AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT vs Intel Core i9-9960X

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT and Intel Core i9-9960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT

Intel Core i9-9960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 9 month(s) later
Around 7% higher clock speed: 4.7 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
2.9x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 57% lower typical power consumption: 105 Watt vs 165 Watt
Around 6% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2746 vs 2595
Around 8% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 32666 vs 30254

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	July 2020 vs October 2018
Maximum frequency	4.7 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
L3 cache	64 MB vs 22 MB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	105 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2746 vs 2595
PassMark - CPU mark	32666 vs 30254

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9960X

4 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 12
8 more threads: 32 vs 24
2.7x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 53% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 13076 vs 8546

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	16 vs 12
Number of threads	32 vs 24
L2 cache	1 MB (per core) vs 6 MB
Benchmarks
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076 vs 8546

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-9960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2746

2595

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

32666

30254

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

8546

13076

Name	AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT	Intel Core i9-9960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2746	2595
PassMark - CPU mark	32666	30254
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	8546	13076
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1158
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		14294

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT	Intel Core i9-9960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zen 2	Skylake
Launch date	July 2020	October 2018
OPN PIB	100-100000277WOF
Place in performance rating	593	596
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		i9-9960X
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Launched
Performance
Base frequency	3.8 GHz	3.10 GHz
L2 cache	6 MB	1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	64 MB	22 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	14 nm
Maximum frequency	4.7 GHz	4.40 GHz
Number of cores	12	16
Number of threads	24	32
Unlocked
64 bit support
Bus Speed		8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache		64K (per core)
Maximum core temperature		85°C
Number of QPI Links		0
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2666
Compatibility
Sockets supported	AM4	FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	105 Watt	165 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Thermal Solution		PCG 2017X
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	44
PCI Express revision	4.0	3.0
Scalability		1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units		2
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)