AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 occupy different segments, and the benchmark data reflects that divide. The Intel part wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the largest margins in heavily multi-threaded workloads. The Ryzen 9 PRO is a mobile processor with a 45 TDP, while the Core Ultra 9 is a desktop processor with a 65 TDP. The data shows the Intel chip is the clear performance leader, but the AMD chip is the only one of the two designed for portable systems.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate a single decisive winner. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 outscores the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS in every recorded test, from single-thread to multi-thread workloads. The average benchmark score for the Intel part is 75488, compared to 41963 for the AMD part, a difference that places the Intel chip in the 95th percentile of all CPUs versus the 88th percentile for the AMD chip. The Intel processor sits alongside server-class silicon in the database, with its nearest rivals being AMD EPYC parts and Ryzen 7 PRO processors. The AMD chip, conversely, is grouped with mid-range desktop and mobile parts like the Intel Core i7-14700T and the AMD Ryzen 5 7400.

The choice between these two is dictated by the platform, not the benchmark scores. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is a mobile chip using AMD Socket FP7, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems. The Core Ultra 9 285 is a desktop processor for Intel Socket 1851. If the form factor is a laptop, the Ryzen 9 PRO is the only option in this comparison. If the system is a desktop, the Core Ultra 9 285 delivers vastly superior performance in every measured category. The data does not show a scenario where the AMD chip wins a performance test; it only offers a lower power envelope and a mobile socket.

Architecture Differences

The two processors stem from fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses the Zen 4 architecture under the codename Hawk Point, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. The AMD chip integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel chip integrates 17,800 million transistors on a larger 243 mm² die.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD processor has 8 cores and 16 threads, enabled by simultaneous multithreading. The Intel processor has 24 cores and 24 threads, which means it does not use multithreading; each core handles a single thread. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD chip allocates 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip allocates 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core, with 36 MB of shared L3.

Memory support shows a split in bandwidth. Both support DDR5 and dual-channel memory, and both support ECC memory. The AMD chip records a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel chip reaches 102.4 GB/s. PCIe connectivity differs by generation. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with the same 20 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the AMD chip featuring Radeon 780M and the Intel chip featuring Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Intel part is a desktop chip, and the AMD part is a mobile chip, a distinction that shapes all other differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any benchmark test against the Intel chip?

A: No. The recorded data shows the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 winning all 17 head-to-head tests, with the AMD chip losing every comparison.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: Are both processors built on the same manufacturing process?

A: No. The AMD chip uses a 4 nm process, while the Intel chip uses a 3 nm process. Both are fabricated by TSMC.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS runs a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boosts to 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 runs a base clock of 2.50 GHz and boosts to 5.60 GHz. Core and thread counts differ at 8 cores and 16 threads versus 24 cores and 24 threads. The TDP is 45 for the AMD chip and 65 for the Intel chip.

Sockets are incompatible: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1851. The process node is 4 nm for AMD and 3 nm for Intel. Transistor counts differ, with 25,000 million on the AMD die and 17,800 million on the Intel die. Die size is 178 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel.

Cache configurations are distinct. The AMD chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Intel chip has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 102.4 GB/s for Intel. PCIe generation is Gen 4 for AMD and Gen 5 for Intel. The integrated graphics are Radeon 780M for AMD and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU for Intel. The market segment is Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. The release date for the AMD chip is 2024-04-15, and for the Intel chip it is 2024-12-31. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $579.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a consistent margin in favor of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 48945 against 25165 for the AMD chip, a delta of -48.6 percent. The single-core Cinebench R23 result follows the same pattern: Intel scores 6909, AMD scores 3552, again a -48.6 percent delta. These near-identical deltas across the Cinebench suite indicate a proportional advantage in both single and multi-threaded rendering.

The Passmark suite reveals the widest gaps. The find prime numbers test shows the Intel chip scoring 459 versus 91 for AMD, a delta of -80.2 percent. Floating point math shows Intel at 194988 against AMD at 63490, a -67.4 percent delta. Physics tests show Intel at 3598 versus AMD at 1430, a -60.3 percent delta. These tests point to heavy computational advantages for the Intel architecture.

The narrowest margin appears in the Passmark single thread test, where Intel scores 4881 and AMD scores 3920, a delta of -19.7 percent. Data encryption shows Intel at 46949 versus AMD at 21820, a -53.5 percent delta, the second-largest gap. Integer math shows Intel at 164869 versus AMD at 103390, a -37.3 percent delta. Random string sorting shows Intel at 73651 versus AMD at 44668, a -39.4 percent delta. Data compression shows Intel at 602121 versus AMD at 368884, a -38.7 percent delta. Extended instructions show Intel at 45357 versus AMD at 27714, a -38.9 percent delta. Multithread tests show Intel at 56602 versus AMD at 30378, a -46.3 percent delta. Every recorded test, across both Cinebench and Passmark, lands in the same direction.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins every recorded benchmark, so the discussion is about the scale of the win rather than the direction. The largest winning margins are in prime number generation, floating point math, and physics, where the Intel chip leads by 80.2 percent, 67.4 percent, and 60.3 percent respectively. These results suggest workloads that rely on heavy arithmetic or algorithmic processing see the biggest benefit from the Intel part. The data encryption test also shows a large gap at 53.5 percent, indicating strong performance for security-related tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS does not win any performance category in the recorded data. Its only distinguishing factors in the database are the mobile socket, the lower 45 TDP, and the smaller physical footprint with a 178 mm² die. For a portable system, the AMD chip provides a complete platform with integrated Radeon 780M graphics and a 4 nm process. The Intel chip, by contrast, requires a desktop socket and carries a 65 TDP, making it unsuitable for the same mobile applications.

The use-case split is therefore platform-driven. For a desktop workstation where power draw is less constrained, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 delivers superior numbers in every test, with an average benchmark score of 75488 that places it in the 95th percentile. For a laptop or compact mobile system, the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the only viable choice in this comparison, with an average score of 41963 and an 88th percentile standing. The data supports no other conclusion: the Intel chip is the performance winner, and the AMD chip is the mobile option.