AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX across all 17 recorded tests, with the Intel Core 3 201E failing to take a single win. The scale of the advantage varies dramatically by workload type, ranging from a modest single-thread edge to a near-fourfold gap in some compute-heavy tasks.

In Cinebench testing, the AMD part dominates multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713 against 12,613 for the Core 3 201E, a delta of 238.6%. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 17,939 versus 5,297, also a 238.7% gap. The R15 multi-core result is consistent at 4,305 versus 1,271, a 238.7% difference. These results indicate that the AMD processor delivers roughly 3.4 times the multi-threaded rendering performance of the Intel part across the entire Cinebench suite.

Single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story, though the percentages are slightly higher. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen 9 8945HX posts 6,030 against 1,780, a 238.8% lead. The R20 single-core test shows 2,532 versus 747, a 239% gap. The R15 single-core benchmark records 607 versus 179, a 239.1% difference. These numbers confirm that the AMD chip holds a substantial per-core advantage, not just a raw core-count advantage.

PassMark results reveal even larger deltas in specific workloads. The data encryption test shows the widest gap: the Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 40,836 versus 8,931, a 357.2% difference. Prime number finding follows closely at 262 versus 57, a 359.6% lead. Extended instructions processing records 49,823 versus 11,035, a 351.5% gap. Integer math shows 195,180 versus 43,894, a 344.7% difference. Random string sorting posts 78,781 versus 17,783, a 343% lead. Data compression scores 677,755 versus 164,160, a 312.9% gap. Floating point math records 117,453 versus 33,260, a 253.1% difference.

The PassMark multi-thread test shows 51,405 versus 14,839, a 246.4% lead for the AMD chip. The physics test has the smallest percentage gap among the multi-threaded workloads: 2,168 versus 1,141, still a 90% advantage. The single-thread PassMark results are the closest overall, with the Ryzen 9 8945HX scoring 3,907 versus 3,482 for the Core 3 201E, a 12.2% difference. This narrow single-thread gap suggests that per-clock efficiency is more comparable than the multi-core results imply, though the AMD processor still leads.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD chip leads by roughly 238 to 246 percent across Cinebench multi-core tests and the PassMark multi-thread test. Specific deltas are 238.7% in R15 multi-core, 238.7% in R20 multi-core, 238.6% in R23 multi-core, and 246.4% in PassMark multi-thread.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap as large as the multi-core gap?

A: No. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by only 12.2% (3,907 versus 3,482). However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the gap remains large, with deltas between 238.8% and 239.1% across R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 201E boosts to 4.80 GHz. The AMD part also has a lower base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 3.60 GHz for the Intel chip.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX does not.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76,212, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 201E has an average score of 19,056, placing it in the 73rd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with 4 cores and 8 threads.

The AMD chip uses a chiplet design, with a die size listed as 2x 71 mm² and a transistor count of 13,140 million. The Intel part uses a monolithic design with a die size of 163 mm², and no transistor count is recorded in the database. This structural difference explains much of the performance gap: the AMD processor has four times the cores and a more advanced process node.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 201E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's larger L3 pool, at 64 MB versus 12 MB, provides a significant advantage in workloads that benefit from large working sets.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD processor uses Radeon 610M graphics, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part also carries a 28-lane PCIe Gen 5 implementation on the CPU, versus 16 lanes for the Intel chip.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has an unlocked multiplier, indicating overclocking support. The Intel Core 3 201E has a locked multiplier. The AMD chip targets the mobile segment with an AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX | Intel Core 3 201E |

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

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 32 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 60 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 2x 71 mm² | 163 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000001848 | SRVTR |

| Launch MSRP | None recorded | $134 |

The AMD chip has a higher L3 cache total (64 MB versus 12 MB), despite smaller per-core L1 and L2 allocations. The Intel part has a higher base clock by 1.10 GHz, but the AMD chip boosts higher by 0.60 GHz. The Intel part has a higher TDP by 5 W. The AMD chip offers greater memory bandwidth at 83.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. The Intel part is the only one of the two with ECC support.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins in every recorded benchmark category. The largest advantages appear in compute-heavy, parallelizable workloads. Data encryption shows a 357.2% lead, prime number finding shows a 359.6% lead, and extended instructions show a 351.5% lead. These results indicate that the AMD chip is the clear choice for cryptographic work, scientific computing, and any task that can use many threads.

Integer math and random string sorting also show massive gaps, at 344.7% and 343% respectively. Data compression follows at 312.9%. These workloads benefit from the AMD chip's 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with its large 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 201E, with only 4 cores and 8 threads, cannot keep pace in these parallel workloads.

The closest contest occurs in PassMark single-thread testing, where the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by only 12.2%. This suggests that in lightly threaded applications, the two processors are much closer in capability. The Intel chip's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz helps it remain competitive in this narrow area, though it still loses.

For single-core Cinebench tests, however, the AMD chip maintains a roughly 239% lead, which is a notable discrepancy with the PassMark single-thread result. This indicates that the AMD architecture performs particularly well in the Cinebench single-core workload specifically, while the PassMark single-thread test is more balanced.

The Verdict

The benchmark data provides a clear outcome: the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX outperforms the Intel Core 3 201E in every recorded test. The average benchmark score difference is substantial, with the AMD chip at 76,212 versus 19,056 for the Intel part, a 3.99x difference. The AMD processor sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits in the 73rd percentile.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the appropriate choice for workloads that demand high multi-threaded throughput, such as rendering, data compression, encryption, and scientific computation. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 5 nm process and 64 MB of L3 cache, enable the large deltas observed in these tests. The unlocked multiplier adds flexibility for users who want to push performance further.

The Intel Core 3 201E, with a launch MSRP of $134, serves a different role. Its 4 cores and 8 threads, 10 nm process, and 12 MB of L3 cache place it in a lower performance tier. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offers ECC support, and has a higher base clock. The closest benchmark result, PassMark single-thread at 12.2% difference, indicates that the Intel chip can approach the AMD processor in certain single-threaded scenarios, but it cannot match the multi-core output.

The data shows that the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the superior processor for multi-threaded and mixed workloads. The Intel Core 3 201E remains viable for single-thread-focused desktop tasks, where its higher base clock and lower power consumption profile may be relevant, but the recorded benchmarks do not show a single category where it takes the lead. The choice between these two processors depends on whether the user needs the AMD chip's massive multi-core advantage or can work within the Intel chip's more modest performance envelope with ECC support and dual memory type compatibility.