AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 366H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a stark contrast between the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H. Across the recorded tests, the AMD processor wins 13 of 17 comparisons, while the Intel chip takes 4 wins. The magnitude of the AMD advantage varies heavily by workload, ranging from narrow single-thread deficits to more than double the throughput in some multi-threaded tasks.

Looking at the Cinebench suite, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX shows a consistent 50% advantage in both multi-core and single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 42713 against 28477 for the Intel part, a 50% lead. The R23 single-core test shows the same pattern: 6030 versus 4020, again a 50% delta. This consistency carries through Cinebench R15 and R20, where every test, both single and multi-core, lands at a 49.9% to 50% advantage for the AMD processor. The Cinebench results indicate that the Ryzen 9 8945HX delivers roughly half again as much performance as the Core Ultra 7 366H in both lightly threaded and fully loaded rendering workloads.

The Passmark results reveal where each processor has its strengths. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX dominates integer math with a score of 195180 versus 83695, a 133.2% lead. Data compression shows a 107% advantage, with the AMD chip scoring 677755 against 327455. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 97.9%, with scores of 78781 and 39814. Extended instructions favor AMD by 85.2%, at 49823 versus 26901. Data encryption shows a 58% gap, with AMD at 40836 and Intel at 25845. The multi-thread Passmark test gives AMD a 53.8% lead, 51405 to 33429. Floating point math is closer, but AMD still wins by 13.4%, with scores of 117453 and 103615.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H takes its wins in three distinct areas. Passmark physics shows Intel ahead at 2880 versus 2168, a 24.7% advantage. Find prime numbers goes to Intel by 19.6%, with scores of 326 and 262. The single-thread Passmark tests, both listed as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, show Intel winning by a narrow 3.4%, at 4043 versus 3907. These wins indicate that the Intel part has specific strengths in certain integer-heavy and physics-oriented workloads, though the overall single-thread picture is mixed given the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core results all favor AMD by roughly 50%.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX posts an average score of 76212, placing it in the 95th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H averages 41263, sitting in the 87th percentile. The gap between the two average scores is substantial, with AMD holding roughly an 85% advantage in aggregate performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H uses the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. Both chips have 16 cores, but the thread counts differ significantly: the AMD part supports 32 threads, while the Intel part supports only 16 threads. This means the AMD processor is a simultaneous multithreading design, while the Intel chip does not use SMT in this configuration.

Clock speeds also differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H runs at a 2.00 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The AMD chip also carries a higher TDP of 55 watts against 25 watts for the Intel part, which explains some of the performance gap but also indicates different thermal and power envelopes.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. The AMD processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's much larger L3 pool, 64 MB versus 18 MB, gives it a significant advantage in workloads that benefit from large working sets resident in cache.

Memory support shows another key difference. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, with a higher memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The Intel part's memory controller feeds more bandwidth to the system, which may help in certain memory-sensitive workloads despite the lower core throughput. Both processors use dual-channel memory buses.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes from the CPU. This gives the AMD platform more headroom for multiple Gen 5 devices such as NVMe drives or discrete GPUs.

The integrated graphics differ. AMD uses the Radeon 610M, while Intel uses the Xe3 Graphics. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either part, so any comparison of iGPU performance would require separate measurements. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 2540. The Intel chip has a lower power envelope at 25 watts TDP, which may suit thinner notebooks, while the AMD part's 55 watt TDP suggests a design aimed at larger, higher-performance laptops.

The release dates differ notably. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX was released in April 2025, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H is dated January 2026. Both are listed as active production parts for the mobile market segment. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX as the stronger processor in nearly every scenario measured. The 50% lead across all Cinebench tests, both single and multi-core, indicates that the AMD chip delivers substantially more rendering and general compute performance. The Passmark results reinforce this, with AMD winning integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, random string sorting, floating point math, and the multi-thread test. The AMD chip also holds a higher average benchmark score of 76212 against 41263, and it sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs versus the 87th percentile for the Intel part.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H has legitimate wins in physics, prime number finding, and the Passmark single-thread test. These are not trivial results. The 24.7% lead in physics and 19.6% lead in prime numbers show that the Intel architecture handles certain integer and simulation workloads more efficiently. The 3.4% single-thread Passmark win shows that the Intel chip is not universally slower in lightly threaded tasks. However, the Cinebench single-core results contradict that picture, with AMD winning by 50% in all three Cinebench versions. The single-thread story depends heavily on which benchmark is considered authoritative.

The Intel part also offers a lower 25 watt TDP, which matters for system design. A 55 watt processor requires more substantial cooling and battery capacity. The Intel chip's higher memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s for AMD is another point in its favor, as is the support for both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory types. The AMD chip counters with a much larger L3 cache, more PCIe lanes, and an unlocked multiplier.

For buyers who prioritize raw compute, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the clear choice based on the benchmark data. For buyers who need a lower-power part with specific strengths in physics or prime number workloads, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H has a narrower but real set of advantages. The choice depends on whether the workload matches Intel's niche wins or AMD's broad dominance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42713, which is 50% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H at 28477.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H win any benchmarks against the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX?

A: Yes, the Intel part wins 4 of 17 recorded tests: Passmark physics (2880 versus 2168), find prime numbers (326 versus 262), and both Passmark single-thread tests (4043 versus 3907).

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both processors have 16 cores. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX supports 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H supports 16 threads.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses a 5 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H uses a 3 nm process from Intel.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H has a TDP of 25 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins in rendering workloads, as shown by the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 results, where it leads by 50% in both single and multi-core tests. It also wins in integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, random string sorting, floating point math, and the Passmark multi-thread test. The AMD chip's 64 MB of L3 cache and 32 threads give it a clear edge in heavily parallel workloads and in tasks that repeatedly access large data sets. The unlocked multiplier adds flexibility for users who want to push clocks beyond the stock 5.40 GHz boost.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H wins in Passmark physics, where its 2880 score beats the AMD chip's 2168 by 24.7%. It also wins in find prime numbers, scoring 326 against 262, a 19.6% margin. The Passmark single-thread test goes to Intel by 3.4%, at 4043 versus 3907. The Intel part's 25 watt TDP makes it more suitable for thinner, lighter laptops where cooling and battery life are constrained. Its memory controller supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a higher bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, which may benefit workloads that are sensitive to memory throughput. The 3 nm process node also suggests a newer manufacturing technology, though the database does not include efficiency measurements to quantify that advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX belongs to the 8000 series and uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3 and uses the Panther Lake architecture. The AMD chip is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel chip is built on a 3 nm process at Intel. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

The TDP differs significantly: AMD is rated at 55 watts, Intel at 25 watts. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2540. Cache structures differ in every level. The AMD part has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Memory support shows AMD limited to DDR5, while Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 115.2 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s for AMD. PCIe lane counts favor AMD, with 28 Gen 5 lanes against 12 Gen 5 lanes for Intel. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses Xe3 Graphics. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, the Intel multiplier is locked. Neither processor has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.