AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data leaves no ambiguity about the performance split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins all six head-to-head comparisons in the database, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across three Cinebench versions. The Intel Core i5-14401E does not register a single victory in any recorded test.

The AMD part dominates multi-core throughput by a wide margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713 against the Intel chip's 18,161, a 135.2% advantage. That same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core (17,939 vs 7,627) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (4,305 vs 1,830), with identical 135.2% deltas in both cases. The consistency of that margin across three different Cinebench versions suggests the gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

Single-core results tell the same story, though the percentage delta is nearly identical. The Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by 135.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (6,030 vs 2,564), 135.3% in R20 single-core (2,532 vs 1,076), and 135.3% in R15 single-core (607 vs 258). The near-uniform delta across all six tests indicates that the AMD chip's advantage is not concentrated in any particular instruction pattern but applies broadly across both lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads.

The Intel Core i5-14401E does have a market segment distinction working in its favor: it is a desktop part, whereas the AMD chip is mobile. That classification matters for platform context, but the benchmark data itself shows no workload category where the Intel processor closes the gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on TSMC's 5 nm process, built on a Dragon Range chiplet design with a transisor count of 13,140 million and a die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core i5-14401E uses Raptor Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process with a monolithic 215 mm² die and no transistor figure recorded in the database.

Core counts diverge sharply. The AMD chip packs 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel chip offers 6 cores and 12 threads. That 10-core and 20-thread difference explains the wide multi-core gap in the benchmark results. Base clocks are identical at 2.50 GHz for both parts, but boost clocks differ: the AMD chip reaches 5.40 GHz versus the Intel chip's 4.70 GHz.

Cache hierarchies also differ in structure and size. The AMD part uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and a 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and a 20 MB shared L3. The AMD's larger L3 pool, 64 MB versus 20 MB, is a notable advantage for workloads with large working sets.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only with dual-channel memory and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory, but the database records no bandwidth figure for it. ECC memory support also splits the pair: the Intel part supports ECC, the AMD part does not.

PCIe connectivity gives the AMD part more headroom. It offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ, with the AMD chip using Radeon 610M and the Intel chip using UHD Graphics 730.

Socket and platform requirements separate the two completely. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FL1 and is classified as a mobile part with a 55 W TDP. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700, is a desktop part, and carries a 65 W TDP. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, while the Intel multiplier is locked. Production status is active for both, and the database lists no launch MSRP for either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six recorded head-to-head results all favor the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, with deltas hovering near 135%. The multi-core tests show the largest absolute gaps. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 42,713 versus 18,161 for the Intel part, a difference of 24,552 points. In R20 multi-core, the spread is 10,312 points (17,939 vs 7,627). In R15 multi-core, the gap is 2,475 points (4,305 vs 1,830).

Single-core gaps are proportionally similar despite smaller absolute numbers. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 6,030 versus 2,564, a 3,466-point lead. R20 single-core shows 2,532 versus 1,076, a 1,456-point lead. R15 single-core shows 607 versus 258, a 349-point lead. Every single-core delta measures 135.2% or 135.3%, meaning the AMD chip is roughly 2.35 times faster in every recorded test.

The percentile data places these results in context. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 76,212. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX at 76,155 (0.1% behind), the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P at 76,492 (0.4% ahead), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX at 76,513 (0.4% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D at 75,779 (0.6% behind). The Intel Core i5-14401E, by contrast, sits at the 60th percentile with an average benchmark score of 5,253. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 at 5,259 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i7-11700B at 5,241 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i9-10850K at 5,240 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i5-13400T at 5,210 (0.8% behind).

The average benchmark score gap between the two processors is enormous: 76,212 versus 5,253. That comparison is not directly apples-to-apples because the AMD chip has far more Passmark sub-tests recorded in the database, but the Cinebench head-to-head results confirm the same directional conclusion.

The Verdict

The data supports a decisive conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark category. It wins all six head-to-head tests with deltas around 135%, which means it delivers more than double the performance of the Intel Core i5-14401E in both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench workloads.

The AMD chip's 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 5.40 GHz boost clock and 64 MB of L3 cache, give it a structural advantage that the Intel chip's 6 cores and 12 threads cannot offset. The Intel part's higher TDP of 65 W versus 55 W does not translate into a performance benefit in the recorded data. Its ECC memory support, DDR4 compatibility, and UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics are distinguishing features, but none of them appear in any benchmark result.

The Intel Core i5-14401E does have one contextual edge: it is a desktop processor, which typically means a different platform ecosystem and upgrade path than the AMD mobile chip. But within the measured data, there is no workload where the Intel part wins. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX also sits near the top of the overall CPU percentile ranking at 95, while the Intel chip sits at 60. For raw compute performance, the AMD chip is the clear choice based on the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713 versus 18,161 for the Intel Core i5-14401E, a 135.2% advantage for the AMD chip.

Q: Do both processors have the same base clock?

A: Yes, both have a 2.50 GHz base clock. Their boost clocks differ: the AMD chip reaches 5.40 GHz, while the Intel chip reaches 4.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. The database records no memory bandwidth figure for the Intel Core i5-14401E.

Q: How do the two processors rank among all CPUs in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is at the 95th percentile with an average benchmark score of 76,212. The Intel Core i5-14401E is at the 60th percentile with an average benchmark score of 5,253.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX | Intel Core i5-14401E |

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

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 12 |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Raptor Lake |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 2x 71 mm² | 215 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 | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

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

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | Not recorded |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

The base clock is identical at 2.50 GHz for both, so it is omitted from the table above. Both processors have dual-channel memory buses, active production status, and no launch MSRP recorded in the database.