Ryzen 9 5980HX vs Xeon E-2388G

AMD

Ryzen 9 5980HX

8 Cores16 Thrd45 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2021
Ryzen family
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VS
Intel

Xeon E-2388G

8 Cores16 Thrd95 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2021
Similar parts
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Ryzen 9 5980HX vs Xeon E-2388G Performance Spectrum

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 9 5980HX vs Xeon E-2388G 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 9 5980HX vs Xeon E-2388G: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Ryzen 9 5980HX

2021

Why buy it

  • Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (8CU), while Xeon E-2388G needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E-2388G across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (23,300 vs 23,572).

Xeon E-2388G

2021

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +12.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • 111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 5980HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E-2388G better than Ryzen 9 5980HX?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E-2388G makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 5980HX 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 E-2388G is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 12.2% 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 E-2388G is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Xeon E-2388G still makes the most sense overall. Xeon E-2388G comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 12.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Xeon E-2388G makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 9 5980HX vs Xeon E-2388G Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

Xeon E-2388G

The Xeon E-2388G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Rocket Lake-E (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 23,572 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 9 5980HX and Xeon E-2388G share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5980HX versus 5.1 GHz on the Xeon E-2388G — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E-2388G (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5980HX uses the Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E-2388G uses Rocket Lake-E (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5980HX scores 23,300 against the Xeon E-2388G's 23,572 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon E-2388G. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.

FeatureRyzen 9 5980HXXeon E-2388G
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
8 / 16
Boost Clock
4.8 GHz
5.1 GHz+6%
Base Clock
3.3 GHz+3%
3.2 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
512K (per core)
Process
7 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021)
Rocket Lake-E (2021)
PassMark
23,300
23,572+1%
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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 5980HX uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E-2388G uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 9 5980HXXeon E-2388G
Socket
FP6
LGA1200
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
LPDDR4-4266
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5980HX) / not specified (Xeon E-2388G). The Ryzen 9 5980HX includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (8CU)), while the Xeon E-2388G requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5980HX targets Mobile High-End.

FeatureRyzen 9 5980HXXeon E-2388G
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon Graphics (8CU)
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Mobile High-End