AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates multi-threaded workloads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H takes the single-thread and low-thread-count wins. Out of 15 recorded comparisons, AMD wins 9 and Intel wins 6.

The largest margin belongs to the AMD part in PassMark integer math, where it scores 189221 against Intel's 83111, a 127.7% advantage. That is more than double the output. Data compression also heavily favors AMD: 650984 versus 336177, a 93.6% delta. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 83.9% (75381 versus 40990), and extended instructions favor AMD by 71.3% (47802 versus 27898). Cinebench R23 multicore shows AMD ahead by 76.8% (32521 versus 18395), while Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 75.3% lead (5355 versus 3055).

AMD also wins PassMark floating point math, but by a smaller margin: 113921 versus 103128, a 10.5% delta. Data encryption goes to AMD by 49.2% (39318 versus 26345). The overall PassMark multithread score favors AMD by 46.4% (49731 versus 33978).

Intel's wins are concentrated in single-threaded and specific workloads. PassMark single-thread shows Intel at 4072 versus AMD's 3874, a 4.9% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core gives Intel a 6% lead (2040 versus 1917), and Cinebench R15 single-core gives Intel a 3.6% lead (303 versus 292). Intel also wins PassMark physics by 27.3% (2895 versus 2104) and PassMark find prime numbers by 23.2% (327 versus 251).

The average benchmark score reflects this gap. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX sits at 81103, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41215, in the 87th percentile. AMD's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81115 (0% delta), the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81127 (0%), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 at 80762 (0.4% behind). Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 at 41208 (0%), the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H at 41263 (0.1% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X at 41376 (0.4% ahead). The two CPUs do not compete in the same performance tier; the AMD part sits roughly 97% higher in average score.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on the Dragon Range codename, built on TSMC's 5 nm process. It is part of the Ryzen 9 generation in the 8000 series. The chip has 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The package contains 13,140 million transistors across a dual-chip 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 TDP is 55 watts, and the socket is AMD Socket FL1. The multiplier is unlocked.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H uses the Panther Lake architecture, also its codename, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It is part of the Core Ultra Series 3 generation (Panther Lake-H). It has 16 cores but only 16 threads, so no simultaneous multithreading is enabled. Base clock is 1.90 GHz, boost clock is 4.70 GHz. Cache is 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. The TDP is 25 watts, and the socket is Intel BGA 2540. The multiplier is locked.

Memory support differs. AMD supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a dual-channel bus with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe lanes differ substantially. AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only). Intel provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 610M, Intel uses Intel Xe3 Graphics.

Release dates are separated by roughly eight months. The AMD part was released on 2025-04-22, while the Intel part was released on 2026-01-04. Both are listed as Active production status in the mobile market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins in any workload that scales with thread count. Its 32 threads versus Intel's 16 threads is the primary driver. Cinebench R23 multicore at 32521 versus 18395 confirms this for rendering tasks. PassMark multithread at 49731 versus 33978 confirms it for general parallel compute. Integer math, data compression, random string sorting, extended instructions, and data encryption all follow the same pattern. For content creation, code compilation, scientific computing, or any batch processing task, the recorded data gives AMD a decisive edge.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins in single-thread performance and in two specific PassMark subtests. PassMark single-thread at 4072 versus 3874, Cinebench R23 single-core at 2040 versus 1917, and Cinebench R15 single-core at 303 versus 292 all point the same way. The physics subtest at 2895 versus 2104 is a notable win, as is find prime numbers at 327 versus 251. These results suggest Intel's architecture handles lightly threaded workloads and certain algorithmic patterns more efficiently per core.

The floating point math result is closer than the other math tests. AMD leads by only 10.5% (113921 versus 103128), which shows that Intel's per-core efficiency narrows the gap even in a heavily parallel workload. Still, AMD's thread advantage carries the day.

Power envelope is relevant context. AMD's TDP is 55 watts versus Intel's 25 watts, and the AMD part is unlocked while Intel's is locked. The data does not include power measurements, so efficiency cannot be quantified, but the TDP difference is recorded.

The Verdict

The benchmark data separates these two processors by performance tier. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX delivers roughly double the average benchmark score of the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H. It wins 9 of 15 head-to-head tests, including all of the most thread-hungry workloads. For a user running multi-threaded applications, the AMD part is the clear choice based on the recorded scores.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins the single-thread tests and two PassMark subtests. It also has a lower TDP, which may matter in thin-and-light designs, but the database does not record any efficiency metrics. The Intel part is newer by release date and uses a smaller process node, yet the measured performance does not close the multi-thread gap.

There is no scenario in the data where Intel wins the majority of tests. The AMD part is ahead in the overall average score, the percentile ranking, and the number of head-to-head wins. A user prioritizing single-thread response or physics simulation would prefer the Intel part. A user prioritizing rendering, compression, encryption, or general multithread throughput would prefer the AMD part. The magnitude of AMD's wins in integer math, compression, and Cinebench multicore is large enough that the choice is not close for most parallel workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 32521 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 5355 in Cinebench R15 multicore. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H scores 18395 and 3055 respectively. AMD leads by 76.8% in R23 and 75.3% in R15.

Q: Which CPU wins single-threaded tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins all recorded single-thread tests. It scores 4072 in PassMark single-thread versus AMD's 3874, 2040 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1917, and 303 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 292.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both have 16 cores. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 threads. The AMD part has simultaneous multithreading enabled; the Intel part does not.

Q: What is the cache configuration difference?

A: The AMD part has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. AMD has the larger total L3 cache, while Intel has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a TDP of 25 watts. The database does not include measured power consumption.

Q: Which CPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, compared to 83.2 GB/s for the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX. Intel also supports LPDDR5X in addition to DDR5, while AMD supports DDR5 only.

Q: What are the release dates?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX was released on 2025-04-22. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H was released on 2026-01-04.

Q: How do the overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has an average benchmark score of 81103 and sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has an average score of 41215 and sits in the 87th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 356H |

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

| Cores | 16 | 16 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.40 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.30 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Panther 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 (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

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

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | Intel Xe3 Graphics |

| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2025-04-22 | 2026-01-04 |

| Part number | 100-000001849 | SA4RGQ9EU |