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 i9-13980HX

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,950 vs 46,828).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.8 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 PRO 7945.

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.5% higher average FPS across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Costs $259 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Core i9-13980HX

2023

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.5% higher average FPS across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Costs $259 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 68.8 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,950 vs 46,828).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.8 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 PRO 7945.

Trade-offs

❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 better than Core i9-13980HX?

Yes. Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 6.5% average FPS lead across 36 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.9% 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 9 PRO 7945 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.5% more average FPS across 36 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is the better fit. You are getting 1.9% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is $259 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $668 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.5% average FPS lead across 36 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 66.4% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 68.8 PassMark/$), 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 PRO 7945 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 24/32. 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 i9-13980HX Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945
1080p
low	321 FPS	269 FPS
medium	311 FPS	244 FPS
high	247 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	183 FPS
1440p
low	278 FPS	260 FPS
medium	240 FPS	212 FPS
high	178 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	158 FPS	151 FPS
4K
low	192 FPS	180 FPS
medium	164 FPS	147 FPS
high	123 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	98 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945
1080p
low	497 FPS	660 FPS
medium	434 FPS	567 FPS
high	354 FPS	426 FPS
ultra	313 FPS	368 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	555 FPS
medium	380 FPS	495 FPS
high	316 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	306 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	313 FPS
medium	216 FPS	283 FPS
high	205 FPS	250 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	214 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945
1080p
low	762 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	626 FPS	1118 FPS
high	543 FPS	1041 FPS
ultra	467 FPS	875 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	940 FPS
medium	567 FPS	836 FPS
high	485 FPS	754 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	574 FPS
medium	430 FPS	495 FPS
high	383 FPS	445 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	378 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945
1080p
low	1012 FPS	1171 FPS
medium	905 FPS	1015 FPS
high	792 FPS	981 FPS
ultra	704 FPS	854 FPS
1440p
low	840 FPS	1019 FPS
medium	739 FPS	888 FPS
high	646 FPS	762 FPS
ultra	568 FPS	639 FPS
4K
low	620 FPS	754 FPS
medium	555 FPS	658 FPS
high	491 FPS	569 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i9-13980HX Open Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13980HX and Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

Core i9-13980HX

The Core i9-13980HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,950 points. Launch price was $668.

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 June 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 46,828 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-13980HX packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-13980HX has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13980HX versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 — a 1.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-13980HX (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-13980HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 uses Raphael (2023−2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-13980HX scores 45,950 against the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945's 46,828 — a 1.9% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-13980HX vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+100%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.5 GHz+2%	5.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	3.7 GHz+68%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+78%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-HX (2023)	Raphael (2023−2025)
PassMark	45,950	46,828+2%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	28,905
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,206
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	16,832

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13980HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-13980HX versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 — the Core i9-13980HX supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-13980HX supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13980HX) vs 28 (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) — the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Raptor Lake-HX (Core i9-13980HX) and AMD X670E,AMD X670,AMD B650E,AMD B650,AMD A620 (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945).

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945
Socket	FCBGA1964	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+111900%	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	192	128 GB+69904967%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

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 i9-13980HX) vs true (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics (Core i9-13980HX) and Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 9 PRO 7945) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i9-13980HX rivals Ryzen 9 7945HX; Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 rivals Core i9-13900.

Feature	Core i9-13980HX	Ryzen 9 PRO 7945
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics	Radeon Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-13980HX launched at $668 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 debuted at $409. On MSRP ($668 vs $409), the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is $259 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-13980HX delivers 68.8 pts/$ vs 114.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 — making the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 the 49.9% better value option.