AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Intel Core i7-14650HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and Intel Core i7-14650HX are both high-end mobile processors, but the benchmark data reveals a clear split: the Intel chip dominates raw multi-threaded throughput and heavy compute tasks, while the AMD chip counters with decisive single-core and specific workload victories. The Intel Core i7-14650HX takes 10 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark wins, but the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS claims the most dramatic single-score margin, making the choice dependent on the specific workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-14650HX establishes its dominance in multi-core Cinebench tests, though the margin varies wildly. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel leads with a score of 3470.5 against AMD's 2536, a 26.9% advantage. The R20 multicore test shows a narrower 11.5% lead for Intel (11946 vs 10569). However, the R23 multicore test flips entirely: AMD wins with 25165 over Intel's 20454, a 23% margin. This inconsistency suggests the R23 test favors AMD's architecture, while the older R15 and R20 tests favor Intel's higher core count.

Single-core performance is where AMD delivers its knockout blow. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 3552 versus Intel's 1969, an 80.4% advantage—the largest delta in the entire benchmark set. The R15 single-core test confirms this trend with AMD winning 357 to 285.5 (25% ahead). Interestingly, the R20 single-core test goes to Intel (1686 vs 1491, an 11.6% margin), contradicting the other two single-core results. PassMark single-thread tests side with AMD, but narrowly: 3920 vs 3841, a 2.1% edge.

In PassMark's suite, Intel wins most compute-heavy tests. The floating-point math test shows Intel at 84999 versus AMD's 63490, a 25.3% lead. Integer math also favors Intel (116661 vs 103390, 11.4% ahead), as does the physics test (2202 vs 1430, a substantial 35.1% margin). The find-prime-numbers test is Intel's biggest PassMark win: 152 vs 91, a 40.1% advantage. Data compression (398418 vs 368884) and encryption (22917 vs 21820) also go to Intel, by 7.4% and 4.8% respectively.

AMD counters in the extended instructions test, scoring 27714 versus Intel's 24150 (14.8% ahead), and in random string sorting (44668 vs 43035, 3.8% ahead). The multithread PassMark test goes to Intel (33495 vs 30378, 9.3% ahead), but AMD's single-thread score stays competitive. Overall, Intel wins 10 tests, AMD wins 7, but AMD's R23 single-core victory is the most statistically significant outlier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD's Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses 8 cores and 16 threads on Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Hawk Point), built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. Intel's Core i7-14650HX uses 16 cores and 24 threads on Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh), built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The core count disparity—16 vs 8—explains Intel's multi-threaded wins in R15, R20, and most PassMark tests.

Cache configurations differ significantly. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, with a larger 30 MB shared L3. Intel's larger L3 cache likely contributes to its data compression and encryption performance. The die sizes reflect the complexity: AMD's die is 178 mm² with 25,000 million transistors, while Intel's is 257 mm² (transistor count not provided).

Memory support splits the pair. AMD supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a rated bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is listed. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only)—a generational advantage for Intel's platform.

Integrated graphics also differ. AMD's Radeon 780M is a more capable iGPU for general use, while Intel's UHD Graphics 710 is more basic. Intel's part has an unlocked multiplier and its base clock is 2.20 GHz with a 5.20 GHz boost, while AMD's base clock is 4.00 GHz with the same 5.20 GHz boost. Intel's TDP is 55W versus AMD's 45W, and Intel uses the BGA 1964 socket while AMD uses Socket FP7. Release dates show Intel launched earlier (2024-01-07) than AMD (2024-04-15).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split: choose the Intel Core i7-14650HX for multi-threaded workloads that scale with core count, and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS for single-core performance and specific instruction-heavy tasks. Intel wins the majority of benchmarks (10 vs 7), but AMD's dominance in Cinebench R23 multicore (23% ahead) and R23 single-core (80.4% ahead) cannot be ignored.

