AMD Ryzen 9 3950X vs Intel Core i9-9960X

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

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 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 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2704 vs 2595
  • Around 28% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 38716 vs 30254
  • Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1296 vs 1158
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 25 Nov 2019 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 2704 vs 2595
PassMark - CPU mark 38716 vs 30254
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1296 vs 1158

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9960X

  • 2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 14294 vs 14150
  • Around 22% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 13076 vs 10742
Specifications (specs)
L2 cache 1 MB (per core) vs 8 MB
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 14294 vs 14150
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 13076 vs 10742

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-9960X

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2704
2595
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
38716
30254
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1296
1158
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
14150
14294
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score
CPU 1
CPU 2
10742
13076
Name AMD Ryzen 9 3950X Intel Core i9-9960X
PassMark - Single thread mark 2704 2595
PassMark - CPU mark 38716 30254
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1296 1158
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 14150 14294
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 10742 13076

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X Intel Core i9-9960X

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 579 594
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Processor Number i9-9960X
Series Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status Launched

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.5 GHz 3.10 GHz
L1 cache 1 MB 64K (per core)
L2 cache 8 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 16 16
Number of threads 32 32
Unlocked
Bus Speed 8 GT/s DMI3
Maximum core temperature 85°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)