AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, 15 wins to 0. The Ryzen AI 7 445 is a fundamentally different product class, a 28 W mobile chip competing against a 170 W desktop flagship, and the recorded scores reflect that gap across every workload category. The verdict is simple: the Ryzen 9 9950X is the choice for any task where processing throughput is the priority. The Ryzen AI 7 445 exists in a different performance envelope entirely, and its data profile suggests it serves a different purpose: efficiency-oriented mobile computing where the 170 W power draw of the 9950X is not an option.

The 9950X sits at the 94th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 74,640. Its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 at 74,761 (0.2% higher) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 475 at 74,496 (0.2% lower), indicate it is in a tightly contested performance tier. The Ryzen AI 7 445, by contrast, lands at the 79th percentile with a 26,936 average score, placing it near the Intel Core i7-1370P (26,900, 0.1% higher) and AMD Ryzen 5 7545U (26,849, 0.3% higher). The 9950X outperforms the AI 7 445 by a factor of roughly 2.8 in average benchmark score, a gap that no single workload in the data closes.

The user who should pick the Ryzen 9 9950X is one whose tasks are bound by raw compute: the Cinebench scores, PassMark math tests, and multi-threaded workloads all show massive deltas. The user who should pick the Ryzen AI 7 445 is one operating within a 28 W mobile power envelope, where the 9950X's 170 W TDP is simply not feasible. The data cannot recommend the AI 7 445 on performance grounds, but it can recommend it on the basis of form factor and power class, provided the workload expectations match its measured output.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 9950X wins every recorded benchmark, so the "where each one wins" split is not about workload categories but about operating context. In multi-threaded rendering, the 9950X delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 40,924 versus 10,590 for the AI 7 445, a 286.4% advantage. In single-threaded tasks, the gap narrows but remains decisive: Cinebench R15 single-core shows 344 versus 254 (35.4% ahead), and R23 single-core shows 2,202 versus 1,806 (21.9% ahead). The PassMark suite reinforces this pattern: integer math at 242,097 versus 58,332 (315% ahead), floating point math at 159,063 versus 39,362 (304.1% ahead), and extended instructions at 71,564 versus 15,826 (352.2% ahead).

The AI 7 445 wins no benchmarks, but its data profile shows where it is competitive relative to its own class. Its single-thread scores, such as PassMark single thread at 3,591 and Cinebench R23 single-core at 1,806, are within 32% and 22% of the 9950X respectively, indicating that for lightly threaded tasks the mobile chip is not wildly outclassed. Its multi-threaded performance, however, drops off sharply: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10,590 is only 25.9% of the 9950X's 40,924. The AI 7 445's wins, if any, would be in power-constrained mobile scenarios, but the database records no benchmark that captures power efficiency directly.

The PassMark physics test shows a 236% delta (3,279 versus 976), and the data compression test shows 315.4% (896,544 versus 215,812). The 9950X dominates in every measurable compute dimension; the AI 7 445's only advantage in the recorded data is its 28 W TDP and mobile socket, which are not benchmark scores but operational parameters.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use AMD's Zen 5 architecture and are fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process, but their physical configurations diverge sharply. The Ryzen 9 9950X, codenamed Granite Ridge, belongs to the 9000 series and is a 16-core, 32-thread part with a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The Ryzen AI 7 445, codenamed Gorgon Point, is a 6-core, 12-thread part from the Ryzen AI 400 generation (which mixes Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores), with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The 9950X's clock advantage is substantial: 2.30 GHz higher base and 1.10 GHz higher boost.

The cache hierarchy differs significantly. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, but the 9950X has 64 MB of L3 cache versus only 4 MB on the AI 7 445. This 16x difference in L3 capacity is central to the 9950X's multi-threaded dominance, as it reduces memory stalls in data-heavy workloads. The 9950X uses a dual-die design with a reported die size of 2x 70.6 mm² and 16,630 million transistors; the AI 7 445's die size and transistor count are not recorded.

