AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive, across-the-board victory for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus over the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX. In every single head-to-head benchmark, the Intel part finishes ahead, with no wins for the AMD processor in any of the eleven recorded tests.

The largest gap appears in floating-point math, where Intel scores 201773 against AMD's 61972, a delta of -69.3%. This is a massive margin, indicating that the Intel processor handles sustained floating-point workloads with far more headroom. The prime number search test shows a similar story: Intel scores 519 versus AMD's 159, a -69.4% difference. These two tests suggest the Intel chip's raw computational throughput per clock, combined with its higher core count, creates a chasm that the AMD part cannot bridge.

The encryption workload is also lopsided. Intel scores 50008, while AMD manages 21840, a -56.3% delta. Extended instructions follow the same pattern: Intel at 51290, AMD at 27638, a -46.1% gap. Both of these tests rely heavily on specialized instruction paths and memory bandwidth, and the Intel processor's advantage here is substantial.

Multi-threaded performance, as measured by PassMark's multithread test, shows Intel at 59439 versus AMD's 31517, a -47% delta. The physics test, often a proxy for gaming-related physics calculations, shows Intel at 3387 and AMD at 1681, a -50.4% gap. Even the more modest wins are still large. Integer math shows Intel at 164839 versus AMD's 100328, a -39.1% delta, while data compression shows Intel at 658724 versus AMD's 363759, a -44.8% gap. Random string sorting lands at -44.6%, with Intel scoring 80327 and AMD 44494.

The narrowest margin appears in single-thread performance, where Intel scores 4951 and AMD scores 3879, a -21.7% delta. While this is still a clear Intel win, it is the closest contest in the entire head-to-head set. This suggests that while the Intel processor dominates heavily in parallel workloads, the single-core advantage is less extreme, though still firmly in Intel's favor. The average benchmark scores reinforce this hierarchy: Intel's average is 79574, while AMD's is 60104. Intel's percentile ranking versus all CPUs sits at 95, compared to AMD's 92.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the stronger processor in every measured category. For workloads that scale with core count, such as rendering, video encoding, or scientific computing, the Intel part's 24 cores and 24 threads provide a decisive edge over AMD's 8 cores and 16 threads. The benchmark results confirm this, with the multithread, physics, and floating-point tests all showing Intel leading by roughly half or more.

For single-threaded responsiveness, Intel also leads, though by a smaller margin. The 21.7% delta in the single-thread test means that everyday tasks like web browsing or office applications will favor Intel, but the advantage is not as overwhelming as in multi-core scenarios. The AMD processor, while trailing, still holds a 92nd percentile ranking, placing it above the vast majority of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX at a delta of 0% and the Intel Core i9-14900F at 0.2%, showing that the 8745HX sits in capable company even if it loses this particular matchup.

The Intel part, by contrast, sits at the 95th percentile, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i9-14900KF at 0.3% and the AMD EPYC 7413 at -0.6%. The Intel Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the clear pick for anyone prioritizing raw performance across the board, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX remains a competent mobile processor, just not one that can match Intel's 2026 flagship in this comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD's Ryzen 7 8745HX uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. Intel's Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. The process node difference is significant: 3 nm allows Intel to pack more transistors into a similar footprint. Intel's chip contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while AMD's contains 6,570 million transistors on a 71 mm² die. This is a 2.7x difference in transistor count and a 3.4x difference in die size.

Cache structures also differ notably. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the Intel side likely contribute to its single-thread advantage, while the slightly larger L3 pool helps with shared data across its 24 cores.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses a Radeon 610M, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. Both are mobile-oriented iGPUs, but the Intel solution has more execution resources on paper. The memory controllers also differ in bandwidth: Intel supports 102.4 GB/s, while AMD supports 83.2 GB/s. Both support DDR5 and dual-channel memory configurations. Intel also supports ECC memory, while AMD does not. PCIe lanes differ, with AMD offering Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The release dates reflect the generational gap. AMD launched on 2025-04-22, while Intel launched on 2026-03-16, nearly a year later. Intel's newer process node and architecture refresh clearly benefit from the additional development time.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts present the most obvious divergence. AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel offers 24 cores and 24 threads. This means Intel has three times the physical cores, but its thread count equals its core count, implying no hyperthreading or a design where each core runs a single thread. AMD, by contrast, uses simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count from 8 to 16.

Clock speeds tell a nuanced story. AMD's base clock is 3.60 GHz with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Intel's base clock is lower at 2.70 GHz, but its boost clock is higher at 5.50 GHz. The lower base clock on Intel likely reflects power management across 24 cores, while the higher boost clock indicates strong single-core turbo capability. Both processors have a TDP of 55 W, and both have unlocked multipliers, allowing overclocking.

The sockets differ: AMD uses AMD Socket FL1, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2114. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 102.4 GB/s versus AMD's 83.2 GB/s. ECC memory support is exclusive to Intel. The process node favors Intel at 3 nm versus AMD's 5 nm. The transistor count and die size differences are stark, as noted earlier. Intel's part number is listed as "SADSS," while AMD's is "100-000001851." Both are marked as Active in production status and target the mobile market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Is the Intel processor faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: Yes. The Intel part scores 4951 in the PassMark single-thread test, while AMD scores 3879, a delta of -21.7% in Intel's favor.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: Intel supports 102.4 GB/s, while AMD supports 83.2 GB/s. Both use DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: Intel has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, while AMD has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. AMD's base clock of 3.60 GHz is higher than Intel's 2.70 GHz.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX at a 0% delta, with the Intel Core i9-14900F at 0.2%. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus's nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-14900KF at 0.3%, with the AMD EPYC 7413 at -0.6%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set, so its territory is effectively all measured workloads. The largest margins come in floating-point math (-69.3%), prime number searching (-69.4%), and encryption (-56.3%). These are compute-heavy tasks that leverage the Intel chip's 24 cores, larger cache hierarchy, and higher memory bandwidth. The physics test (-50.4%) and multithread test (-47%) also fall firmly in Intel's camp, making it the obvious choice for heavily threaded applications like 3D rendering, video editing, and scientific simulations.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX, despite losing every head-to-head contest, still holds value in specific contexts based on the recorded data. Its single-thread score of 3879 places it at the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rival is the Ryzen 9 7945HX at a 0% delta, meaning it trades blows with a high-end 2023 flagship. The AMD part uses a smaller die (71 mm² versus 243 mm²) and fewer transistors (6,570 million versus 17,800 million), which may translate to different thermal or power characteristics, though the TDP is identical at 55 W. For users constrained by the AMD Socket FL1 platform, or those who prefer the Zen 4 architecture's 5 nm efficiency, the 8745HX remains a viable option, just not one that can match Intel's overall performance in this comparison. The Intel part's single-thread win, while smaller, still means it takes the lead even in lightly threaded scenarios, leaving AMD without a single measured category where it comes out ahead.