AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data positions the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX as the dominant processor for multithreaded and compute-heavy workloads, winning 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks against the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H. The AMD part delivers a 31.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore, 34.2% in PassMark multithread, and a substantial 110.8% advantage in integer math. Its average benchmark score of 76212 places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at 47468 and the 89th percentile. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H, however, wins the remaining four tests, including single-thread PassMark, physics, and prime number finding, which points to a different performance profile.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the clear choice for rendering, compilation, data compression, encryption, and any workload that scales with thread count. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H, with its 25 W TDP versus 55 W, appears designed for efficiency-conscious mobile systems where lower power draw matters more than raw throughput. Users who prioritize the fastest possible multi-core execution should select the AMD part. Those who need a processor with markedly lower power consumption and competitive single-thread PassMark scores should consider the Intel part, provided their workloads align with its specific strengths in physics simulation and prime number calculations.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX records an average benchmark score of 76212, far ahead of the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H at 47468.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core Cinebench tests?

A: AMD leads in all Cinebench single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD scores 607 against 462, a 31.4% margin. In R20, AMD scores 2532 against 1929, a 31.3% margin. In R23, AMD scores 6030 against 4595, a 31.2% margin.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins four benchmarks: PassMark single-thread (4453 vs 3907, a 12.3% lead), PassMark physics (3404 vs 2168, a 36.3% lead), PassMark find prime numbers (357 vs 262, a 26.6% lead), and PassMark singlethread (same scores as single-thread).

Q: What is the difference in thread count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has 16 threads. Both have 16 cores.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H. The AMD base clock is 2.50 GHz versus 2.00 GHz for Intel.

Q: How do the processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has a higher memory bandwidth at 153.6 GB/s, compared to 83.2 GB/s for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX. Intel supports LPDDR5X memory, while AMD supports DDR5.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is built on TSMC's 5 nm process with Zen 4 architecture and the Dragon Range codename. It belongs to the 8000 series and the Ryzen 9 generation. The chip contains 13,140 million transistors across a die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H uses Intel's 3 nm process with the Panther Lake codename and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3. Its process node is smaller, but the database records no transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD processor allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel processor allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Intel side may benefit certain latency-sensitive workloads, while the AMD chip's 64 MB L3 gives it a large shared cache advantage.

The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 610M, while Intel uses Arc B390. Both processors target the mobile market segment and are marked as Active in production status. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel part does not. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FL1, and the Intel processor uses Intel BGA 2540. The AMD part's part number is 100-000001848; the Intel part number is recorded as unknown.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and Intel Core Ultra X9 378H share a core count of 16, but diverge on threads: 32 versus 16. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for AMD and 2.00 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.40 GHz for AMD and 5.00 GHz for Intel. The TDP differs significantly: 55 W for AMD versus 25 W for Intel. The AMD chip uses DDR5 memory, while the Intel chip uses LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD and 153.6 GB/s for Intel, a notable Intel advantage. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe lane counts differ: the AMD processor supports Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while the Intel processor supports Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel processor is locked. Release dates are recorded as 2025-04-22 for AMD and 2026-04-03 for Intel. The AMD chip uses a 5 nm TSMC process, and the Intel chip uses a 3 nm Intel process. The AMD architecture is listed as Zen 4, while the Intel architecture field is null, with the generation listed as Ultra X9 (Panther Lake-H).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX dominates the Cinebench suite. In R15 multicore, AMD scores 4305 against 3281, a 31.2% advantage. R15 single-core shows 607 against 462, a 31.4% lead. R20 multicore: 17939 against 13672, a 31.2% lead. R20 single-core: 2532 against 1929, a 31.3% lead. R23 multicore: 42713 against 32553, a 31.2% lead. R23 single-core: 6030 against 4595, a 31.2% lead. The consistency across every Cinebench iteration indicates a uniform performance gap tied to the AMD chip's higher thread count, higher clocks, and larger cache.

PassMark results show a wider spread. Integer math favors AMD massively: 195180 against 92603, a 110.8% lead, the largest margin in the dataset. Data compression favors AMD at 677755 against 386591, a 75.3% lead. Random string sorting favors AMD at 78781 against 44648, a 76.4% lead. Extended instructions favor AMD at 49823 against 31315, a 59.1% lead. Data encryption favors AMD at 40836 against 29840, a 36.8% lead. Multithread favors AMD at 51405 against 38298, a 34.2% lead. Floating point math is close: AMD scores 117453 against 114500, a 2.6% lead. These results indicate the AMD processor is particularly strong in integer-heavy and data-processing tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins four benchmarks, and its victories are concentrated in specific areas. PassMark physics shows Intel at 3404 against 2168, a 36.3% lead, the largest Intel margin. PassMark find prime numbers shows Intel at 357 against 262, a 26.6% lead. PassMark single-thread and singlethread both show Intel at 4453 against 3907, a 12.3% lead. These wins suggest the Intel part has a meaningful advantage in single-threaded PassMark workloads and physics simulation, despite losing every Cinebench test. The physics result is notable because it is the only benchmark where Intel wins by more than 30%.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the winner for multi-core rendering, video encoding, software compilation, and any workload that exploits 32 threads. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 42713 against 32553 confirms a 31.2% advantage that will translate directly to shorter render times. Data compression at 677755 against 386591, a 75.3% lead, makes the AMD part the clear pick for archiving, backup, and database workloads. Integer math at 195180 against 92603, a 110.8% lead, indicates strong performance in financial modeling, scientific computing, and code compilation. Data encryption at 40836 against 29840, a 36.8% lead, favors AMD for secure data handling. Random string sorting at 78781 against 44648, a 76.4% lead, points to advantages in text processing and sorting algorithms.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins in physics simulation, scoring 3404 against 2168, a 36.3% lead. This suggests the Intel part may be preferable for physics-based workloads in certain simulation or gaming contexts. The PassMark single-thread win at 4453 against 3907, a 12.3% lead, indicates that the Intel chip handles lightly threaded tasks faster in PassMark's measurement. Prime number finding at 357 against 262, a 26.6% lead, gives Intel an edge in that specific mathematical workload. The Intel part also has a much lower TDP at 25 W versus 55 W, which is not a benchmark score but a recorded specification that matters for thermal design and battery life in mobile systems.

The overall average benchmark scores place the AMD part at 76212 versus 47468 for Intel. The AMD processor ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel processor ranks in the 89th percentile. The AMD chip's nearest rival by average score is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX at 76155, a 0.1% delta, indicating the AMD part is essentially matched with that competitor. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 at 47527, a 0.1% delta, placing its performance in a lower tier. The data does not support the Intel part for users who need maximum multi-core throughput; it supports the AMD part. The Intel part's strengths are narrower, focused on physics, prime numbers, and PassMark single-thread, with the added efficiency of a 25 W TDP.