AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U vs AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two mobile flagships along generation lines. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX takes 4. The 8840U is the newer design, and it shows in the breadth of its victories. It leads in every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, both single-core and multi-core, by margins of 2% to 2.1%. That consistency across rendering workloads makes it the better choice for CPU-heavy productivity and content creation.

The Ryzen 9 5980HX, however, is not obsolete. Its wins are concentrated in PassMark data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, and integer math. Those are the workloads where the older chip pulls ahead by meaningful margins, from 1.6% up to 14.5%. The 5980HX also holds a higher 45W TDP envelope versus the 28W of the 8840U, which suggests it has more thermal headroom for sustained heavy loads in a larger chassis.

For the majority of users, the 8840U is the safer pick. It offers newer Zen 4 architecture, a smaller 4nm process, faster boost clocks, and better single-thread performance. For specialized workloads that rely on the 5980HX's PassMark strengths, particularly encryption and data compression, the older chip remains competitive. The database records the 8840U at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, while the 5980HX sits at the 82nd percentile, so the overall performance gap is narrow even if the win distribution is lopsided.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U dominates rendering and physics simulations. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 20254 against 19850 for the 5980HX, a 2% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2041 against 2000, a 2.1% lead. The single-core advantage is identical in percentage terms: 288 versus 282 in R15, 1200 versus 1176 in R20, and 2859 versus 2802 in R23. These are not huge margins, but they are uniform. The 8840U also wins PassMark physics by a wide 33.3% margin, scoring 1174 versus 881, and PassMark find prime numbers by 43.4%, scoring 76 versus 53. For floating point math, the 8840U edges ahead 50746 versus 50223, a 1% win. The single-thread PassMark test shows the 8840U at 3641 versus 3326, a 9.5% advantage, which is the largest single-core gap recorded between the two.

The Ryzen 9 5980HX wins the encryption and compression tests. PassMark data compression goes to the 5980HX at 310694 versus 272664, a 12.2% lead. PassMark data encryption goes to the 5980HX at 19221 versus 16441, a 14.5% lead. PassMark extended instructions also favors the 5980HX, 21209 versus 19132, a 9.8% gap. PassMark integer math is close, with the 5980HX at 89772 versus 88339, a 1.6% win. These are the workloads where the older Zen 3 design retains a clear edge, likely tied to its higher 45W power envelope.

Architecture Differences

The 8840U is built on Zen 4 with the Hawk Point codename, fabricated on a 4nm process at TSMC. The 5980HX uses Zen 3 with the Cezanne codename, on a 7nm process, also at TSMC. The transistor counts differ substantially: the 8840U packs 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the 5980HX has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The newer node allows the 8840U to nearly double the transistor count in a slightly smaller die area.

Both CPUs have 8 cores and 16 threads. The 8840U has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The 5980HX has the same 3.30 GHz base clock but boosts to 4.80 GHz. The 8840U has a 28W TDP, while the 5980HX has a 45W TDP. Cache configurations differ in L2: the 8840U has 1 MB of L2 per core, while the 5980HX has 512 KB per core. Both share 16 MB of L3 and 64 KB of L1 per core.

Memory support is a major split. The 8840U supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The 5980HX supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The 8840U also supports ECC memory, while the 5980HX does not. PCIe generations differ too: the 8840U uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 5980HX uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well, with the 8840U carrying Radeon 780M and the 5980HX carrying Radeon Vega 8. Sockets are not interchangeable: the 8840U uses AMD Socket FP7, while the 5980HX uses AMD Socket FP6.

The 5980HX has an unlocked multiplier, making it a suitable option for enthusiasts who want to tweak clocks. The 8840U is locked. The 5980HX also uses a single part number (100-000000474), while the 8840U has two part numbers listed, one for FP7r2 and one for FP7.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In R23, it scores 20254 versus 19850 for the 5980HX, a 2% lead. In R20, it scores 8506 versus 8337, also 2%. In R15, it scores 2041 versus 2000, a 2.1% lead.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5980HX better at anything?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark data compression by 12.2% (310694 versus 272664), data encryption by 14.5% (19221 versus 16441), extended instructions by 9.8% (21209 versus 19132), and integer math by 1.6% (89772 versus 88339).

