AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 occupy the same performance percentile, yet their benchmark profiles could not be more different. The data shows a clear split: the Intel part dominates in every multi-threaded and compute-heavy workload tested, while the AMD chip claims a razor-thin single-thread victory. This analysis walks through the head-to-head results, architectural divergence, and the use-case implications derived strictly from the supplied benchmark and specification data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head comparisons, and the margins are often substantial. In the passmark_multithread test, Intel scores 56,902 against AMD’s 38,201, a 49% advantage. The gap widens further in passmark_physics, where Intel’s 3,476 beats AMD’s 2,026 by 71.6%. The largest single delta appears in passmark_find_prime_numbers: Intel scores 460 versus AMD’s 188, a 144.7% lead. These results point to a massive throughput advantage for the Intel chip, likely tied to its core count and cache configuration, which we will examine later.

Floating-point and encryption workloads show similar dominance. In passmark_floating_point_math, Intel’s 194,998 score is 136.5% higher than AMD’s 82,461. Data encryption sees Intel at 48,567 versus 22,848, a 112.6% delta. Integer math is closer but still decisive: Intel scores 155,076 against 124,167, a 24.9% lead. Data compression follows a similar pattern, with Intel’s 631,885 outpacing AMD’s 457,211 by 38.2%. Even extended instructions, a test of SIMD and specialized opcode throughput, favors Intel by 33.6% (49,148 vs. 36,800).

The only AMD wins are in the two single-thread tests, which are effectively identical. In passmark_single_thread, AMD scores 4,624 versus Intel’s 4,618, a delta of just -0.1%. The same score appears for passmark_singlethread, confirming a statistical tie. This is a notable result: despite having a lower boost clock (5.40 GHz vs. 5.50 GHz), the AMD part edges out Intel in single-core performance, suggesting higher IPC per clock from the Zen 5 architecture.

Looking at the nearestRivals data, both CPUs sit at the 95th percentile among all CPUs. Intel’s avgBenchmarkScore is 76,155, with its closest rival being the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX (76,212, delta -0.1%). AMD’s avgBenchmarkScore is 74,761, placing it just 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (74,640) and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 475 (74,496). The Intel chip’s closest rival list includes the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P (-0.4%) and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX (-0.5%), showing it competes with a broader range of high-end parts.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental divergence lies in core and thread counts. Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285HX packs 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning no hyperthreading; each core handles one thread. AMD’s Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 has 8 cores and 16 threads, using simultaneous multithreading to double thread count. The Intel chip’s 24 physical cores give it a raw execution resource advantage that explains its dominance in multithreaded tests.

The process nodes differ by one generation. Intel uses a 3 nm process from TSMC, while AMD uses a 4 nm process, also from TSMC. Intel’s die size is 243 mm², containing 17,800 million transistors; AMD’s die is 70.6 mm² with 8,315 million transistors. The Intel die is over three times larger, reflecting the higher core count and integrated graphics.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with 36 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3. Intel’s larger per-core caches and slightly larger L3 pool give it more on-die data capacity, which likely contributes to its compression and encryption wins.

Memory bandwidth also favors Intel. Both support dual-channel DDR5, but Intel’s memory bandwidth is rated at 102.4 GB/s versus AMD’s 89.6 GB/s, a 14% difference. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ: Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), giving AMD a small expansion advantage.

The integrated graphics are distinct: Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, while AMD includes Radeon Graphics. The market segments differ, with Intel targeting Mobile and AMD targeting Server/Workstation. Release dates are also different, with Intel launching on 2025-01-12 and AMD on 2025-09-15. Intel’s multiplier is unlocked, while AMD’s is locked.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for multi-threaded workloads: the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is the clear winner. Its 49% lead in multithreaded performance, 71.6% in physics, and 144.7% in prime number computation make it the choice for rendering, scientific computing, and any task that scales across cores. The 24-core design provides a massive parallel throughput advantage that the 8-core AMD chip cannot match.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 wins only on single-thread performance, and by a negligible margin. A 0.1% lead in passmark_single_thread is within noise, but it does indicate that AMD’s Zen 5 architecture extracts more performance per clock in lightly threaded workloads. For users running legacy single-threaded applications, the AMD chip is statistically equivalent to Intel.

For server or workstation environments where the AMD chip is positioned, the 24 PCIe lanes and lower core count may be more appropriate for I/O-heavy tasks, but the benchmark data does not support choosing it for raw compute. The Intel part’s 95th percentile ranking and higher avgBenchmarkScore (76,155 vs. 74,761) make it the superior processor in the tests measured here. Strictly from the data, the recommendation is Intel for compute density, AMD only if single-thread parity and lower core count are specific requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has an avgBenchmarkScore of 76,155, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 scores 74,761.

Q: How much faster is Intel in the passmark_multithread test?

A: Intel scores 56,902 versus AMD’s 38,201, a 49% advantage.

Q: Does AMD win any benchmark?

A: Yes, AMD wins the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread tests, both with a score of 4,624 against Intel’s 4,618, a delta of -0.1%.

Q: What are the core counts for each processor?

A: Intel has 24 cores and 24 threads, while AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: Intel has 36 MB of shared L3, while AMD has 32 MB of shared L3.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for each?

A: Intel is rated at 102.4 GB/s, and AMD is rated at 89.6 GB/s, both with dual-channel DDR5 support.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX wins in every multi-threaded benchmark category. Its largest margins come in prime number computation (144.7% over AMD), floating-point math (136.5%), and data encryption (112.6%). These results indicate strengths in cryptography, financial modeling, and any workload that relies on heavy arithmetic. The 49% lead in multithreaded performance and 71.6% in physics suggest that rendering, simulation, and video encoding are Intel’s territory. Data compression, with a 38.2% lead, also favors Intel for database and file-server workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 wins only in single-thread tests, and by a negligible 0.1%. This is not a meaningful practical advantage, but it does mean that for applications that are purely single-threaded, the AMD chip will perform at parity with the Intel chip. The AMD part’s lower core count and 65 W TDP, versus Intel’s 55 W TDP, make it a lower-density option, but the benchmark data does not show it winning any compute-intensive test.

The choice is clear: for multi-threaded performance, Intel is the only option between these two. The AMD chip’s single-thread tie is its only claim to relevance in the data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. Intel has 24 cores and 24 threads; AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel’s base clock is 2.80 GHz versus AMD’s 3.80 GHz, but Intel’s boost clock reaches 5.50 GHz against AMD’s 5.40 GHz. Intel’s TDP is 55 W, while AMD’s is 65 W.

The process nodes differ: Intel uses TSMC’s 3 nm process, AMD uses TSMC’s 4 nm process. Intel’s die size is 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors, while AMD’s is 70.6 mm² with 8,315 million transistors.

Cache allocations are different: Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, while AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core. Both have shared L3, but Intel’s is 36 MB versus AMD’s 32 MB.

Memory bandwidth differs: Intel’s is 102.4 GB/s, AMD’s is 89.6 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR5 and ECC memory. PCIe lane counts differ: Intel has 20 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), AMD has 24 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics are distinct, with Intel using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU and AMD using Radeon Graphics. The socket types are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 2114 (mobile), AMD uses Socket AM5 (desktop/server). Intel’s market segment is Mobile, AMD’s is Server/Workstation. Release dates differ, with Intel launching on 2025-01-12 and AMD on 2025-09-15. Intel’s multiplier is unlocked, AMD’s is locked.