Ryzen 9 5980HX vs Core i7-9700K
Ryzen 9 5980HX
Core i7-9700K
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 9 5980HX
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 5980HX | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 5980HX | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 9 5980HX and Core i7-9700K
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.
Core i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 5980HX packs 8 cores / 16 threads, matching the Core i7-9700K's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5980HX versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5980HX uses the Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5980HX scores 23,300 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 47.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 5980HX. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5980HX vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5980HX | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz | 4.9 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total)+33% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 23,300+62% | 14,397 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 5980HX uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR4-4266 memory speed. The Core i7-9700K 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. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5980HX | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP6 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR4-4266 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5980HX) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Graphics (8CU) (Ryzen 9 5980HX) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5980HX targets Mobile High-End, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5980HX | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Graphics (8CU) | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Mobile High-End | Desktop |
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