AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS vs AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX Comparison

The data separates these two mobile processors clearly: the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the outright performance king in the vast majority of recorded tests, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS counters with a smaller set of wins in specific workloads, backed by a more modern platform. The Ryzen 9 5980HX takes 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, often by large margins, while the Ryzen 7 6800HS wins only 3, though its victories are notable for their distinct character. The choice between them hinges on whether the user prioritizes raw computational throughput or platform-level advancements like DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 4 connectivity.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the default recommendation for anyone whose work or play demands maximum compute performance. Its benchmark record is dominant: a 65.5% advantage over the 6800HS in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a 92.6% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core, and consistent wins across PassMark’s integer, floating point, and encryption tests. The data shows a processor that simply executes more work per unit time in nearly every scenario.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS, however, is not without its own case. It wins the Geekbench multi-core test by 18.8%, and it also leads in PassMark’s physics simulation and prime number finding. These are not trivial losses for the Ryzen 9; they indicate workloads where the 6800HS’s newer architecture and platform features provide a tangible benefit. The 6800HS also carries a lower 35W TDP versus the 5980HX’s 45W, which in a laptop context suggests a platform designed for efficiency, though the recorded data does not include battery life or thermal measurements.

For buyers, the verdict is straightforward: if the priority is maximum speed in Cinebench, PassMark’s math and encryption suites, or single-threaded responsiveness, the Ryzen 9 5980HX is the superior part. If the workload leans toward Geekbench multi-core performance, physics simulations, or if the user values the newer DDR5 and PCIe Gen 4 platform, the Ryzen 7 6800HS is the more fitting choice.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 5980HX wins in the categories that dominate most productivity and content creation benchmarks. It leads in all three Cinebench versions recorded (R15, R20, R23) for both single-core and multi-core, with its largest edge in R23 multi-core at 65.5%. In PassMark, it wins data compression by 6.1%, data encryption by 6.2%, extended instructions by 5.4%, floating point math by 5.7%, integer math by 6.6%, multithread performance by 2.4%, random string sorting by 6.5%, and single-thread performance by 4.5%. This is a comprehensive sweep of the classic CPU workload categories.

The Ryzen 7 6800HS wins in three specific areas, and these wins are instructive. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 9515 versus the 5980HX’s 7723 is a substantial 18.8% margin, indicating a different performance scaling in that benchmark’s particular mix of tasks. It also wins PassMark’s physics test by 12.7% (1009 versus 881) and the prime number finding test by 5.4% (56 versus 53). These suggest the 6800HS excels in workloads that are heavily dependent on memory latency or specific instruction patterns, rather than raw throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of AMD’s mobile designs, and the data reflects that. The Ryzen 9 5980HX is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, and manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It uses the AMD Socket FP6 and supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, providing a recorded memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. Its integrated graphics are the Radeon Vega 8.

The Ryzen 7 6800HS uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, and is manufactured on a more advanced 6 nm process, also by TSMC. It uses the AMD Socket FP7 and supports DDR5 memory, also dual-channel, with a higher recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Its integrated graphics are the Radeon 680M. The 6800HS also offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 5980HX provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The die size differs as well: the 6800HS is larger at 208 mm², while the 5980HX is smaller at 180 mm². The transistor count is only recorded for the 5980HX at 10,700 million.

These differences explain the benchmark split. The 6800HS’s newer memory subsystem and higher bandwidth contribute to its Geekbench multi-core win. The 5980HX’s higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, and its higher base clock of 3.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, help it in single-threaded and burst workloads. The 5980HX also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 6800HS does not, which is relevant for overclocking in systems that allow it.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speeds?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS supports DDR5 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX supports DDR4 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS does not.

Q: Which processor wins the Geekbench multi-core test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 9515, compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX’s 7723, a delta of 18.8% in favor of the 6800HS.

Q: Which processor has the larger die size?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS has a die size of 208 mm². The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has a die size of 180 mm².

Q: Do the processors have the same amount of cache?

A: Yes, both have identical cache configurations: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Ryzen 9 5980HX comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2802 against the 6800HS’s 1455, a 92.6% advantage. This is an enormous gap, and it indicates that the 5980HX’s Zen 3 cores running at higher clocks deliver far superior per-thread performance in this rendering workload. The multi-core R23 test also heavily favors the 5980HX: 19850 versus 11992, a 65.5% margin. These two results alone establish the 5980HX as the clear leader for rendering and CPU-intensive productivity.

The Cinebench R15 tests show a tighter but still decisive picture. In R15 multi-core, the 5980HX wins by only 0.7% (2000 versus 1987), which is nearly a tie. In R15 single-core, the 5980HX wins by 20.5% (282 versus 234), again showing its single-thread dominance.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative. The 6800HS wins multi-core by 18.8% (9515 versus 7723), a significant reversal. The 5980HX still wins single-core by 16.8% (1930 versus 1652). This split suggests that Geekbench’s multi-core test leverages the 6800HS’s DDR5 memory bandwidth and Zen 3+ architecture in ways that the Cinebench tests do not.

In the PassMark suite, the 5980HX wins 9 of the 11 recorded tests, but the margins are mostly moderate. Its largest PassMark win is in integer math at 6.6% (89772 versus 84228), followed by random string sorting at 6.5% (32238 versus 30266), data encryption at 6.2% (19221 versus 18104), and data compression at 6.1% (310694 versus 292698). It also leads in floating point math by 5.7% (50223 versus 47533), extended instructions by 5.4% (21209 versus 20114), multithread by 2.4% (23356 versus 22801), and single-thread by 4.5% (3326 versus 3184).

The 6800HS’s PassMark wins are in physics and prime numbers. It scores 1009 in physics versus 881, a 12.7% advantage, and 56 in prime numbers versus 53, a 5.4% advantage. These are specialized workloads, and the 6800HS’s performance there does not offset its losses in the broader PassMark categories.

The overall average benchmark scores from the database reflect this split. The 6800HS has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 32354 against the 5980HX’s 31495, and a marginally higher percentile ranking of 83 versus 82. This is driven by the 6800HS’s strong Geekbench result, which carries weight in the averaging. The 5980HX’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core 7 240H and Intel Core Ultra 5 225H with average scores within 0.1% or 0%, while the 6800HS’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 with deltas of 0.2% and -0.3% respectively.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several key specification fields, with the 6800HS representing a more modern platform. The 5980HX is a 5000 series part with the Zen 3 architecture and codename Cezanne, while the 6800HS is a 6000 series part with the Zen 3+ architecture and codename Rembrandt. The process node is 7 nm for the 5980HX and 6 nm for the 6800HS, both manufactured by TSMC.

Clock speeds differ: the 5980HX has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the 6800HS has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The TDP is also different: 45W for the 5980HX and 35W for the 6800HS.

Memory support is a major divider. The 5980HX uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The 6800HS uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. PCIe support also differs: the 5980HX provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 6800HS provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics differ as well: the 5980HX features Radeon Vega 8, while the 6800HS features Radeon 680M. The socket is different (FP6 for the 5980HX, FP7 for the 6800HS), and the die size is larger for the 6800HS at 208 mm² versus 180 mm². The 5980HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the 6800HS does not. Both support ECC memory as false, and both have identical cache configurations of 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The 5980HX has a recorded transistor count of 10,700 million, while no transistor count is recorded for the 6800HS.