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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.8 vs 86.5 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $524 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-14900.

Core i9-14900

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $144 less on MSRP ($524 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 25.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.5 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($524 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-13980HX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13980HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,321 vs 45,950).
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Core i9-14900

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Costs $144 less on MSRP ($524 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 25.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.5 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($524 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-13980HX.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.8 vs 86.5 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $524 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-14900.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13980HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,321 vs 45,950).
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13980HX better than Core i9-14900?

Yes. Core i9-13980HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 6.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.4% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-13980HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-13980HX is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads.

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

Core i9-13980HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i9-14900 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-13980HX is 27.5% more expensive on MSRP at $668 MSRP versus $524 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-14900 is also 25.7% better value on MSRP (86.5 vs 68.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i9-14900 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2023). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i9-13980HX Benchmark Check

Core i9-14900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Core i9-14900
1080p
low	321 FPS	318 FPS
medium	311 FPS	309 FPS
high	247 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	206 FPS
1440p
low	278 FPS	276 FPS
medium	240 FPS	238 FPS
high	178 FPS	176 FPS
ultra	158 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	192 FPS	190 FPS
medium	164 FPS	162 FPS
high	123 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	109 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Core i9-14900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Core i9-14900
1080p
low	497 FPS	497 FPS
medium	434 FPS	436 FPS
high	354 FPS	355 FPS
ultra	313 FPS	314 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	422 FPS
medium	380 FPS	381 FPS
high	316 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	258 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	236 FPS
medium	216 FPS	217 FPS
high	205 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	180 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Core i9-14900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Core i9-14900
1080p
low	762 FPS	760 FPS
medium	626 FPS	624 FPS
high	543 FPS	541 FPS
ultra	467 FPS	465 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	680 FPS
medium	567 FPS	567 FPS
high	485 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	500 FPS
medium	430 FPS	439 FPS
high	383 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	334 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Core i9-14900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Core i9-14900
1080p
low	1012 FPS	990 FPS
medium	905 FPS	886 FPS
high	792 FPS	774 FPS
ultra	704 FPS	688 FPS
1440p
low	840 FPS	821 FPS
medium	739 FPS	723 FPS
high	646 FPS	631 FPS
ultra	568 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	620 FPS	606 FPS
medium	555 FPS	543 FPS
high	491 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	421 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Core i9-14900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13980HX and Core i9-14900

Core i9-13980HX

The Core i9-13980HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,950 points. Launch price was $668.

Core i9-14900

The Core i9-14900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 45,321 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i9-13980HX and Core i9-14900 share an identical 24-core/32-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13980HX versus 5.6 GHz on the Core i9-14900 — a 1.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-14900 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i9-13980HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-14900 uses Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13980HX scores 45,950 against the Core i9-14900's 45,321 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i9-13980HX. Both processors carry 36 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Core i9-14900
Cores / Threads	24 / 32	24 / 32
Boost Clock	5.5 GHz	5.6 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz+10%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	36 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-HX (2023)	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)
PassMark	45,950+1%	45,321
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	36,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,000
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	20,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13980HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-14900 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-13980HX versus DDR5-5600 on the Core i9-14900 — the Core i9-13980HX supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 192 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Raptor Lake-HX (Core i9-13980HX) and H610,B660,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i9-14900).

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Core i9-14900
Socket	FCBGA1964	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+111900%	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192	192 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-13980HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i9-13980HX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics (Core i9-13980HX) and UHD 770 (Core i9-14900) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-14900 targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core i9-13980HX rivals Ryzen 9 7945HX; Core i9-14900 rivals Ryzen 9 7900.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Core i9-14900
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics	UHD 770
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Enthusiast

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13980HX launched at $668 MSRP, while the Core i9-14900 debuted at $524. On MSRP ($668 vs $524), the Core i9-14900 is $144 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13980HX delivers 68.8 pts/$ vs 86.5 pts/$ for the Core i9-14900 — making the Core i9-14900 the 22.8% better value option.