AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX vs AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS Comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX
Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX vs AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS
The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS and AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors, but the data shows they serve very different purposes despite their similar names. The Ryzen 9 5980HX is the clear performance winner in the majority of tests, taking 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS wins only 5. However, the PRO 6950HS is not a slower processor in every regard; it wins decisively in specific workloads like physics simulation and single-threaded PassMark, and it offers a newer platform with DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 4. The verdict from the data is straightforward: choose the Ryzen 9 5980HX for maximum raw compute throughput, especially in multi-threaded rendering and compression tasks, and choose the Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS if you prioritize its specific wins in physics, prime number finding, and PassMark single-thread, or if you need the newer DDR5 and PCIe Gen 4 platform.
The Verdict
The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the faster CPU for most demanding workloads. Its average benchmark score of 31,495 is slightly lower than the PRO 6950HS's 31,850, but that aggregate figure masks a massive divergence in individual tests. The 5980HX dominates in Cinebench, scoring 19,850 in R23 multi-core versus 11,515 for the PRO 6950HS — a 42% advantage. This is not a small gap; it is a generational difference in multi-threaded rendering capability. For anyone whose primary tasks are video rendering, 3D modeling, or code compilation, the 5980HX is the only rational choice based on this data.
The Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS, however, is not without its own victories. It wins PassMark Physics by 18.4% (1,043 vs 881), PassMark Find Prime Numbers by 5.7% (56 vs 53), and PassMark Single Thread by 2.2% (3,400 vs 3,326). It also wins Geekbench Multi-Core by 13.4% (8,756 vs 7,723). These wins are concentrated in specific test types, suggesting the 6950HS has a different performance profile that favors certain instruction patterns. The data recommends the 6950HS for workloads that resemble PassMark Physics or prime number calculations, and for users who want the newer memory and I/O standards. For everything else, the 5980HX is the performance pick.
Architecture Differences
The two processors represent different generations of AMD mobile silicon, built on different process nodes and architectures. The Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS uses the Zen 3+ architecture (codenamed Rembrandt) on a 6 nm TSMC process, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX uses the older Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Cezanne) on a 7 nm TSMC process. The newer 6 nm node gives the 6950HS a die size of 208 mm², larger than the 5980HX's 180 mm², but the 5980HX has a transistor count of 10,700 million, a figure not listed for the 6950HS.
The cache configurations are identical: both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The key architectural differences lie in the platform. The 6950HS supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the 5980HX supports DDR4 with a lower bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. Both are dual-channel. The 6950HS also features PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 5980HX is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the 6950HS has a Radeon 680M, while the 5980HX has a Radeon Vega 8. The 5980HX has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 6950HS does not, which is notable for overclocking potential. The TDP also differs significantly: the 6950HS is rated at 35 W, while the 5980HX is rated at 45 W, which partially explains the performance gap.
Where Each One Wins
The Ryzen 9 5980HX wins in the vast majority of benchmark categories, and its victories are often by large margins. Its biggest win is in Cinebench R23 Multi-Core, where it scores 19,850 versus 11,515, a 42% lead. It also wins Cinebench R23 Single-Core by 46% (2,802 vs 1,514), Cinebench R15 Multi-Core by 4.3% (2,000 vs 1,913), and Cinebench R15 Single-Core by 15.2% (282 vs 239). In PassMark tests, it wins Data Compression by 9% (310,694 vs 282,624), Data Encryption by 7.2% (19,221 vs 17,837), Extended Instructions by 10.9% (21,209 vs 18,897), Floating Point Math by 4.2% (50,223 vs 48,096), Integer Math by 1.8% (89,772 vs 88,124), Multithread by 2.5% (23,356 vs 22,775), and Random String Sorting by 9% (32,238 vs 29,350). It also wins Geekbench Single-Core by 1.4% (1,930 vs 1,903).
The Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS wins in five tests, and its victories are more specialized. Its largest win is in PassMark Physics, where it scores 1,043 versus 881, an 18.4% advantage. It also wins Geekbench Multi-Core by 13.4% (8,756 vs 7,723), PassMark Find Prime Numbers by 5.7% (56 vs 53), and PassMark Single Thread by 2.2% (3,400 vs 3,326). These wins suggest the 6950HS has an edge in workloads that involve physics simulations, prime number calculations, and certain single-threaded operations, despite its overall lower multi-threaded throughput.
FAQ
Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?
A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is significantly faster, scoring 19,850 versus 11,515 for the Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS, a 42% advantage.
Q: Does the Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS win any benchmarks?
A: Yes, it wins 5 of 17 head-to-head tests, including PassMark Physics (1,043 vs 881), Geekbench Multi-Core (8,756 vs 7,723), PassMark Find Prime Numbers (56 vs 53), and PassMark Single Thread (3,400 vs 3,326).
Q: What is the difference in memory support?
A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. Both are dual-channel.
Q: How do their TDPs compare?
A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS has a TDP of 35 W, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX has a TDP of 45 W.
Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?
A: The Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Their base clocks are identical at 3.30 GHz.
Q: Do they have the same cache?
A: Yes, both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The largest single benchmark gap between the two processors is in Cinebench R23 Multi-Core, where the Ryzen 9 5980HX scores 19,850 and the Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS scores 11,515. This is a delta of -42% for the 6950HS, meaning the 5980HX is 42% faster. This is a massive difference that will be felt in any heavily threaded workload.
The second largest gap is in Cinebench R23 Single-Core, where the 5980HX scores 2,802 versus 1,514 for the 6950HS, a 46% advantage for the 5980HX. This is surprising given the 6950HS has a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.80 GHz, but the data is clear. In Cinebench R15, the 5980HX also wins both tests: multi-core by 4.3% (2,000 vs 1,913) and single-core by 15.2% (282 vs 239).
The Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS's biggest win is in PassMark Physics, where it scores 1,043 versus 881, an 18.4% advantage for the 6950HS. This is a notable win for the newer chip. Its second largest win is in Geekbench Multi-Core, where it scores 8,756 versus 7,723, a 13.4% advantage. In PassMark Find Prime Numbers, the 6950HS wins by 5.7% (56 vs 53), and in PassMark Single Thread, it wins by 2.2% (3,400 vs 3,326).
The remaining tests are all won by the 5980HX with varying margins. In PassMark Data Compression, the 5980HX wins by 9% (310,694 vs 282,624). In PassMark Data Encryption, it wins by 7.2% (19,221 vs 17,837). In PassMark Extended Instructions, it wins by 10.9% (21,209 vs 18,897). In PassMark Floating Point Math, it wins by 4.2% (50,223 vs 48,096). In PassMark Integer Math, it wins by 1.8% (89,772 vs 88,124). In PassMark Multithread, it wins by 2.5% (23,356 vs 22,775). In PassMark Random String Sorting, it wins by 9% (32,238 vs 29,350). Finally, in Geekbench Single-Core, the 5980HX wins by 1.4% (1,930 vs 1,903).
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS has a process node of 6 nm, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX has a 7 nm node. The 6950HS has a die size of 208 mm², while the 5980HX has a die size of 180 mm². The 5980HX has a transistor count of 10,700 million, which is not listed for the 6950HS. The 6950HS has a TDP of 35 W, while the 5980HX has a TDP of 45 W. The boost clock differs: 4.90 GHz for the 6950HS and 4.80 GHz for the 5980HX, with identical base clocks of 3.30 GHz.
The memory support is a major differentiator: the 6950HS supports DDR5 with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the 5980HX supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The 6950HS uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 5980HX uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ: Radeon 680M for the 6950HS versus Radeon Vega 8 for the 5980HX. The sockets are different: AMD Socket FP7 for the 6950HS and AMD Socket FP6 for the 5980HX. The 5980HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the 6950HS does not. The release dates differ: the 6950HS was released on 2022-04-18, while the 5980HX was released on 2021-01-11. The 5980HX belongs to the 5000 series, while the 6950HS belongs to the 6000 series.