AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS vs AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE are both 6-core, 12-thread processors, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies: one is a modern, power-efficient mobile chip, and the other is a desktop part built on older, more power-hungry technology. The data reveals a fascinating split, where the newer mobile chip dominates in most workload categories, but the desktop chip strikes back decisively in two of the most demanding multi-threaded tests. This comparison is less about a single overall winner and more about which architectural trade-offs matter for specific tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are surprisingly lopsided in terms of win count, but not in overall impact. The Ryzen 5 8640HS wins 11 of the 15 benchmark comparisons, with several victories being substantial. The most dramatic win for the 8640HS comes in the PassMark Physics test, where it scores 970 versus the 5655GE's 648, a massive 49.7% advantage. This suggests a significant difference in how the two chips handle the complex, multi-threaded calculations typical of physics simulations in productivity and rendering workloads. Similarly, in PassMark's Find Prime Numbers test, the 8640HS achieves a 70 against a 49 for the 5655GE, a 42.9% lead, indicating superior raw integer math throughput in this specific scenario.

The 8640HS also demonstrates a clear edge in single-threaded performance. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 268 versus 220, a 21.8% lead. This advantage carries over to PassMark Single-Thread, where it wins with 3584 versus 3240, a 10.6% gain. This pattern is consistent with a newer architecture that extracts more instructions per clock. The multithreaded PassMark test also favors the 8640HS, with a score of 19889 versus 18057, a 10.1% lead. The 8640HS also wins in Floating Point Math (39725 vs 38204, a 4% lead), Extended Instructions (15855 vs 15714, a 0.9% lead), Integer Math (68173 vs 67582, a 0.9% lead), and Random String Sorting (27316 vs 23769, a 14.9% lead).

However, the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is not without its strongholds. Its most significant victory is in Cinebench R23 Multi-Core, where it scores a commanding 15504 against the 8640HS's 11486, a 25.9% advantage. This is a major reversal of the trend seen in other tests. It also wins in Cinebench R23 Single-Core (2188 vs 1711, a 21.8% lead), which is surprising given the 8640HS's win in other single-threaded tests, suggesting the older chip's higher power budget can sustain higher clock speeds in this specific benchmark. The 5655GE also edges out the 8640HS in PassMark Data Compression (228037 vs 226544, a 0.7% lead) and Data Encryption (14509 vs 13551, a 6.6% lead).

The picture that emerges is complex. The 8640HS is a more balanced performer, winning across most categories. The 5655GE, however, is a specialist that delivers a crushing blow in the long-duration, multi-threaded Cinebench R23 test, and even manages to win the single-core version of that benchmark. This suggests that its higher 65W TDP allows for sustained high boost clocks that the 28W mobile chip cannot match under certain sustained loads, even if the underlying architecture is older.

Architecture Differences

The core architectural differences between these two chips are stark and explain most of the benchmark divergence. The 8640HS is built on the modern Zen 4 architecture, using the Hawk Point codename and a 4 nm process node from TSMC. It packs 25,000 million transistors into a 178 mm² die. In contrast, the 5655GE uses the Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process. It contains only 10,700 million transistors on a slightly larger 180 mm² die. This generational leap in process technology allows the 8640HS to achieve higher performance with significantly fewer power resources.

Their cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache, but the L2 cache differs: the 8640HS has 1 MB per core, while the 5655GE has 512 KB per core. This doubled L2 cache on the 8640HS likely contributes to its strong performance in integer math and physics tests, where data locality is critical. The platforms are entirely different as well. The 8640HS uses AMD Socket FP8 and supports DDR5 memory, providing a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The 5655GE uses the desktop AMD Socket AM4 and supports DDR4 memory, with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. This nearly 75% difference in theoretical memory bandwidth is a major factor, though the 5655GE's support for ECC memory (which the 8640HS lacks) is a crucial feature for data integrity in professional environments.

