We already knew what a beast the Dragon Range AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX APU is, after extensively testing it against rivals like the Raptor Lake Intel Core i9-13980HX and i9-13950HX. Now the Zen 4 processor has appeared in PassMark’s reference database, with three samples offering amazing results but with a high margin for error. The laptop processor, with an RDNA2-based AMD Radeon 610M iGPU, managed a single-threaded test score of 4,405 and a CPU Mark multi-test suite score of 61,985. The website lists the Ryzen 9 7945HX with a maximum TDP of 55 W, but the 16-core, 32-thread part is configurable up to 75 W.
Despite having a higher boost clock of 5.6 GHz (Ryzen 9 7945HX: 5.4 GHz), the Intel Core i9-13980HX is left behind in single-threaded testing. Its score of 4,398 is close to that of Team Red’s Dragon Range chip, but this is a processor with a maximum turbo power of a whopping 157 W (although PassMark records a maximum of 55 W here). While the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX only commands a minuscule +0.16% advantage on the single-thread front, it posts a huge +26.6% lead over the Raptor Lake processor in CPU Mark (61,985 vs. 48,954). In fact, the Zen 4 APU is so powerful, it can be compared to a modern Intel desktop processor – the new i9-13900KS no less.
There have been many instances of laptop processors overtaking mainstream or previous generation desktops, but this is Dragon Range mobile versus Raptor Lake desktop. Not surprisingly, the Intel Core i9-13900KS with its maximum clock frequency of up to 6.0 GHz and potential for 253 W TDP (registered at 125 W on PassMark) can take a reasonable lead over the Ryzen 9 7945HX in single-threaded testing: 4,809 vs. 4405 or +9.17%. However, this Zen 4 mobile APU can still outperform a desktop i7-13700K in this particular discipline, and it’s even more of a contender in the CPU Mark test suite.
AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX’s outstanding score of 61,985 in the multitest puts it within touching distance of the 24-core Intel desktop processor. With a score of 62,166, the powerful desktop i9-13900KS is only +0.29% ahead of a much more efficient mobile processor. There may be some who complain about comparing a mobile chip to a desktop part, but AMD has created such an impressive unit with the Ryzen 9 7945HX that it seems right now. It’s also worth remembering that this powerful laptop-class processor comes with 64 MB of L3 cache.
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My interest in technology began after I was introduced to an Atari 800XL home computer in the mid-1980s. I especially enjoy writing about technological advances, compelling rumors and interesting technological leaks. I have a degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies and consider my family, reading, writing and traveling to be the main passions of my life. I have been with Notebookcheck since 2012.