AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly by workload type. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX takes 6 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins 9. The AMD part dominates in integer-heavy and compression-oriented tasks, while Intel counters with superior single-thread performance, floating-point throughput, and physics calculations.

For multi-core rendering, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX holds the edge. It beats the Intel chip by 15.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (5355 vs 4640) and by 5.4% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (32521 vs 30867). This pattern extends to integer math, where AMD delivers a 51.3% advantage (189221 vs 125091), and data compression, where AMD leads by 14.5% (650984 vs 568721). Extended instruction workloads also favor AMD, with a 7.3% margin (47802 vs 44565), and random string sorting goes to AMD by 9.1% (75381 vs 69090).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins every single-threaded test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads by 11% (328 vs 292), and in Cinebench R23 single-core, the margin grows to 15.2% (2261 vs 1917). PassMark single-thread shows an 18.6% Intel advantage (4757 vs 3874). The largest Intel win comes in prime number finding, where it scores 486 versus AMD's 251, a 48.4% gap. Floating-point math also heavily favors Intel, with a 30% lead (162692 vs 113921), and physics tests show Intel ahead by 39.8% (3494 vs 2104). Intel also wins data encryption by 6.7% (42144 vs 39318) and the overall PassMark multi-thread score by 3.6% (51596 vs 49731).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses 16 cores with 32 threads, built on Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename. It belongs to the 8000 series and uses a 5 nm process from TSMC. The chip packs 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with a die size of 2x 71 mm². Cache is organized as 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses 18 cores but only 18 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. It belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Arrow Lake Refresh, and uses a more advanced 3 nm TSMC process. Intel packs 17,800 million transistors on a single 243 mm² die. Cache configuration differs markedly: 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and just 30 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, while the AMD part does not.

Memory bandwidth figures reflect another gap. The AMD processor lists 83.2 GB/s, while Intel reaches 115.2 GB/s. Both support DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Market positioning separates them further. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1851. The AMD chip has a 55 W TDP, the Intel chip has a 125 W TDP. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Both have unlocked multipliers. The AMD part released on 2025-04-22, while Intel's release date is 2026-03-10.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for AMD is integer math. The Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 189221 versus 125091 for Intel, a 51.3% advantage. This is the kind of workload where thread count matters most, and AMD's 32 threads against Intel's 18 explain much of the gap.

Intel's biggest victory is in prime number finding, where it scores 486 against AMD's 251, a 48.4% lead. This test often responds to single-core speed and cache behavior, and Intel's 4.20 GHz base clock with 5.30 GHz boost clearly serves it well.

Cinebench R15 multi-core shows AMD's strength in older rendering workloads, with a 15.4% margin (5355 vs 4640). The newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test narrows that gap to 5.4% (32521 vs 30867), suggesting the Intel chip scales better on newer rendering code even with fewer threads.

Single-core performance is consistently Intel's territory. Cinebench R23 single-core gives Intel a 15.2% lead (2261 vs 1917), and PassMark single-thread shows an 18.6% margin (4757 vs 3874). These numbers point to a significant per-core efficiency difference, likely tied to Intel's higher base clock of 4.20 GHz versus AMD's 2.40 GHz.

Physics calculations strongly favor Intel, with a 39.8% margin (3494 vs 2104). Floating-point math also goes Intel's way by 30% (162692 vs 113921). Data encryption favors Intel by a smaller 6.7% (42144 vs 39318). The overall PassMark multi-thread score is close, with Intel ahead by 3.6% (51596 vs 49731), despite AMD winning the Cinebench multi-core tests.

The data compression and random string sorting tests both go to AMD, with margins of 14.5% and 9.1% respectively. Extended instructions also favor AMD at 7.3%. These wins suggest AMD's larger L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB) helps in data-intensive workloads that benefit from larger working sets.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins 9 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 6.

Q: How does multi-core rendering performance compare?

A: AMD leads in both Cinebench R15 multi-core (5355 vs 4640, a 15.4% margin) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (32521 vs 30867, a 5.4% margin).

Q: Which chip has better single-core performance?

A: Intel leads in every single-threaded test. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2261 vs 1917 (15.2% ahead), and PassMark single-thread shows 4757 vs 3874 (18.6% ahead).

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ?

A: AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads. Intel has 18 cores and 18 threads, with no hyperthreading.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a 125 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a 55 W TDP.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: Intel lists 115.2 GB/s, AMD lists 83.2 GB/s. Both support DDR5 with dual-channel buses.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX | Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus |

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

| Cores | 16 | 18 |

| Threads | 32 | 18 |

| Base clock | 2.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.30 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Arrow Lake Refresh |

| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | 17,800 million |

| Die size | 2x 71 mm² | 243 mm² |

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

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2025-04-22 | 2026-03-10 |

| Launch MSRP | Not available | $199 |

The Verdict

The data indicates two distinct usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the stronger choice for integer-heavy workloads, data compression, and multi-core Cinebench rendering. Its 32 threads and 64 MB L3 cache deliver a 51.3% advantage in integer math and a 14.5% edge in compression. For users running threaded productivity tasks that resemble these benchmarks, the AMD part wins.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the better option for single-threaded performance, floating-point math, and physics simulation. Its 18.6% lead in PassMark single-thread and 30% margin in floating-point math indicate superior per-core efficiency. The 48.4% advantage in prime number finding further reinforces this pattern. The Intel chip also wins the overall PassMark multi-thread score by 3.6%, despite losing both Cinebench multi-core tests.

The average benchmark scores place the AMD part at 81103 with a 95th percentile ranking across all CPUs. Intel's average is 66855 with a 93rd percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD are the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81115 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81127 (0% delta). Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4465P at 66925 (-0.1% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX at 67469 (-0.9% delta).

Process and power characteristics align with these results. Intel uses a 3 nm process versus AMD's 5 nm, and the Intel chip draws 125 W versus 55 W. Higher power delivery supports Intel's higher base clock of 4.20 GHz versus AMD's 2.40 GHz, which explains the single-thread gap. The mobile versus desktop market split also matters: AMD's 55 W TDP suits laptops, Intel's 125 W TDP suits desktop systems.

The recorded data does not show a single overall winner. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX leads in rendering and integer tasks, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads in single-thread and floating-point workloads. The choice depends entirely on which benchmark set matches the intended use case.