Xeon Gold 6554S vs Ryzen 9 8940HX
Xeon Gold 6554S
Ryzen 9 8940HX
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 Xeon Gold 6554S
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 8940HX
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6554S | Ryzen 9 8940HX |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,836) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Emerald Rapids (2023) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Dragon Range (2025) / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6554S | Ryzen 9 8940HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,836) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Xeon Gold 6554S and Ryzen 9 8940HX
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6554S packs 36 cores / 72 threads, while the Ryzen 9 8940HX offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon Gold 6554S has 20 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6554S versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 8940HX — a 28% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 8940HX (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6554S uses the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 8940HX uses Dragon Range (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6554S scores 50,777 against the Ryzen 9 8940HX's 51,161 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 8940HX. L3 cache: 180 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 6554S vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 8940HX.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6554S | Ryzen 9 8940HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 36 / 72+125% | 16 / 32 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 5.3 GHz+32% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 180 MB (total)+181% | 64 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 5 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Emerald Rapids (2023) | Dragon Range (2025) |
| PassMark | 50,777 | 51,161 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,800 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 16,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6554S uses the LGA4677 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 8940HX uses FL1 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5200 on the Xeon Gold 6554S versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 8940HX — 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: 8 (Xeon Gold 6554S) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 8940HX). PCIe lanes: 80 (Xeon Gold 6554S) vs 28 (Ryzen 9 8940HX) — the Xeon Gold 6554S offers 52 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C741 (Xeon Gold 6554S) and AMD FL1 (Ryzen 9 8940HX).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6554S | Ryzen 9 8940HX |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4677 | FL1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 5200+103900% | DDR5-5200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4096 | 64 GB+1638300% |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 80+186% | 28 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6554S) vs true (Ryzen 9 8940HX). 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 | Xeon Gold 6554S | Ryzen 9 8940HX |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Radeon 610M |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | true |
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