Intel Core Ultra 9 285H vs AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 – Which one has quieter fans and better thermals?

[nightwolfff]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking to buy a new laptop mainly for software development, and I've narrowed it down to two options:

• Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
• AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370

I'm not just concerned about performance, but also about fan noise and heat.
I’ve seen a few reviews, but not many of them compare the actual fan behavior or real-world thermal performance side by side.


Has anyone used laptops with either (or both) of these CPUs?

• How noisy are the fans under load (e.g. during compile times or stress tests)?
• Which one runs cooler overall in real usage?

I'd love to hear your real-world experience – especially if you're a developer or power user. Thanks!

 

[LittleBro]

It's more like about how laptop manufacturer sets up cooling solution and fan curve. Both can be silent and loud as well.

 

[R0H1T]

That's an odd question, chips themselves have almost nothing to do with what you're asking. Having said that if it's the exact same chassis, like Schenker does these days, I'd go with the HX370 over the 285h but even then it's marginal.

 

[nguyen]

Well I have an Asus vivobook 14" with the HX370, I'm using the 45w TDP profile and the fans are not that loud actually.

You can set the 28w TDP and the fans would be barely audible.

I can make some recording if you like

 

[Bill_Bright]

It's more like about how laptop manufacturer sets up cooling solution and fan curve.

That's an odd question, chips themselves have almost nothing to do with what you're asking.

I agree with both of the above comments.

Also the case design plays a HUGE roll in both cooling and fan noise. "IF" the case provides lots of cool air flowing through the case, generated heat will much more quickly be extracted allowing the CPU fan to spin less, thus make less noise. And the case used and its design is based totally on the decisions of the laptop maker, not CPU maker.

Having said that, the HX 370 has 12 cores, a max boost of 5.1GHz, base clock of 2GHz, default TDP of 28W, and Tjmax of 100°C compared to the 285H having 16 cores, max boost of 5.4GHz, base of 2.9GHz, and maximum operating temp of 110°C. The AMD appears to be a little more efficient so one might assume the AMD will run a little cooler and be a little quieter.

But real-world and the assumed world often don't jibe. I can find no information on the cooling solutions (heatsink fan assemblies) used. And again, so much depends on the case. Then so much also depends on what the hardware is being tasked to do at any given point in time.

Then of course, there are several other variables here that will affect heat. Because one is an AMD and the other is Intel, the motherboards will be different, as will the chipsets. It is possible different RAM will be used, different drive(s), different batteries, different charging circuits and more.

if it's the exact same chassis, like Schenker does these days

Umm, except it looks like Schenker has an exclusivity contract with Intel. I see no AMD based laptops. But even if they did sell AMD versions, since AMD and Intel processors are not interchangeable, different motherboards will be used. Consequently, there are too many other variables involved so even with the exact same chassis, any comparison would not be based on the CPU alone.

@nightwolfff - both are excellent processors and fairly evenly matched. In looking at several comparative reviews, I don't see where one consistently stands out as better than the other. One may be slightly better here while the other is slightly better there, and typically differences are marginal - meaning you likely will never see any differences with your own eyes, except, maybe, in benchmark tests.

IMO, you really have two options here. You can pick a processor based on whether you like Blue or Red, then find a laptop that supports it in your price range. Or you can find a laptop that will support your tasks, regardless the processor.

 

[nightwolfff]

I agree with both of the above comments.

Also the case design plays a HUGE roll in both cooling and fan noise. "IF" the case provides lots of cool air flowing through the case, generated heat will much more quickly be extracted allowing the CPU fan to spin less, thus make less noise. And the case used and its design is based totally on the decisions of the laptop maker, not CPU maker.

Having said that, the HX 370 has 12 cores, a max boost of 5.1GHz, base clock of 2GHz, default TDP of 28W, and Tjmax of 100°C compared to the 285H having 16 cores, max boost of 5.4GHz, base of 2.9GHz, and maximum operating temp of 110°C. The AMD appears to be a little more efficient so one might assume the AMD will run a little cooler and be a little quieter.

But real-world and the assumed world often don't jibe. I can find no information on the cooling solutions (heatsink fan assemblies) used. And again, so much depends on the case. Then so much also depends on what the hardware is being tasked to do at any given point in time.

Then of course, there are several other variables here that will affect heat. Because one is an AMD and the other is Intel, the motherboards will be different, as will the chipsets. It is possible different RAM will be used, different drive(s), different batteries, different charging circuits and more.


Umm, except it looks like Schenker has an exclusivity contract with Intel. I see no AMD based laptops. But even if they did sell AMD versions, since AMD and Intel processors are not interchangeable, different motherboards will be used. Consequently, there are too many other variables involved so even with the exact same chassis, any comparison would not be based on the CPU alone.

@nightwolfff - both are excellent processors and fairly evenly matched. In looking at several comparative reviews, I don't see where one consistently stands out as better than the other. One may be slightly better here while the other is slightly better there, and typically differences are marginal - meaning you likely will never see any differences with your own eyes, except, maybe, in benchmark tests.

IMO, you really have two options here. You can pick a processor based on whether you like Blue or Red, then find a laptop that supports it in your price range. Or you can find a laptop that will support your tasks, regardless the processor.

I really appreciate your detailed and thoughtful answer — thanks a lot for taking the time!

 

[LittleBro]

Advice for you: buy a laptop without fan. Then you don't have to worry about fan noise. You'll worry about something else ...

 

[DirtyDingusMcgee]

Work laptop eh?

https://storage-asset.msi.com/excelSku/us/bnp/Prestige 16 AI+ Evo B2VMG-055US.pdf

MSI prestige 16 AI+ evo is a lot of laptop for 1500 bucks. 1600 will get you double storage and an oled screen.

thunderbolt 4, ai this and that, discrete tpm, better than average igpu, lots of fast ram and storage. I have used several (as "i need a better than average laptop" clients), and they are quite nice.