AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 7 350 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and Intel Core 7 350 occupy opposite ends of the mobile performance spectrum, and the recorded benchmark data reflects that divide clearly. The Ryzen 9 8940HX, a 16-core Zen 4 Dragon Range part, dominates multi-threaded workloads with a 95th percentile ranking across all CPUs. The Intel Core 7 350, a 6-core Wildcat Lake chip, counters with a single-thread edge and a much lower 71st percentile standing. This comparison is not about close margins; it is about two very different design philosophies.

Where Each One Wins

The data splits the two processors by workload type with almost no overlap. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 12 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, and every one of those victories comes in a multi-threaded or throughput-oriented test. The Intel Core 7 350 wins only 3 benchmarks, all of which are single-threaded tests: Cinebench R23 single-core, Passmark single-thread, and Passmark singlethread (which are the same metric recorded twice).

For rendering, video encoding, data compression, encryption, and any heavily parallel task, the Ryzen 9 8940HX is the clear choice. Its 16 cores and 32 threads provide a 305% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 338.9% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The Passmark integer math test shows the largest gap, with the AMD part scoring 460.9% higher. The Core 7 350, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, cannot compete in these scenarios; its wins are confined to workloads that rely on a single core's efficiency.

The Intel chip's single-thread performance is its only meaningful strength. It leads by 6.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core and by 5.5% in Passmark single-thread. This suggests that for older applications, lightly-threaded software, or tasks with strict single-core dependencies, the Core 7 350 may feel snappier. However, the Ryzen 9 8940HX's single-core scores are not far behind, and its overall average benchmark score of 81,103 dwarfs the Intel part's 17,779.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD part also has a higher base clock (2.40 GHz vs 1.50 GHz) and a higher boost clock (5.30 GHz vs 4.80 GHz).

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The Passmark integer math test shows the biggest difference, with the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX scoring 189,221 versus 33,734 for the Intel Core 7 350, a delta of 460.9%.

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 350 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins three single-threaded tests: Cinebench R23 single-core (2046 vs 1917, a 6.3% lead), Passmark single-thread (4100 vs 3874, a 5.5% lead), and the duplicate Passmark singlethread test.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX supports dual-channel DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but uses a single-channel bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher process node?

A: The Intel Core 7 350 uses a 3 nm process from Intel. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses a 5 nm process from TSMC.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel Core 7 350 has a TDP of 15 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The multi-core results are one-sided. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 32,521 against the Core 7 350's 8,030, a 305% advantage. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar pattern: 5,355 versus 1,220, a 338.9% lead. The Passmark multithread test confirms the trend with a score of 49,731 for the AMD part versus 15,170 for Intel, a 227.8% difference.

Data-heavy workloads amplify the gap further. Passmark data compression shows the AMD part at 650,984 versus 143,123, a 354.8% lead. Passmark data encryption shows 39,318 versus 10,933, a 259.6% difference. Extended instruction throughput follows with 47,802 versus 12,045, a 296.9% gap. Random string sorting delivers a 337.3% advantage (75,381 vs 17,238). Floating-point math is 166.1% higher on the AMD side (113,921 vs 42,809), and prime number finding is 134.6% higher (251 vs 107). Physics simulation shows a smaller but still substantial 79.4% lead (2,104 vs 1,173).

The single-core results tell a different story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core 7 350 scores 2,046 versus 1,917 for the AMD part, a 6.3% win. Passmark single-thread shows 4,100 versus 3,874, a 5.5% lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core test is a tie at 292 points each, listed as a win for the AMD part due to the tie-break rule in the data, but the delta is 0%.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall dominance: the Ryzen 9 8940HX averages 81,103 across all tests, while the Core 7 350 averages 17,779. The AMD part sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the Intel part's 71st percentile.

Specification Differences

The core configuration is the most fundamental difference. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 7 350 offers 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning the Intel part has no hyperthreading. Clock speeds favor the AMD part: a 2.40 GHz base clock and 5.30 GHz boost versus a 1.50 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost.

Memory support differs significantly. The AMD part uses dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only through a single-channel bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also diverges: the Ryzen 9 8940HX supports Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while the Core 7 350 supports Gen 4 with only 6 CPU lanes.

The TDP ratings are widely separated, with the AMD part rated at 55 watts and the Intel part at 15 watts. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, whereas the Intel multiplier is locked. The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD part uses Radeon 610M, and the Intel part uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $469; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and fabs. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is built on Zen 4, codenamed Dragon Range, using a 5 nm process from TSMC. It packs 13,140 million transistors across a die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core 7 350 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process from Intel, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and a much smaller 6 MB shared L3 cache. Despite the Intel part's larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations, the total L3 cache is over 10 times larger on the AMD side.

The memory controller layout reinforces the architecture gap. AMD's dual-channel design with higher bandwidth supports its multi-core ambition. Intel's single-channel bus, paired with a lower TDP, positions the Core 7 350 as an efficiency-focused part. The socket types differ as well: AMD Socket FL1 for the Ryzen part, Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 7 350. Neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear use-case separation. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is designed for sustained multi-threaded performance. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, and dual-channel memory deliver massive leads in every parallel benchmark. The 305% Cinebench R23 multi-core advantage and the 460.9% integer math lead make it the obvious choice for CPU-heavy rendering, compilation, data processing, or scientific workloads. Its 95th percentile ranking confirms that it competes near the top of the entire CPU database.

The Intel Core 7 350 is a different kind of processor. Its 6 cores and 6 threads with a 15-watt TDP suggest a design focused on power efficiency and light workloads. The single-thread wins, 6.3% in Cinebench R23 and 5.5% in Passmark, show that it has a slight edge in latency-sensitive, single-core tasks. However, the overall average score of 17,779 places it far below the AMD part, and its 71st percentile rank puts it in the mid-range of the database.

The tie in Cinebench R15 single-core at 292 points each is the only neutral result. Every other multi-core or throughput test goes decisively to AMD. Buyers who need maximum throughput should choose the Ryzen 9 8940HX. Users who prioritize low power draw and can live with limited multi-threading should consider the Core 7 350, but the data shows no scenario where the Intel part wins a performance crown outside of single-threaded tasks.