AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Xeon 6736P Comparison

The Intel Xeon 6736P and AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX are built for different worlds: the Xeon is a 36-core Granite Rapids server/workstation processor on Intel Socket 4710, while the Ryzen is a 16-core Zen 4 Dragon Range mobile part on AMD Socket FL1. The head-to-head data records 12 wins for the Xeon and 3 for the Ryzen across 15 benchmark comparisons, with the Xeon landing at the 96th percentile of all CPUs and the Ryzen at the 95th. Average benchmark scores are 87864 for the Xeon and 81103 for the Ryzen, placing the Xeon ahead in overall database ranking despite the Ryzen's higher boost clock.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Xeon 6736P takes the overall head-to-head record with 12 wins out of 15 comparisons. Its largest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 6008 against the Ryzen's 1917, a 213.4% advantage. The Passmark physics test shows a similar pattern: 6531 versus 2104, a 210.4% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core goes to the Xeon at 42561 versus 32521, a 30.9% margin. Passmark floating point math favors Intel at 149770 against 113921, a 31.5% lead, and random string sorting shows 103723 versus 75381, a 37.6% advantage. Data compression goes to the Xeon at 796658 against 650984, a 22.4% lead, and data encryption at 46236 versus 39318, a 17.6% margin. Extended instructions land at 55563 versus 47802, a 16.2% lead, and find prime numbers at 392 versus 251, a 56.2% advantage. Integer math is closer at 206833 versus 189221, a 9.3% lead, and multithread is nearly even at 50072 versus 49731, a 0.7% margin, the closest result in the entire comparison.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins three comparisons. The standout is Passmark single-thread, where it scores 3874 against the Xeon's 2024, a 47.8% advantage; the database records this same result under two test names. The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core, 5355 to 4290, a 19.9% lead. These wins show the Ryzen's strength in lightly threaded and legacy multi-core workloads, while the Xeon dominates the modern Cinebench R23 suite and nearly every Passmark compute test. The contrast between the R15 and R23 multi-core results is instructive: the Ryzen leads the older test by 19.9%, while the Xeon leads the newer test by 30.9%, suggesting the Xeon scales better with the more demanding R23 workload.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Xeon 6736P for workloads that scale across many cores. It wins 12 of 15 head-to-head comparisons, including all Cinebench R23 tests, all Passmark compute tests except single-thread, and the physics test by a wide margin. The Ryzen 9 8940HX is the choice for single-thread responsiveness and for the Cinebench R15 multi-core workload, where it leads by 19.9%. The Xeon's average benchmark score of 87864 sits at the 96th percentile, while the Ryzen's 81103 sits at the 95th. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Xeon 6731P at 87756 (0.1% behind) and the Xeon w7-2575X at 88172 (0.3% ahead), while the Ryzen's nearest rivals include the Xeon w5-3535X at 81115 and the Core i9-14900KS at 81127, both essentially tied. The Xeon's 36 cores and 144 MB L3 cache drive its multi-threaded wins, while the Ryzen's 5.30 GHz boost clock and unlocked multiplier explain its single-thread edge. For server and workstation deployments, the Xeon's eight-channel memory, ECC support, and 88 PCIe Gen 5 lanes make it the data-center-oriented choice, while the Ryzen's 55 W TDP and integrated Radeon 610M graphics suit compact mobile systems.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon 6736P uses Granite Rapids on Intel's 5 nm process with a 598 mm² die. The Ryzen 9 8940HX uses Zen 4 (Dragon Range) on TSMC's 5 nm process with two 71 mm² dies and 13,140 million transistors. The Xeon's 598 mm² die is substantially larger than the Ryzen's two 71 mm² dies, reflecting the core count difference. The Xeon has 36 cores and 72 threads, the Ryzen 16 cores and 32 threads. Cache differs: the Xeon has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 144 MB shared L3; the Ryzen has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. Memory support: both use DDR5, but the Xeon runs eight channels with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, the Ryzen dual-channel with 83.2 GB/s. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the Ryzen does not. PCIe: the Xeon has Gen 5 with 88 lanes, the Ryzen Gen 5 with 28 lanes. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, the Ryzen has Radeon 610M. The Xeon is a server/workstation part on Socket 4710, the Ryzen a mobile part on Socket FL1. The Xeon's multiplier is locked, the Ryzen's is unlocked. The Xeon launched 2025-02-23 with a launch MSRP of $3351; the Ryzen launched 2025-04-22 with no recorded MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon 6736P wins 12 of 15 comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 3.

Q: How large is the Xeon's lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Xeon scores 42561 versus 32521, a 30.9% advantage.

Q: In which test does the Ryzen 9 8940HX have its biggest win?

A: The Ryzen wins Passmark single-thread with 3874 versus 2024, a 47.8% lead.

Q: Do the two CPUs use the same process node?

A: Both use a 5 nm process, but the Xeon is fabricated by Intel and the Ryzen by TSMC.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Xeon has eight-channel memory with 409.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen has dual-channel with 83.2 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon 6736P supports ECC memory; the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon 6736P wins in multi-threaded compute, physics simulation, data compression, encryption, extended instruction workloads, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting. Its 36 cores, 72 threads, and 144 MB L3 cache drive these results. The 56.2% lead in find prime numbers and the 37.6% lead in random string sorting indicate strong integer and sorting performance. The Ryzen 9 8940HX wins in single-thread Passmark and Cinebench R15 multi-core, where its 5.30 GHz boost clock and unlocked multiplier help. The Ryzen's 55 W TDP versus the Xeon's 205 W makes it suited for mobile systems, while the Xeon's eight-channel memory and ECC support target server and workstation deployments.

Specification Differences

• Series: none vs 8000 series
• Generation: Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-SP) vs Ryzen 9 (Zen 4 (Dragon Range))
• Cores: 36 vs 16
• Threads: 72 vs 32
• Base clock: 2.00 GHz vs 2.40 GHz
• Boost clock: 4.10 GHz vs 5.30 GHz
• TDP: 205 W vs 55 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 4710 vs AMD Socket FL1
• Architecture: Granite Rapids vs Zen 4
• Codename: Granite Rapids vs Dragon Range
• Foundry: Intel vs TSMC
• Die size: 598 mm² vs 2x 71 mm²
• Transistors: not listed vs 13,140 million
• L1 cache: 112 KB per core vs 64 KB per core
• L2 cache: 2 MB per core vs 1 MB per core
• L3 cache: 144 MB shared vs 64 MB
• Memory bus: Eight-channel vs Dual-channel
• Memory bandwidth: 409.6 GB/s vs 83.2 GB/s
• ECC memory: true vs false
• PCIe lanes: 88 vs 28
• Integrated graphics: N/A vs Radeon 610M
• Market segment: Server/Workstation vs Mobile
• Release date: 2025-02-23 vs 2025-04-22
• Launch MSRP: $3351 vs none recorded
• Multiplier unlocked: false vs true
• Part number: SRVNW vs 100-000001849