AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins every single head-to-head test in the database, taking all six direct comparisons. The Intel Core i5-14401E does not register a win in any of the six head-to-head benchmarks.

In multi-threaded workloads, the AMD processor dominates. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result shows the AMD scoring 2536 against Intel’s 1830, a 38.6 percent advantage. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test repeats the pattern: AMD at 10569 versus Intel at 7627, again 38.6 percent higher. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test confirms the trend, with AMD scoring 25165 compared to Intel’s 18161, another 38.6 percent difference. These consistent margins across three Cinebench generations indicate a substantial multi-threaded performance lead that scales evenly across rendering workloads.

Single-threaded performance also favors the AMD processor, though the absolute scores are lower. Cinebench R15 single-core shows AMD at 357 versus Intel at 258, a 38.4 percent lead. Cinebench R20 single-core has AMD at 1491 against Intel’s 1076, a 38.6 percent gap. Cinebench R23 single-core delivers AMD 3552 versus Intel 2564, a 38.5 percent advantage. The near-identical percentage deltas across both single and multi-threaded tests suggest that the AMD chip’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general per-clock performance edge.

The AMD processor also holds a higher overall benchmark standing. It sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel chip sits at the 60th percentile. The AMD’s average benchmark score is 41963, whereas the Intel’s average benchmark score is 5253, though the two processors are not directly comparable in this metric due to different benchmark sets. The Intel chip’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 with an average score of 5259, the Intel Core i7-11700B at 5241, the Intel Core i9-10850K at 5240, and the Intel Core i5-13400T at 5210. The AMD’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-14700T at 41914, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 at 42055, the Intel Core i7-12850HX at 41779, and the Intel Core 7 251TE at 41650.

For use cases that depend on heavy parallel computation, such as video rendering, 3D scene compilation, or scientific simulation, the AMD processor is the clear choice based on the data. For workloads that rely on single-thread responsiveness, such as legacy applications or lightly threaded code, the AMD still wins every recorded single-core test, so the Intel chip offers no advantage in any measured category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, fabricated on TSMC’s 4 nm process node. The die measures 178 mm² and contains 25,000 million transistors. The Intel Core i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake architecture under the Raptor Lake-R codename, fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process node. Its die size is 215 mm², and the database does not list a transistor count for the Intel part.

The core configurations differ significantly. The AMD chip provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip provides 6 cores and 12 threads. This two-core, four-thread advantage for AMD directly contributes to its multi-threaded benchmark wins. The base clock of the AMD processor is 4.00 GHz, boosting to 5.20 GHz. The Intel processor starts at 2.50 GHz base and boosts to 4.70 GHz. The AMD’s higher base and boost clocks, combined with more cores, explain the consistent performance margins.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD chip allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. While the Intel part has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations and a larger shared L3 (20 MB versus 16 MB), the AMD’s higher clock speeds and additional cores overcome this cache deficit in the recorded benchmarks.

Memory support separates the two as well. The AMD processor supports DDR5 memory exclusively, running on a dual-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, also on a dual-channel bus, but the database does not list a memory bandwidth figure for it. Both processors support ECC memory. The AMD uses AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD’s market segment is mobile, while the Intel’s is desktop. The process node difference (4 nm versus 10 nm) explains why the AMD chip can fit more cores and higher clocks into a smaller die while maintaining a lower thermal design power of 45 watts versus the Intel’s 65 watts.

PCIe connectivity differs. The AMD provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The newer PCIe Gen 5 standard on the Intel part offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but the AMD’s additional four lanes provide more total connectivity for expansion devices. Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD includes the Radeon 780M, while the Intel includes the UHD Graphics 730. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either part. The AMD’s release date is April 2024, while the Intel’s is June 2024. Neither part has a launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the superior processor in every measured test. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons with margins between 38.4 percent and 38.6 percent. The AMD also holds a higher percentile rank (88th versus 60th) among all CPUs. For any workload that uses the Cinebench rendering engine, the AMD delivers roughly 38 percent more performance than the Intel chip in both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios.

The Intel Core i5-14401E does not win any benchmark in the database. Its only advantages are architectural: larger L3 cache (20 MB versus 16 MB), support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and a desktop form factor with a 65-watt TDP. These features may appeal to users who need legacy DDR4 compatibility or PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, but the benchmark data shows no performance benefit from these features in the recorded tests.

The AMD chip is a mobile processor with a 45-watt TDP, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems. The Intel chip is a desktop processor with a 65-watt TDP, designed for standard desktop motherboards on Socket 1700. The choice between them depends on the platform requirement. If the system must be mobile, the AMD is the only option. If the system is desktop, the Intel offers DDR4 support and PCIe Gen 5, but at a significant measured performance cost. The data does not support choosing the Intel chip for raw performance, since the AMD wins every recorded test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD scores 25165, while the Intel scores 18161. The AMD leads by 38.6 percent.

Q: Does the Intel processor support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-14401E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports only DDR5.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS boosts to 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core i5-14401E boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a 45-watt TDP. The Intel Core i5-14401E has a 65-watt TDP.

Q: Which processor has a larger shared L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six head-to-head benchmark results in the database all show the same winner. The first test, Cinebench R15 multi-core, has the AMD scoring 2536 against the Intel’s 1830, a 38.6 percent delta. This establishes the multi-threaded lead early. The second test, Cinebench R15 single-core, shows AMD at 357 versus Intel at 258, a 38.4 percent margin. The slightly smaller single-core delta compared to the multi-core deltas suggests that the AMD’s per-core advantage is nearly uniform, with the extra cores adding a small additional benefit in multi-threaded tests.

The Cinebench R20 multi-core test repeats the 38.6 percent delta exactly, with AMD at 10569 and Intel at 7627. This consistency across R15 and R20 indicates that the performance gap is stable regardless of the Cinebench version. The Cinebench R20 single-core test also shows a 38.6 percent delta, with AMD at 1491 and Intel at 1076. Unlike the R15 pair, where the single-core delta was 0.2 percentage points lower than multi-core, the R20 pair shows identical deltas for single and multi-core tests.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test continues the pattern, AMD at 25165 versus Intel at 18161, a 38.6 percent delta. The Cinebench R23 single-core test closes the set with AMD at 3552 and Intel at 2564, a 38.5 percent delta. The six deltas are tightly clustered between 38.4 percent and 38.6 percent, demonstrating that the AMD processor’s advantage is consistent across all three Cinebench generations and across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

The Intel’s best result in any test is its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18161, but that still falls 38.6 percent behind the AMD’s 25165. The AMD’s worst result relative to the Intel is the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where its 38.4 percent lead is the smallest margin recorded. No test shows the Intel within even 30 percent of the AMD. The database records 6 wins for the AMD and 0 wins for the Intel across these head-to-head comparisons.

The percentile data reinforces this picture. The AMD sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel sits at the 60th percentile. The AMD’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700T, scores an average of 41914, just 0.1 percent below the AMD’s 41963. The Intel Core i5-14401E’s nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4, scores 5259, which is 0.1 percent above the Intel’s 5253. These rival positions show that the AMD competes with high-end desktop and enterprise chips, while the Intel competes with older desktop parts from several generations back.