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.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8745HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 32,620).
❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8745HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 8745HX moves to FL1 and DDR5.

Ryzen 7 8745HX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FL1 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Ryzen 7 8745HX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FL1 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8745HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 32,620).
❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8745HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 8745HX moves to FL1 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 8745HX better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Ryzen 7 8745HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 19.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 49.3% 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, Ryzen 7 8745HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 19.2% 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, Ryzen 7 8745HX is the better fit. You are getting 49.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 8745HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 8745HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 19.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 7 8745HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FL1 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. 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.

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 8745HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	203 FPS	254 FPS
medium	174 FPS	236 FPS
high	140 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	169 FPS	218 FPS
medium	141 FPS	183 FPS
high	113 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	152 FPS
medium	76 FPS	127 FPS
high	60 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	86 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	464 FPS	620 FPS
medium	387 FPS	518 FPS
high	324 FPS	428 FPS
ultra	291 FPS	387 FPS
1440p
low	397 FPS	529 FPS
medium	334 FPS	463 FPS
high	290 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	332 FPS
4K
low	263 FPS	310 FPS
medium	226 FPS	277 FPS
high	205 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	229 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	546 FPS	816 FPS
medium	473 FPS	735 FPS
high	432 FPS	653 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	560 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	701 FPS
medium	413 FPS	564 FPS
high	375 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	415 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	486 FPS
medium	292 FPS	405 FPS
high	255 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	304 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	546 FPS	816 FPS
medium	546 FPS	816 FPS
high	546 FPS	816 FPS
ultra	546 FPS	772 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	816 FPS
medium	546 FPS	755 FPS
high	546 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	524 FPS	579 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	568 FPS
medium	484 FPS	509 FPS
high	435 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	399 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 8745HX

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 7 8745HX

The Ryzen 7 8745HX 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 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: 32,620 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8745HX offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 8745HX has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8745HX — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 8745HX (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8745HX uses Dragon Range (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Ryzen 7 8745HX's 32,620 — a 39.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 8745HX. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8745HX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 8745HX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.1 GHz+11%
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+3%	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)	Dragon Range (2025)
PassMark	21,845	32,620+49%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 8745HX uses FL1 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 8745HX — the Ryzen 7 8745HX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 8745HX) — the Ryzen 7 8745HX offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X) and FL1 (Ryzen 7 8745HX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 8745HX
Socket	AM4	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	24	28+17%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 8745HX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Ryzen 7 8745HX includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 8745HX targets High-end Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 8745HX rivals Core i7-14700HX.