AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS vs Intel Core i7-7820X Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: Both the Intel Core i7-7820X and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS have 8 cores and 16 threads. The core and thread counts are identical.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core Cinebench R15 performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS scores 243 in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the Intel Core i7-7820X scores 207. The AMD part leads by 14.8%.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-7820X wins with a score of 14576, which is 15.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS's 12629.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-7820X is built on Intel's 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is built on TSMC's 7 nm process.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i7-7820X and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-7820X has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial, reflecting their different origins and target segments. The Intel Core i7-7820X is a desktop part based on the Skylake-X architecture, belonging to the Core i7 X-Series 7th generation. It is built on Intel's 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS, by contrast, is a mobile processor from the 5000 series, using the Zen 3 architecture under the codename Cezanne. It is manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process, and the database records 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, figures that are not listed for the Intel chip.

The memory subsystems differ significantly. The Intel Core i7-7820X supports DDR4 memory through a quad-channel bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS also supports DDR4 but uses a dual-channel bus, resulting in 68.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. That is a 17 GB/s gap in favor of the Intel part, a meaningful difference for memory-intensive workloads.

Cache layouts also diverge. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: the Intel Core i7-7820X has 1 MB per core, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has 512 KB per core. For L3, the Intel part has 11 MB shared, while the AMD part has 16 MB shared, giving the Ryzen a larger pool of last-level cache.

PCIe connectivity is another point of separation. The Intel Core i7-7820X provides Gen 3 with 28 lanes from the CPU, whereas the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip therefore offers more direct expansion lanes, typical of a desktop HEDT platform, while the AMD chip is constrained by its mobile socket, AMD Socket FP6.

The sockets themselves are entirely different: the Intel part uses Intel Socket 2066, and the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP6. The Intel Core i7-7820X has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is locked. The Intel chip is end-of-life in production status, while the AMD chip is listed as active. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $599; the AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture of two processors designed for different environments. The Intel Core i7-7820X, with its 140 W TDP, desktop socket, quad-channel memory, and 28 PCIe lanes, is built for a desktop workstation context. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS, with a 35 W TDP, mobile socket, dual-channel memory, and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, is built for a thin-and-light or mainstream laptop.

For users who prioritize raw multi-threaded throughput in newer rendering workloads, the Intel Core i7-7820X takes the lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 15.4%, and it also wins in Cinebench R23 single-core by a wide 34.5% margin. These results suggest the Intel chip is the stronger choice for sustained all-core rendering and for single-threaded tasks that rely on the latest instruction optimizations.

For users who work with older benchmark versions, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS dominates Cinebench R15, winning multi-core by 29.5% and single-core by 14.8%. The Ryzen also posts a higher average benchmark score range relative to its nearest rivals, sitting at the 57th percentile versus the Intel chip's 58th percentile, a near tie overall.

The choice should hinge on platform and workload. Desktop users with access to a 2066 socket motherboard and who need the extra memory bandwidth and PCIe lanes will find the Intel Core i7-7820X compelling. Mobile users who need a low-power processor with integrated graphics and strong legacy benchmark performance will favor the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a context-dependent pick.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Core i7-7820X and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS:

• Manufacturer: Intel versus AMD.
• Base clock: 3.60 GHz versus 3.00 GHz.
• Boost clock: 4.50 GHz versus 4.80 GHz.
• TDP: 140 W versus 35 W.
• Socket: Intel Socket 2066 versus AMD Socket FP6.
• Architecture: Skylake versus Zen 3.
• Codename: Skylake-X versus Cezanne.
• Generation: Core i7 X-Series 7th Gen versus Ryzen 9 Zen 3 (Cezanne).
• Process node: 14 nm versus 7 nm.
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC.
• Transistors: not listed versus 10,700 million.
• Die size: not listed versus 180 mm².
• L2 cache: 1 MB per core versus 512 KB per core.
• L3 cache: 11 MB shared versus 16 MB shared.
• Memory bus: quad-channel versus dual-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: 85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s.
• PCIe: Gen 3, 28 lanes versus Gen 3, 16 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: none versus Radeon Vega 8.
• Market segment: Desktop versus Mobile.
• Production status: End-of-life versus Active.
• Release date: 2017-06-25 versus 2021-01-11.
• Launch MSRP: $599 versus null.
• Multiplier unlocked: true versus false.
• Part number: SR3L5 versus 100-000000474.

Fields that are the same include cores (8), threads (16), L1 cache (64 KB per core), memory support (DDR4), and ECC memory support (false for both).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data is split, with each processor winning two of the four recorded tests. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS wins in both Cinebench R15 tests, while the Intel Core i7-7820X wins in both Cinebench R23 tests.

The largest margin in either direction belongs to the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The AMD chip scores 2083 against the Intel chip's 1469, a delta of 29.5% in favor of the Ryzen. This is a decisive win in an older rendering benchmark, suggesting that the Ryzen's architecture was particularly efficient in that workload. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD chip scores 243 versus 207, a 14.8% lead.

The Intel Core i7-7820X answers in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. In multi-core, the Intel chip scores 14576 versus 12629, a 15.4% lead. In single-core, the gap widens dramatically: the Intel chip scores 2057 versus 1529, a 34.5% advantage. That 528-point difference in single-core R23 is the largest single-test margin in the dataset.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell a similar story of near parity. The Intel Core i7-7820X has an average benchmark score of 4321 and sits at the 58th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has an average of 4121 and sits at the 57th percentile. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5750G with an average score of 4296 and a delta of 0.6%, the AMD EPYC 7232P at 4354 with a delta of -0.8%, the Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 at 4285 with a delta of 0.8%, and the Intel Xeon W-2140B at 4272 with a delta of 1.1%. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X at 4114 with a delta of 0.2%, the Intel Core i5-12500TE at 4083 with a delta of 0.9%, the Intel Core i9-9900 at 4163 with a delta of -1%, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X at 4073 with a delta of 1.2%. The overall scores are close enough that neither chip is categorically superior in the aggregate.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS wins in legacy rendering benchmarks. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2083 is 29.5% higher than the Intel Core i7-7820X's 1469, and its R15 single-core score of 243 is 14.8% higher than 207. For workloads that still rely on older Cinebench versions, the Ryzen is the stronger performer. The Ryzen also brings integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, so systems built around it do not require a discrete GPU for basic display output. Its 35 W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained mobile designs, and its 16 MB of shared L3 cache is larger than the Intel chip's 11 MB. The Ryzen is also the only one of the two with a listed transistor count and die size, indicating a more modern, denser manufacturing process at 7 nm.

The Intel Core i7-7820X wins in newer rendering benchmarks. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14576 is 15.4% above the Ryzen's 12629, and its R23 single-core score of 2057 is 34.5% above 1529. This suggests that the Intel chip scales better with the newer Cinebench workload, particularly in single-threaded execution where the gap is enormous. The Intel chip also offers quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, a 17 GB/s advantage over the Ryzen's dual-channel 68.3 GB/s. It provides 28 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 16, which matters for systems with multiple GPUs or NVMe drives. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, something the locked Ryzen cannot do. The Intel chip has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, though the Ryzen has a higher boost clock at 4.80 GHz versus 4.50 GHz.

In summary, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is the choice for older benchmark workloads, integrated graphics needs, and low-power mobile systems. The Intel Core i7-7820X is the choice for newer rendering workloads, high memory bandwidth, and expandable desktop platforms. The data supports a split decision based on workload generation and platform requirements.