AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Intel Arc G3 EXTREME Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits cleanly between two very different mobile processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins 8 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME wins 9. The AMD part dominates sustained multi-core rendering workloads, most notably Cinebench R23 multi-core with a 71.7% lead. The Intel part counters with superior floating-point math, physics simulation, and single-thread PassMark scores. The AMD processor sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part sits at the 85th percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD chip is 41963, compared to 36699 for the Intel chip, a difference of roughly 14%. For users running long multi-threaded renders, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the clear choice. For workloads dominated by floating-point arithmetic, prime-number searches, or physics calculations, the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME delivers measurably higher scores.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME uses Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. Intel does not list transistor count or die size in the database. The AMD part belongs to the 8000 series and the Ryzen 9 generation, while the Intel part carries the Arc G3 generation label.

Core configurations differ substantially. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning no multithreading per core. Cache layouts also diverge. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 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 caches on the Intel side likely contribute to its strong single-thread PassMark result.

Memory support differs. The AMD processor uses DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel processor uses LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and 136.5 GB/s of bandwidth. AMD supports ECC memory; Intel does not. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics units differ as well, with AMD using Radeon 780M and Intel using Arc B390. The AMD socket is AMD Socket FP7, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2540. The AMD part lists two part numbers (100-000001314 for FP7r2 and 100-000001386 for FP7), while the Intel part lists a single part number, SA4R3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 25165 against the Intel part's 14655, a 71.7% advantage. The same test in its older R15 form shows a narrower 15.7% lead, with AMD at 2536 and Intel at 2192. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows an even larger percentage gap: AMD scores 3552 versus Intel's 1862, a 90.8% lead. The R15 single-core test also favors AMD by 33.7%, at 357 versus 267.

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME takes its wins in several PassMark subtests. Floating-point math favors Intel heavily: 86929 versus 63490, a 27% lead. Physics simulation shows Intel at 2515 versus AMD's 1430, a 43.1% advantage. Prime-number finding goes to Intel by 63.3%, with scores of 248 versus 91. Integer math goes the other way, with AMD ahead by 45.3% at 103390 versus 71164. Data compression favors AMD by 20.1% (368884 versus 307094), and random string sorting favors AMD by 19.7% (44668 versus 37331). Extended instructions go to AMD by 15.4% (27714 versus 24017).

The Cinebench R20 results flip the narrative. Intel wins multi-core 10945 versus 10569, a 3.4% margin, and single-core 1545 versus 1491, a 3.5% margin. PassMark single-thread also goes to Intel, 4293 versus 3920, an 8.7% lead. PassMark multithread is nearly even, with Intel at 30659 and AMD at 30378, a 0.9% margin. Data encryption favors Intel by 8.6%, 23881 versus 21820.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads; the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: AMD runs at 4.00 GHz, Intel at 1.90 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with AMD at 5.20 GHz and Intel at 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power favors Intel for efficiency: 25 W versus AMD's 45 W.

Process technology differs by one node step, with AMD on 4 nm TSMC and Intel on 3 nm Intel. The die size and transistor counts are only listed for AMD. Cache hierarchies differ across all three levels. AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: DDR5 for AMD, LPDDR5X for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 136.5 GB/s for Intel. ECC support is present on AMD only. PCIe generation and lane counts differ: Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD, Gen 5 with 4 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 780M on AMD, Arc B390 on Intel. Release dates differ, with the AMD part listed as 2024-04-15 and the Intel part as 2026-05-27. Both are mobile parts with active production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME has 14 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 8 cores. However, the AMD part has 16 threads compared to Intel's 14, because AMD enables multithreading on each core.

Q: Why does the AMD processor win Cinebench R23 multi-core by such a large margin?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS scores 25165 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 14655 for the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME, a 71.7% difference. The AMD part's higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 5.20 GHz, combined with 16 threads, likely explains the gap.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any rendering tests?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME scores 10945 versus 10569 for AMD, a 3.4% margin. It also wins R20 single-core by 3.5%, with 1545 versus 1491.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME lists 136.5 GB/s of memory bandwidth with LPDDR5X support. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS lists 89.6 GB/s with DDR5 support.

Q: Which processor is better for floating-point math?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME scores 86929 in PassMark floating-point math versus 63490 for AMD, a 27% lead. The Intel part also wins PassMark physics by 43.1% and prime-number finding by 63.3%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall database percentile?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS ranks at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41963. The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME ranks at the 85th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 36699.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins on multi-core rendering consistency. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25165 is the standout result in the entire comparison, and the R15 multi-core result confirms the trend with a 15.7% lead. The 45 W TDP and 5.20 GHz boost clock give it a clear edge in sustained all-core workloads. The AMD part also leads in integer math by 45.3%, data compression by 20.1%, random string sorting by 19.7%, and extended instructions by 15.4%. These results point toward general productivity, database-style operations, and integer-heavy compilation work.

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME wins where floating-point throughput and physics matter. Its 27% lead in floating-point math, 43.1% lead in physics simulation, and 63.3% lead in prime-number finding are decisive. The PassMark single-thread score of 4293 versus 3920 indicates stronger per-thread performance in certain workloads, despite the lower base clock of 1.90 GHz. The 25 W TDP makes it the more power-efficient option on paper, and the 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth gives it a memory throughput advantage. The Intel part also edges out AMD in data encryption by 8.6% and ties closely in PassMark multithread, with a 0.9% margin.

The Cinebench R20 results show that the Intel part can win in some renderer versions, taking both multi-core and single-core by roughly 3.5%. The R23 result, however, shows AMD with a 71.7% multi-core and 90.8% single-core lead. The choice depends on workload mix. AMD wins the aggregate score comparison, with an average benchmark score of 41963 against 36699, a difference that places it at the 88th percentile versus the 85th percentile. The nearest rivals in the database confirm the positioning: the AMD part sits within 0.8% of the Intel Core i7-14700T, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400, the Intel Core i7-12850HX, and the Intel Core 7 251TE. The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME sits within 1.1% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450.