AMD Ryzen 9 3900 vs Intel Core i7-6950X

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen 9 3900 and Intel Core i7-6950X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Security & Reliability. Benchmark processor performance analysis: CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

AMD Ryzen 9 3900

Intel Core i7-6950X

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3900

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 6 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 12 vs 10
4 more threads: 24 vs 20
Around 122757% higher clock speed: 4300 MHz vs 3.50 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
2.4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.6x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.2x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 140 Watt
2.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 30.97 vs 10.499
Around 38% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.748 vs 1.263
Around 35% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 19.043 vs 14.075

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	24 Sep 2019 vs 10 March 2016
Number of cores	12 vs 10
Number of threads	24 vs 20
Maximum frequency	4300 MHz vs 3.50 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	768 KB vs 320 KB
L2 cache	6 MB vs 2.5 MB
L3 cache	64 MB vs 25 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 140 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	30.97 vs 10.499
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.748 vs 1.263
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	19.043 vs 14.075

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-6950X

Around 46% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 103.335 vs 70.972
Around 8% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 5.312 vs 4.924

Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	103.335 vs 70.972
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.312 vs 4.924

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen 9 3900
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-6950X

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

30.97

10.499

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

70.972

103.335

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.748

1.263

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.924

5.312

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

19.043

14.075

Name	AMD Ryzen 9 3900	Intel Core i7-6950X
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	30.97	10.499
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	70.972	103.335
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.748	1.263
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	4.924	5.312
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	19.043	14.075
PassMark - Single thread mark		2329
PassMark - CPU mark		17353
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		977
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		9071
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		6073

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900	Intel Core i7-6950X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zen 2	Broadwell E
Launch date	24 Sep 2019	10 March 2016
OPN Tray	100-000000070
Place in performance rating	1442	1452
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,723
Price now		$1,575.99
Processor Number		i7-6950X
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		3.73
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3100 MHz	3.00 GHz
L1 cache	768 KB	320 KB
L2 cache	6 MB	2.5 MB
L3 cache	64 MB	25 MB
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	95 °C
Maximum frequency	4300 MHz	3.50 GHz
Number of cores	12	10
Number of threads	24	20
Unlocked
Die size		246 mm
Front-side bus (FSB)		9.6 GT / s / QPI
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Transistor count		3200 Million
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	47.68 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-3200	DDR4 2400/2133
Compatibility
Sockets supported	AM4	FCLGA2011-3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	140 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	40
PCI Express revision	4.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	1x16+x4, 2x8+x4, 1x8+2x4+x4
Scalability		1S Only
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP)
Fused Multiply-Add 3 (FMA3)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Processor graphics		None
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)