Ryzen 5 8640HS vs Xeon W-1290

Ryzen 5 8640HS vs Xeon W-1290 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 8640HS

6 / 12

19,851

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon W-1290

10 / 20

20,112

+1.3%

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.

Ryzen 5 8640HS vs Xeon W-1290 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Ryzen 5 8640HS vs Xeon W-1290: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Ryzen 5 8640HS

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 80W, a 52W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,851 vs 20,112).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-1290, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.

Xeon W-1290

2020

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $498 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 8640HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌185.7% higher power demand at 80W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8640HS moves to FP8 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-1290 better than Ryzen 5 8640HS?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon W-1290 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 8640HS is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon W-1290 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.9% 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, Xeon W-1290 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Xeon W-1290 is the better buy right now. Xeon W-1290 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $498 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (40.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 8640HS makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with FP8 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Ryzen 5 8640HS vs Xeon W-1290 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Ryzen 5 8640HS

The Ryzen 5 8640HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) 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: 19,851 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon W-1290

The Xeon W-1290 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 20,112 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 8640HS packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon W-1290 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon W-1290 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8640HS versus 5.1 GHz on the Xeon W-1290 — a 4% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 8640HS uses the Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon W-1290 uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 8640HS scores 19,851 against the Xeon W-1290's 20,112 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon W-1290. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8640HS vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290.

Feature	Ryzen 5 8640HS	Xeon W-1290
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 20+67%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.1 GHz+4%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+9%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	4 nm-71%	14 nm
Architecture	Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024)	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	19,851	20,112+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 8640HS uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-1290 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.