AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core Ultra X9 388H Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and Intel Core Ultra X9 388H are both 16-core mobile processors, but they target very different segments of the laptop market. The AMD chip is a high-power Dragon Range part built on Zen 4, while the Intel chip is a low-power Panther Lake-H design on Intel’s 3 nm node. The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for AMD in raw performance, though Intel manages to claim a few specific workloads. This analysis breaks down the recorded results, the architectural reasons behind them, and what each processor is best suited for based strictly on the database measurements.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison comes from Cinebench R23 multi-core. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42713, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 18911, a 125.9% difference. That is more than double the Intel part’s output. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test tells a similar story with AMD at 4305 versus Intel at 2955, a 45.7% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows AMD ahead by 36.9%, with scores of 17939 and 13101.

Single-core Cinebench results are even more dramatic. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD posts 6030 against Intel’s 2200.5, a 174% advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core gives AMD a 96.1% lead (607 vs 309.5), and Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 36.9% gap (2532 vs 1849). These numbers indicate that AMD’s Zen 4 cores deliver substantially higher per-thread performance than Intel’s Panther Lake cores in the tested configuration.

PassMark integer math heavily favors AMD. The Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 195180, while the Core Ultra X9 388H scores 90882, a 114.8% difference. Data compression also leans AMD: 677755 versus 361763, a 87.3% gap. Random string sorting shows AMD at 78781 versus Intel at 44010, a 79% lead. Extended instructions go to AMD by 66.4% (49823 vs 29943), and data encryption favors AMD by 43.3% (40836 vs 28490). The multithread PassMark score has AMD at 51405 against Intel’s 36811, a 39.6% advantage.

Intel does win some tests. PassMark single-thread goes to Intel with 4280 versus AMD’s 3907, an 8.7% margin. PassMark physics favors Intel at 3226 against AMD’s 2168, a 32.8% lead. PassMark find prime numbers also goes to Intel with 358 versus AMD’s 262, a 26.8% edge. The floating point math test is close, with AMD at 117453 and Intel at 112550, a narrow 4.4% win for AMD. Overall, the recorded head-to-head results give AMD 13 wins and Intel 4 wins.

Where Each One Wins

AMD’s wins are concentrated in heavily threaded workloads that scale with core count and cache. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has 32 threads versus Intel’s 16 threads, and that doubling of thread count shows clearly in multi-threaded Cinebench and PassMark multithread tests. The 125.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the largest single delta in the comparison, indicating that AMD’s thread advantage plus its 64 MB of L3 cache delivers massive parallel performance. Data compression, integer math, and random string sorting all favor AMD by wide margins, which points to strong sustained multi-core throughput. Encryption and extended instruction workloads also run faster on AMD, suggesting that the Zen 4 architecture handles complex compute tasks more efficiently at the same power envelope.

Intel’s wins are more specialized. The PassMark single-thread score of 4280 outperforms AMD’s 3907 despite AMD winning every Cinebench single-core test. This means Intel’s Panther Lake cores have a strength in the specific single-thread tasks measured by PassMark, likely related to branch prediction or instruction scheduling. The physics score of 3226 versus 2168 is a substantial 32.8% lead, which indicates that Intel’s architecture handles physics simulation workloads, often tied to collision detection or rigid body math, more effectively. The find prime numbers test also goes to Intel by 26.8%, a niche win for certain integer loops. Floating point math is nearly a tie, with AMD edging out Intel by only 4.4%, so neither chip has a meaningful advantage in that area.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture on TSMC’s 5 nm process node. It is part of the Dragon Range codename within the 8000 series. The chip has 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its TDP is set at 55 watts, and it uses an AMD Socket FL1. The cache layout consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 total. The integrated graphics are Radeon 610M, and the CPU supports 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The multiplier is unlocked.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H uses the Panther Lake architecture on Intel’s 3 nm process node. It is part of the Core Ultra Series 3 generation. This chip also has 16 cores but only 16 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading. The base clock is 2.10 GHz and the boost clock is 5.10 GHz, both lower than AMD’s. The TDP is much lower at 25 watts, and it uses an Intel BGA 2540 socket. The cache is different: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The integrated graphics are Arc B390, and the CPU supports only 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The multiplier is locked.

These architectural differences explain the benchmark gaps. AMD’s 32 threads give it a clear parallel advantage. The larger 64 MB L3 cache helps with data-heavy workloads. The higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz contributes to the Cinebench single-core wins. Intel’s lower TDP of 25 watts versus 55 watts means it is designed for efficiency, not peak performance. The smaller 18 MB L3 and lack of SMT hurt multi-core results. Intel’s 3 nm node gives it a process advantage, but the measured performance does not reflect that benefit in most tests.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has 16 threads. AMD has double the thread count.

Q: Does Intel win any single-core benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins the PassMark single-thread test with 4280 points against AMD’s 3907, an 8.7% lead. However, AMD wins all three Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has a TDP of 25 watts. Intel’s chip is rated for much lower power draw.

Q: How does the cache compare?

A: AMD has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 total. Intel has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H boosts to 5.10 GHz.

Q: What are the integrated graphics?

A: AMD uses a Radeon 610M, and Intel uses an Arc B390.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the stronger performer in almost every measured workload. With 13 wins out of 17 head-to-head tests, including massive leads in Cinebench multi-core and PassMark integer math, it is the obvious choice for users who need maximum CPU throughput. The 32 threads, 64 MB of L3 cache, and 5.40 GHz boost clock combine to deliver results that double Intel’s output in some multi-threaded tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is not without merit. Its 25 watt TDP makes it a candidate for thin and light laptops where power efficiency matters more than raw performance. It wins the PassMark single-thread test, physics simulation, and prime number finding, which are specific enough that a user with those exact workloads might consider it. The Arc B390 integrated graphics also differ from AMD’s Radeon 610M, though the benchmark data does not cover GPU performance.

For general productivity, content creation, heavy multitasking, or any workload that scales with thread count, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the clear choice based on the recorded scores. For a user prioritizing battery life and a low power draw with occasional single-threaded tasks, the Intel part offers a different trade-off. The average benchmark scores confirm the gap: AMD sits at 76212 with a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while Intel sits at 44466 with an 88th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |

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

| Cores | 16 | 16 |

| Threads | 32 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 28 Lanes | Gen 5, 4 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc B390 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Production Status | Active | Active |