AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is an 8-core, 16-thread mobile processor built on the Zen 4 (Phoenix) architecture, using a 4 nm process from TSMC. It holds the 86th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 29948. With a 35 W TDP, it is designed for performance-oriented thin-and-light laptops, balancing strong compute capabilities with a modest power envelope.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark data points to a CPU that excels in multi-threaded productivity tasks while maintaining respectable single-thread performance. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25583 and Passmark multithread score of 30098 indicate that it can handle demanding workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, software compilation, and scientific simulation. The Geekbench multicore result of 11516 further supports this, showing strong scaling across all 8 cores. For users who frequently run parallel workloads on a laptop, this processor offers a level of performance that was once reserved for desktop parts.

Gaming is another plausible use case. The single-thread scores—3611 in Cinebench R23 and 3878 in Passmark single-thread—suggest that the CPU can feed modern GPUs without becoming a bottleneck in CPU-bound titles. The integrated Radeon 780M provides graphics output, though for high-end gaming a discrete GPU would be necessary. The 3DMark CPU scores, ranging from 1003 in single-thread to 7558 in max-threads, indicate that the processor can handle physics and AI calculations in game engines. Thus, a laptop equipped with this chip could serve as a portable workstation or a gaming machine when paired with a capable discrete graphics card.

Office and everyday productivity are also well served. The Passmark integer math score of 103044 and floating point math score of 62897 show that general application responsiveness, spreadsheet calculations, and data analysis will be snappy. The data compression score of 365352 and encryption score of 21777 highlight its ability to handle file archiving and secure communications without slowdowns. This is a versatile processor that fits a wide range of mobile workloads, though its 35 W TDP suggests it is optimized for efficiency rather than extreme sustained performance.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The ratio between single-thread and multi-thread scores reveals how well the CPU utilizes its cores. In 3DMark, the single-thread score is 1003 and the max-thread score is 7558, yielding a scaling factor of roughly 7.5×. Cinebench R23 shows a similar pattern: 3611 single-core versus 25583 multi-core, a 7.1× improvement. These numbers indicate near-linear scaling across the 8 cores, meaning the processor can effectively distribute work in heavily threaded applications.

However, Geekbench presents a different picture. The single-core score is 2449 and the multicore score is 11516, a scaling factor of only about 4.7×. This suggests that in some workloads, memory bandwidth or power constraints limit the full utilization of all cores. The dual-channel DDR5 memory, with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, may be a bottleneck in memory-intensive tasks. The L3 cache is 16 MB shared, which is modest for an 8-core design, and could also affect scaling in cache-sensitive applications.

The base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 5.20 GHz are high for a mobile part. This explains the strong single-thread performance: the processor can ramp up to high frequencies when only one or two cores are active. The data shows a typical trade-off: excellent per-core speed for low-threaded tasks, and solid but not perfect multi-thread scaling due to thermal and power budgets inherent in a 35 W TDP design.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is 35 W, which is a key indicator of the thermal envelope. This is a low-power design for an 8-core CPU, allowing it to fit into slim laptops without aggressive cooling. The 4 nm process node from TSMC contributes to efficiency, as does the relatively compact die size of 178 mm². The processor integrates 25,000 million transistors, which is a high density for such a small die, enabling both performance and power efficiency.

The 35 W TDP implies that a standard laptop cooling solution—typically a small fan and heat pipe—can manage the thermals. The boost clock of 5.20 GHz is likely to be short-lived under sustained all-core loads, as the power limit will force a reduction to stay within the envelope. The base clock of 4.00 GHz is more representative of sustained multi-threaded performance. Users who require long-running rendering or encoding sessions should expect the CPU to settle near the base clock rather than the boost maximum.

The integrated Radeon 780M also shares the thermal budget, meaning that gaming or GPU-intensive tasks will further constrain CPU frequencies. Nevertheless, the benchmark results, such as the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25583, demonstrate that even within a 35 W limit, the processor delivers high throughput. This is a testament to the efficiency of the Zen 4 architecture and the 4 nm manufacturing process.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Ryzen 9 7940HS use?

A: It uses AMD Socket FP8, which is a mobile-specific socket.

Q: What type of memory does it support?

A: It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a peak bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory.

