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AMD Ryzen 7 260
AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX

AMD Ryzen 7 260 AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX

Overview

Welcome to this in-depth specification face-off between the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX. These two laptop-capable processors take notably different approaches across key battlegrounds including core count and cache architecture, integrated graphics capability, and memory support. Whether you are prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput or a balance of efficiency and graphics performance, this comparison will help you navigate the critical trade-offs between these two AMD offerings.

Common Features

  • ✓ Both the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX feature integrated graphics.
  • ✓ Both CPUs have a maximum temperature of 100 °C.
  • ✓ Both processors support 64-bit computing.
  • ✓ Both CPUs use DDR5 memory.
  • ✓ Both processors support dual memory channels.
  • ✓ ECC memory is not supported on either processor.
  • ✓ Both CPUs provide 1 MB of L2 cache per core.
  • ✓ Neither processor uses big.LITTLE technology.
  • ✓ Both support up to 4 displays via integrated graphics.
  • ✓ Both integrated graphics solutions support OpenGL version 4.6.
  • ✓ Both integrated graphics solutions support OpenCL version 2.1.
  • ✓ Both processors support the same instruction sets: MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2.
  • ✓ Multithreading is supported on both processors.
  • ✓ The NX bit security feature is present on both processors.

Main Differences

  • • The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has a TDP of 45W, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a TDP of 55W.
  • • The AMD Ryzen 7 260 is built on a 4 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses a 5 nm process.
  • • The AMD Ryzen 7 260 supports PCIe version 4, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX supports PCIe version 5.
  • • The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores at 3.8 GHz base clock, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores at 2.5 GHz base clock.
  • • The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 32 threads.
  • • Turbo clock speed is 5.1 GHz on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 5.4 GHz on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • An unlocked multiplier is present on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX but not available on the AMD Ryzen 7 260.
  • • L2 cache is 8 MB on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 16 MB on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • L3 cache is 16 MB on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 64 MB on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • L1 cache is 512 KB on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 1024 KB on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • L3 cache per core is 2 MB on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 4 MB on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • The PassMark multi-core result is 29915 on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 53181 on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • The PassMark single-core result is 3826 on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 3980 on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • The integrated GPU base clock is 800 MHz on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 400 MHz on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • The integrated GPU is Radeon 780M on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and Radeon 610M on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • The integrated GPU turbo speed is 2700 MHz on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 2200 MHz on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • The integrated GPU supports DirectX 12 on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and DirectX 12 Ultimate on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • Shading units number 768 on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 128 on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • Maximum supported RAM speed is 7500 MHz on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 5200 MHz on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
  • • Maximum memory capacity is 256 GB on the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and 64 GB on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.
Specs Comparison
AMD Ryzen 7 260

AMD Ryzen 7 260

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX

General info:
Type Laptop, Desktop Desktop, Laptop
Has integrated graphics ✓ ✓
release date January 2025 April 2025
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 45W 55W
semiconductor size 4 nm 5 nm
CPU temperature 100 °C 100 °C
PCI Express (PCIe) version 4 5
Supports 64-bit ✓ ✓

Both the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX are designed for use in both laptops and desktops, and they share a number of foundational traits: each includes integrated graphics, supports 64-bit computing, and tops out at a maximum CPU temperature of 100 °C. These commonalities mean neither chip has a meaningful edge in basic platform compatibility or thermal ceiling.

Where the two diverge is in manufacturing process and power envelope. The Ryzen 7 260 is built on a more advanced 4 nm node compared to the Ryzen 9 8945HX's 5 nm process. A smaller node generally translates to improved power efficiency and transistor density, giving the Ryzen 7 260 a theoretical efficiency advantage at the silicon level. On the other hand, the Ryzen 9 8945HX carries a higher 55W TDP versus the Ryzen 7 260's 45W, meaning it is designed to sustain greater sustained power draw — a trade-off that typically enables higher performance headroom at the cost of more heat and battery consumption. The 8945HX also steps up to PCIe 5.0 versus the Ryzen 7 260's PCIe 4.0, which doubles the available bandwidth for compatible storage and discrete GPUs — a tangible advantage for high-throughput workloads.

In summary, the Ryzen 7 260 has an edge in manufacturing efficiency thanks to its newer process node, while the Ryzen 9 8945HX holds the advantage in raw platform capability through its higher TDP headroom and faster PCIe 5.0 support. Users prioritizing efficiency and battery life in mobile scenarios may lean toward the Ryzen 7 260, whereas those building performance-focused systems that can leverage PCIe 5.0 bandwidth will find the 8945HX better equipped.

Performance:
CPU speed 8 x 3.8 GHz 16 x 2.5 GHz
CPU threads 16 threads 32 threads
turbo clock speed 5.1GHz 5.4GHz
Has an unlocked multiplier ✕ ✓
L2 cache 8 MB 16 MB
L3 cache 16 MB 64 MB
L1 cache 512 KB 1024 KB
L2 core 1 MB/core 1 MB/core
L3 core 2 MB/core 4 MB/core
Uses big.LITTLE technology ✕ ✕
clock multiplier 38 24

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX show notable differences in performance specifications. The Ryzen 7 260 features 8 cores with a base CPU speed of 3.8 GHz, while the Ryzen 9 8945HX boasts 16 cores with a lower base speed of 2.5 GHz. This difference in core count suggests that the Ryzen 9 may handle multitasking and parallel workloads better, even though its individual core speed is slower than the Ryzen 7.

