Ryzen 5 8540U
VS
Ryzen Z1

Ryzen 5 8540U vs Ryzen Z1

AMD

Ryzen 5 8540U

6 Cores12 Thrd28 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2023
VS
AMD

Ryzen Z1

6 Cores12 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2023

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 8540U

#144
Core i7-12650H
MSRP: $457|Avg: N/A
104%
#151
Ryzen 5 8540U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#153
Core i7-1370P
MSRP: $438|Avg: $280
99%
#158
Core i9-13900H
MSRP: $617|Avg: N/A
97%
#161
Core Ultra 7 268V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $400
95%
#162
Core Ultra 7 256V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $350
95%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Ryzen Z1

#144
Core i7-12650H
MSRP: $457|Avg: N/A
103%
#150
Ryzen Z1
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#153
Core i7-1370P
MSRP: $438|Avg: $280
99%
#158
Core i9-13900H
MSRP: $617|Avg: N/A
97%
#161
Core Ultra 7 268V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $400
95%
#162
Core Ultra 7 256V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $350
95%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Analysis: Based on specifications, the Ryzen Z1 shows stronger theoretical performance metrics.
InsightRyzen 5 8540URyzen Z1
Gaming
Balanced gaming performance
Balanced gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
✨ Modern (Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) / 4 nm)
✨ Modern (Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) / 4 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightRyzen 5 8540URyzen Z1
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

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.

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 8540U and Ryzen Z1

AMD

Ryzen 5 8540U

The Ryzen 5 8540U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 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: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,359 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Ryzen Z1

The Ryzen Z1 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Maio 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 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): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,406 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 8540U and Ryzen Z1 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8540U versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen Z1 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 8540U uses the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen Z1 uses Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 8540U scores 18,359 against the Ryzen Z1's 18,406 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen Z1. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.

FeatureRyzen 5 8540URyzen Z1
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
6 / 12
Boost Clock
4.9 GHz
4.9 GHz
Base Clock
3.2 GHz
3.2 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
1 MB (per core)
Process
4 nm
4 nm
Architecture
Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025)
Phoenix (Zen4) (2023)
PassMark
18,359
18,406
Cinebench R23 Multi
9,823
Geekbench 6 Single
2,504
Geekbench 6 Multi
9,280
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 8540U uses the FP7 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Z1 uses FP8 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 5 8540URyzen Z1
Socket
FP7
FP8
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0+33%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5600, LPDDR5x-7500
Max RAM Capacity
256 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
14
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 5 8540U) / not specified (Ryzen Z1). The Ryzen 5 8540U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 740M), while the Ryzen Z1 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 8540U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 8540U rivals Core i5-1335U.

FeatureRyzen 5 8540URyzen Z1
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon 740M
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
AMD-V (SVM)
Target Use
Productivity