AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits this comparison into two very different performance universes. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, which makes the use-case analysis unusually one-sided. The 9980X dominates every multi-threaded workload by a massive margin, and it also takes single-threaded tests, though by a much narrower gap.

For workloads that scale across many cores, the Threadripper 9980X is in a different class. Its 64 cores and 128 threads produce scores that are roughly four to six times higher than the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 across Cinebench multi-core tests and PassMark's math, encryption, and compression workloads. The data shows the 9980X delivers a 130529 score in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 21761 for the HX 370, a 83.3 percent advantage. In PassMark integer math, the 9980X scores 872071 versus 122933, an 85.9 percent lead. These are not marginal differences; they represent a fundamentally higher throughput ceiling.

The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 does have one area where it is competitive: single-thread performance. In PassMark single-thread, the HX 370 scores 3973 versus 4537 for the 9980X, a 12.4 percent deficit. That is the closest result in the entire head-to-head set. The HX 370 also holds its own in the 3DMark low-thread tests from its own benchmark suite, with scores like 2179 in 2-thread and 3970 in 4-thread, but those tests have no direct comparison in the head-to-head table. The HX 370's integrated Radeon 890M graphics give it a capability the 9980X lacks entirely, since the Threadripper has no integrated graphics.

The use-case conclusion is straightforward. The Threadripper 9980X is for workloads that can consume 64 cores: rendering, scientific computing, data compression, encryption, and heavy multi-threaded compilation. The HX 370 is a mobile processor with a 28 watt TDP, designed for laptops where power envelopes are constrained. Its wins are not in raw throughput but in portability and integrated graphics, though the recorded benchmark data does not include a direct comparison for those attributes.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the clear choice for anyone whose primary metric is multi-core performance. It wins every head-to-head benchmark, with the smallest margin being 12.4 percent in PassMark single-thread and the largest being 89 percent in Cinebench R23 single-core. The 9980X sits in the 99th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the HX 370 sits in the 86th percentile. Its average benchmark score is 321753 versus 37904 for the HX 370, an order-of-magnitude difference.

The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is the appropriate pick for a mobile platform. It uses the same Zen 5 architecture and 4 nm TSMC process, but it is built for a 28 watt TDP on the AMD Socket FP8, whereas the 9980X runs at 350 watts on Socket sTR5. The HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads, which is still a substantial multi-threaded capability for a laptop part. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i9-14901E at 37911 average score, a 0 percent delta, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X at 37943, a negative 0.1 percent delta. That places the HX 370 squarely in the middle of high-end desktop and mobile processors, not at the extreme top.

The verdict is not ambiguous: the 9980X is a workstation-class processor with a launch MSRP of $4999, while the HX 370 has no recorded launch MSRP and is designed for a different form factor. The 9980X also has an unlocked multiplier, ECC memory support, and 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, features that matter for workstation and server builds. The HX 370 has none of those. For raw compute, pick the 9980X. For a laptop with integrated graphics and modest power draw, pick the HX 370.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single-threaded margin in the head-to-head set is Cinebench R23 single-core. The 9980X scores 18427 against 2018 for the HX 370, an 89 percent advantage. This is surprising given that both use the same Zen 5 architecture, but the 9980X has a higher boost clock at 5.40 GHz versus 5.10 GHz. The 9980X also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 83.5 percent, scoring 1857 versus 306.5.

Multi-threaded margins are even larger. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 9980X scores 130529 versus 21761, an 83.3 percent lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 74.1 percent lead, with 13157 versus 3409.5. The PassMark suite confirms the pattern across different workload types. Data compression shows the 9980X at 2974534 versus 445719, an 85 percent lead. Data encryption shows 157137 versus 22252, an 85.8 percent lead. Extended instructions show 228959 versus 31653, an 86.2 percent lead. Floating point math shows 559003 versus 76892, also an 86.2 percent lead. Integer math shows 872071 versus 122933, an 85.9 percent lead. Random string sorting shows 292083 versus 48723, an 83.3 percent lead. Finding prime numbers shows 769 versus 126, an 83.6 percent lead.

The PassMark multithread test shows a 75.2 percent lead, with 141641 versus 35148. PassMark physics shows a 76.5 percent lead, with 8001 versus 1881. The closest contest is PassMark single-thread, where the 9980X leads by only 12.4 percent, scoring 4537 versus 3973. That single-thread margin is the only head-to-head result below 74 percent, which indicates that the HX 370's core design is competitive on a per-thread basis, but it is overwhelmed by the 9980X's core count and higher clocks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 wins none.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: The closest result is PassMark single-thread, where the 9980X scores 4537 and the HX 370 scores 3973, a 12.4 percent difference. All other head-to-head results show at least a 74 percent advantage for the 9980X.

Q: How do the core counts differ?

A: The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X supports ECC memory. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 does not.

Q: Do both processors use the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use AMD's Zen 5 architecture and are fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The HX 370 has the codename Strix Point, while the 9980X has the codename Shimada Peak.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 includes a Radeon 890M integrated GPU. The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A).

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Zen 5 core architecture and the 4 nm TSMC process node, but they diverge significantly in implementation. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses the Strix Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI 300 generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. Its die size is 233 mm². The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X uses the Shimada Peak codename and belongs to the Ryzen Threadripper generation, built entirely from Zen 5 cores. Its die is composed of 8 chiplets, each 70.6 mm², totaling 66,520 million transistors.

The cache hierarchy differs substantially. The HX 370 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache. The 9980X has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 256 MB of L3 cache. The 9980X's L3 cache is 16 times larger, which is critical for workloads with large working sets. Neither processor uses 3D V-Cache.

The memory architecture is another major split. The HX 370 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a dual-channel bus, with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The 9980X supports DDR5 over a quad-channel bus, with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The 9980X also has ECC memory support, while the HX 370 does not. The PCIe capabilities are vastly different: the HX 370 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the 9980X provides Gen 5 with 80 lanes. The 9980X has an unlocked multiplier, the HX 370 does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification field. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X has 64 cores and 128 threads. The base clock is 2.00 GHz for the HX 370 and 3.20 GHz for the 9980X. The boost clock is 5.10 GHz for the HX 370 and 5.40 GHz for the 9980X. The TDP is 28 watts for the HX 370 and 350 watts for the 9980X.

The sockets are incompatible: the HX 370 uses AMD Socket FP8, while the 9980X uses AMD Socket sTR5. The market segments differ, with the HX 370 classified as Mobile and the 9980X as Desktop. The HX 370 has an integrated Radeon 890M GPU, while the 9980X has no integrated graphics. The 9980X supports ECC memory and has an unlocked multiplier, both of which the HX 370 lacks. The memory bus is dual-channel for the HX 370 and quad-channel for the 9980X. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s versus 204.8 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 16 lanes versus Gen 5 with 80 lanes. The release dates differ: the HX 370 launched on 2024-06-30, while the 9980X launched on 2025-07-29. The 9980X has a launch MSRP of $4999 and a part number of 100-000001593; the HX 370 has no recorded MSRP and part number 100-000000994.