AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 Comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX
Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440
The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 are both mobile processors, but they occupy opposite ends of the performance spectrum. The recorded data shows a decisive victory for the Ryzen 9 8945HX across every single benchmark in the database. The Ryzen 9 8945HX wins all 11 head-to-head tests, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 records zero wins. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 9 8945HX is 76212, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 averages 41208, placing it in the 87th percentile. This is not a close contest; the performance gap is vast, driven primarily by a massive difference in core count and cache size.
Where Each One Wins
The Ryzen 9 8945HX is the outright winner in every measured category. There is no benchmark in the database where the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 takes the lead. The most significant advantage for the Ryzen 9 8945HX appears in multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. Its lead in integer math is 195.8% over the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440, while floating-point math shows a 173.6% advantage. Data encryption is the largest delta, with the Ryzen 9 8945HX scoring 40836 versus 12418, a 228.8% difference. Prime number finding also shows a 240.3% gap, scoring 262 versus 77.
The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 does not win any workload category, but its closest performance to the larger chip is in single-threaded execution. In the passmark_single_thread test, the Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 3907 while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 scores 3785, a slim 3.2% delta. This indicates that while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 cannot match the raw throughput of the 8945HX, its per-core architecture is competitive in lightly threaded tasks. In all other categories, the Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by at least 93.7%, which is the margin seen in the physics test, where it scores 2168 versus 1119.
Architecture Differences
The two processors are built on different architectures and process nodes. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses the newer Zen 5 architecture with the Gorgon Point codename, built on a 4 nm process, also at TSMC. The Ryzen 9 8945HX features 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 offers 6 cores and 12 threads. This 10-core difference is the primary driver of the multi-threaded performance disparity.
Cache configuration also differs significantly. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a total of 64 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 8 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen 9 8945HX therefore has 56 MB more L3 cache, which contributes heavily to its data-heavy workload performance. The Ryzen 9 8945HX also has a larger die size, using a dual-chiplet design with 2x 71 mm², while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses a monolithic die of 195 mm². The Ryzen 9 8945HX contains 13,140 million transistors; the transistor count for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 is not recorded in the database.
Clock speeds favor the Ryzen 9 8945HX as well. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 5.40 GHz, compared to a 2.00 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has a higher TDP of 55 watts versus 28 watts, and it uses the AMD Socket FL1, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses the AMD Socket FP8. The Ryzen 9 8945HX supports PCIe Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Memory support also differs: the Ryzen 9 8945HX supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, with a higher bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen 9 8945HX does not. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 is locked.
The Verdict
The data indicates a clear choice for users prioritizing raw performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the superior processor for any multi-threaded workload, from content creation to scientific computing. Its 95th percentile ranking and average score of 76212 place it in the company of high-end desktop and workstation chips. The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440, with its 87th percentile and average score of 41208, is a more modest mobile processor designed for efficiency and lower power draw. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, which indicates it competes with previous-generation desktop hardware in average score, but it still trails the Ryzen 9 8945HX by a wide margin.
For users who need maximum compute throughput and have the power budget for a 55-watt processor, the Ryzen 9 8945HX is the only choice based on these measurements. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, 64 MB of L3 cache, and 5.40 GHz boost clock deliver a dominant performance profile. For users who prioritize portability, lower power consumption, and ECC memory support, the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 offers a more efficient package with a 28-watt TDP, but it sacrifices significant performance. The single-threaded performance gap of only 3.2% shows that the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 is not far behind in simple, lightly threaded tasks, but in every other measurable metric, the Ryzen 9 8945HX is substantially ahead.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores?
A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has 6 cores and 12 threads.
Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Ryzen 9 8945HX?
A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has 8 MB, a difference of 56 MB.
Q: What is the performance difference in single-threaded benchmarks?
A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 3907 in the passmark_single_thread test, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 scores 3785, giving the Ryzen 9 8945HX a 3.2% lead.
Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?
A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX does not.
Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?
A: The largest delta is in data encryption, where the Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 40836 versus 12418, a 228.8% advantage. Prime number finding shows a 240.3% gap, with scores of 262 versus 77.
Q: Do both processors use the same socket?
A: No, the Ryzen 9 8945HX uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses AMD Socket FP8.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Ryzen 9 8945HX dominates every recorded head-to-head test. In the passmark_integer_math test, it scores 195180 against the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440's 65991, a 195.8% difference. Floating-point math shows a similar story: 117453 versus 42934, a 173.6% lead. Data compression scores 677755 versus 256420, a 164.3% advantage. Extended instructions follow with 49823 versus 18456, a 170% difference. Random string sorting shows 78781 versus 27252, a 189.1% gap. The multithread benchmark delivers 51405 versus 21054, a 144.2% advantage. The physics test is the narrowest multi-threaded win, with 2168 versus 1119, a 93.7% lead. Data encryption shows 40836 versus 12418, a 228.8% difference, and prime number finding shows 262 versus 77, a 240.3% difference. The only close result is single-threaded performance, where the Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 3907 and the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 scores 3785, a 3.2% delta.
Specification Differences
The Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm process, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses Zen 5 on a 4 nm process. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores, 32 threads, a 2.50 GHz base clock, and a 5.40 GHz boost clock. The Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has 6 cores, 12 threads, a 2.00 GHz base clock, and a 4.80 GHz boost clock. TDP is 55 watts for the Ryzen 9 8945HX and 28 watts for the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. The Ryzen 9 8945HX uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses AMD Socket FP8. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 has 8 MB. The Ryzen 9 8945HX supports PCIe Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Memory support differs: the Ryzen 9 8945HX supports DDR5 only with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. The multiplier is unlocked on the Ryzen 9 8945HX but locked on the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. The integrated graphics differ as well: the Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Radeon 610M, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 uses the Radeon 840M.