AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results split almost evenly: the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX takes 9 wins, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus takes 8. The margins, however, are not symmetrical. In multi-core rendering, the two are effectively tied. The Cinebench R15 multicore score is identical at 4305 for both chips, and the R20 and R23 multicore results differ by only 2 and 5 points respectively, with the Intel part ahead by 0% in each case. Single-core Cinebench results are also dead even: R15 at 607, R20 at 2532, and R23 at 6030 for both.

The real separation appears in the Passmark suite. The AMD chip dominates integer math with a score of 195180 against 123030, a 58.6% advantage. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. Data compression also favors AMD heavily: 677755 versus 553155, a 22.5% lead. Extended instructions go AMD's way at 49823 versus 42880, a 16.2% margin, and random string sorting shows AMD ahead by 17.2% (78781 vs 67209). The multithread Passmark test gives AMD a narrower 2.5% win, 51405 to 50146.

The Intel chip answers with strong single-thread and floating-point results. Passmark single-thread shows 4698 against AMD's 3907, a 16.8% lead for Intel. Floating-point math goes Intel's way at 159824 versus 117453, a 26.5% margin. The physics test is also Intel territory: 3183 versus 2168, a 31.9% advantage. Find prime numbers shows Intel at 452 versus AMD's 262, a 42% lead, which is the largest Intel win. Data encryption is essentially a tie, with Intel ahead by just 1.1% (41292 vs 40836).

Overall average scores in the database place the AMD part at 76212, which sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part averages 66159, in the 93rd percentile. The AMD chip's nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX at 0.1% higher, while the Intel chip's nearest rival is the Intel Core 9 273PQE at 0.1% higher.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and market segments. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a mobile part from the 8000 series, built on Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename. It uses a 5 nm process at TSMC and fits into AMD Socket FL1. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is a desktop part from Core Ultra Series 2, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, built on a 3 nm process also at TSMC, using Intel Socket 1851.

Core counts differ in structure. The AMD chip has 16 cores and 32 threads, meaning it supports simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip has 18 cores but only 18 threads, so no hyperthreading. The Intel part has more physical cores but fewer logical threads. Base clocks differ substantially: AMD runs at 2.50 GHz base with a 5.40 GHz boost, while Intel runs at 4.20 GHz base with a 5.30 GHz boost. The Intel chip has a much higher base clock, but AMD has the higher boost ceiling.

Cache layouts are entirely different. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. That gives AMD double the L3 capacity, while Intel has more per-core L1 and L2. Transistor counts and die sizes also differ: AMD has 13,140 million transistors across a 2x 71 mm² die configuration, while Intel has 17,800 million transistors on a single 243 mm² die.

Memory support is DDR5 for both, and both use dual-channel buses. The memory bandwidth figures differ: AMD records 83.2 GB/s, while Intel records 115.2 GB/s. ECC support is present on the Intel part but not on the AMD part. PCIe lanes differ as well: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon 610M graphics; the Intel chip has no integrated graphics. The AMD part is marked as a mobile segment product with a 55 W TDP, while the Intel part is a desktop segment product with a 125 W TDP. Both have unlocked multipliers. The AMD part was released in April 2025, while the Intel part is dated March 2026.

The Verdict

The data shows two chips that trade blows depending on the workload type. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins on integer-heavy tasks, data compression, extended instruction sets, and multi-threaded Passmark performance. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins on single-threaded Passmark, floating-point math, physics simulation, and prime number finding. In Cinebench rendering, they are statistically tied across all three versions.

For workloads that rely on integer throughput and compression, such as database operations, archiving, or general productivity with many parallel threads, the AMD part's 32 threads and 58.6% integer math lead give it a clear edge. For workloads that stress single-thread responsiveness, floating-point calculations, or physics engines, the Intel part's higher base clock and per-core resources make it the better pick.

The market segments reinforce this split. The AMD chip is a mobile processor with a 55 W TDP, designed for laptops where power efficiency matters. The Intel chip is a desktop processor with a 125 W TDP, designed for socketed builds with more cooling headroom. The AMD part has integrated graphics; the Intel part does not. The Intel part supports ECC memory; the AMD part does not.

The average benchmark score favors AMD by roughly 15% (76212 vs 66159), and AMD sits two percentile points higher in the global ranking. But the Intel chip counters with a 16.8% single-thread lead and a 42% prime number finding advantage. Neither chip is a universal winner. The choice depends entirely on whether the workload is integer-multithreaded or floating-point/single-thread oriented.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. AMD has fewer cores but more threads; Intel has more cores but no multithreading.

Q: How do the Cinebench results compare?

A: They are effectively tied. Cinebench R15 multicore is 4305 for both. R20 multicore is 17939 for AMD and 17941 for Intel. R23 multicore is 42713 for AMD and 42718 for Intel. Single-core scores are identical at 607 (R15), 2532 (R20), and 6030 (R23).

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus boosts to 5.30 GHz. AMD holds a 0.10 GHz boost advantage, while Intel has the higher base clock at 4.20 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Passmark integer math, where AMD scores 195180 against Intel's 123030, a 58.6% lead. The largest Intel margin is in passmark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 452 against AMD's 262, a 42% lead.

Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses. The recorded bandwidth differs: AMD lists 83.2 GB/s, while Intel lists 115.2 GB/s.

Q: Which chip includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX includes integrated graphics, specifically the Radeon 610M. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus lists integrated graphics as N/A.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins in integer math by 58.6%, data compression by 22.5%, random string sorting by 17.2%, and extended instructions by 16.2%. It also wins the Passmark multithread test by 2.5%. These are workloads that scale with thread count and benefit from the 32-thread configuration and the larger 64 MB L3 cache. The AMD part takes 9 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins in find prime numbers by 42%, physics by 31.9%, floating-point math by 26.5%, and single-thread Passmark by 16.8%. It also edges out data encryption by 1.1%. These are workloads that favor high base clocks and per-core cache. The Intel part takes 8 of the 17 tests, and its wins are concentrated in areas where single-core efficiency and floating-point throughput matter.

The Cinebench multicore tests are a wash, with both chips scoring within 5 points of each other across R15, R20, and R23. The same applies to Cinebench single-core, where all three versions are identical. For rendering workloads, the choice between these two does not change the outcome.

The average benchmark score favors AMD overall, but the Intel part holds a significant edge in the Passmark single-thread test at 4698 versus 3907. That 16.8% difference matters for application responsiveness and lightly threaded tasks. The AMD part counters with a 2.5% multithread win, so the thread-heavy advantage is real but modest.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename on a 5 nm process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename on a 3 nm process. Both are made by TSMC.

Core and thread counts differ: AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads; Intel has 18 cores and 18 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for AMD and 4.20 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.40 GHz for AMD and 5.30 GHz for Intel. TDP figures are 55 W for AMD and 125 W for Intel.

Cache allocations differ per core and total. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. Intel provides 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB L3 shared.

Transistor counts are 13,140 million for AMD and 17,800 million for Intel. Die sizes are 2x 71 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 115.2 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is supported on Intel but not on AMD.

PCIe configurations differ: AMD has Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes; Intel has Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present on AMD (Radeon 610M) and absent on Intel. Market segments are mobile for AMD and desktop for Intel. Sockets are AMD Socket FL1 for AMD and Intel Socket 1851 for Intel. Release dates are April 2025 for AMD and March 2026 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $184. Both processors have unlocked multipliers.