Ryzen 5 7600X vs Ryzen 9 7940HS

AMD

Ryzen 5 7600X

6 Cores12 Thrd105 WWMax: 5.3 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 9 7940HS

8 Cores16 Thrd35 WWMax: 5.2 GHz2023

Popular choices:

Ryzen 5 7600X

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.

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 7600X

2022

Why buy it

  • +100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
  • 40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940HS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,300 vs 17,443).
  • Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 200% higher power demand at 105W vs 35W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 7940HS.

Ryzen 9 7940HS

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +21.0% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 35W instead of 105W, a 70W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Ryzen 5 7600X.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 7940HS better than Ryzen 5 7600X?
Yes. Ryzen 9 7940HS is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 21.0% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 14% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 5.9% higher 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 9 7940HS is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 21.0% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 7940HS is the better fit. You are getting 14% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 9 7940HS is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 7600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 7940HS is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 21.0% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 7600X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 9 7940HS 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 8 cores / 16 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetRyzen 5 7600XRyzen 9 7940HS
1080p
low266 FPS267 FPS
medium246 FPS242 FPS
high210 FPS203 FPS
ultra179 FPS176 FPS
1440p
low226 FPS235 FPS
medium189 FPS193 FPS
high154 FPS157 FPS
ultra134 FPS139 FPS
4K
low157 FPS163 FPS
medium131 FPS136 FPS
high101 FPS105 FPS
ultra87 FPS92 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen 5 7600XRyzen 9 7940HS
1080p
low649 FPS497 FPS
medium524 FPS408 FPS
high436 FPS349 FPS
ultra386 FPS311 FPS
1440p
low544 FPS434 FPS
medium455 FPS376 FPS
high388 FPS322 FPS
ultra329 FPS274 FPS
4K
low341 FPS286 FPS
medium290 FPS259 FPS
high271 FPS243 FPS
ultra232 FPS209 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen 5 7600XRyzen 9 7940HS
1080p
low708 FPS750 FPS
medium652 FPS750 FPS
high571 FPS730 FPS
ultra484 FPS624 FPS
1440p
low708 FPS750 FPS
medium554 FPS646 FPS
high479 FPS545 FPS
ultra409 FPS467 FPS
4K
low463 FPS544 FPS
medium392 FPS475 FPS
high341 FPS422 FPS
ultra281 FPS357 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen 5 7600XRyzen 9 7940HS
1080p
low708 FPS750 FPS
medium708 FPS750 FPS
high708 FPS750 FPS
ultra708 FPS750 FPS
1440p
low708 FPS750 FPS
medium708 FPS750 FPS
high658 FPS658 FPS
ultra571 FPS573 FPS
4K
low560 FPS574 FPS
medium502 FPS511 FPS
high452 FPS456 FPS
ultra391 FPS394 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 7600X and Ryzen 9 7940HS

AMD

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.

AMD

Ryzen 9 7940HS

The Ryzen 9 7940HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 29,986 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 7600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 9 7940HS has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940HS — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 4.7 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 7600X uses the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7940HS uses Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 7600X scores 28,325 against the Ryzen 9 7940HS's 29,986 — a 5.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940HS. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 15,300 vs 17,443 (13.1% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940HS). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,900 vs 2,646, a 9.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,800 vs 11,591 (17.4% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940HS.

FeatureRyzen 5 7600XRyzen 9 7940HS
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
5.3 GHz+2%
5.2 GHz
Base Clock
4.7 GHz+18%
4 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB (total)+100%
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
6 MB+500%
1 MB (per core)
Process
5 nm, 6 nm
4 nm-20%
Architecture
Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023)
PassMark
28,325
29,986+6%
Cinebench R23 Multi
15,300
17,443+14%
Geekbench 6 Single
2,900+10%
2,646
Geekbench 6 Multi
13,800+19%
11,591
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 7600X uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 7940HS uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5200 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 7940HS supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) vs 20 (Ryzen 9 7940HS) — the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X) and FP8,FP7 (Ryzen 9 7940HS).

FeatureRyzen 5 7600XRyzen 9 7940HS
Socket
AM5
FP8
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5200
DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
256 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
28+40%
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Both include integrated graphics AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 7600X) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 7940HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming, Ryzen 9 7940HS targets Thin-and-light Performance. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K; Ryzen 9 7940HS rivals Core i9-13900H.

FeatureRyzen 5 7600XRyzen 9 7940HS
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Radeon 780M
Unlocked
Yes
Yes
AVX-512
Yes
Yes
Virtualization
AMD-V
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
Thin-and-light Performance