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: +11.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 11.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.8 vs 61.7 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 105W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Ryzen 7 5800X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
48.8% HIGHER MSRP
$668 MSRPvs$449 MSRP

Ryzen 7 5800X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $219 less on MSRP ($449 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13980HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (27,712 vs 45,950).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.7 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($449 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
❌90.9% higher power demand at 105W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-13980HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Ryzen 7 5800X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 11.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.8 vs 61.7 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 105W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Ryzen 7 5800X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $219 less on MSRP ($449 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
48.8% HIGHER MSRP
$668 MSRPvs$449 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13980HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (27,712 vs 45,950).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.7 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($449 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
❌90.9% higher power demand at 105W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-13980HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13980HX better than Ryzen 7 5800X?

Yes. Core i9-13980HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 11.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 65.8% 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 11.8% more average FPS across 50 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 65.8% 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 the smarter buy today. Core i9-13980HX is 48.8% more expensive on MSRP at $668 MSRP versus $449 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 11.5% better value on MSRP (68.8 vs 61.7 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play 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 2020), a healthier platform with FCBGA1964 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 threads instead of 8/16. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 7 5800X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low	321 FPS	206 FPS
medium	311 FPS	178 FPS
high	247 FPS	146 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	278 FPS	170 FPS
medium	240 FPS	142 FPS
high	178 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	158 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	192 FPS	83 FPS
medium	164 FPS	74 FPS
high	123 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 7 5800X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low	497 FPS	662 FPS
medium	434 FPS	558 FPS
high	354 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	313 FPS	417 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	563 FPS
medium	380 FPS	493 FPS
high	316 FPS	423 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	361 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	350 FPS
medium	216 FPS	308 FPS
high	205 FPS	288 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	250 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 7 5800X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low	762 FPS	693 FPS
medium	626 FPS	651 FPS
high	543 FPS	570 FPS
ultra	467 FPS	464 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	693 FPS
medium	567 FPS	573 FPS
high	485 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	413 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	484 FPS
medium	430 FPS	410 FPS
high	383 FPS	363 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	302 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 7 5800X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low	1012 FPS	693 FPS
medium	905 FPS	693 FPS
high	792 FPS	693 FPS
ultra	704 FPS	693 FPS
1440p
low	840 FPS	693 FPS
medium	739 FPS	693 FPS
high	646 FPS	672 FPS
ultra	568 FPS	593 FPS
4K
low	620 FPS	604 FPS
medium	555 FPS	550 FPS
high	491 FPS	495 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	436 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 7 5800X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13980HX and Ryzen 7 5800X

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 7 5800X

The Ryzen 7 5800X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13980HX packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5800X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-13980HX has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13980HX versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800X — a 15.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-13980HX (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i9-13980HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13980HX scores 45,950 against the Ryzen 7 5800X's 27,712 — a 49.5% lead for the Core i9-13980HX. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13980HX vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 7 5800X
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+200%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.5 GHz+17%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	3.8 GHz+73%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)+13%	32 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-HX (2023)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	45,950+66%	27,712

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13980HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-13980HX versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 5800X — the Core i9-13980HX supports 199.7% 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 24 (Ryzen 7 5800X) — the Ryzen 7 5800X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Raptor Lake-HX (Core i9-13980HX) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 5800X).

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 7 5800X
Socket	FCBGA1964	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+139900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192	128 GB+69904967%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-13980HX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-13980HX) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800X). The Core i9-13980HX includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics), while the Ryzen 7 5800X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i9-13980HX rivals Ryzen 9 7945HX.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 7 5800X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13980HX launched at $668 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5800X debuted at $449. On MSRP ($668 vs $449), the Ryzen 7 5800X is $219 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13980HX delivers 68.8 pts/$ vs 61.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5800X — making the Core i9-13980HX the 10.8% better value option.