AMD Ryzen 9 3950X vs Intel Core i9-9940X

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen 9 3950X and Intel Core i9-9940X 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, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Intel Core i9-9940X

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 14
4 more threads: 32 vs 28
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
Around 14% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3.3x 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 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2705 vs 2632
Around 38% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 38806 vs 28059
Around 14% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1296 vs 1140
Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 14150 vs 13302

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	25 Nov 2019 vs October 2018
Number of cores	16 vs 14
Number of threads	32 vs 28
Maximum frequency	4.7 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	1 MB vs 64K (per core)
L3 cache	64 MB vs 19.25 MB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	105 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2705 vs 2632
PassMark - CPU mark	38806 vs 28059
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1296 vs 1140
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	14150 vs 13302

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9940X

Around 75% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 6% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11442 vs 10804

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	1 MB (per core) vs 8 MB
Benchmarks
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11442 vs 10804

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-9940X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2705

2632

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

38806

28059

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1296

1140

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

14150

13302

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

10804

11442

Name	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X	Intel Core i9-9940X
PassMark - Single thread mark	2705	2632
PassMark - CPU mark	38806	28059
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1296	1140
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	14150	13302
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	10804	11442

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X	Intel Core i9-9940X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zen 2	Skylake
Launch date	25 Nov 2019	October 2018
Launch price (MSRP)	$749
OPN PIB	100-100000051WOF
OPN Tray	100-000000051
Place in performance rating	593	699
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		i9-9940X
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Launched
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.5 GHz	3.30 GHz
L1 cache	1 MB	64K (per core)
L2 cache	8 MB	1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	64 MB	19.25 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	14 nm
Maximum frequency	4.7 GHz	4.40 GHz
Number of cores	16	14
Number of threads	32	28
Unlocked
Bus Speed		8 GT/s DMI3
Maximum core temperature		88°C
Number of QPI Links		0
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Supported memory types	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size		128 GB
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	40	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)