Core i9-11980HK vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D

CPU

GPU

Core i9-11980HK

8 Cores16 Thrd45 WWMax: 5 GHz2021

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Ryzen 7 7800X3D

8 Cores16 Thrd120 WWMax: 5 GHz2023

Ryzen family

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Core i9-11980HK vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D Performance Spectrum

Core i9-11980HK

8 / 16

22,244

0.0%

34,293

+54.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i9-11980HK vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i9-11980HK vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i9-11980HK

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 120W, a 75W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7800X3D across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (14,029 vs 18,500).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 7800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +38.7% higher average FPS across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $449 MSRP, while Core i9-11980HK mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌166.7% higher power demand at 120W vs 45W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-11980HK.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 7800X3D better than Core i9-11980HK?

Yes. Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 38.7% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data, 31.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 54.2% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 38.7% more average FPS across 40 shared CPU game tests. It also has a clear cache advantage at 96 MB versus 24 MB.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the stronger fit. You are getting 31.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 24 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 7800X3D comes in at an unclear MSRP at $449 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 38.7% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (76.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 7 7800X3D makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 96 MB L3 cache instead of 24 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i9-11980HK vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i9-11980HK

The Core i9-11980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,244 points. Launch price was $583.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 34,293 points. Launch price was $449.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i9-11980HK and Ryzen 7 7800X3D share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-11980HK versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.6 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core i9-11980HK uses the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11980HK scores 22,244 against the Ryzen 7 7800X3D's 34,293 — a 42.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 14,029 vs 18,500 (27.5% advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,129 vs 2,700, a 23.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,766 vs 15,000 (42.3% advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-11980HK vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Feature	Core i9-11980HK	Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	4.4 GHz+69%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	96 MB (total)+300%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm SuperFin	5 nm-50%
Architecture	Tiger Lake-HK (2021)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	22,244	34,293+54%
Cinebench R23 Multi	14,029	18,500+32%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,129	2,700+27%
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,766	15,000+54%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-11980HK uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i9-11980HK versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D supports 62.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-11980HK) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 7800X3D) — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM570,WM590 (Core i9-11980HK) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 7800X3D).

Feature	Core i9-11980HK	Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Socket	FCBGA1787	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-5200+63%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

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Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-11980HK) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 7800X3D). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 32EUs (Core i9-11980HK) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 7 7800X3D) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-11980HK targets Enthusiast Gaming Laptop, Ryzen 7 7800X3D targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i9-11980HK rivals Ryzen 9 5900HX; Ryzen 7 7800X3D rivals Intel Core i7-14700K.

Feature	Core i9-11980HK	Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 32EUs	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Enthusiast Gaming Laptop	Gaming