AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Comparison

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 represent two distinct architectural approaches from AMD. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS belongs to the 8000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses the newer Zen 5 architecture, branded under the Strix Point codename within the Ryzen AI 300 generation. This generation is notable for a hybrid design combining Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, which explains the core count disparity between the two processors.

Both chips are manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, but their physical characteristics differ considerably. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a die size of 178 mm², while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 expands to 233 mm². The transistor count for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is recorded at 25,000 million, whereas the database does not list a transistor figure for the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. This larger die area on the newer part accommodates the additional cores and the redesigned core layout.

Cache hierarchies show notable differences. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses a per-core L1 cache of 64 KB, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 increases that to 80 KB per core. Both share a 1 MB L2 cache per core and a 16 MB shared L3 cache, so the total L3 pool remains identical even though the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 50% more cores. The integrated graphics also differ: the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS carries the Radeon 780M, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 features the newer Radeon 890M.

The platform interfaces diverge on several points. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses AMD Socket FP7 and supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which uses AMD Socket FP8. PCIe connectivity is stronger on the older part with Gen 4 across 20 lanes, whereas the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Memory support overlaps on DDR5, but the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 adds LPDDR5X compatibility. Both run dual-channel memory with identical peak bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts establish the clearest separation. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 doubles that thread count with 12 cores and 24 threads. Clock behavior inverts the expectation from core counts. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 operates at a lower 2.00 GHz base but reaches a 5.10 GHz boost, nearly matching the older chip's peak frequency.

Thermal design power shows a substantial gap. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is rated at 45 W, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 draws a lower 28 W. That 17 W difference suggests the newer architecture achieves its performance targets within a tighter power envelope, despite carrying more cores.

The release timeline places the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS at 2024-04-15 and the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 2024-06-30, a gap of roughly two and a half months. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database, and both have locked multipliers. The part numbers differ, with the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS listed under two variants (FP7r2 and FP7) while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 carries a single part number.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock differences?

A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 reaches 5.10 GHz. The base clocks differ more significantly: 4.00 GHz for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS versus 2.00 GHz for the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 does not list ECC support in the database.

Q: How does the thermal design power compare?

A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a TDP of 45 W. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has a lower TDP of 28 W.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses AMD Socket FP7, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses AMD Socket FP8.

Q: What is the L3 cache capacity on each?

A: Both processors have 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The L1 cache differs, with 64 KB per core on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and 80 KB per core on the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a split that does not follow the core count narrative. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins 3 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 takes 12. Yet the older chip's victories are decisive in single-threaded and specific multi-threaded workloads.

The most dramatic margin comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS scores 3552 against the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370's 2018, a 76% advantage. That is a massive gap, far larger than the 16.5% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS posts 357 versus 306.5. The PassMark single-thread results are much closer, with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 edging ahead 3973 to 3920, a 1.3% difference.

Multi-core performance tells a more complicated story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS takes a 15.6% lead with a score of 25165 compared to 21761. However, Cinebench R15 multi-core reverses that result: the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 3409.5 against 2536, a 25.6% advantage for the newer chip. This inversion suggests the workloads stress the processors differently, with the R15 test favoring the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370's 12-core configuration while the R23 test responds better to the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS's higher clocks.

The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 dominates the PassMark suite. In integer math, it scores 122933 against 103390, a 15.9% lead. Floating-point math shows a 17.4% advantage at 76892 versus 63490. Data compression delivers 445719 versus 368884, a 17.2% gap. Extended instructions come in at 31653 versus 27714, a 12.4% margin. Find prime numbers shows the largest percentage win for the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 27.8%, with 126 versus 91.

The remaining PassMark tests reinforce the pattern. Multithread performance favors the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 by 13.6% (35148 versus 30378). Physics scores 1881 against 1430, a 24% lead. Random string sorting shows an 8.3% advantage at 48723 versus 44668. Data encryption is nearly even, with 22252 versus 21820, a 1.9% difference.

The average benchmark scores place the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS at 41963 with an 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 sits at 37904 with an 86th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS include the Intel Core i7-14700T at 41914 (0.1% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 at 42055 (-0.2% delta), the Intel Core i7-12850HX at 41779 (0.4% delta), and the Intel Core 7 251TE at 41650 (0.8% delta). The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 sits within a tight cluster: the Intel Core i9-14901E at 37911 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X at 37943 (-0.1% delta), the Intel Core 5 211E at 37829 (0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 at 37804 (0.3% delta).

The Verdict

The data shows two processors engineered for different priorities. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS delivers exceptional single-thread performance, evidenced by its 76% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core over the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Its higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost of 5.20 GHz, combined with a 45 W TDP, position it for responsiveness in lightly threaded applications. The ECC memory support and 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes add platform flexibility that the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 lacks.

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 leverages its 12 cores and 24 threads to take a clear majority of the benchmark comparisons, winning 12 of 15 head-to-head tests. Its PassMark sweep, including a 15.9% lead in integer math and a 17.4% lead in floating-point math, demonstrates strong throughput for parallel workloads. The lower 28 W TDP makes it the more power-efficient option on paper, despite a larger die area of 233 mm².

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result complicates the simple "more cores wins" conclusion. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS beats the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 by 15.6% in that test, even with fewer cores, suggesting that clock speed can outweigh core count in certain rendering workloads. The R15 multi-core test flips the outcome, giving the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 a 25.6% win.

Buyers should choose based on workload profile. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS suits applications that reward high single-thread clocks and require ECC memory validation. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 fits parallel compute tasks and power-conscious designs, with its 28 W TDP and broader PassMark dominance. The 88th percentile ranking for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS versus the 86th percentile for the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is consistent with its higher average score of 41963 versus 37904, but the benchmark distribution shows the newer chip's strengths are spread across more tests.