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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.3% higher average FPS across 44 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 105W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.8 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $369 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13980HX across 44 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (28,325 vs 45,950).
❌90.9% higher power demand at 105W vs 55W.

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.3% higher average FPS across 44 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 105W, a 50W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Costs $369 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.8 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13980HX across 44 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (28,325 vs 45,950).
❌90.9% higher power demand at 105W vs 55W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13980HX better than Ryzen 5 7600X?

Yes. Core i9-13980HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 18.3% average FPS lead across 44 shared CPU game tests in our data, 62.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-13980HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 18.3% more average FPS across 44 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-13980HX is the better fit. You are getting 62.2% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-13980HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 7600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-13980HX is 123.4% more expensive on MSRP at $668 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 18.3% average FPS lead across 44 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 7600X is also 37.7% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 68.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i9-13980HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i9-13980HX Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	321 FPS	266 FPS
medium	311 FPS	246 FPS
high	247 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	278 FPS	226 FPS
medium	240 FPS	189 FPS
high	178 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	158 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	192 FPS	157 FPS
medium	164 FPS	131 FPS
high	123 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	497 FPS	649 FPS
medium	434 FPS	524 FPS
high	354 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	313 FPS	386 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	544 FPS
medium	380 FPS	455 FPS
high	316 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	341 FPS
medium	216 FPS	290 FPS
high	205 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	762 FPS	708 FPS
medium	626 FPS	652 FPS
high	543 FPS	571 FPS
ultra	467 FPS	484 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	708 FPS
medium	567 FPS	554 FPS
high	485 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	409 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	463 FPS
medium	430 FPS	392 FPS
high	383 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	281 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 5 7600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	1012 FPS	708 FPS
medium	905 FPS	708 FPS
high	792 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	704 FPS	708 FPS
1440p
low	840 FPS	708 FPS
medium	739 FPS	708 FPS
high	646 FPS	658 FPS
ultra	568 FPS	571 FPS
4K
low	620 FPS	560 FPS
medium	555 FPS	502 FPS
high	491 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	391 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13980HX and Ryzen 5 7600X

Core i9-13980HX

The Core i9-13980HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,950 points. Launch price was $668.

Ryzen 5 7600X

The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13980HX packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-13980HX has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13980HX versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X — a 3.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-13980HX (base: 2.2 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The Core i9-13980HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13980HX scores 45,950 against the Ryzen 5 7600X's 28,325 — a 47.5% lead for the Core i9-13980HX. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13980HX vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 5 7600X
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+300%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.5 GHz+4%	5.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	4.7 GHz+114%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)+13%	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	6 MB+200%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm, 6 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-HX (2023)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	45,950+62%	28,325
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	15,300
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,800

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13980HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-13980HX versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 5 7600X — the Core i9-13980HX supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-13980HX supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13980HX) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) — the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Raptor Lake-HX (Core i9-13980HX) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X).

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 5 7600X
Socket	FCBGA1964	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+111900%	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	192	128 GB+69904967%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

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: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-13980HX) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600X). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics (Core i9-13980HX) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 7600X) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i9-13980HX rivals Ryzen 9 7945HX; Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 5 7600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13980HX launched at $668 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 7600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($668 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 7600X is $369 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13980HX delivers 68.8 pts/$ vs 94.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 7600X — making the Ryzen 5 7600X the 31.7% better value option.