The memory interface is dual-channel DDR5 for both, with identical memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The PCIe configuration differs: the 9950X offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the AI 7 445 offers Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the 9950X carries Radeon Graphics, while the AI 7 445 uses the Radeon 840M. The 9950X has an unlocked multiplier; the AI 7 445 is locked. The 9950X is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5, released August 14, 2024, with a launch MSRP of $649. The AI 7 445 is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP8, released January 4, 2026, with no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Ryzen 9 9950X has 64 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen AI 7 445 has 4 MB of L3 cache, a 16x difference.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: Both support DDR5 and dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AI 7 445 also supports LPDDR5X, and both support ECC memory.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The Ryzen 9 9950X has a TDP of 170 W. The Ryzen AI 7 445 has a TDP of 28 W.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 9 9950X boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Are both CPUs based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use Zen 5 architecture and are fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process. The AI 7 445's generation mixes Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Ryzen 9 9950X comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 345 versus 56, a 516.1% delta. This test is highly sensitive to core count and memory latency, and the 9950X's 16 cores and 64 MB L3 cache produce an overwhelming advantage. The second-largest delta is in PassMark extended instructions: 71,564 versus 15,826, a 352.2% gap. The 9950X's wider core count and higher clocks drive this result.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 9950X scores 40,924 against 10,590, a 286.4% advantage. This is the canonical multi-threaded rendering workload, and the 6-core AI 7 445 cannot compete with the 16-core 9950X. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 6,335 versus 1,723, a 267.7% delta. PassMark data encryption shows 44,366 versus 10,519, a 321.8% gap, while data compression shows 896,544 versus 215,812, a 315.4% delta.

The smallest deltas occur in single-threaded workloads. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,202 versus 1,806, a 21.9% advantage for the 9950X. PassMark single thread shows 4,737 versus 3,591, a 31.9% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 344 versus 254, a 35.4% gap. These narrower deltas indicate that per-core Zen 5 efficiency is comparable; the 9950X's higher boost clock (5.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz) accounts for most of the single-thread lead.

PassMark integer math delivers 242,097 versus 58,332 (315% delta), floating point math delivers 159,063 versus 39,362 (304.1% delta), and random string sorting delivers 94,368 versus 23,488 (301.8% delta). PassMark physics shows 3,279 versus 976 (236% delta), and PassMark multi-thread shows 66,030 versus 18,115 (264.5% delta). In every recorded test, the 9950X leads by at least 21.9%, and in the majority of tests, the lead exceeds 200%. The AI 7 445's single-thread scores are respectable, but its multi-threaded performance falls to roughly one-quarter to one-third of the 9950X, depending on the test.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across every major specification field except architecture, process node, foundry, L1/L2 cache per core, memory bus width, memory bandwidth, ECC support, and production status. The core count difference is 16 versus 6, and the thread count difference is 32 versus 12. Base clock is 4.30 GHz versus 2.00 GHz; boost clock is 5.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. TDP is 170 W versus 28 W. The 9950X uses AMD Socket AM5; the AI 7 445 uses AMD Socket FP8. Codename is Granite Ridge versus Gorgon Point. Generation is Ryzen 9 (Zen 5 Granite Ridge) versus Ryzen AI 400 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c). The 9950X has 16,630 million transistors and a die size of 2x 70.6 mm²; the AI 7 445 has no recorded transistor count or die size.

L3 cache is 64 MB on the 9950X versus 4 MB on the AI 7 445. Memory support is DDR5 on the 9950X versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X on the AI 7 445. PCIe is Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics is Radeon Graphics versus Radeon 840M. Market segment is Desktop versus Mobile. Release date is August 14, 2024 versus January 4, 2026. The 9950X has a launch MSRP of $649; the AI 7 445 has no recorded launch MSRP. The 9950X has an unlocked multiplier; the AI 7 445 is locked. Part numbers are 100-000001277 and 100-000001935 respectively.