AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

The benchmark database shows a stark performance divide between the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the Intel Core 5 315. The AMD part wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, often by overwhelming margins, while the Intel chip takes two narrow single-thread wins. These are processors aimed at different segments of the mobile market, and the recorded data reflects that split clearly.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the dominant performer in nearly every recorded workload. Its average benchmark score of 76212 places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, putting it alongside processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which scores 76155 with a delta of just 0.1%. The Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread Zen 4 part with a 55 W TDP, and the data shows it delivers class-leading multi-threaded throughput.

The Intel Core 5 315 is a fundamentally different product. It has 6 cores and 6 threads, a 15 W TDP, and an average benchmark score of 18188, which places it in the 72nd percentile. That score puts it in the same performance tier as the AMD EPYC 9274F (18189, 0% delta), the Intel Core i7-9700 (18180, 0% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (18176, 0.1% delta). The Intel chip is not competing with the Ryzen 9 8945HX; it is competing with far less powerful hardware.

The verdict is straightforward from the data. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is for workloads that demand massive parallel processing, such as rendering, compilation, and heavy scientific computing. The Intel Core 5 315 is for power-constrained systems where the 15 W TDP and lower core count are acceptable, and where its slight single-thread edge might matter. The two chips should not be cross-shopped for the same task.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212, while the Intel Core 5 315 has an average score of 18188.

Q: Did the Intel Core 5 315 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it won the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4021 versus 3907 for the AMD chip, a delta of -2.8%.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42713 versus 12981 for the Intel Core 5 315, a 229% advantage. The PassMark multithread test shows a 236.6% lead for the AMD part (51405 vs 15272).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 315 boosts to 4.40 GHz.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a TDP of 55 W. The Intel Core 5 315 has a TDP of 15 W.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, and is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It packs 13,140 million transistors across a dual-chiplet design with a die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Cache organization differs significantly. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a large 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel part has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning the Intel chip has no simultaneous multithreading.

Memory architecture is another major divide. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only on a single-channel bus, with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD part has a Radeon 610M. The Intel part has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel processor does not. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FL1, and the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1516.

Specification Differences

The core count difference is the most obvious specification gap: 16 cores and 32 threads for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX versus 6 cores and 6 threads for the Intel Core 5 315. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the AMD part and 1.50 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clocks are 5.40 GHz and 4.40 GHz respectively.

TDP is 55 W for the AMD part and 15 W for the Intel part. The AMD chip uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process, while the Intel chip uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm Intel process. The AMD chip has 64 MB of L3 cache, and the Intel chip has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory support shows the AMD chip limited to DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bus width is dual-channel for AMD and single-channel for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 59.7 GB/s for Intel. PCIe support is Gen 5 with 28 lanes for AMD and Gen 4 with 6 lanes for Intel.

The Intel Core 5 315 has a launch MSRP of $340. The database does not include a launch MSRP for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX. The AMD part is unlocked, the Intel part is not. Release dates differ, with the AMD part released on 2025-04-22 and the Intel part on 2026-04-15. The AMD part number is 100-000001848, and the Intel part number is SAEFC.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent and massive lead for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD chip scores 4305 versus 1308 for the Intel chip, a 229.1% delta. The single-core R15 test shows 607 versus 184, a 229.9% delta. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 17939 versus 5452, a 229% delta, and R20 single-core shows 2532 versus 769, a 229.3% delta. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 42713 versus 12981, a 229% delta, and R23 single-core shows 6030 versus 1832, a 229.1% delta. The consistency of the delta across every Cinebench version, both single and multi-core, suggests the gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

The PassMark suite reveals where the AMD chip is strongest. The largest delta in the entire comparison is PassMark integer math, where the AMD chip scores 195180 versus 31690, a 515.9% advantage. Data compression shows 677755 versus 146143, a 363.8% delta. Random string sorting shows 78781 versus 17551, a 348.9% delta. Extended instructions show 49823 versus 13143, a 279.1% delta. Data encryption shows 40836 versus 11119, a 267.3% delta. PassMark multithread shows 51405 versus 15272, a 236.6% delta. Floating point math shows 117453 versus 42441, a 176.7% delta. Find prime numbers shows 262 versus 112, a 133.9% delta. Physics shows 2168 versus 1163, an 86.4% delta.

The only Intel wins are the two PassMark single-thread entries, both showing 4021 versus 3907, a -2.8% delta. That 2.8% lead is small but consistent across both recorded single-thread entries. It indicates that the Intel Core 5 315 has a slight per-thread performance edge, likely due to its higher single-core efficiency at a much lower TDP, but that edge is trivial compared to the AMD chip's massive core-count advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins in every multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workload in the database. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache and 83.2 GB/s of dual-channel memory bandwidth, make it the clear choice for Cinebench rendering, PassMark multithread workloads, data compression, encryption, and integer math. The 515.9% lead in integer math and the 363.8% lead in data compression show that the AMD part is in a different performance class for compute-heavy tasks. The 229% advantage across all Cinebench versions confirms its dominance in rendering workloads.

The Intel Core 5 315 wins in PassMark single-thread performance by 2.8%. That is its only recorded victory, and it is a narrow one. The Intel chip also has a 15 W TDP versus the AMD chip's 55 W TDP, which suggests it is intended for fanless or battery-optimized designs where power draw is the primary constraint. Its support for LPDDR5X memory and its 3 nm process node point toward efficiency-focused mobile systems rather than performance-focused ones. The data shows the Intel part is competitive with the AMD EPYC 9274F, Intel Core i7-9700, and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U in average score, which is its actual competitive tier.

The use-case split is clear from the benchmark results. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is for high-performance mobile workstations and gaming laptops where the 55 W TDP is acceptable and maximum throughput is required. The Intel Core 5 315 is for thin-and-light systems where the 15 W TDP is essential and the single-thread performance, which slightly exceeds that of the AMD part, is sufficient for the intended workloads. The data does not support treating these as direct competitors for the same buyer.