Intel Core i9-9900 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9900 and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, 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.

Intel Core i9-9900

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9900

CPU is newer: launch date 1 month(s) later
Around 14% higher clock speed: 5.00 GHz vs 4.4 GHz
Around 10% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2808 vs 2563
Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1263 vs 1196
Around 17% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 7913 vs 6759
Around 46% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 6750 vs 4614

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	23 April 2019 vs March 2019
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz vs 4.4 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2808 vs 2563
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1263 vs 1196
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7913 vs 6759
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6750 vs 4614

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 8% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 17711 vs 16336

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
L1 cache	96K (per core) vs 512 KB
L2 cache	512K (per core) vs 2 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	17711 vs 16336

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9900
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen 5 3600

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2808

2563

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

16336

17711

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1263

1196

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

7913

6759

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

6750

4614

Name	Intel Core i9-9900	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
PassMark - Single thread mark	2808	2563
PassMark - CPU mark	16336	17711
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1263	1196
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7913	6759
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6750	4614

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-9900	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Zen 2
Family	Core i9
Launch date	23 April 2019	March 2019
Launch price (MSRP)	$439, $449
Place in performance rating	974	1148
Processor Number	i9-9900
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	3.6 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	512 KB	96K (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB	512K (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB	16 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	7 nm
Maximum core temperature	100 °C
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz	4.4 GHz
Number of cores	8	8
Number of threads	16	16
Transistor count		4800 million
Unlocked
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Graphics
Device ID	0x3E98
Graphics base frequency	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.20 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	64 GB
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA1151	AM4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	65 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015C (65W)
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	3.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Fused Multiply-Add 3 (FMA3)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)