For users running Cinebench R23 as a primary benchmark, AMD is the unequivocal winner. For PassMark's compute suite, Intel's 16-core design provides consistent advantages, particularly in floating-point math (25.3% ahead), prime number finding (40.1% ahead), and physics (35.1% ahead). The Intel chip also leads in memory-sensitive tasks like data compression (7.4%) and encryption (4.8%), likely due to its larger 30 MB L3 cache.

The AMD chip's wins in extended instructions (14.8%) and random string sorting (3.8%) suggest it handles specific instruction sets more efficiently, despite having half the cores. Its single-thread PassMark score (3920 vs 3841) and R15 single-core (357 vs 285.5) confirm superior per-core efficiency. However, Intel's R20 single-core win (1686 vs 1491) muddies the single-core narrative.

The verdict: pick Intel for heavy parallel compute, pick AMD for single-threaded responsiveness and R23-specific workloads. The 45W TDP of AMD versus 55W of Intel may influence thermal design, but the benchmark data does not directly measure power efficiency.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD 8, Intel 16
• Threads: AMD 16, Intel 24
• Base Clock: AMD 4.00 GHz, Intel 2.20 GHz
• Process Node: AMD 4 nm, Intel 10 nm
• Foundry: AMD TSMC, Intel Intel
• Die Size: AMD 178 mm², Intel 257 mm²
• L1 Cache: AMD 64 KB per core, Intel 80 KB per core
• L2 Cache: AMD 1 MB per core, Intel 2 MB per core
• L3 Cache: AMD 16 MB shared, Intel 30 MB shared
• Memory Support: AMD DDR5 only, Intel DDR4 and DDR5
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD 89.6 GB/s, Intel not listed
• PCIe: AMD Gen 4, 20 lanes; Intel Gen 5, 16 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: AMD Radeon 780M, Intel UHD Graphics 710
• Socket: AMD Socket FP7, Intel BGA 1964
• Unlocked Multiplier: AMD false, Intel true
• Transistors: AMD 25,000 million, Intel not listed
• Release Date: AMD 2024-04-15, Intel 2024-01-07

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-14650HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, double the cores of the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS, which has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor performs better in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins with a score of 25165, which is 23% higher than the Intel Core i7-14650HX's 20454.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in the head-to-head tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS leads by 80.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core (3552 vs 1969), the largest delta in the benchmark set.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-14650HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports DDR5 only.

Q: Do both processors have ECC memory support?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and the Intel Core i7-14650HX support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has a 4.00 GHz base clock, while the Intel Core i7-14650HX has a 2.20 GHz base clock. Both have a 5.20 GHz boost clock.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins in:

• Cinebench R23 multicore (25165 vs 20454, 23% ahead) and single-core (3552 vs 1969, 80.4% ahead)
• Cinebench R15 single-core (357 vs 285.5, 25% ahead)
• PassMark extended instructions (27714 vs 24150, 14.8% ahead)
• PassMark random string sorting (44668 vs 43035, 3.8% ahead)
• PassMark single-thread tests (3920 vs 3841, 2.1% ahead)

Intel Core i7-14650HX wins in:

• Cinebench R15 multicore (3470.5 vs 2536, 26.9% ahead) and R20 multicore (11946 vs 10569, 11.5% ahead)
• Cinebench R20 single-core (1686 vs 1491, 11.6% ahead)
• PassMark data compression (398418 vs 368884, 7.4% ahead) and encryption (22917 vs 21820, 4.8% ahead)
• PassMark find prime numbers (152 vs 91, 40.1% ahead)
• PassMark floating-point math (84999 vs 63490, 25.3% ahead) and integer math (116661 vs 103390, 11.4% ahead)
• PassMark multithread (33495 vs 30378, 9.3% ahead) and physics (2202 vs 1430, 35.1% ahead)

The Intel chip wins the majority of tests, but AMD's single-core and R23 results make it the better choice for single-threaded applications and specific rendering workloads. The Intel chip is the superior all-round compute engine, especially for floating-point-heavy tasks.