Q: How much faster is the 8840U in single-thread performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the 8840U scores 3641 versus 3326, a 9.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it leads 2859 versus 2802, a 2% gap.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads. They share the same 3.30 GHz base clock, but the 8840U boosts to 5.10 GHz while the 5980HX boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: Which CPU supports faster memory?

A: The 8840U supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the 5980HX supports DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The 8840U also supports ECC memory, which the 5980HX does not.

Q: Is the 5980HX overclockable?

A: The database lists the 5980HX with an unlocked multiplier, so yes. The 8840U does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the 8840U is PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 76 versus 53, a 43.4% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in the entire comparison. The next largest is PassMark physics, where the 8840U scores 1174 versus 881, a 33.3% lead. These two tests show the Zen 4 architecture's strength in compute-heavy integer and physics workloads.

The largest win for the 5980HX is PassMark data encryption, where it scores 19221 versus 16441, a 14.5% lead. PassMark data compression follows at 310694 versus 272664, a 12.2% advantage. PassMark extended instructions goes to the 5980HX by 9.8%, with a score of 21209 versus 19132. The 5980HX also takes PassMark integer math by a narrow 1.6%, scoring 89772 versus 88339.

The Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the 8840U, with all six tests showing a 2% to 2.1% lead. The multi-core R15 test shows 2041 versus 2000, and the single-core R15 shows 288 versus 282. The R20 multi-core shows 8506 versus 8337, and the single-core shows 1200 versus 1176. The R23 multi-core shows 20254 versus 19850, and the single-core shows 2859 versus 2802. These margins are small but consistent, indicating a steady generational improvement rather than a dramatic leap.

PassMark multithread goes to the 8840U at 23850 versus 23356, a 2.1% win. PassMark random string sorting also favors the 8840U, 33109 versus 32238, a 2.7% lead. PassMark floating point math is close, with the 8840U winning 50746 versus 50223, a 1% margin. The PassMark single-thread test and the PassMark singlethread test both record the same scores, 3641 for the 8840U and 3326 for the 5980HX, giving the newer chip a 9.5% win in both entries.

Counting the wins, the 8840U takes 13 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the 5980HX takes 4. The average benchmark score reflects the overall picture: the 8840U averages 32233, while the 5980HX averages 31495. The 8840U also ranks in the 83rd percentile versus the 82nd percentile for the 5980HX. The 8840U's nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i9-11900 at 32226, the Intel Core i5-14400F at 32279, the Intel Core i7-12800H at 32121, and the Intel Core i5-14400 at 32115. The 5980HX's nearest rivals are the Intel Core 7 240H at 31483, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H at 31508, the Intel Core i5-13500 at 31510, and the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 at 31473.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every architectural field. The 8840U uses Zen 4 with the Hawk Point codename, while the 5980HX uses Zen 3 with the Cezanne codename. The process node is 4nm for the 8840U and 7nm for the 5980HX. The 8840U has 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the 5980HX has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die.

Boost clock differs: 5.10 GHz for the 8840U versus 4.80 GHz for the 5980HX. TDP differs: 28W versus 45W. L2 cache differs: 1 MB per core for the 8840U versus 512 KB per core for the 5980HX. Both share 16 MB of L3 and 64 KB of L1 per core.

Memory support differs: DDR5 for the 8840U versus DDR4 for the 5980HX. Memory bandwidth differs: 89.6 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s. ECC support differs: the 8840U supports ECC, the 5980HX does not. PCIe differs: Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the 8840U versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the 5980HX.

Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 780M for the 8840U versus Radeon Vega 8 for the 5980HX. Socket differs: FP7 for the 8840U versus FP6 for the 5980HX. The multiplier is unlocked on the 5980HX but locked on the 8840U. Both are listed as Active in production status and both target the Mobile market segment.