Ryzen 5 9600X vs Ryzen 9 7940HS
Ryzen 5 9600X
Ryzen 9 7940HS
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 Ryzen 5 9600X
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 7940HS
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 9600X | Ryzen 9 7940HS |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Granite Ridge (2024−2025) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 9600X | Ryzen 9 7940HS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 9 7940HS
Ryzen 5 9600X
The Ryzen 5 9600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,003 points. Launch price was $279.
Ryzen 9 7940HS
The Ryzen 9 7940HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 29,986 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 9600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 9 7940HS has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 9600X versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940HS — a 3.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X (base: 3.9 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 9600X uses the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7940HS uses Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 9600X scores 30,003 against the Ryzen 9 7940HS's 29,986 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 9600X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,500 vs 17,443 (0.3% advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,300 vs 2,646, a 22% lead for the Ryzen 5 9600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 15,000 vs 11,591 (25.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 9600X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940HS.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 9600X | Ryzen 9 7940HS |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 5.4 GHz+4% | 5.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total)+100% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 4 nm | 4 nm |
| Architecture | Granite Ridge (2024−2025) | Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) |
| PassMark | 30,003 | 29,986 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 17,500 | 17,443 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 3,300+25% | 2,646 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 15,000+29% | 11,591 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 9600X uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 7940HS uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 7940HS supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 5 9600X) vs 20 (Ryzen 9 7940HS) — the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X870E,X870,X670E,X670,B650E,B650 (Ryzen 5 9600X) and FP8,FP7 (Ryzen 9 7940HS).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 9600X | Ryzen 9 7940HS |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM5 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-5600 | DDR5-5600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 192 GB | 256 GB+33% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 28+40% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 9600X) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 7940HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 9600X targets Gaming, Ryzen 9 7940HS targets Thin-and-light Performance. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 9600X rivals Intel Core i5-14600K; Ryzen 9 7940HS rivals Core i9-13900H.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 9600X | Ryzen 9 7940HS |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) | Radeon 780M |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Gaming | Thin-and-light Performance |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 9 7940HS
