AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins all 17 recorded benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 7 251TE. There is no benchmark category where the Intel part takes a lead, which makes the use-case split straightforward. The AMD chip dominates multi-core workloads, single-core workloads, and every PassMark subtest in the database.

The largest relative advantages appear in extended instruction workloads, data compression, and random string sorting. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by 193.5% in PassMark extended instructions, 102.7% in data compression, and 98.7% in random string sorting. These are substantial margins that point to workloads involving encryption, compression algorithms, and instruction-heavy code paths.

The smallest gaps are in single-thread performance and physics simulation. The AMD chip leads by 9.5% in PassMark single-thread and 11.9% in PassMark physics. These narrower deltas suggest that in lightly threaded tasks or physics-based calculations, the Intel part is relatively closer, though it still does not win.

For the Intel Core 7 251TE, the absence of any benchmark win means its use case is not defined by performance superiority. The data shows it holds a 45 W TDP versus the AMD chip's 55 W TDP, and it supports ECC memory, which the AMD part does not. The Intel chip also launches with a lower power envelope and a desktop market segment classification, which positions it differently in terms of platform requirements rather than raw speed.

Architecture Differences

The architecture split between these two processors is stark. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 7 251TE uses Bartlett Lake, a 10 nm process at Intel. The manufacturing node difference alone explains a portion of the performance gap, as the AMD part packs 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with 2x 71 mm² dies, while the Intel part uses a single 215 mm² die with no transistor count recorded in the database.

Core counts differ in an interesting way. The AMD chip has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel chip has 24 cores and 32 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the AMD part delivers dramatically higher multi-core scores. This points to per-core efficiency differences: the AMD chip runs at a 2.50 GHz base clock and 5.40 GHz boost, while the Intel chip runs at 1.40 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost. The identical boost clocks make the gap more about architecture and cache design than peak frequency.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. The AMD part uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. The Intel part uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The AMD chip's larger L3 cache (64 MB versus 36 MB) aligns with its strong performance in data compression and extended instructions, where cache capacity often matters. The Intel chip has more L1 and L2 per core, but the shared L3 deficit appears to hurt in multi-threaded scenarios.

Memory support also differs. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel, with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip has a higher recorded memory bandwidth, yet it still loses all memory-sensitive benchmarks. ECC memory is supported only on the Intel chip, and the PCIe lanes differ: AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 4305 against the Intel Core 7 251TE's 2572, a 67.4% delta. In R15 single-core, the scores are 607 versus 362, a 67.7% delta. The pattern holds through R20 and R23: multi-core deltas stay at 67.4%, and single-core deltas stay at 67.5% or 67.4%. The AMD part scores 17939 versus 10717 in R20 multi-core, 2532 versus 1512 in R20 single-core, 42713 versus 25518 in R23 multi-core, and 6030 versus 3602 in R23 single-core.

PassMark results reveal where the architectural differences bite hardest. The extended instructions test shows the largest gap: 49823 for AMD versus 16974 for Intel, a 193.5% delta. Data compression follows at 102.7% (677755 versus 334399), and random string sorting at 98.7% (78781 versus 39643). Data encryption shows an 84.1% delta (40836 versus 22176), and prime number finding shows 87.1% (262 versus 140).

The floating-point math gap is 37.2% (117453 versus 85607), while integer math shows 55.2% (195180 versus 125739). The multithread PassMark score is 51405 versus 30022, a 71.2% delta. The physics test shows the smallest relative gap in the PassMark suite at 11.9% (2168 versus 1938), which is notable because it suggests the Intel chip's core count helps narrow the margin in physics simulations.

Single-thread PassMark scores are 3907 versus 3568, a 9.5% delta. This is the closest of all recorded benchmarks, indicating that in purely single-threaded tasks, the Intel chip is competitive but still trailing. The database lists both "passmark_single_thread" and "passmark_singlethread" with identical values, confirming the result.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification field in the database. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz versus 1.40 GHz, with identical 5.40 GHz boost clocks. TDP is 55 W for AMD and 45 W for Intel.

The AMD part uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD architecture is Zen 4 with Dragon Range codename, and the Intel architecture is listed as null with Bartlett Lake codename. Process nodes are 5 nm (TSMC) versus 10 nm (Intel). Transistor count is 13,140 million for AMD and null for Intel. Die size is 2x 71 mm² for AMD and 215 mm² for Intel.

Cache differences are detailed: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3, while Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 only for AMD, versus DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 89.6 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is false for AMD and true for Intel.

PCIe support is Gen 5 with 28 lanes for AMD and Gen 5 with 16 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M for AMD and UHD Graphics 770 for Intel. Market segment is Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. The multiplier is unlocked on the AMD part and locked on the Intel part. Release dates are 2025-04-22 for AMD and 2025-01-12 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $384, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel part number is SRQAXQ5ZG, and the AMD part number is 100-000001848.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores. Both have 32 threads.

Q: What explains the AMD chip's large lead in extended instructions?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 49823 versus 16974 in PassMark extended instructions, a 193.5% delta. The combination of Zen 4 architecture, 64 MB L3 cache, and 5 nm process likely contributes, though the database does not isolate a single cause.

Q: Is the Intel chip ever faster in any benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX winning all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with zero wins for the Intel Core 7 251TE.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The AMD chip has a TDP of 55 W, and the Intel chip has a TDP of 45 W. The Intel part consumes less power according to the specification sheet.

Q: Does the Intel chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 7 251TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX does not support ECC memory.

Q: How close is single-thread performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the AMD chip scores 3907 and the Intel chip scores 3568, a 9.5% delta. This is the smallest recorded gap between the two processors.

The Verdict

The data points all in one direction. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the faster processor by every benchmark in the database, with a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs compared to the Intel Core 7 251TE's 88th percentile. The AMD chip's average benchmark score is 76212, while the Intel chip's average is 41650. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX at a 0.1% delta and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D at a 0.6% delta, placing it in elite company. The Intel part's nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H and Intel Core i7-14650HX, both within 0.2%.

For multi-core workloads, the AMD chip delivers Cinebench R23 multi-core scores of 42713 versus 25518, a 67.4% advantage. For single-core tasks, the R23 single-core score is 6030 versus 3602, also a 67.4% delta. The AMD chip wins every PassMark subtest, from integer math to floating-point math to data encryption.

The Intel Core 7 251TE has its own rationale. It is a desktop part with a 45 W TDP, ECC memory support, and a launch MSRP of $384. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5, which offers platform flexibility. Its 24 cores and 32 threads provide a high core count, and its single-thread performance is relatively close, with a 9.5% deficit. The database positions it among similar-tier Intel parts, with the Core Ultra 7 265H and Core i7-14650HX scoring within 0.2%.

The verdict from the recorded data is clear: systems that need maximum performance across every measured category should use the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX. The AMD chip is 67.4% ahead in Cinebench multi-core tests and 55.2% ahead in integer math. The Intel chip remains a viable option for ECC memory requirements or lower power envelopes, where its 45 W TDP and desktop socket provide different platform characteristics. But in raw performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the decisive winner across all 17 benchmarks in the database.