AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and Intel Core Ultra X7 358H are close competitors overall, with the AMD chip holding a slight edge in average benchmark score at 41963 versus 40967 for Intel. The AMD part sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel lands at the 87th. Neither is a runaway winner, so your choice should depend on the specific workload.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS if you prioritize single-core responsiveness and classic rendering tasks. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 34.2% and single-core by a massive 70.8%, plus it is 24.3% ahead in integer math. It is the better option for CPU-heavy productivity that scales with high clock speeds.

Pick the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H if your work leans on parallel math, physics simulation, or data encryption. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 16.2%, R20 multi-core by 12%, PassMark multi-thread by 10.1%, floating-point math by 38.9%, physics by 52.7%, and data encryption by 16.2%. Its 16 cores and higher memory bandwidth give it a clear edge in those areas.

The Intel chip also wins the single-thread PassMark test by 4.9%, so it is not a slouch in lighter tasks either. But the AMD part is the better all-rounder for most desktop-style work, while Intel dominates the math-heavy and physics-heavy corner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. AMD uses Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel uses Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm Intel process, with 16 cores and 16 threads. The core counts are identical in thread terms, but the Intel chip has twice the physical cores with no hyperthreading, while AMD relies on simultaneous multithreading.

Cache layouts differ significantly. 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, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has larger per-core caches and a larger total L3, which helps its math-heavy results.

Memory support also splits the pair. AMD runs DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth and supports ECC memory. Intel runs LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC. The Intel platform has 71% more memory bandwidth on paper, which contributes to its floating-point and physics wins.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes. The AMD part has far more usable expansion lanes, but Intel's are a newer generation. Integrated graphics are the Radeon 780M on AMD and Arc B390 on Intel.

Clock behavior is another contrast. AMD starts at 4.00 GHz base and boosts to 5.20 GHz. Intel starts at 1.90 GHz base and boosts to 4.80 GHz. The AMD chip runs at higher clocks but draws 45 W TDP, while Intel runs lower clocks at 25 W TDP. That power difference is substantial for mobile designs.

The release timeline also differs. AMD launched on 2024-04-15, while Intel launched on 2026-01-04. Both are active production parts, and both are locked (no unlocked multiplier).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins in Cinebench R23, the most modern Cinebench version in the database. It takes multi-core by 34.2% and single-core by 70.8%. That single-core gap is the largest in the entire head-to-head set. AMD also dominates integer math by 24.3%, data compression by 10.9%, and random string sorting by 10.7%. Its extended instructions score is 1.6% higher, a narrow but consistent win.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H wins in the older Cinebench releases. It takes R15 multi-core by 16.2%, R20 multi-core by 12%, and R20 single-core by 12%. Its biggest wins come from PassMark physics at 52.7% ahead, floating-point math at 38.9% ahead, and find prime numbers at 73% ahead. It also wins data encryption by 16.2%, multi-thread by 10.1%, and the PassMark single-thread test by 4.9%.

The split is clear: AMD wins the modern Cinebench suite and integer-heavy tasks, while Intel wins floating-point, physics, prime-number computation, and encryption. For real-world use, AMD is the choice for general application work and single-threaded latency, while Intel excels at scientific computing, simulation, and cryptography.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is better for single-core performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. AMD wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 70.8%, but Intel wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 12% and PassMark single-thread by 4.9%. The AMD lead in R23 is far larger, so the overall single-core picture favors AMD.

Q: Does the Intel chip's higher core count translate into a multi-core win?

A: Not consistently. Intel wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 16.2%, R20 multi-core by 12%, and PassMark multi-thread by 10.1%, but AMD wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 34.2%. The 16 physical cores help in some tests, but AMD's higher clocks and SMT keep it competitive or ahead in others.

Q: Which CPU handles encryption better?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H wins data encryption by 16.2%, scoring 26046 versus 21820. If encryption throughput matters, Intel is the stronger pick.

Q: How do the memory systems compare?

A: AMD uses DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. Intel uses LPDDR5X with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. Intel has the higher bandwidth figure.

Q: Are both CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, both have a multiplier that is not unlocked. Neither processor supports user overclocking.

Q: Which CPU is better for physics simulation?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H wins the PassMark physics test by 52.7%, scoring 3021 versus 1430. Its 16 cores provide a clear advantage in this workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single-core win belongs to AMD in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3552 against Intel's 2080, a 70.8% advantage. That is a decisive margin for any application that relies on a single thread. AMD also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 25165 versus 18747, a 34.2% lead, and integer math with 103390 versus 83147, a 24.3% lead.

Intel counters with its own set of big wins. The largest is PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 337 against AMD's 91, a 73% gap. PassMark physics shows Intel at 3021 versus 1430, a 52.7% lead. Floating-point math goes to Intel at 103842 versus 63490, a 38.9% gap. Data encryption favors Intel at 26046 versus 21820, a 16.2% lead.

The older Cinebench tests split differently. Intel wins R15 multi-core with 3027 versus 2536, up 16.2%, and R20 multi-core with 12011 versus 10569, up 12%. Intel also wins R20 single-core with 1695 versus 1491, up 12%. AMD wins R15 single-core with 357 versus 301.5, up 18.4%.

In PassMark, Intel takes multi-thread with 33802 versus 30378, up 10.1%, and single-thread with 4124 versus 3920, up 4.9%. AMD wins data compression with 368884 versus 332508, up 10.9%, and random string sorting with 44668 versus 40357, up 10.7%. Extended instructions are nearly even, with AMD ahead by 1.6%.

Overall, the head-to-head record is 7 wins for AMD and 10 for Intel. But the magnitudes matter more than the count. AMD's wins in Cinebench R23 are huge, while Intel's wins are spread across many smaller tests plus a few large ones in physics and prime numbers. The average benchmark scores keep the two chips within 2.4% of each other, so the practical difference is workload-dependent rather than absolute.

Specification Differences

The core configuration is the most visible difference. AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel has 16 cores and 16 threads. Both are mobile processors, but the thread counts match despite the different core designs.

Clock speeds differ sharply. AMD runs at 4.00 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. Intel runs at 1.90 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The AMD part has higher clocks on both ends, which explains its strong single-core results.

TDP is another major split. AMD is rated at 45 W, while Intel is rated at 25 W. The Intel chip achieves its performance at a lower power envelope, which matters for thin-and-light laptops.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP7, Intel uses BGA 2540. Manufacturing differs too, with AMD on a 4 nm TSMC process and Intel on a 3 nm Intel process. AMD lists 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while Intel does not report those figures.

Cache sizes differ across all levels. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel provides 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Intel's larger caches support its math-heavy workloads.

Memory support differs in both type and bandwidth. AMD uses DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s and ECC support. Intel uses LPDDR5X with 153.6 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe also differs: AMD has Gen 4 with 20 lanes, Intel has Gen 5 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon 780M on AMD and Arc B390 on Intel. The AMD part was released in 2024, the Intel part in 2026.