AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 13 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 7 251TE takes only 2 wins, both in Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: How much faster is the AMD chip in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 32,521 versus 25,518 for the Intel Core 7 251TE, a 27.4% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel processor have any single-core advantage?

A: Yes, significantly. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3,602 versus AMD's 1,917, a 46.8% lead. Intel also wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 362 versus 292, a 19.3% margin.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has an average benchmark score of 81,103, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 7 251TE averages 41,650, placing it in the 88th percentile.

Q: How do the two chips compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE supports a higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is rated at 83.2 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not support ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is built on TSMC's 5 nm process using Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename. It integrates 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with a total die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core 7 251TE uses Intel's 10 nm process with the Bartlett Lake codename, featuring a monolithic 215 mm² die. The transistor count for the Intel part is not recorded in the database.

Core configurations differ substantially. The AMD chip packs 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel chip has 24 cores and also 32 threads. Cache layouts diverge: AMD provides 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 64 MB of L3. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 36 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 pool on the AMD side favors workloads that benefit from high-capacity shared cache.

Clock speeds are close at the top end. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Intel part has a lower base clock of 1.40 GHz but a slightly higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel multiplier is locked. TDP ratings differ: AMD is rated at 55 W, Intel at 45 W.

Memory support diverges. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel part also includes ECC memory support. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD chip targets the mobile market segment with an AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel chip is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. Release dates are close: the AMD part launched in the database on 2025-04-22, the Intel part on 2025-01-12.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates the multi-core and throughput-oriented workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 5,355 versus Intel's 2,572, a 108.2% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a narrower but still decisive 27.4% lead for AMD (32,521 vs 25,518). The PassMark multi-thread test confirms the pattern: AMD scores 49,731 versus 30,022, a 65.6% margin.

The largest single-workload gap appears in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD scores 47,802 versus 16,974, an 181.6% lead. Data compression follows closely: AMD's 650,984 versus Intel's 334,399 is a 94.7% difference. Random string sorting favors AMD by 90.1% (75,381 vs 39,643). Data encryption shows a 77.3% AMD advantage (39,318 vs 22,176). Finding prime numbers goes AMD's way by 79.3% (251 vs 140).

Integer math favors AMD by 50.5% (189,221 vs 125,739). Floating-point math shows a 33.1% AMD lead (113,921 vs 85,607). PassMark physics is closer: AMD scores 2,104 versus Intel's 1,938, an 8.6% margin. PassMark single-thread also goes AMD's way by 8.6% (3,874 vs 3,568), which appears twice in the recorded data under two test names.

The Intel Core 7 251TE takes the two Cinebench single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads 3,602 versus 1,917, a 46.8% gap. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads 362 versus 292, a 19.3% margin. These single-core wins are substantial, but they occur in only two of the fifteen recorded benchmarks.

Across the full benchmark set, the AMD processor's average score of 81,103 is roughly double Intel's 41,650. The percentile placement reflects this: AMD sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, Intel at the 88th percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81,115 and the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81,127, both with 0% delta, plus the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 at 80,762 with a 0.4% delta. The Intel Core 7 251TE's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H at 41,621 with a 0.1% delta, the Intel Core i7-14650HX at 41,576 with a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i7-12850HX at 41,779 with a -0.3% delta.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX | Intel Core 7 251TE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 24 |

| Threads | 32 | 32 |

| Base clock | 2.40 GHz | 1.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.30 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 45 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 | 215 mm² |

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

| L2 cache (per core) | 1 MB | 1.25 MB |

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 28 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2025-04-22 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $384 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX leads in 13 of 15 tests, including all PassMark workloads and both Cinebench multi-core tests. Its average benchmark score of 81,103 places it in the 95th percentile, and its nearest rivals are high-end desktop and workstation parts like the Intel Xeon w5-3535X and Intel Core i9-14900KS. The AMD chip's 16 cores and 64 MB of L3 cache deliver multi-threaded throughput that the Intel part cannot match in the recorded data.

The Intel Core 7 251TE has a narrower but real advantage in Cinebench single-core tests. Its 3,602 R23 single-core score and 362 R15 single-core score exceed the AMD chip by 46.8% and 19.3%, respectively. The Intel part also runs at a lower 45 W TDP and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, along with ECC memory, making it a more flexible option for desktop builds that require those features. Its 24 cores provide thread count parity with the AMD chip, but the recorded multi-threaded scores show AMD pulling far ahead.

For workloads dominated by parallel execution, heavy data compression, encryption, or extended instruction sets, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the clear pick from the data. For tasks that depend heavily on single-core Cinebench performance, the Intel Core 7 251TE holds the advantage. The database shows the AMD part performing at nearly double the average benchmark score of the Intel part, which places them in different performance tiers despite their similar thread counts.