Intel Core i9-9900 vs AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-9900 and AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 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, 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9900

  • Around 62% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 105 Watt
  • Around 5% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2836 vs 2707
Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 105 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 2836 vs 2707

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 2 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 4 more cores, run more applications at once: 12 vs 8
  • 8 more threads: 24 vs 16
  • Around 91900% higher clock speed: 4600 MHz vs 5.00 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
  • 3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • 4x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 97% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 32665 vs 16555
  • Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1276 vs 1263
  • Around 52% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 12037 vs 7913
  • Around 27% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 8594 vs 6750
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 7 July 2019 vs 23 April 2019
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 12 vs 8
Number of threads 24 vs 16
Maximum frequency 4600 MHz vs 5.00 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 7 nm vs 14 nm
L2 cache 6 MB vs 2 MB
L3 cache 64 MB vs 16 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 32665 vs 16555
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1276 vs 1263
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 12037 vs 7913
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 8594 vs 6750

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-9900
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2836
2707
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
16555
32665
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1263
1276
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
7913
12037
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score
CPU 1
CPU 2
6750
8594
Name Intel Core i9-9900 AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
PassMark - Single thread mark 2836 2707
PassMark - CPU mark 16555 32665
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1263 1276
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 7913 12037
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 6750 8594
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 30.575
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 72.097
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 1.745
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 5.887
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 22.686

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i9-9900 AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

Essentials

Architecture codename Coffee Lake Zen 2
Family Core i9 Ryzen
Launch date 23 April 2019 7 July 2019
Launch price (MSRP) $439, $449
Place in performance rating 960 1006
Processor Number i9-9900
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
OPN PIB 100-100000023BOX
OPN Tray 100-000000023

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.10 GHz 3800 MHz
Bus Speed 8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache 512 KB
L2 cache 2 MB 6 MB
L3 cache 16 MB 64 MB
Manufacturing process technology 14 nm 7 nm
Maximum core temperature 100 °C
Maximum frequency 5.00 GHz 4600 MHz
Number of cores 8 12
Number of threads 16 24
Unlocked

Memory

ECC memory support
Max memory channels 2 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 41.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size 128 GB
Supported memory types DDR4-2666 DDR4-3200

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
Sockets supported FCLGA1151 AM4
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt 105 Watt
Thermal Solution PCG 2015C (65W)

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 16
PCI Express revision 3.0 4.0
PCIe configurations 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4 x16
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

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)