
Core Ultra 9 185H vs Ryzen 9 8945HS

Core Ultra 9 185H

Ryzen 9 8945HS
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 9 185H
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 9 185H | Ryzen 9 8945HS |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 9 185H | Ryzen 9 8945HS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 9 185H and Ryzen 9 8945HS

Core Ultra 9 185H
The Core Ultra 9 185H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 22 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 29,360 points. Launch price was $640.

Ryzen 9 8945HS
The Ryzen 9 8945HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (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: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 29,584 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 9 185H packs 16 cores / 22 threads, while the Ryzen 9 8945HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 9 185H has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 185H versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 8945HS — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 8945HS (base: 3.9 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core Ultra 9 185H uses the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 8945HS uses Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 9 185H scores 29,360 against the Ryzen 9 8945HS's 29,584 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 8945HS. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 18,030 vs 17,200 (4.7% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,700 vs 2,686, a 0.5% lead for the Core Ultra 9 185H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 17,000 vs 13,283 (24.5% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 185H vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 8945HS.
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 185H | Ryzen 9 8945HS |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 22+100% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz | 5.2 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total)+50% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm | 4 nm-43% |
| Architecture | Meteor Lake-H (2023) | Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) |
| PassMark | 29,360 | 29,584 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,030+5% | 17,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,700 | 2,686 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 17,000+28% | 13,283 |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 9 185H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 8945HS uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR5x-7467, DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 8945HS supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 96 GB — 90.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Core Ultra 9 185H) vs 20 (Ryzen 9 8945HS) — the Core Ultra 9 185H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Meteor Lake SoC (Core Ultra 9 185H) and FP7,FP8 (Ryzen 9 8945HS).
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 185H | Ryzen 9 8945HS |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-7467, DDR5-5600 | LPDDR5x-7500, DDR5-5600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 96 GB | 256 GB+167% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 28+40% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 9 8945HS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 8945HS supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 9 185H) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 8945HS). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 9 185H) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 8945HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 9 185H targets Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads, Ryzen 9 8945HS targets Premium Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 9 185H rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS; Ryzen 9 8945HS rivals Core Ultra 9 185H.
| Feature | Core Ultra 9 185H | Ryzen 9 8945HS |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores) | Radeon 780M |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads | Premium Performance Laptop |
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