AMD Ryzen 3 8440U

The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U is a 4-core, 8-thread mobile processor from the 8000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture with a Hawk Point codename and a 4 nm TSMC process. It carries a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 28 W TDP class. The data positions this chip as a mainstream mobile offering, with benchmark results that place it in the 74th percentile of all CPUs tested, yielding an average benchmark score of 16663. This analysis interprets those numbers against its nearest rivals to define its performance envelope.

Benchmark Performance

The aggregate benchmark data shows the Ryzen 3 8440U landing in a tightly contested mid-range mobile segment. Its average benchmark score of 16663 places it within a slim margin of all four nearest rivals, with deltas ranging from -1.4% to +0.8%. In multi-core Cinebench workloads, the chip delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10884, a figure that reflects its 4-core/8-thread configuration operating at a 28 W TDP. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 1536 is notably strong, suggesting that the Zen 4 architecture's IPC efficiency is fully expressed even at modest power limits.

The PassMark suite reinforces this profile. The multi-thread score of 12805 and single-thread score of 3648 show a balanced design, while the integer math score of 37468 and floating-point math score of 23017 indicate solid general-purpose compute capability. Data compression work scores 146273 in PassMark, and encryption tasks reach 8012, with extended instructions at 11059. The physics score of 685 and prime number finding score of 43 are more modest, pointing to workloads that stress sustained multi-core throughput rather than short-burst integer operations. The random string sorting score of 17725 rounds out the memory-latency-sensitive tasks.

Relative to rivals, the data shows a nearly dead-heat. The Ryzen 3 8440U trails the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U by just -0.7% in average score, a difference of 112 points that is within normal run-to-run variance. Against the Intel Core i7-1260U, it leads by +0.8% (137 points). The AMD Ryzen 3 7335U sits 1% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS is 1.4% ahead. These margins are negligible in real-world terms; the 8440U is effectively performance-parity with all four rivals on aggregate metrics, meaning buyers should weigh other factors like platform features or power efficiency rather than raw compute.

Power and Thermals

The 28 W TDP class defines this processor as an ultraportable or thin-and-light mobile part, not a high-performance laptop chip. This power envelope is the single most important constraint on its sustained performance. The benchmark scores, particularly the multi-core Cinebench R23 result of 10884, are achieved within this 28 W limit, which suggests the Zen 4 architecture is highly power-efficient at this tier. The 4 nm process node from TSMC, with 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, enables this efficiency.

For cooling, a 28 W TDP implies a capable air cooler is sufficient. Thin-and-light laptops can manage this thermal load with standard heat pipes and a single fan, without requiring vapor chambers or exotic thermal solutions. The base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz indicate that single-threaded bursts can reach high frequencies, but the sustained multi-threaded performance will be governed by how well the laptop's cooling solution maintains boost headroom under load. The data does not include specific thermal test results, but the TDP class alone suggests that most modern ultraportable chassis will handle this chip without sustained throttling in typical workloads.

The integrated Radeon 740M graphics also shares this thermal budget. While the data does not provide iGPU-specific benchmark scores, the 28 W TDP must cover both CPU and GPU activity. In gaming or GPU-accelerated tasks, the CPU portion will have less power available, which could reduce sustained multi-core scores below the standalone benchmarks. This is a standard trade-off in mobile APUs and not a defect of the design.

How It Compares

Intel Core Ultra 5 115U: This is the closest rival, with a delta of -0.7% against the 8440U. The Intel part posts an average score of 16775 versus 16663 for the AMD chip. The difference of 112 points is statistically insignificant. Both are 28 W-class mobile processors aimed at the same thin-and-light segment. The data shows no meaningful compute advantage for either; the decision comes down to other platform factors like integrated graphics quality or connectivity options, neither of which are quantified in this benchmark set.

Intel Core i7-1260U: The 8440U holds a +0.8% edge over this Intel rival, which scores 16526. The 137-point advantage is again within noise. The i7-1260U is from an older generation, but its hybrid architecture competes well on aggregate. The single-core scores are where the Zen 4 design may show a slight edge, given the 8440U's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1536, but the aggregate delta is too small to assert superiority.

AMD Ryzen 3 7335U: This is the direct predecessor or sibling part within AMD's lineup, and it scores 16827, which is 1% higher than the 8440U. The 164-point gap slightly favors the 7335U, but again, this is marginal. Both parts are 4-core/8-thread Zen-based designs, so the near-identical aggregate scores are expected. The 8440U's newer Zen 4 architecture and 4 nm process may offer better power efficiency, but the data does not show a performance win.

AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS: The highest-scoring rival at 16902, this part is 1.4% ahead of the 8440U. The 239-point gap is the largest among the four rivals, but still small in absolute terms. The 7235HS is a higher-tier part (Ryzen 5 versus Ryzen 3), yet the 8440U nearly matches it, which speaks to the efficiency of the Zen 4 architecture at lower power. The data suggests that the 8440U offers Ryzen 5-class aggregate performance in a Ryzen 3 power envelope.

Who Should Consider It

The workload data points to specific use cases. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10884 and PassMark multi-thread score of 12805 indicate solid but not exceptional multi-threaded throughput. This chip is well-suited for office productivity, web browsing, and light content creation — tasks that benefit from strong single-thread performance and moderate multi-core capability. The single-thread score of 3648 in PassMark and 1536 in Cinebench R23 suggest snappy application responsiveness for everyday software.

For gaming, the integrated Radeon 740M GPU is present, but the data does not include gaming benchmarks. The CPU portion is capable of handling most esports titles at lower settings, and the 28 W TDP keeps thermals manageable in thin chassis. The multi-core scores are sufficient for modern game logic threads, but the lack of a discrete GPU option limits this to integrated-graphics gaming scenarios.

Content creation workloads present a mixed picture. The data compression score of 146273 and encryption score of 8012 are decent for a 4-core part, suggesting reasonable performance in file archiving and security tasks. However, the physics score of 685 and prime number score of 43 indicate that heavily multi-threaded scientific or simulation workloads will not excel here. Users who primarily do photo editing, light video editing, or software development will find the 8440U adequate, but not a performance leader. Those needing heavy 3D rendering or large-scale compilation should look at higher-core-count parts.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance reveals the chip's personality. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1536 is strong for a 28 W mobile part, and the multi-core score of 10884 yields a ratio of roughly 7.1x when scaling from 1 to 8 threads. This is close to the theoretical 8x for a perfect scaling 4-core/8-thread chip, indicating that the design maintains efficiency across all cores under load. The PassMark single-thread score of 3648 against a multi-thread score of 12805 gives a ratio of approximately 3.5x, which is lower because PassMark's multi-thread test includes memory-bound and latency-sensitive sub-tests that do not scale perfectly.

This behavior suggests that the 8440U is balanced but slightly weighted toward single-thread agility. The boost clock of 4.70 GHz is clearly effective in lightly-threaded tasks, which matters for office applications, web rendering, and legacy software that rely on a single dominant thread. The multi-thread performance is respectable but not class-leading, as evidenced by the near-parity with rivals that have similar core counts.

For real workloads, this means the chip will feel fast in everyday use — opening applications, browsing, and document editing will all benefit from the high single-thread score. When all 8 threads are engaged, such as in video encoding or batch photo processing, the performance is adequate but will not rival higher-core-count parts. The 28 W TDP caps sustained multi-core throughput, so long-running all-core workloads may show some degradation from the peak benchmark scores, depending on the laptop's cooling solution. Users who alternate between bursty single-thread tasks and occasional multi-core jobs will find this behavior ideal; those who require sustained all-core performance should consider higher-TDP alternatives.