Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Xeon Gold 6554S
Ryzen 9 8940HX
Xeon Gold 6554S
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 8940HX
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6554S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 8940HX | Xeon Gold 6554S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,836) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Dragon Range (2025) / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Emerald Rapids (2023) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 8940HX | Xeon Gold 6554S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,836) |
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 8940HX and Xeon Gold 6554S
Ryzen 9 8940HX
The Ryzen 9 8940HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 April 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Dragon Range (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 51,161 points. Launch price was $499.
Xeon Gold 6554S
The Xeon Gold 6554S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture. It features 36 cores and 72 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 180 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 270 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 @ 5200 MT/s (1 DPC). Passmark benchmark score: 50,777 points. Launch price was $3,157.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 8940HX packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6554S offers 36 cores / 72 threads — the Xeon Gold 6554S has 20 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 8940HX versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6554S — a 28% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 8940HX (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Dragon Range (2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6554S uses Emerald Rapids (2023) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 51,161 against the Xeon Gold 6554S's 50,777 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 8940HX. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 8940HX vs 180 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6554S.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 8940HX | Xeon Gold 6554S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 36 / 72+125% |
| Boost Clock | 5.3 GHz+32% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+9% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB (total) | 180 MB (total)+181% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 5 nm-29% | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | Dragon Range (2025) | Emerald Rapids (2023) |
| PassMark | 51,161 | 50,777 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,800 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 16,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the FL1 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6554S uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 8940HX versus 5200 on the Xeon Gold 6554S — the Xeon Gold 6554S supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6554S supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 64 GB — 193.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 8940HX) vs 8 (Xeon Gold 6554S). PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 9 8940HX) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 6554S) — the Xeon Gold 6554S offers 52 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FL1 (Ryzen 9 8940HX) and C741 (Xeon Gold 6554S).
| Feature | Ryzen 9 8940HX | Xeon Gold 6554S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FL1 | LGA4677 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-5200 | 5200+103900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+1638300% | 4096 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 8+300% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | 80+186% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: true (Ryzen 9 8940HX) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6554S). The Ryzen 9 8940HX includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Xeon Gold 6554S requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6554S rivals EPYC 9384X.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 8940HX | Xeon Gold 6554S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 610M | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d |
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