Core i9-11980HK vs Ryzen 9 5900HX
Core i9-11980HK
Ryzen 9 5900HX
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-11980HK
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900HX
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-11980HK | Ryzen 9 5900HX |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-HK (2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) | ✨ Modern (Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-11980HK | Ryzen 9 5900HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-11980HK and Ryzen 9 5900HX
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 9 5900HX
The Ryzen 9 5900HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,198 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
Both the Core i9-11980HK and Ryzen 9 5900HX share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-11980HK versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900HX — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-11980HK (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i9-11980HK uses the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Ryzen 9 5900HX uses Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11980HK scores 22,244 against the Ryzen 9 5900HX's 22,198 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i9-11980HK. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 14,029 vs 13,955 (0.5% advantage for the Core i9-11980HK). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,129 vs 1,845, a 14.3% lead for the Core i9-11980HK that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,766 vs 7,587 (25.1% advantage for the Core i9-11980HK). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-11980HK vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5900HX.
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Ryzen 9 5900HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+9% | 4.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.3 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total)+50% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm SuperFin | 7 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Tiger Lake-HK (2021) | Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) |
| PassMark | 22,244 | 22,198 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 14,029 | 13,955 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,129+15% | 1,845 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,766+29% | 7,587 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-11980HK uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900HX uses FP6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i9-11980HK supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-11980HK) vs 16 (Ryzen 9 5900HX) — the Core i9-11980HK offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM570,WM590 (Core i9-11980HK) and FP6 (Ryzen 9 5900HX).
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Ryzen 9 5900HX |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1787 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-4266 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+25% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-11980HK supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-11980HK) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900HX). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 32EUs (Core i9-11980HK) and Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 9 5900HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-11980HK targets Enthusiast Gaming Laptop, Ryzen 9 5900HX targets Gaming Laptop / Mobile Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i9-11980HK rivals Ryzen 9 5900HX; Ryzen 9 5900HX rivals Core i9-11980HK.
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Ryzen 9 5900HX |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 32EUs | Radeon RX Vega 8 |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Enthusiast Gaming Laptop | Gaming Laptop / Mobile Workstation |
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