AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, which wins 9 of the 11 recorded head-to-head tests. The largest single margin comes in passmark_find_prime_numbers, where the 8945HX scores 262 against 71 for the P164, a 269% advantage. This test is heavily dependent on raw integer throughput and clock frequency, and the 8945HX’s higher boost clock and double the core count deliver an outsized result.

In passmark_data_encryption, the 8945HX posts 40,836 versus 16,055, a 154.4% lead. Encryption workloads often scale with AES-NI execution resources and memory bandwidth, and the 8945HX’s larger L3 cache and higher memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s help sustain throughput. The passmark_random_string_sorting test shows a 126.4% delta, with 78,781 points for the 8945HX against 34,801 for the P164. Sorting algorithms are sensitive to cache hierarchy, and the 8945HX’s 64 MB of L3 versus 8 MB provides a substantial working set advantage.

The passmark_integer_math test records 195,180 for the 8945HX versus 87,940 for the P164, a 121.9% improvement. Floating-point math also favors the 8945HX at 117,453 against 55,799, a 110.5% delta. These two results align with the core count difference: 16 cores versus 8 cores, with 32 threads versus 16 threads. The passmark_data_compression test shows 677,755 for the 8945HX against 327,891 for the P164, a 106.7% margin, while passmark_extended_instructions records 49,823 versus 24,193, a 105.9% lead.

The passmark_multithread score of 51,405 for the 8945HX is 98.6% higher than the P164’s 25,889. Physics simulation, represented by passmark_physics, gives the 8945HX 2,168 points versus 1,210, a 79.2% advantage. These results confirm that the 8945HX dominates in every multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workload in the dataset.

The only two wins for the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 come in the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread tests, which are the same test recorded twice. The P164 scores 4,029 in both, while the 8945HX scores 3,907, giving the P164 a 3% lead. This is a narrow margin, but it indicates that the P164’s Zen 5 architecture has a higher per-core performance ceiling than the 8945HX’s Zen 4 design at moderate power levels.

The average benchmark score in the database places the 8945HX at 76,212, which corresponds to the 95th percentile among all CPUs. The P164 averages 52,901, sitting in the 91st percentile. The 8945HX’s nearest rival by average score is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX at 76,155, a delta of 0.1%. The AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P trails by 0.4% at 76,492, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX is also 0.4% behind at 76,513. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 75,779, which is 0.6% below the 8945HX. The P164’s closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 9500F at 52,873, just 0.1% behind, while the Intel Xeon 634 is 0.1% ahead at 52,974. The AMD EPYC 7313P scores 53,206, a 0.6% lead, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is 0.7% ahead at 53,288.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, part of the 8000 series. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 uses a Zen 5 / Zen 5c hybrid configuration under the Gorgon Point codename, part of the Ryzen AI Embedded generation. The process nodes differ as well: the 8945HX is built on TSMC’s 5 nm process, while the P164 uses TSMC’s 4 nm node. The 8945HX has a die size of 2x 71 mm², while the P164 uses a single 233 mm² die.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The 8945HX offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the P164 provides 8 cores and 16 threads. The base clock on the 8945HX is 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The P164 runs at 2.00 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The 8945HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the P164 is rated at 28 watts, reflecting its embedded and lower-power positioning.

Cache configurations are very different. The 8945HX allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The P164 allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and only 8 MB of L3. The total transistor count for the 8945HX is 13,140 million, while the transistor count for the P164 is not recorded in the database.

Memory support also differs. The 8945HX supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth and does not support ECC memory. The P164 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with a higher bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and it does support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the 8945HX provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the P164 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics units are different, with the 8945HX using a Radeon 610M and the P164 using a Radeon 880M. The 8945HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the P164 does not. The 8945HX uses AMD Socket FL1, and the P164 uses AMD Socket FP8.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 wins the single-thread test with a score of 4,029, which is 3% higher than the 8945HX’s 3,907.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded performance gap?

A: The 8945HX scores 51,405 in passmark_multithread, which is 98.6% higher than the P164’s 25,889.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The 8945HX has 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the P164 has 89.6 GB/s, giving the P164 the higher figure.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The P164 supports ECC memory, while the 8945HX does not.

Q: What are the core counts for each processor?

A: The 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the P164 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The 8945HX has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the P164 has 8 MB of L3 cache.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 differ in nearly every major specification field recorded in the database. The 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, while the P164 uses a Zen 5 / Zen 5c configuration under the Gorgon Point codename. The process node is 5 nm for the 8945HX and 4 nm for the P164. The die size is 2x 71 mm² for the 8945HX and 233 mm² for the P164.

Core and thread counts are 16 and 32 for the 8945HX versus 8 and 16 for the P164. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz and 2.00 GHz respectively, and boost clocks are 5.40 GHz and 5.00 GHz. The TDP is 55 watts for the 8945HX and 28 watts for the P164. The 8945HX is rated at 13,140 million transistors, while the P164 has no recorded transistor count.

The L1 cache per core is 64 KB on the 8945HX and 80 KB on the P164. L2 cache per core is 1 MB on both. The L3 cache is 64 MB on the 8945HX and 8 MB on the P164. Memory support is DDR5 for the 8945HX and DDR5 plus LPDDR5X for the P164. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for the 8945HX and 89.6 GB/s for the P164. ECC memory support is absent on the 8945HX and present on the P164. PCIe support is Gen 5 with 28 lanes on the 8945HX and Gen 4 with 16 lanes on the P164. The integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on the 8945HX and Radeon 880M on the P164. The 8945HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the P164 is locked. The sockets are FL1 for the 8945HX and FP8 for the P164. The release dates differ, with the 8945HX released on 2025-04-22 and the P164 on 2026-03-08.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the clear choice for multi-threaded, throughput-heavy workloads. Its 16 cores and 32 threads give it a decisive edge in compression, encryption, integer math, floating-point math, and random string sorting. The 106.7% lead in data compression and the 154.4% lead in data encryption show that it handles data-heavy tasks with a wide margin. The 64 MB of L3 cache and the higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz support sustained performance in these scenarios. The 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs places it among the top tier of processors in the database, and its average score of 76,212 sits just 0.1% above the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 wins the single-thread test by 3%, with a score of 4,029 against 3,907. Its Zen 5 / Zen 5c architecture and 4 nm process node deliver higher per-core efficiency, which is reflected in that narrow single-thread advantage. The P164 also offers ECC memory support, a feature absent on the 8945HX, and it supports LPDDR5X in addition to DDR5. Its 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth is higher than the 8945HX’s 83.2 GB/s, and its 28-watt TDP is less than half the 8945HX’s 55-watt rating. The P164’s 91st percentile ranking and average score of 52,901 place it just 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 9500F in the nearest rival data.

The use-case split is clear from the recorded measurements. For applications that scale with core count, cache size, and raw throughput, the 8945HX dominates every recorded test except single-thread. For workloads that prioritize per-core speed, lower power consumption, ECC reliability, or LPDDR5X memory support, the P164 holds the advantage. The 8945HX is positioned for maximum multi-core performance in a mobile socket, while the P164 targets embedded scenarios where efficiency, memory flexibility, and single-thread responsiveness matter more than raw parallel throughput.