AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX VS AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme

Both the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme feature integrated graphics, offering similar capabilities in terms of graphics performance. However, the two processors differ in several other specifications.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has a higher Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 55W, compared to the 28W TDP of the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme. This suggests the 8840HX may be designed for higher performance but will likely generate more heat and require better cooling. The Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, with a lower TDP, might be more power-efficient and suited for lighter tasks.

When it comes to semiconductor size, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme is built using a more advanced 4 nm process, while the Ryzen 7 8840HX uses a 5 nm process. A smaller semiconductor size generally indicates more efficient power usage and better overall performance potential. In terms of PCIe support, the Ryzen 7 8840HX supports PCI Express version 5, while the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme supports PCIe version 4. PCIe 5 offers higher data transfer rates, which could be beneficial for certain high-speed tasks, while PCIe 4 remains a solid option for most other use cases.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme differ significantly in their core performance characteristics. The Ryzen 7 8840HX offers a higher CPU speed, with 12 cores running at a base speed of 2.9 GHz, while the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme has a more varied setup with 3 cores at 2 GHz and 5 cores at 2 GHz, totaling 8 cores. This suggests that the Ryzen 7 8840HX is likely to handle more parallel workloads better than the Z2 Extreme.

In terms of CPU threads, the Ryzen 7 8840HX has 24 threads, which provides a strong advantage in multi-threaded tasks. The Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, on the other hand, supports only 16 threads. This gives the 8840HX a clear edge in multi-tasking and high-demand applications.

Both processors feature turbo clock speeds close to each other, with the 8840HX reaching up to 5.1 GHz, while the Z2 Extreme reaches 5 GHz. However, the Ryzen 7 8840HX also offers an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, while the Z2 Extreme has no such capability. When it comes to cache, the Ryzen 7 8840HX has a larger L2 cache of 12 MB and a much larger L3 cache of 64 MB, compared to the Z2 Extreme's 8 MB L2 and 16 MB L3 caches. Finally, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme incorporates big.LITTLE technology, which is not present in the Ryzen 7 8840HX, allowing the Z2 Extreme to switch between high-performance and energy-efficient cores.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme both feature integrated graphics, but they differ in terms of GPU turbo speeds. The Ryzen 7 8840HX has a GPU turbo speed of 2200 MHz, while the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme offers a higher GPU turbo speed of 2900 MHz. This difference suggests that the Z2 Extreme may deliver better graphics performance in scenarios where the GPU turbo speed is a limiting factor.

While both processors have integrated graphics, the significant gap in turbo speed highlights the potential for the Z2 Extreme to handle graphics-intensive tasks slightly more effectively, assuming other factors remain constant.

No further details are provided about the integrated graphics for either product beyond the GPU turbo speeds, so this comparison is based solely on those values.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme both support DDR5 memory, but they differ in several key memory specifications. The Ryzen 7 8840HX supports a maximum RAM speed of 5200 MHz, while the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme can handle a much higher maximum RAM speed of 8000 MHz. This suggests that the Z2 Extreme can potentially support faster memory performance, assuming compatible RAM is used.

In terms of memory channels, the Ryzen 7 8840HX utilizes 2 channels, which is typical for many processors. In contrast, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme supports 4 memory channels, which can offer improved memory bandwidth and performance, especially for memory-intensive tasks.

Both processors support DDR5 memory, and the DDR5 version is the same for both. However, the differences in RAM speed and memory channels could influence the overall performance depending on the specific use case.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme are closely matched in terms of features, as both processors support the same instruction sets, including MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2. This ensures compatibility with a wide range of software and performance-optimizing technologies across both CPUs.

Additionally, both processors support multithreading, which enables them to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, improving performance in multi-core workloads. They also both have the NX bit enabled, providing a level of security by preventing certain types of malicious code from executing.

In summary, for the features listed, the Ryzen 7 8840HX and Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme are identical, offering the same instruction sets, multithreading support, and NX bit capability.