Core i9-9980HK vs Ryzen 5 2600X
Core i9-9980HK
Ryzen 5 2600X
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 i9-9980HK
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 2600X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-9980HK | Ryzen 5 2600X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-HR (2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen+ (2018−2019) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-9980HK | Ryzen 5 2600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) |
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 i9-9980HK and Ryzen 5 2600X
Core i9-9980HK
The Core i9-9980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,966 points. Launch price was $583.
Ryzen 5 2600X
The Ryzen 5 2600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.25 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 13,880 points. Launch price was $229.
Processing Power
The Core i9-9980HK packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 2600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-9980HK has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-9980HK versus 4.25 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600X — a 16.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-9980HK (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i9-9980HK uses the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 2600X uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9980HK scores 13,966 against the Ryzen 5 2600X's 13,880 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i9-9980HK. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i9-9980HK | Ryzen 5 2600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+18% | 4.25 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 12 nm-14% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-HR (2019) | Zen+ (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 13,966 | 13,880 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 7,514 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,242 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 5,247 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-9980HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 2600X uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-9980HK | Ryzen 5 2600X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2933 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-9980HK) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 2600X). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 2600X rivals Core i5-9600K.
| Feature | Core i9-9980HK | Ryzen 5 2600X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
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