AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a strikingly lopsided comparison between the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H. Of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD processor wins 13, while the Intel part takes only 4. The margin of victory in AMD's wins is often substantial, frequently exceeding 50% and in some cases approaching or surpassing 100%.

The most dramatic gap appears in the Cinebench R23 single-core test. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 6030 against Intel's 2080, a difference of 189.9%. That is the largest delta recorded anywhere in the comparison. The R23 multi-core result is nearly as stark, with AMD at 42713 versus Intel at 18747, a 127.8% advantage. These two tests alone establish that the AMD chip is in a different performance class for sustained CPU workloads.

The Cinebench R15 and R20 results follow a similar pattern, though with smaller margins. In R15 multi-core, AMD leads 4305 to 3027, a 42.2% gap. The R15 single-core test shows AMD at 607 versus 301.5, a 101.3% delta. R20 multi-core and single-core both show exactly 49.4% deltas, with AMD at 17939 and 2532 respectively, against Intel's 12011 and 1695.

PassMark integer math is another major win for AMD. The Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 195180, while the Core Ultra X7 358H manages 83147, a 134.7% difference. Data compression also heavily favors AMD: 677755 against 332508, a 103.8% delta. Random string sorting shows a 95.2% gap, with AMD at 78781 and Intel at 40357. Extended instructions favor AMD by 82.7%, with scores of 49823 versus 27274. Data encryption is a 56.8% win for AMD, 40836 to 26046. The PassMark multi-thread test shows AMD ahead 51405 to 33802, a 52.1% margin.

The floating point math test is closer. AMD scores 117453 against Intel's 103842, a 13.1% advantage. That remains a clear win, but it is the narrowest of AMD's victories.

Intel's four wins are concentrated in specific workloads. The PassMark physics test goes to Intel, 3021 versus 2168, a 28.2% margin. The find prime numbers test also favors Intel, 337 against 262, a 22.3% delta. The PassMark single-thread test, recorded under two identical entries, shows Intel at 4124 versus AMD's 3907, a 5.3% margin. That single-thread result is notable because it contradicts the Cinebench R23 single-core outcome, where AMD was ahead by 189.9%. The two suites clearly measure different aspects of single-threaded behavior.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX dominates in nearly every multi-core and throughput-oriented workload. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all go to AMD by wide margins, which indicates strong sustained performance across rendering and content creation tasks. The PassMark data compression, encryption, extended instructions, integer math, multithread, and random string sorting tests all favor AMD as well. These results point to a processor that excels at CPU-heavy productivity, scientific computing, and data manipulation tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H claims wins in four areas: physics simulation, prime number finding, and the PassMark single-thread test. The physics result is interesting because it is a specialized workload that does not necessarily correlate with general CPU performance. The prime number finding test may rely on specific instruction paths or memory behavior that favor Intel's architecture. The PassMark single-thread score of 4124 against AMD's 3907 shows that Intel holds a modest but real edge in certain lightweight, single-threaded operations.

The data suggests a clear use-case split. For rendering, compilation, data processing, and any workload that scales across cores and threads, the AMD part is the stronger choice by a wide margin. For physics simulation, prime number searches, and some single-threaded legacy applications, the Intel part has an advantage. The floating point math test, where AMD leads by only 13.1%, sits in between and shows that Intel can compete in FP-heavy but not fully multi-threaded scenarios.

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. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, meaning each core supports two threads via simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H uses the Panther Lake codename, built on Intel's 3 nm process, and also has 16 cores but only 16 threads. That means Intel's part lacks simultaneous multithreading, which explains part of the multi-core performance gap.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 on AMD likely contributes to its strong performance in data-heavy workloads like compression and random string sorting, where cache capacity matters.

The process nodes also differ. AMD uses TSMC's 5 nm process with a foundry designation of TSMC, while Intel uses its own 3 nm process. The transistor count is listed for AMD at 13,140 million, with a die size of 2x 71 mm². No transistor count or die size is recorded for the Intel part. The Intel chip does feature a newer process generation, but the benchmark results do not translate that into a performance advantage in most tests.

Memory support also differs. AMD uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Intel uses LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with a much higher recorded bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s. The higher theoretical memory bandwidth on Intel does not appear to overcome AMD's cache and core advantages in the recorded benchmarks.

Integrated graphics are another point of divergence. AMD includes a Radeon 610M, while Intel features an Arc B390. The Arc B390 is a more capable integrated GPU on paper, but no graphics benchmarks are recorded in this comparison.

Specification Differences

Several specification fields differ between the two processors. 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 X7 358H has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The AMD part also has a higher TDP of 55 watts against Intel's 25 watts, which partially explains its higher sustained performance.

The socket types are different as well. AMD uses AMD Socket FL1, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2540. The AMD processor is unlocked, meaning the multiplier can be adjusted, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD chip has a part number of 100-000001848, and Intel has SA4RAQ9ET.

PCIe lane counts differ significantly. AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes (CPU only). That is a major difference for systems that rely on CPU-attached expansion devices.

Memory support has already been noted: DDR5 for AMD versus LPDDR5X for Intel, with bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s versus 153.6 GB/s. Both have dual-channel memory buses and neither supports ECC memory.

The manufacturing details also differ. AMD is built on 5 nm at TSMC, and Intel on 3 nm at Intel. AMD lists 13,140 million transistors and a die size of 2x 71 mm², while Intel lists neither. The AMD part belongs to the 8000 series, while Intel belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3. The codenames are Dragon Range for AMD and Panther Lake for Intel.

The release dates also differ. The AMD chip has a release date of 2025-04-22, while the Intel chip has a release date of 2026-01-04. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 32 threads across 16 cores, while the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has 16 threads across 16 cores.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, compared to the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H at 4.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor wins the PassMark single-thread test?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4124, against AMD's 3907, a 5.3% margin.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in the recorded data?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the largest gap, with AMD at 6030 versus Intel at 2080, a 189.9% difference in AMD's favor.

Q: Does the Intel processor have a higher memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 83.2 GB/s.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear overall winner. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, and its victories include the most important multi-core and single-core rendering benchmarks. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result, 42713 versus 18747, shows that AMD delivers more than double the multi-threaded rendering performance. The R23 single-core result, 6030 versus 2080, shows that AMD's single-core advantage is even larger in that particular test.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H does hold specific advantages. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4124 beats AMD's 3907, and it wins the physics and prime number tests. Its lower TDP of 25 watts against AMD's 55 watts also indicates a more power-efficient design, which matters for thin-and-light laptops. The higher memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s could benefit certain memory-bound workloads.

For users prioritizing maximum CPU throughput in rendering, data compression, encryption, integer math, or any heavily threaded workload, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the clear choice based on the recorded benchmarks. For users who need a more power-conscious processor with a modest single-thread edge in the PassMark suite and better physics simulation results, the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has a narrower but real appeal. The average benchmark score reflects the overall gap: AMD records 76212, while Intel records 40967. The AMD part sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while Intel sits in the 87th percentile. The data favors AMD for almost every performance-sensitive use case.