Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Ryzen 9 9850HX

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 9 8940HX

2025

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (51,161 vs 51,665).

Ryzen 9 9850HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

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

Ryzen 9 8940HX

2025

Ryzen 9 9850HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (51,161 vs 51,665).

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 9850HX better than Ryzen 9 8940HX?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 9 8940HX is ahead with a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 9850HX pulls ahead with 1% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 9850HX is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 9850HX still looks like the safer overall buy. Ryzen 9 9850HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 1% better PassMark.

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

Ryzen 9 9850HX is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

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 9 8940HX Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 9850HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 8940HX	Ryzen 9 9850HX
1080p
low	283 FPS	268 FPS
medium	260 FPS	244 FPS
high	213 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	180 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	260 FPS	253 FPS
medium	217 FPS	207 FPS
high	167 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	147 FPS	146 FPS
4K
low	181 FPS	175 FPS
medium	150 FPS	144 FPS
high	114 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	96 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 8940HX Open Ryzen 9 9850HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 8940HX	Ryzen 9 9850HX
1080p
low	653 FPS	669 FPS
medium	564 FPS	576 FPS
high	423 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	361 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	553 FPS	564 FPS
medium	493 FPS	503 FPS
high	380 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	318 FPS
medium	282 FPS	288 FPS
high	248 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	219 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 8940HX Open Ryzen 9 9850HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 8940HX	Ryzen 9 9850HX
1080p
low	848 FPS	849 FPS
medium	678 FPS	678 FPS
high	600 FPS	600 FPS
ultra	514 FPS	514 FPS
1440p
low	677 FPS	678 FPS
medium	542 FPS	542 FPS
high	468 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	397 FPS	397 FPS
4K
low	482 FPS	484 FPS
medium	399 FPS	400 FPS
high	359 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	302 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 8940HX Open Ryzen 9 9850HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 8940HX	Ryzen 9 9850HX
1080p
low	1071 FPS	1072 FPS
medium	966 FPS	966 FPS
high	843 FPS	843 FPS
ultra	759 FPS	760 FPS
1440p
low	840 FPS	842 FPS
medium	746 FPS	747 FPS
high	651 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	564 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	618 FPS	619 FPS
medium	553 FPS	553 FPS
high	487 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	420 FPS	421 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 8940HX Open Ryzen 9 9850HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 8940HX and Ryzen 9 9850HX

Ryzen 9 8940HX

The Ryzen 9 8940HX 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 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: 51,161 points. Launch price was $499.

Ryzen 9 9850HX

The Ryzen 9 9850HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Fire Range-HX (Zen 5) (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 51,665 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 8940HX packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 9 9850HX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 8940HX has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 8940HX versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9850HX — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 8940HX (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Dragon Range (2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen 9 9850HX uses Fire Range-HX (Zen 5) (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 8940HX scores 51,161 against the Ryzen 9 9850HX's 51,665 — a 1% lead for the Ryzen 9 9850HX. Both processors carry 64 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Ryzen 9 8940HX	Ryzen 9 9850HX
Cores / Threads	16 / 32+33%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+2%	5.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3 GHz+25%
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)	64 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm	4 nm-20%
Architecture	Dragon Range (2025)	Fire Range-HX (Zen 5) (2025)
PassMark	51,161	51,665
Geekbench 6 Single	2,800	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	16,000	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FL1 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 8940HX versus 5600 on the Ryzen 9 9850HX — the Ryzen 9 9850HX supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 9850HX supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 28 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FL1 (Ryzen 9 8940HX) and FL1 (Ryzen 9 9850HX).

Feature	Ryzen 9 8940HX	Ryzen 9 9850HX
Socket	FL1	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+34952433%	192
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 9850HX 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: true (Ryzen 9 8940HX) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 9 9850HX). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon 610M (Ryzen 9 8940HX) and AMD Radeon 610M (Ryzen 9 9850HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 9850HX rivals Core Ultra 7 255HX.