a 3.7% margin. This is a narrow victory, but it indicates that for single-threaded, short-burst tasks, the Intel part can hold its own. The data suggests the Intel chip is competitive in scenarios where only one or two cores are active and power limits are strict.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is a 16-core, 32-thread beast built on the Zen 4 architecture, specifically the Dragon Range codename, using a 5 nm process from TSMC. It uses a dual-chiplet design with a die size of 2x 71 mm² and a transistor count of 13,140 million. This is a high-core-count part designed to fill a larger power envelope.

The Intel Core 5 315 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor, meaning it has no hyper-threading. It is built on the Wildcat Lake codename using Intel’s 3 nm process node. The cache configuration differs substantially: the AMD part has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel part has only 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip also offers 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, whereas the Intel chip has a total of 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD processor supports DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but only in a single-channel configuration, with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. PCIe capabilities differ as well: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while Intel provides Gen 4 with only 6 lanes.

The integrated graphics are different too. AMD includes a Radeon 610M, while Intel includes Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip does not. The AMD part also has a much higher TDP rating of 55 watts versus the Intel’s 15 watts. The Intel Core 5 315 has a launch MSRP of $340. The AMD part’s launch MSRP is not recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results show a consistent and often massive AMD advantage. The largest single delta is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 189221 versus the Intel Core 5 315’s 31690, a 497.1% difference. This is the clearest indicator of the gulf in raw compute throughput between these two parts.

Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 309.4% lead for AMD, with scores of 5355 against 1308. The R23 multicore test shows a 150.5% lead, with scores of 32521 against 12981. PassMark floating point math shows a 168.4% lead, with scores of 113921 against 42441. Extended instructions tests show a 263.7% lead, with scores of 47802 against 13143.

Random string sorting, a test sensitive to memory bandwidth and cache, shows a 329.5% lead for AMD, with scores of 75381 against 17551. Data encryption shows a 253.6% lead, with scores of 39318 against 11119. PassMark multithread shows a 225.6% lead, with scores of 49731 against 15272.

The physics test shows a smaller but still substantial lead of 80.9%, with scores of 2104 against 1163. Prime number finding shows a 124.1% lead, with scores of 251 against 112. The only Intel victories are in the PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, which are essentially the same test recorded twice, with scores of 4021 against 3874, a 3.7% margin.

Single-core Cinebench tests are much closer. In R23 single-core, AMD scores 1917 against Intel’s 1832, a 4.6% lead. In R15 single-core, AMD scores 292 against Intel’s 184, a 58.7% lead. These results indicate that while Intel has a slight edge in one specific PassMark metric, AMD remains competitive or ahead in the Cinebench single-core tests.

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward choice based on workload. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the clear pick for any task that can use multiple cores. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel memory, deliver benchmark scores that are often two to five times higher than the Intel Core 5 315. This is the processor for rendering, compiling, data processing, and any professional workload that scales with core count.

The Intel Core 5 315 is a different category of product. Its 15-watt TDP and single-channel memory point to a design focused on battery life and thermal efficiency in thin-and-light systems. Its single-thread PassMark win, while narrow, suggests it can handle everyday responsive tasks adequately. The data does not support using this chip for heavy multi-threaded work; its 6-core, 6-thread configuration and 6 MB cache simply cannot compete.

The percentile data reinforces this split. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 81103. The Intel Core 5 315 sits at the 72nd percentile, with an average benchmark score of 18188. The AMD part’s closest rivals, according to the database, are the Intel Xeon w5-3535X, Intel Core i9-14900KS, AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395, and Intel Xeon 638, all within 0.5% of its score. The Intel Core 5 315’s closest rivals are the AMD EPYC 9274F, Intel Core i7-9700, Intel Core i7-1365U, and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, all within 0.1% of its score.

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 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a TDP of 55 watts, and the Intel Core 5 315 has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher PassMark single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 scores 4021, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 3874, giving Intel a 3.7% advantage.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core 5 315 has a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor supports more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX supports Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while the Intel Core 5 315 supports Gen 4 with 6 lanes.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show a clear divide between these two mobile processors.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX | Intel Core 5 315 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.30 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 15 W |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes | Gen 4, 6 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $340 |