Core Ultra 7 255H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

Core Ultra 7 255H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS Performance Spectrum

Core Ultra 7 255H

16 / 16

30,932

+0.8%

30,689

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7975WX

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core Ultra 7 255H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core Ultra 7 255H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core Ultra 7 255H

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Draws 26W instead of 45W, a 19W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

2024

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (13,098 vs 15,700).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌73.1% higher power demand at 45W vs 26W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 255H better than Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS?

Yes. Core Ultra 7 255H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 19.9% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.8% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 7 255H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 255H is the stronger fit. You are getting 19.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 7 255H still makes the most sense overall. Core Ultra 7 255H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 7 255H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024), 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core Ultra 7 255H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core Ultra 7 255H

The Core Ultra 7 255H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 26 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 30,932 points. Launch price was $514.

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,689 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 7 255H packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 7 255H has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255H versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS (base: 4.4 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 255H uses the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 255H scores 30,932 against the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS's 30,689 — a 0.8% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,800 vs 2,617, a 6.8% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 15,700 vs 13,098 (18.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255H). L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255H vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS.

Feature	Core Ultra 7 255H	Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS
Cores / Threads	16 / 16+100%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.2 GHz+2%
Base Clock	4.4 GHz+10%	4 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB+50%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm	4 nm-20%
Architecture	Arrow Lake-H (2025)	Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024)
PassMark	30,932	30,689
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	16,529
Geekbench 6 Single	2,800+7%	2,617
Geekbench 6 Multi	15,700+20%	13,098

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 7 255H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 7 255H versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS — the Core Ultra 7 255H supports 14.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Core Ultra 7 255H) vs 20 (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS) — the Core Ultra 7 255H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM870,WM880 (Core Ultra 7 255H) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS).

Feature	Core Ultra 7 255H	Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS
Socket	FCBGA2049	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400+14%	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28+40%	20

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 255H) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc Graphics 140T (Core Ultra 7 255H) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 255H targets High-End Laptop, Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS targets Professional AI Business Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS rivals Core Ultra 9 185H.

Feature	Core Ultra 7 255H	Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Graphics 140T	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SVM
Target Use	High-End Laptop	Professional AI Business Laptop