Ryzen 5 8540U vs Ryzen 9 5950X
Aggregate performance score
Ryzen 9 5950X outperforms Ryzen 5 8540U by a whopping 146% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 8540U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in the ranking | 159 | 662 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 26.44 | no data |
| Market segment | Desktop processor | Laptop |
| Series | AMD Ryzen 9 | no data |
| Power efficiency | 25.87 | 39.44 |
| Architecture codename | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023) |
| Release date | 8 October 2020 (4 years ago) | 6 December 2023 (less than a year ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $799 | no data |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance per price, higher is better.
Detailed specifications
Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 8540U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.
| Physical cores | 16 (Hexadeca-Core) | 6 (Hexa-Core) |
| Threads | 32 | 12 |
| Base clock speed | 3.4 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 4.9 GHz | 4.9 GHz |
| Multiplier | 34 | no data |
| L1 cache | 1 MB | 64 KB (per core) |
| L2 cache | 8 MB | 1 MB (per core) |
| L3 cache | 64 MB | 16 MB (shared) |
| Chip lithography | 7 nm, 12 nm | 4 nm |
| Die size | CPU cores: 2x 80.7 sq. mm., I/O: 125 mm2 | 137 mm2 |
| Maximum core temperature | no data | 100 °C |
| Maximum case temperature (TCase) | 95 °C | no data |
| Number of transistors | no data | 20,900 million |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | + | no data |
| Unlocked multiplier | + | - |
Compatibility
Information on Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 8540U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.
| Number of CPUs in a configuration | 1 | 1 |
| Socket | AM4 | FP7 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 105 Watt | 28 Watt |
Technologies and extensions
Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 8540U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.
| Instruction set extensions | MMX (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4A, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA | AES, AVX, AVX2, AVX512, FMA3, MMX (+), SHA, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4A, SSSE3 |
| AES-NI | + | + |
| AVX | + | + |
| Precision Boost 2 | + | + |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 8540U are enumerated here.
| AMD-V | + | + |
Memory specs
Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 8540U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.
| Supported memory types | DDR4 | DDR5 |
| Maximum memory size | 128 GB | no data |
| Max memory channels | 2 | no data |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | 51.196 GB/s | no data |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card | - | AMD Radeon 740M |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 8540U.
| PCIe version | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| PCI Express lanes | no data | 14 |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
Passmark
Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 29.25 | 11.89 |
| Recency | 8 October 2020 | 6 December 2023 |
| Physical cores | 16 | 6 |
| Threads | 32 | 12 |
| Chip lithography | 7 nm | 4 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 105 Watt | 28 Watt |
Ryzen 9 5950X has a 146% higher aggregate performance score, and 166.7% more physical cores and 166.7% more threads.
Ryzen 5 8540U, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 3 years, a 75% more advanced lithography process, and 275% lower power consumption.
The Ryzen 9 5950X is our recommended choice as it beats the Ryzen 5 8540U in performance tests.
Note that Ryzen 9 5950X is a desktop processor while Ryzen 5 8540U is a notebook one.
Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 8540U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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