AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Arc G3 EXTREME Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, which wins 14 of the 17 recorded comparisons. The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME takes the remaining 3. The margins, however, tell the more interesting story.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part scores 42713 against 14655 for the Intel part, a delta of 191.5%. That is the largest multi-core gap in the entire comparison. The R23 single-core result is even more lopsided: 6030 versus 1862, a 223.8% advantage for the AMD processor. These are not close contests. The AMD chip delivers more than triple the single-threaded performance in this specific rendering workload.

Cinebench R15 and R20 follow the same pattern. In R15 multi-core, AMD posts 4305 against Intel's 2192, a 96.4% delta. The R15 single-core run shows 607 versus 267, a 127.3% lead. R20 multi-core gives AMD 17939 against 10945, a 63.9% margin, and the R20 single-core result is identical in relative terms at 63.9%, with scores of 2532 and 1545.

PassMark's integer math test is another major win for AMD. The Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 195180, while the Arc G3 EXTREME manages 71164. That is a 174.3% difference. Data compression shows a 120.7% gap, with AMD at 677755 versus Intel's 307094. Extended instructions favor AMD by 107.4%, with 49823 against 24017. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 111%, 78781 versus 37331. Data encryption is a 71% win for AMD, 40836 against 23881. Floating point math is comparatively closer, but still a clear AMD victory at 35.1%, with 117453 versus 86929. PassMark multi-thread shows AMD ahead by 67.7%, 51405 versus 30659.

The two PassMark single-thread entries are the only places where the Intel part wins by a meaningful margin. The Arc G3 EXTREME scores 4293 in both the "single_thread" and "singlethread" listings, against AMD's 3907. That is a 9% lead for Intel. The passmark_physics test also goes to Intel: 2515 versus 2168, a 13.8% advantage. The find_prime_numbers test is nearly a tie, with AMD ahead by just 5.6%, 262 versus 248.

The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 76212, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel part averages 36699, which is the 85th percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD are the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX at 76155 (0.1% behind AMD), the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P at 76492 (0.4% ahead), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX at 76513 (0.4% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D at 75779 (0.6% behind). The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME sits closest to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at 36938 (0.6% ahead of the Arc), the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 36945 (0.7% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at 37018 (0.9% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 at 37093 (1.1% ahead).

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for anyone choosing between these two mobile processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is in a different performance class. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 is nearly triple the Intel part's 14655, and its single-core score of 6030 more than triples Intel's 1862. For rendering, compilation, scientific computing, or any workload that scales across cores, the AMD chip is the obvious pick.

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME does have strengths. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4293 is 9% higher than AMD's 3907, and it wins the physics test by 13.8%. The Intel part also uses substantially less power, with a 25 W TDP against AMD's 55 W. For a thin-and-light laptop where battery life and thermal headroom matter more than raw throughput, the Intel chip has a place. But the benchmark data does not support choosing it for performance-critical tasks.

The percentile ranking reinforces this. AMD sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 85th. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm the gap: AMD trades blows with desktop-class and high-end mobile processors like the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Core Ultra 9 285HX, while Intel's Arc G3 EXTREME lands in the same performance band as mid-range desktop parts like the Ryzen 5 5600F and the Ryzen 5 5500X3D.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42713, which is 191.5% higher than the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME's 14655.

Q: Does the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins 3 of 17 comparisons: PassMark single-thread (4293 versus 3907, a 9% lead) and PassMark physics (2515 versus 2168, a 13.8% lead). The third win is the duplicate single-thread listing.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark integer math?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 195180, which is 174.3% ahead of the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME's 71164.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average score of 76212, while the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME averages 36699.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: What is the closest rival to the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has an average score of 76155, which is 0.1% behind the AMD chip's 76212.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX | Intel Arc G3 EXTREME |

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

| Cores | 16 | 14 |

| Threads | 32 | 14 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Cache L1 | 64 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| Cache L2 | 1 MB per core | 2.5 MB per core |

| Cache L3 | 64 MB | 18 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 lanes | Gen 5, 4 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc B390 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000001848 | SA4R3 |

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on the Dragon Range codename, built on TSMC's 5 nm process. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a 64 MB L3 cache. The chip uses 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 71 mm². It supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus and offers 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME uses the Panther Lake codename, built on Intel's own 3 nm process. It has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The L3 cache is 18 MB shared, much smaller than AMD's 64 MB. The L1 and L2 caches are larger per core: 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 versus AMD's 64 KB and 1 MB. Memory support is LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus, with a higher bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s versus AMD's 83.2 GB/s. The Intel part has only 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The Intel chip's multiplier is locked, while AMD's is unlocked.

The TDP difference is notable: 55 W for AMD versus 25 W for Intel. The Intel chip trades raw core count and cache size for a much lower power envelope. The AMD chip is built for sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the Intel chip appears designed for efficiency in constrained chassis.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins every rendering benchmark by a wide margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 191.5% lead, and R23 single-core shows a 223.8% lead. For video encoding, 3D rendering, or any CPU-bound creative work, the AMD chip is the choice. It also dominates integer math (174.3% ahead), data compression (120.7% ahead), and extended instructions (107.4% ahead). These results point to strong performance in code compilation, data processing, and scientific computing.

The PassMark multi-thread score of 51405 versus 30659 confirms that the AMD chip handles parallel workloads far better. Its 16 cores and 32 threads give it a structural advantage over the Intel part's 14 cores and 14 threads. The 64 MB L3 cache also helps in workloads that repeatedly access large datasets, such as the random string sorting test where AMD leads by 111%.

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME wins in PassMark single-thread by 9% and in the physics test by 13.8%. The single-thread result is surprising given the AMD chip's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, but the Intel part's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may help in latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks. The physics test, which often reflects memory access patterns and cache behavior, also favors Intel.

For a user prioritizing raw performance in multi-threaded applications, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the clear choice. For a user who needs a low-power processor for light workloads, the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME's 25 W TDP and stronger single-thread score in PassMark make it a viable option. The data shows no scenario where the Intel part outperforms AMD in multi-threaded or mixed workloads. Its wins are narrow and specific to single-thread and physics calculations.