Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Xeon Platinum 8260

AMD

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

8 Cores16 Thrd45 WWMax: 5.2 GHz2024
VS
Intel

Xeon Platinum 8260

24 Cores48 Thrd165 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2019

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Xeon Platinum 8260 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 PRO 8945HS vs Xeon Platinum 8260 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 PRO 8945HS vs Xeon Platinum 8260: 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 PRO 8945HS

2024

Why buy it

  • βœ…Better for gaming: +24.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • βœ…Draws 45W instead of 165W, a 120W reduction.
  • βœ…Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of LGA3647 and DDR4.
  • βœ…Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Xeon Platinum 8260 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,529 vs 18,500).
  • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 36 MB).
  • ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Platinum 8260, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Platinum 8260

2019

Why buy it

  • βœ…+11.9% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
  • βœ…+123.4% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 16 MB).
  • βœ…Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
  • βœ…140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Launch MSRP is still $400 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • ❌266.7% higher power demand at 165W vs 45W.
  • ❌Older platform position on LGA3647 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS moves to FP7 and DDR5.
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS better than Xeon Platinum 8260?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon Platinum 8260 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Platinum 8260 is the stronger fit. You are getting 11.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 123.4% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Platinum 8260 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $400 MSRP, and it still gives you a 24.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Xeon Platinum 8260 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 11.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Xeon Platinum 8260 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (76.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FP7 and DDR5 instead of LGA3647. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Xeon Platinum 8260 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023βˆ’2024) 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: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,689 points. Launch price was $499.

Intel

Xeon Platinum 8260

The Xeon Platinum 8260 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-SP (2018) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 30,720 points. Launch price was $4,702.

⚑

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon Platinum 8260 offers 24 cores / 48 threads β€” the Xeon Platinum 8260 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8260 β€” a 28.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS (base: 4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses the Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023βˆ’2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon Platinum 8260 uses Cascade Lake-SP (2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS scores 30,689 against the Xeon Platinum 8260's 30,720 β€” a 0.1% lead for the Xeon Platinum 8260. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,529 vs 18,500 (11.3% advantage for the Xeon Platinum 8260). Geekbench 6 single-core β€” the metric most relevant to gaming β€” records 2,617 vs 1,190, a 75% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,098 vs 6,946 (61.4% advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS). L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs 35.75 MB (total) on the Xeon Platinum 8260.

FeatureRyzen 9 PRO 8945HSXeon Platinum 8260
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
24 / 48+200%
Boost Clock
5.2 GHz+33%
3.9 GHz
Base Clock
4 GHz+67%
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
35.75 MB (total)+123%
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
1 MB (per core)
Process
4 nm-71%
14 nm
Architecture
Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023βˆ’2024)
Cascade Lake-SP (2018)
PassMark
30,689
30,720
Cinebench R23 Multi
16,529
18,500+12%
Geekbench 6 Single
2,617+120%
1,190
Geekbench 6 Multi
13,098+89%
6,946
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses the FP7 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Platinum 8260 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS versus DDR4-2933 on the Xeon Platinum 8260 β€” the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports 90.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Platinum 8260 supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 256 GB β€” 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS) vs 6 (Xeon Platinum 8260). PCIe lanes: 20 (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS) vs 48 (Xeon Platinum 8260) β€” the Xeon Platinum 8260 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS) and C621,Lewisburg (Xeon Platinum 8260).

FeatureRyzen 9 PRO 8945HSXeon Platinum 8260
Socket
FP7
LGA3647
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0+33%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5600+91%
DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity
256 GB
1024 GB+300%
RAM Channels
2
6+200%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
48+140%
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking β€” a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon Platinum 8260). The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the Xeon Platinum 8260 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS targets Professional AI Business Laptop, Xeon Platinum 8260 targets Server / Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS rivals Core Ultra 9 185H; Xeon Platinum 8260 rivals Xeon Gold 6248R.

FeatureRyzen 9 PRO 8945HSXeon Platinum 8260
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon 780M
β€”
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
Yes
Yes
Virtualization
AMD-V, SVM
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Professional AI Business Laptop
Server / Workstation