The PCIe interface also reflects their different market positions. The 8640HS provides Gen 4, 20 Lanes, while the 5655GE offers Gen 3, 16 Lanes. The integrated graphics are also different generations: the 8640HS uses the Radeon 760M, while the 5655GE has the older Radeon Vega 7. Finally, the power envelopes are polar opposites, with the 8640HS rated at a 28W TDP for mobile use, while the 5655GE is a 65W desktop part. This fundamental difference is the source of the 5655GE's ability to win in sustained, high-power workloads like Cinebench R23.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Ryzen 5 8640HS is the clear winner for a broad range of general and professional tasks. Its 10.1% lead in PassMark Multi-Thread and its 49.7% lead in Physics make it the better choice for software that leverages complex physics calculations, such as 3D rendering, finite element analysis, or scientific simulations. Its consistent leads in Single-Thread (10.6% in PassMark, 21.8% in Cinebench R15) indicate superior responsiveness in everyday applications and workflows that are not fully multi-threaded. Furthermore, its high memory bandwidth and doubled L2 cache suggest it will handle data-intensive tasks like video editing and large spreadsheet manipulation more fluidly.

The Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE, despite losing the majority of comparisons, has a definitive niche. Its victory in Cinebench R23 Multi-Core by a 25.9% margin is not trivial. This benchmark is known for being a sustained, all-core workload. The fact that the 5655GE wins here so decisively, despite losing the PassMark Multi-Thread test, suggests it can sustain its maximum all-core boost clock for longer periods due to its higher 65W TDP, while the 28W mobile chip is forced to throttle down to stay within its power limits. Therefore, the 5655GE is the better choice for workloads that involve very long, heavy, all-core number crunching, such as compiling large codebases, running extended video encoding sessions, or batch-processing data, where sustained throughput is more critical than peak performance. Its support for ECC memory also makes it the only choice for systems requiring that level of data reliability.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS wins the Cinebench R15 single-core test with a score of 268 versus 220, a 21.8% advantage, and also wins PassMark Single-Thread with a score of 3584 versus 3240, a 10.6% lead. However, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test with a score of 2188 versus 1711, a 21.8% lead.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 8640HS better for multi-threaded work?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The 8640HS wins the PassMark Multi-Thread test (19889 vs 18057, a 10.1% lead) and the Cinebench R15 multi-core test (1845 vs 1562, an 18.1% lead). However, the 5655GE wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test by a significant margin (15504 vs 11486, a 25.9% lead).

Q: What are the key architectural differences in memory support?

A: The 8640HS supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s and does not support ECC. The 5655GE supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and does support ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L2 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE has 512 KB per core.

Q: How do their power requirements differ?

A: The 8640HS is a mobile processor with a 28W TDP, while the 5655GE is a desktop processor with a 65W TDP.

Q: Which CPU is more competitive against other processors?

A: Both have an identical percentile rank of 78 against all CPUs. The 8640HS has a nearest rival in the Intel Core i9-11900KF, which is 0.4% faster, while the 5655GE's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, which is 0.4% faster. This indicates they are both very close to their direct competitors.

The Verdict

The data dictates a clear verdict based on workload and platform constraints. For users who need a highly capable, efficient processor for a compact or mobile system, the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS is the superior choice. It delivers a more balanced and often significantly faster performance across the majority of benchmarks, including physics, integer math, and single-threaded tasks. Its support for DDR5 memory and a PCIe Gen 4 interface also makes it a more modern and forward-looking platform. The 49.7% lead in PassMark Physics is a powerful indicator of its capability in modern, complex software.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is the right choice for a very specific scenario: a desktop system where sustained, long-duration, all-core workloads are the primary use case. Its commanding 25.9% victory in Cinebench R23 Multi-Core shows a clear advantage when the CPU is pushed to its absolute limit for extended periods. The inclusion of ECC memory support is a critical feature that makes it suitable for professional workstations where data corruption is unacceptable. It is a specialist tool, and for its specific purpose, it is clearly the better option.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 3 |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Cezanne |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | TSMC |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | 10,700 million |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | 180 mm² |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 760M | Radeon Vega 7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2023-12-05 | 2024-05-06 |