Ryzen 7 3800XT vs Ryzen 9 5980HX
Ryzen 7 3800XT
Ryzen 9 5980HX
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 7 3800XT
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5980HX
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 7 3800XT | Ryzen 9 5980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($249) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 7 3800XT | Ryzen 9 5980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($249) | ✅ 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 7 3800XT and Ryzen 9 5980HX
Ryzen 7 3800XT
The Ryzen 7 3800XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 23,441 points. Launch price was $399.
Ryzen 9 5980HX
The Ryzen 9 5980HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 23,300 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 7 3800XT and Ryzen 9 5980HX share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3800XT versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5980HX — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5980HX (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Ryzen 7 3800XT uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5980HX uses Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3800XT scores 23,441 against the Ryzen 9 5980HX's 23,300 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 3800XT. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3800XT vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5980HX.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 3800XT | Ryzen 9 5980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz | 4.8 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+15% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB+100% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) | Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) |
| PassMark | 23,441 | 23,300 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 7 3800XT uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 5980HX uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen 7 3800XT supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 7 3800XT) vs 16 (Ryzen 9 5980HX) — the Ryzen 7 3800XT offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 3800XT | Ryzen 9 5980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | LPDDR4-4266 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24+50% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Ryzen 9 5980HX includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (8CU)), while the Ryzen 7 3800XT requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 3800XT targets Desktop, Ryzen 9 5980HX targets Mobile High-End.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 3800XT | Ryzen 9 5980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon Graphics (8CU) |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Mobile High-End |
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