Ryzen 9 7940HS vs Core i9-9960X
Ryzen 9 7940HS
Core i9-9960X
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 7940HS
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9960X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 7940HS | Core i9-9960X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 7940HS | Core i9-9960X |
|---|---|---|
| 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 7940HS and Core i9-9960X
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.
Core i9-9960X
The Core i9-9960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 29,927 points. Launch price was $1,684.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 7940HS packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-9960X offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-9960X has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940HS versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9960X — a 14.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940HS (base: 4 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Ryzen 9 7940HS uses the Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) architecture (4 nm), while the Core i9-9960X uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 7940HS scores 29,986 against the Core i9-9960X's 29,927 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940HS. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,646 vs 1,650, a 46.4% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940HS that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,591 vs 10,700 (8% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940HS). L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940HS vs 22 MB (total) on the Core i9-9960X.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7940HS | Core i9-9960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 16 / 32+100% |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz+16% | 4.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+29% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 22 MB (total)+38% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 4 nm-71% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 29,986 | 29,927 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 17,443 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,646+60% | 1,650 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,591+8% | 10,700 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 7940HS uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-9960X uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 7940HS versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9960X — the Ryzen 9 7940HS supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 7940HS supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 7940HS) vs 4 (Core i9-9960X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Ryzen 9 7940HS) vs 44 (Core i9-9960X) — the Core i9-9960X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FP8,FP7 (Ryzen 9 7940HS) and X299 (Core i9-9960X).
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7940HS | Core i9-9960X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP8 | LGA2066 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-5600+25% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB+100% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 44+120% |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 7940HS) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9960X). The Ryzen 9 7940HS includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the Core i9-9960X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 7940HS targets Thin-and-light Performance, Core i9-9960X targets HEDT. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 7940HS rivals Core i9-13900H.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7940HS | Core i9-9960X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 780M | None |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Thin-and-light Performance | HEDT |
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