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 i9-9820X

2018

Why buy it

✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8640U across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (9,361 vs 10,308).
❌Launch MSRP is still $889 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 8640U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌489.3% higher power demand at 165W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8640U moves to FP8 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 8640U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.7% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 165W, a 137W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 760M, while Core i9-9820X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i9-9820X

2018

Ryzen 5 8640U

2023

Why buy it

✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.7% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 165W, a 137W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 760M, while Core i9-9820X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8640U across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (9,361 vs 10,308).
❌Launch MSRP is still $889 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 8640U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌489.3% higher power demand at 165W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8640U moves to FP8 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 8640U better than Core i9-9820X?

Yes. Ryzen 5 8640U is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 16.7% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 10.1% better Geekbench multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 8640U is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 16.7% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 8640U is the better fit. You are getting 10.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 8640U is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Ryzen 5 8640U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $889 MSRP, and it gives you a 16.7% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-9820X only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (23.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA2066.

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

Ryzen 5 8640U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FP8 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 10/20. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 i9-9820X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 8640U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9820X	Ryzen 5 8640U
1080p
low	176 FPS	261 FPS
medium	140 FPS	237 FPS
high	114 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	171 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	230 FPS
medium	114 FPS	190 FPS
high	91 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	159 FPS
medium	56 FPS	133 FPS
high	44 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i9-9820X Open Ryzen 5 8640U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9820X	Ryzen 5 8640U
1080p
low	327 FPS	372 FPS
medium	281 FPS	309 FPS
high	249 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	236 FPS
1440p
low	296 FPS	313 FPS
medium	259 FPS	270 FPS
high	228 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	198 FPS	207 FPS
4K
low	217 FPS	234 FPS
medium	194 FPS	206 FPS
high	179 FPS	191 FPS
ultra	156 FPS	161 FPS

Open Core i9-9820X Open Ryzen 5 8640U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9820X	Ryzen 5 8640U
1080p
low	511 FPS	507 FPS
medium	511 FPS	507 FPS
high	511 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	471 FPS	507 FPS
1440p
low	511 FPS	507 FPS
medium	482 FPS	507 FPS
high	423 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	367 FPS	443 FPS
4K
low	433 FPS	493 FPS
medium	340 FPS	435 FPS
high	298 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	239 FPS	308 FPS

Open Core i9-9820X Open Ryzen 5 8640U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9820X	Ryzen 5 8640U
1080p
low	511 FPS	507 FPS
medium	511 FPS	507 FPS
high	511 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	511 FPS	507 FPS
1440p
low	511 FPS	507 FPS
medium	511 FPS	507 FPS
high	511 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	502 FPS	507 FPS
4K
low	511 FPS	507 FPS
medium	480 FPS	501 FPS
high	426 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	367 FPS	380 FPS

Open Core i9-9820X Open Ryzen 5 8640U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9820X and Ryzen 5 8640U

Core i9-9820X

The Core i9-9820X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 20,456 points. Launch price was $898.

Ryzen 5 8640U

The Ryzen 5 8640U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,274 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9820X packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 8640U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-9820X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i9-9820X versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8640U — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i9-9820X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8640U uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9820X scores 20,456 against the Ryzen 5 8640U's 20,274 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i9-9820X. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,394 vs 2,519, a 57.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 8640U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,361 vs 10,308 (9.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U). L3 cache: 16.5 MB (total) on the Core i9-9820X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8640U.

Feature	Core i9-9820X	Ryzen 5 8640U
Cores / Threads	10 / 20+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.9 GHz+17%
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	3.5 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	16.5 MB (total)+3%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025)
PassMark	20,456	20,274
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	10,675
Geekbench 6 Single	1,394	2,519+81%
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,361	10,308+10%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9820X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 8640U uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4 2666 MHz on the Core i9-9820X versus LPDDR5x-7500 on the Ryzen 5 8640U — the Core i9-9820X supports 200% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 8640U supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9820X) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 8640U). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9820X) vs 20 (Ryzen 5 8640U) — the Core i9-9820X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel X299 (Core i9-9820X) and SoC (Ryzen 5 8640U).

Feature	Core i9-9820X	Ryzen 5 8640U
Socket	LGA2066	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4 2666 MHz	LPDDR5x-7500+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	44+120%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-9820X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: true (Core i9-9820X) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 5 8640U). The Ryzen 5 8640U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 760M), while the Core i9-9820X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-9820X targets Workstation, Ryzen 5 8640U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 8640U rivals Core i5-1335U.