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 i9-9980XE

2018

Why buy it

✅+38.1% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+54.7% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).
✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,979 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌266.7% higher power demand at 165W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS moves to FP7 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 165W, a 120W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Core i9-9980XE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,930 vs 22,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Core i9-9980XE

2018

Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS

2024

Why buy it

✅+38.1% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+54.7% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).
✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 165W, a 120W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Core i9-9980XE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,979 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌266.7% higher power demand at 165W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS moves to FP7 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,930 vs 22,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS better than Core i9-9980XE?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS is ahead with a 5.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9980XE pulls ahead with 38.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i9-9980XE also has the bigger cache pool with 54.7% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9980XE is the better fit. You are getting 38.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 54.7% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,979 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-9980XE only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (14.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA2066.

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

Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2018) and a healthier platform with FP7 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066. 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 i9-9980XE Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9980XE	Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS
1080p
low	168 FPS	266 FPS
medium	148 FPS	240 FPS
high	119 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	140 FPS	233 FPS
medium	120 FPS	190 FPS
high	96 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	76 FPS	158 FPS
medium	70 FPS	131 FPS
high	55 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i9-9980XE Open Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9980XE	Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS
1080p
low	498 FPS	487 FPS
medium	429 FPS	405 FPS
high	370 FPS	349 FPS
ultra	335 FPS	310 FPS
1440p
low	430 FPS	427 FPS
medium	377 FPS	374 FPS
high	329 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	286 FPS	273 FPS
4K
low	268 FPS	283 FPS
medium	234 FPS	259 FPS
high	222 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	209 FPS

Open Core i9-9980XE Open Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9980XE	Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS
1080p
low	728 FPS	727 FPS
medium	728 FPS	727 FPS
high	728 FPS	727 FPS
ultra	645 FPS	649 FPS
1440p
low	728 FPS	727 FPS
medium	659 FPS	636 FPS
high	624 FPS	547 FPS
ultra	554 FPS	463 FPS
4K
low	492 FPS	530 FPS
medium	414 FPS	459 FPS
high	371 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	343 FPS

Open Core i9-9980XE Open Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9980XE	Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS
1080p
low	728 FPS	727 FPS
medium	728 FPS	727 FPS
high	728 FPS	727 FPS
ultra	679 FPS	727 FPS
1440p
low	728 FPS	727 FPS
medium	728 FPS	727 FPS
high	639 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	558 FPS	631 FPS
4K
low	581 FPS	619 FPS
medium	525 FPS	553 FPS
high	469 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	409 FPS	434 FPS

Open Core i9-9980XE Open Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9980XE and Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS

Core i9-9980XE

The Core i9-9980XE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 29,127 points. Launch price was $1,979.

Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS

The Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 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: 29,088 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9980XE packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-9980XE has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9980XE versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS (base: 3 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i9-9980XE uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS uses Hawk Point (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9980XE scores 29,127 against the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS's 29,088 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i9-9980XE. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 22,000 vs 15,930 (32% advantage for the Core i9-9980XE). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,459 vs 2,332, a 46.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,177 vs 11,037 (9.8% advantage for the Core i9-9980XE). L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total) on the Core i9-9980XE vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS.

Feature	Core i9-9980XE	Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS
Cores / Threads	18 / 36+125%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	5.1 GHz+13%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.8 GHz+27%
L3 Cache	24.75 MB (total)+55%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Hawk Point (2024−2025)
PassMark	29,127	29,088
Cinebench R23 Multi	22,000+38%	15,930
Geekbench 6 Single	1,459	2,332+60%
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,177+10%	11,037

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9980XE uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9980XE versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS — the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9980XE) vs 2 (Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9980XE) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS) — the Core i9-9980XE offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9980XE) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS).

Feature	Core i9-9980XE	Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS
Socket	LGA2066	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	44+120%	20

🔧

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 i9-9980XE) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS). The Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the Core i9-9980XE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-9980XE targets HEDT / Workstation / Content Creation, Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS targets Enterprise Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i9-9980XE rivals Ryzen Threadripper 2950X; Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS rivals Core i7-13700H.

Feature	Core i9-9980XE	Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SVM
Target Use	HEDT / Workstation / Content Creation	Enterprise Performance Laptop