Q: Does it have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes the Radeon 780M integrated GPU, which can handle display output and light graphics workloads.

Q: What is the maximum boost clock?

A: The boost clock is 5.20 GHz, while the base clock is 4.00 GHz.

Q: How many cores and threads does it have?

A: It has 8 cores and 16 threads, using simultaneous multithreading (SMT).

Q: What is the L3 cache size?

A: It has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 1 MB of L2 cache per core and 64 KB of L1 cache per core.

How It Compares

AMD Ryzen 7 7840H: The 7940HS is 0.3% faster than the 7840H in average benchmark score. This is a negligible difference, meaning the two processors are effectively tied in overall performance. Both are likely based on similar Zen 4 architectures, and the 7940HS's higher boost clock may give it a slight edge in single-threaded tasks.

AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS: The 7940HS also leads the 6800HS by 0.3%. The 6800HS is an older Zen 3+ part, so the newer architecture and higher clocks of the 7940HS explain the marginal advantage. In practical terms, users would not notice the difference in day-to-day use.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT: The 7940HS is 0.6% faster than the 5800XT. The 5800XT is a desktop processor, but the mobile 7940HS manages to edge it out in the average benchmark score. This is surprising given the desktop part's higher power envelope, but the Zen 4 architecture's efficiency compensates.

AMD Ryzen 5 240: The 7940HS is 0.6% slower than the Ryzen 5 240. This is an interesting result, as the Ryzen 5 240 is a lower-tier part with presumably fewer cores. Yet its average score is slightly higher, suggesting that the 7940HS's power constraints or thermal limitations hold it back in sustained workloads. The delta is small, but it indicates that the Ryzen 5 240 might offer better value in certain scenarios.

Platform and Compatibility

The processor is part of AMD's 7000 series and uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix codename. It is built for the AMD Socket FP8, which is a mobile-only socket. The platform supports dual-channel DDR5 memory, with a maximum bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and includes ECC memory support. PCIe connectivity is Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, which allows for fast NVMe SSDs and discrete GPUs.

The integrated Radeon 780M GPU provides basic graphics capabilities, and the processor is in active production, indicating it is currently available for laptop manufacturers. The part numbers listed—100-000000954 (FP7r2), 100-000000963 (FP7), and 100-000001128 (FP8)—suggest multiple packaging variants for different motherboard designs. The multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not possible. The socket is not upgradeable in the traditional sense, as mobile CPUs are typically soldered, but the active production status means replacement parts are available.

Benchmark Performance

The Ryzen 9 7940HS delivers a balanced set of scores across multiple benchmark suites. In Cinebench R23, it achieves 25583 in multicore and 3611 in single-core. These numbers place it in the upper echelon of mobile processors, and the multicore score is particularly impressive given the 35 W TDP. The Cinebench R20 results follow a similar pattern: 10744 multicore and 1516 single-core. The R15 scores are 2578 and 363 respectively.

Geekbench reports 11516 for multicore and 2449 for single-core. The single-core score is high, reflecting the 5.20 GHz boost clock. Passmark results show a multithread score of 30098 and a single-thread score of 3878. The data compression score of 365352 and encryption score of 21777 indicate strong performance in data-intensive tasks. The extended instructions score of 27480 suggests good SIMD performance, while the find prime numbers score of 92 is relatively low, possibly due to power limits.

In 3DMark CPU tests, the processor scores 7553 in 16-thread, 1952 in 2-thread, 3725 in 4-thread, 6205 in 8-thread, and 7558 in max-thread. The single-thread score is 1003. These numbers show a steady increase with thread count, with the 16-thread and max-thread scores nearly identical, indicating that the CPU reaches its scaling limit at 16 threads. The 8-thread score is 6205, which is 82% of the max-thread score, confirming that the processor can effectively use all cores in lightly threaded scenarios.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the 7940HS holds a slim lead over the Ryzen 7 7840H and Ryzen 7 6800HS, both by 0.3%, and over the Ryzen 7 5800XT by 0.6%. It trails the Ryzen 5 240 by 0.6%. These deltas are within the margin of error for most benchmarks, meaning the 7940HS is essentially comparable to its competitors in aggregate performance. However, its low TDP and high boost clock make it a compelling choice for laptops where power efficiency is as important as raw speed.