AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 7 253PQE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and Intel Core 7 253PQE occupy very different positions in the database, with the AMD part ranking in the 95th percentile of all CPUs and the Intel part in the 91st. Their average benchmark scores, 81103 for the AMD and 55919 for the Intel, show a significant gap. The head-to-head results confirm this, with the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX winning 10 of the 15 shared tests, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE takes the remaining 5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 5355 against the Intel’s 3163, a 69.3% advantage. This is the most decisive result in the entire comparison. The AMD also dominates in PassMark data encryption, scoring 39318 versus 25515, a 54.1% lead, and in extended instructions, where its 47802 beats the Intel’s 32390 by 47.6%. Integer math shows a 37.3% gap, with the AMD scoring 189221 against 137795.

The AMD’s wins are not limited to compute-heavy loads. In data compression, it scores 650984 compared to the Intel’s 487335, a 33.6% edge. Random string sorting goes to the AMD by 39%, with scores of 75381 and 54222. Prime number finding shows a smaller but clear 21.8% advantage for the AMD, 251 versus 206. Floating point math is closer, with the AMD at 113921 and the Intel at 105279, an 8.2% margin. PassMark multi-thread also favors the AMD, 49731 against 41656, a 19.4% difference.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE counters in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. Its most dramatic win is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 4431 against the AMD’s 1917, a 56.7% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 34.5% advantage for the Intel, 446 versus 292. PassMark single-thread results give the Intel a 11.7% edge, 4389 against 3874. The Intel also wins PassMark physics, scoring 2970 versus 2104, a 29.2% margin. However, the Intel’s only multi-core win is confined to Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 31390 against the AMD’s 32521, meaning the AMD still wins that test by 3.6%.

The pattern is consistent: the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX leads in nearly every parallel or throughput-oriented metric, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE holds a decisive edge in single-core tests. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the closest overall, but the AMD still comes out ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, on a 5 nm process from TSMC. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Intel Core 7 253PQE, by contrast, is based on the Bartlett Lake design on a 10 nm process from Intel Foundry. It has 10 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz.

Cache organization differs sharply. The AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a 64 MB L3 pool. The Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a smaller 33 MB of shared L3. The AMD’s larger L3 cache aligns with its multi-core strengths. The Intel’s higher per-core L1 and L2 allocations align with its single-core performance.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD supports only DDR5, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with a slightly higher bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel additionally supports ECC memory, while the AMD does not. PCIe connectivity favors the AMD, which provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), against the Intel’s Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics units also differ. The AMD uses a Radeon 610M, while the Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD’s socket is AMD Socket FL1, and its multiplier is unlocked. The Intel uses Intel Socket 1700, and its multiplier is locked. The AMD is listed as a mobile segment part, while the Intel is listed as a desktop segment part. The AMD’s TDP is 55 W, versus the Intel’s 125 W, a substantial difference in power envelope. The Intel’s launch MSRP is $409; the AMD has no launch MSRP recorded.

The transistor count and die size are recorded only for the AMD: 13,140 million transistors on a 2x 71 mm² die. The Intel’s transistor count and die size are not listed in the database.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear split between throughput and responsiveness. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX delivers higher scores in 10 of 15 shared benchmarks, including all of the major multi-threaded workloads. Its 69.3% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 54.1% lead in encryption are the largest margins. For workloads that scale with cores and cache, the AMD is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE wins the single-core tests outright. Its 56.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest margin in the entire comparison. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 34.5%, PassMark single-thread by 11.7%, and PassMark physics by 29.2%. For workloads that depend on a single thread or light thread counts, the Intel is clearly ahead.

The average benchmark score reflects the overall balance: the AMD at 81103 versus the Intel at 55919. The AMD’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon w5-3535X and Intel Core i9-14900KS, sit within 0% delta, meaning the AMD is competitive with top-tier desktop and workstation parts. The Intel’s nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i9-14900HX and AMD Ryzen AI Max 390, sit within -0.2% to -1.1%, meaning the Intel is also close to its immediate competitors but from a lower absolute baseline.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX | Intel Core 7 253PQE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 10 |

| Threads | 32 | 20 |

| Base clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.30 GHz | 5.70 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not listed |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | Not listed |

| Die size | 2x 71 mm² | Not listed |

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

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

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 33 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

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

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

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE wins every single-core test in the comparison. It leads by 56.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core, 34.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and 11.7% in PassMark single-thread.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX compare in multi-core tests?

A: The AMD wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 69.3% and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 3.6%. It also wins PassMark multi-thread by 19.4%.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 83.2 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory, but the Intel also supports DDR4 in addition to DDR5.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 7 253PQE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not.

Q: What are the TDP values?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a TDP of 55 W. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has a TDP of 125 W.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the choice for throughput-oriented tasks. Its wins in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, integer math, and random string sorting make it suitable for database operations, file archiving, and parallel processing. The 69.3% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 33.6% lead in data compression indicate strong rendering and compression workloads. The 54.1% encryption advantage suggests a role in security-related processing. Its 64 MB L3 cache and 16-core configuration support these results. The lower 55 W TDP also makes it a more power-efficient option for sustained multi-threaded loads, despite being classified as a mobile part.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE is the choice for single-threaded and latency-sensitive tasks. Its 56.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 34.5% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core point to applications that rely on one or two fast cores. The PassMark physics win, by 29.2%, suggests an advantage in simulation or physics-based workloads. The higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 5.70 GHz support these results. Its support for ECC memory and DDR4 compatibility may matter for specific reliability-focused desktop setups, while its 125 W TDP indicates a higher power draw for that performance.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result, where the AMD wins by only 3.6%, is the closest contest. It shows that the Intel can approach the AMD in some modern multi-core tests, but the AMD still holds the overall multi-thread advantage. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the AMD’s 81103 average is far above the Intel’s 55919. The Intel’s single-core wins do not close that gap. For a balanced workload mix, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX delivers more total performance across the recorded tests, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE is narrowly superior in single-threaded scenarios.