AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a strikingly one-sided comparison. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark tests, with the Intel Core 5 330 taking only 2. The margin of victory in the AMD-favored tests is often enormous, particularly in multi-threaded workloads.

The largest single gap appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 189,221 against the Intel Core 5 330's 33,258. That is a delta of 468.9%, meaning the AMD part delivers roughly 4.7 times the integer throughput in this specific test. Data compression shows a similarly dramatic divide: the AMD chip scores 650,984 versus 145,287, a 348.1% advantage. Random string sorting also heavily favors AMD, with a 324.2% delta (75,381 versus 17,771).

Cinebench multi-core results reinforce the pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX posts 5,355 points against 1,325 for the Intel Core 5 330, a 304.2% difference. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows a 147.3% delta, with scores of 32,521 and 13,150 respectively. Extended instructions, encryption, and multithread tests all show AMD leading by triple-digit percentages: 273.2%, 255%, and 221.4% respectively.

The Intel Core 5 330 does claim two wins, both in single-threaded PassMark tests. The PassMark single-thread score for Intel is 4,088 versus 3,874 for AMD, a delta of -5.2% when viewed from the AMD side. This indicates Intel holds a modest but real advantage in lightly threaded, single-core PassMark workloads. The Cinebench R23 single-core test, however, tells a slightly different story: AMD wins that one with 1,917 versus 1,856, a 3.3% margin. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD also leads with 292 versus 186, a 57% advantage. The PassMark physics test also goes to AMD, with 2,104 versus 1,201, a 75.2% delta.

The overall benchmark averages place these processors in different competitive tiers. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 81,103. The Intel Core 5 330 lands at the 72nd percentile, with an average score of 18,345. That is a fourfold difference in aggregate performance. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X (average score 81,115, delta 0%), Intel Core i9-14900KS (81,127, delta 0%), AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 (80,762, delta 0.4%), and Intel Xeon 638 (80,723, delta 0.5%). For Intel, the closest comparisons are the Core i3-14100 (18,318, delta 0.1%), Core 7 360 (18,374, delta -0.2%), Core i3-13100 (18,380, delta -0.2%), and Core 3 305 (18,302, delta 0.2%). The data suggests the Intel Core 5 330 competes in the same performance class as Intel's i3 parts, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX sits near top-tier desktop and workstation silicon.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. 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 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, fabricated on Intel's 3 nm node. The transistor counts differ sharply: AMD lists 13,140 million transistors across a die size of 2x 71 mm², while Intel's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts diverge significantly. The AMD part offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel part provides 6 cores and 6 threads. That means AMD has no simultaneous multithreading omitted, whereas Intel's 6 cores do not support extra threads. The cache hierarchy reflects these differences. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. Intel specifies a total L1 of 192 KB, L2 of 2.5 MB, and L3 of 6 MB shared. The L3 discrepancy alone is substantial: 64 MB versus 6 MB.

Memory support also separates the two. The AMD chip uses DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus and a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but uses a single-channel bus, with bandwidth listed at 59.7 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory according to the database. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU-only lanes, while Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU-only lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX includes Radeon 610M graphics. The Intel Core 5 330 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Clock speeds show expected patterns: AMD's base clock is 2.40 GHz with a boost of 5.30 GHz, while Intel's base is 1.50 GHz with a boost of 4.60 GHz. The TDP values are far apart: 55 W for AMD versus 15 W for Intel. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel part does not. Sockets also differ: AMD uses Socket FL1, Intel uses BGA 1516. Release dates in the database show AMD launching in April 2025 and Intel in April 2026. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $309, while AMD's launch MSRP is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 330 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-thread and PassMark singlethread tests, scoring 4,088 versus 3,874 for AMD, a -5.2% delta. It loses all other recorded head-to-head tests.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest recorded gap is in PassMark integer math, where AMD leads by 468.9% with a score of 189,221 versus 33,258.

Q: How do their memory systems compare?

A: AMD uses a dual-channel DDR5 bus with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. Intel uses a single-channel bus supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X, with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX boosts to 5.30 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: Yes, both are listed as Active in the database. AMD's release date is 2025-04-22, and Intel's is 2026-04-15.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads, with 13 wins out of 15 head-to-head tests. Its average benchmark score of 81,103 places it at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, near the level of the Intel Xeon w5-3535X and Core i9-14900KS. The Intel Core 5 330, with an average score of 18,345 and 72nd percentile placement, aligns with Intel's Core i3 series in the database's nearest rival list.

The AMD chip's advantages in Cinebench R23 multi-core (32,521 versus 13,150) and PassMark multithread (49,731 versus 15,471) indicate a processor built for sustained parallel throughput. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration with 64 MB of L3 cache and a dual-channel memory bus supports that interpretation. The Intel part, with 6 cores and 6 threads, a 6 MB L3 cache, and a single-channel memory bus, appears oriented toward lower-power, lighter workloads. Its 15 W TDP versus AMD's 55 W TDP reinforces that positioning.

The single-threaded PassMark win for Intel (4,088 versus 3,874) shows that the Core 5 330 can hold its own in lightly threaded scenarios. However, the Cinebench R23 single-core test goes the other way, with AMD ahead by 3.3%. This mixed result suggests that the Intel part's single-thread advantage is not consistent across all test methodologies.

For users prioritizing raw multi-core performance, compression, encryption, or physics calculations, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the clear choice based on the recorded deltas. For users who value lower power consumption (15 W versus 55 W) and see occasional single-thread PassMark wins as relevant, the Intel Core 5 330 offers a more power-efficient alternative with a launch MSRP of $309. The data does not support any scenario where the Intel part outperforms AMD in heavy parallel workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX | Intel Core 5 330 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 6 |

| Base clock | 2.40 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.30 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not recorded |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Wildcat Lake |

| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | Not recorded |

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

| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (total) |

| 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) |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2025-04-22 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $309 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins decisively in every multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 304.2% lead, Cinebench R23 multi-core a 147.3% lead, and PassMark multithread a 221.4% lead. Data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, physics, and random string sorting all go to AMD with deltas ranging from 75.2% to 468.9%. This processor is the choice for tasks that scale with core count and cache size: video rendering, scientific simulation, data processing, and any workload that can utilize 16 cores and 32 threads.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins only the PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, with a 5.2% margin over AMD. That narrow edge in a single benchmark category does not translate into a Cinebench single-core victory, where AMD leads by 3.3% in R23 and 57% in R15. The Intel part's advantages lie outside raw benchmark scores: a 15 W TDP versus 55 W, a 3 nm process, and support for LPDDR5X memory. The database shows no other benchmark wins for Intel. For workloads that are purely single-threaded and measured by PassMark, the Intel chip has the edge. For everything else in the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates.