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 i9-9990XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).
✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $2,000 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 8945H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌3087.5% higher power demand at 255W vs 8W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 8945H moves to FP7/FP7r2/FP8 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 8945H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 8945H

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 8W instead of 255W, a 247W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7/FP7r2/FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Core i9-9990XE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9990XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (12,662 vs 16,199).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 19 MB).

Core i9-9990XE

2019

Ryzen 9 8945H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).
✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 8W instead of 255W, a 247W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7/FP7r2/FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Core i9-9990XE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $2,000 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 8945H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌3087.5% higher power demand at 255W vs 8W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 8945H moves to FP7/FP7r2/FP8 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 8945H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9990XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (12,662 vs 16,199).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 19 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9990XE better than Ryzen 9 8945H?

Yes. Core i9-9990XE is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 27.9% better Geekbench multi-core, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9990XE is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 5.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9990XE is the better fit. You are getting 27.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 28 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Core i9-9990XE is the smarter buy today. Core i9-9990XE is at an unclear MSRP at $2,000 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 5.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (15.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen 9 8945H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FP7/FP7r2/FP8 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 i9-9990XE Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 8945H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 9 8945H
1080p
low	328 FPS	269 FPS
medium	288 FPS	243 FPS
high	238 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	275 FPS	236 FPS
medium	220 FPS	193 FPS
high	178 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	142 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	172 FPS	164 FPS
medium	138 FPS	136 FPS
high	108 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	92 FPS

Open Core i9-9990XE Open Ryzen 9 8945H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 9 8945H
1080p
low	634 FPS	513 FPS
medium	521 FPS	421 FPS
high	431 FPS	363 FPS
ultra	389 FPS	323 FPS
1440p
low	554 FPS	448 FPS
medium	475 FPS	388 FPS
high	394 FPS	334 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	285 FPS
4K
low	328 FPS	295 FPS
medium	286 FPS	267 FPS
high	267 FPS	253 FPS
ultra	232 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i9-9990XE Open Ryzen 9 8945H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 9 8945H
1080p
low	754 FPS	756 FPS
medium	754 FPS	756 FPS
high	683 FPS	647 FPS
ultra	575 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	754 FPS	756 FPS
medium	639 FPS	637 FPS
high	546 FPS	541 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	558 FPS	541 FPS
medium	458 FPS	473 FPS
high	411 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	342 FPS	355 FPS

Open Core i9-9990XE Open Ryzen 9 8945H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 9 8945H
1080p
low	754 FPS	756 FPS
medium	754 FPS	756 FPS
high	754 FPS	756 FPS
ultra	754 FPS	754 FPS
1440p
low	754 FPS	756 FPS
medium	754 FPS	756 FPS
high	746 FPS	660 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	573 FPS
4K
low	665 FPS	572 FPS
medium	591 FPS	511 FPS
high	526 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	394 FPS

Open Core i9-9990XE Open Ryzen 9 8945H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9990XE and Ryzen 9 8945H

Core i9-9990XE

The Core i9-9990XE 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 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 255 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,162 points. Launch price was $2,800.

Ryzen 9 8945H

The Ryzen 9 8945H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,240 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9990XE packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Ryzen 9 8945H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-9990XE has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-9990XE versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 8945H — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 8945H (base: 4 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i9-9990XE uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 8945H uses Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9990XE scores 30,162 against the Ryzen 9 8945H's 30,240 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 8945H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,392 vs 2,617, a 61.1% lead for the Ryzen 9 8945H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 16,199 vs 12,662 (24.5% advantage for the Core i9-9990XE). L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9990XE vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 9 8945H.

Feature	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 9 8945H
Cores / Threads	14 / 28+75%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.2 GHz+2%
Base Clock	4 GHz	4 GHz
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)+20%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	8 MB+700%
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024)
PassMark	30,162	30,240
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,392	2,617+88%
Geekbench 6 Multi	16,199+28%	12,662

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9990XE uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 8945H uses FP7/FP7r2/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9990XE versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 8945H — the Ryzen 9 8945H supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 8945H supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9990XE) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 8945H). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9990XE) vs 20 (Ryzen 9 8945H) — the Core i9-9990XE offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9990XE) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 9 8945H).

Feature	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 9 8945H
Socket	LGA2066	FP7/FP7r2/FP8
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	No
PCIe Lanes	44+120%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-9990XE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9990XE) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 8945H). The Ryzen 9 8945H includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the Core i9-9990XE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-9990XE targets HEDT, Ryzen 9 8945H targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i9-9990XE rivals Threadripper 2970WX; Ryzen 9 8945H rivals Core i9-13900H.