Both processors support turbo clock speeds, with the Ryzen 7 260 reaching 5.1 GHz and the Ryzen 9 8945HX hitting 5.4 GHz. This means the Ryzen 9 has a slightly higher peak performance under heavy loads. The Ryzen 9 also features an unlocked multiplier, allowing for more flexibility in overclocking, while the Ryzen 7 does not have this feature.

When it comes to cache, the Ryzen 7 260 has 8 MB of L2 cache and 16 MB of L3 cache, while the Ryzen 9 8945HX offers 16 MB of L2 cache and a much larger 64 MB of L3 cache. The L3 cache per core is also larger in the Ryzen 9, with 4 MB per core compared to the Ryzen 7's 2 MB per core. Both processors have the same amount of L1 cache, at 512 KB for the Ryzen 7 and 1024 KB for the Ryzen 9, with both featuring 1 MB of L2 cache per core. Neither processor uses big.LITTLE technology, meaning they don't employ different types of cores for efficiency and performance tasks.

Benchmarks:
PassMark result 29915 53181
PassMark result (single) 3826 3980

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX show a noticeable difference in their benchmark results. The Ryzen 7 260 achieves a PassMark score of 29,915, while the Ryzen 9 8945HX significantly outperforms it with a score of 53,181. This indicates that the Ryzen 9 is considerably more powerful overall in multi-threaded tasks.

For single-core performance, the difference is more modest. The Ryzen 7 260 scores 3,826, while the Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 3,980. Although the Ryzen 9 has a higher single-core score, the gap is relatively small compared to the overall multi-core performance difference.

Both processors perform well in their respective categories, with the Ryzen 9 8945HX clearly excelling in multi-core performance, while the single-core performance remains fairly close between the two.

Integrated graphics:
GPU clock speed 800 MHz 400 MHz
GPU name Radeon 780M Radeon 610M
GPU turbo 2700 MHz 2200 MHz
DirectX version DirectX 12 DirectX 12 Ultimate
supported displays 4 4
OpenGL version 4.6 4.6
OpenCL version 2.1 2.1
texture mapping units (TMUs) 48 8
render output units (ROPs) 32 4
shading units 768 128

The integrated graphics of the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX differ significantly in terms of performance and features. The Ryzen 7 260 features the Radeon 780M GPU with a base clock speed of 800 MHz, and it can boost up to 2700 MHz. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX comes with the Radeon 610M GPU, which operates at a lower base clock speed of 400 MHz, with a turbo boost to 2200 MHz.

Both processors support DirectX 12, but the Ryzen 9 8945HX supports the more advanced DirectX 12 Ultimate, while the Ryzen 7 260 is limited to standard DirectX 12. Both products support OpenGL version 4.6 and OpenCL version 2.1, so there is no difference in these areas.

In terms of GPU architecture, the Ryzen 7 260 offers more power with 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 render output units (ROPs). In comparison, the Ryzen 9 8945HX has only 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 4 ROPs, indicating a less capable integrated GPU. However, both processors support up to 4 displays, meaning they are equally capable in terms of multi-display setups.

Memory:
RAM speed (max) 7500 MHz 5200 MHz
DDR memory version 5 5
memory channels 2 2
maximum memory amount 256GB 64GB
Supports ECC memory ✕ ✕

The memory specifications of the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX show some key differences. The Ryzen 7 260 supports a higher maximum RAM speed of 7500 MHz, compared to the Ryzen 9 8945HX, which is limited to 5200 MHz. Both processors support DDR5 memory and have two memory channels, allowing for dual-channel configurations. However, the Ryzen 7 260 supports a much larger maximum memory capacity of 256 GB, while the Ryzen 9 8945HX is capped at 64 GB.

Both processors do not support ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, so neither offers built-in error correction for memory stability. This is typical for consumer-grade processors.

In summary, the Ryzen 7 260 offers superior memory performance in terms of maximum speed and capacity, while both processors have similar memory channel configurations and lack ECC memory support.

Features:
instruction sets MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2 MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
uses multithreading ✓ ✓
Has NX bit ✓ ✓

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX are quite similar in terms of their feature sets. Both processors support the same set of instruction sets, including MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2, which are essential for handling a wide range of modern applications and tasks.

Both processors also support multithreading, allowing them to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, enhancing performance in multi-threaded workloads. Additionally, both have the NX bit, which provides extra security by preventing certain types of malicious software from running.

Since the specifications for the features listed are identical between the two processors, there is no difference in this category.

Comparison Summary & Verdict

After examining the full specification set, both processors serve distinct audiences. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX dominates in multi-threaded workloads, delivering a significantly higher PassMark score of 53181, double the core count, a massive 64 MB L3 cache, an unlocked multiplier, and PCIe 5 support — making it the clear choice for power users, content creators, and professionals running demanding applications. The AMD Ryzen 7 260, however, punches back with a considerably stronger integrated GPU (Radeon 780M) featuring 768 shading units versus just 128, faster GPU clocks, support for up to 256 GB of RAM at 7500 MHz, and a more refined 4 nm process node — making it an excellent pick for users who rely on integrated graphics or need maximum memory capacity in a more efficient package.

AMD Ryzen 7 260
Buy AMD Ryzen 7 260 if...

Choose the AMD Ryzen 7 260 if you rely heavily on integrated graphics performance, need support for up to 256 GB of high-speed DDR5 RAM, or value a more efficient 4 nm manufacturing process.

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX
Buy AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX if...

Choose the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX if you need maximum multi-threaded performance, benefit from an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, or require the larger 64 MB L3 cache and PCIe 5 bandwidth for demanding professional workloads.