Intel Core Ultra 5 235H vs AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX vs AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX

Intel Core Ultra 5 235H

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H is a mobile high-end CPU for larger notebooks based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It offers 14 cores consisting of 4 fast performance cores (Lion Cove) with up to 5 GHz and 8 smaller efficiency cores (Skymont) with up to 4.4 GHz clock speed and two additional "low power" efficiency cores with up to 2.4 GHz (Skymont). The CPU has access to 18 MB of cache and is specified with a TDP of 28 watts (PL1, 115W PL2).

The SoC integrates a small dedicated NPU called AI Boost with 13 TOPS (Int8) and optionally supports vPro Enterprise. The integrated memory controller supports up to 192 GB LPDDR5/x-8400 or DDR5-6400 (dual channel). The integrated GPU (iGPU) is an Intel Arc 140T graphics card which offers eight Xe cores with up to 2.25 GHz.

Performance - High End

Compared to the more powerful variants (such as the top model Core Ultra 9 285H) due to the lack of two P-cores. However, thanks to the improved IPC of the cores (especially the efficiency cores), the CPU should be able to hold its own against its Raptor Lake predecessors. As a result, the CPU is also very suitable for demanding tasks such as gaming and content creation.

Chiplet design

Like the desktop and HX chips, the Arrow Lake-H chips are based on individual chiplets that are placed on a 22nm base tile using Foveros 3D packaging. The CPU part comes from TSMC using the modern N3B (3nm) process. As with HX, the GPU also comes from TSMC and is manufactured using the N5P process. SoC and I/O Tile also from TSMC but in the older N6 process.

AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is a higher-end octa-core Dragon Range refresh lineup processor that debuted in April 2025 and is primarily targeted at gaming laptops. This is essentially a rebadged Ryzen 7 7745HX; as such, the product offers 8 SMT-enabled Zen 4 cores (16 threads) running at 3.6 GHz to 5.1 GHz, along with a rather basic Radeon 610M RDNA 2 architecture iGPU.

This Ryzen 7 8000 APU is composed of two dies made on two different nodes (5 nm for CPU cores; 6 nm for other componentry). It features a very healthy 28 PCIe 5 lanes for connecting graphics cards and SSDs as fast as 15.75 GB/s. The RAM controller is limited to DDR5-5200 or slower; there is no NPU and no Thunderbolt support, the product page on amd.com indicates, but the clock multiplier is unlocked for easy overclocking.

Performance

While we have not tested a single system featuring the 8745HX as of April 2025, multi-threaded Cinebench benchmarks put the 7745HX in the same ballpark as the Core Ultra 9 285H, Core Ultra 9 185H and Core i5-13500HX which is fast enough for any 2025 game.

Power consumption

Much like the 7745HX, the 8745HX has a base TDP (long-term power limit) of 55 watts that can officially be jacked up to as high as 75 watts. That's precisely what Minisforum did with only 7745HX system Notebookcheck has tested so far. Either way, to dissipate 50+ watts, at least one high-RPM fan is needed.

AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is a flagship 16-core Dragon Range refresh lineup laptop processor that debuted in April 2025. The product offers 16 SMT-enabled Zen 4 cores (32 threads) running at 2.4 GHz to 5.3 GHz, along with a rather basic Radeon 610M RDNA 2 architecture iGPU. This Ryzen 9 8000 APU is essentially a Ryzen 9 7940HX with the Turbo clock speed increased by 100 MHz.

The 8940HX is composed of three dies made on two different nodes (5 nm for CPU cores; 6 nm for other componentry). It features a very healthy 28 PCIe 5 lanes for connecting graphics cards and SSDs as fast as 15.75 GB/s. The RAM controller is limited to DDR5-5200 or slower; there is no NPU and no Thunderbolt support, the product page on amd.com indicates, but the clock multiplier is unlocked for easy overclocking.

Performance

While we have not tested a single system featuring the 8940HX as of April 2025, we do have some Cinebench benchmark scores for the 7940HX. Based on those, the newer Ryzen 9 should have no trouble beating the Core i9-13950HX, Core i9-13980HX and Core i9-14900HX.

That being said, with this many cores the APU will probably do a much better job serving content creators rather than gamers.

Power consumption

Much like the 7940HX, the 8940HX has a base TDP (long-term power limit) of 55 watts that can officially be jacked up to as high as 75 watts. To dissipate 50+ watts, at least one high-RPM fan is needed.