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AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K: Comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K l3 cache compared
L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 64 MB against Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K 16 MB, a 75% lead for AMD Ryzen 9 3900X. Blender Cycles (CPU) backs the spec sheet up. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X scores 268 to 170 over 123 runs, 37% clear. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X also leads on l2 cache, 6 MB on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X versus 2 MB on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K. There is a split on integrated graphics as well, No on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X versus Yes on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K.
Which should you buy, AMD Ryzen 9 3900X or Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K?
Take the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X for content creators and prosumers wanting genuine 12-core multi-threaded throughput at a mainstream desktop price. Avoid it for buyers who need integrated graphics, this chip requires a discrete GPU. Take the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K for gaming and productivity desktop builds wanting Intel's strongest mainstream Coffee Lake Refresh performance. It is the wrong buy for buyers wanting the very latest architecture, considerably newer chips offer meaningful IPC and efficiency improvements.
What AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, efficiency cores, socket status, form factor, market segment and smt enabled included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 3 further specifications as well.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K price
Price will not decide this: $488 against $499 at the last check.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 12 on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X versus 8 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K.
Is the Memory Channels the same on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K?
It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- AMD
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Intel
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- Ryzen 9
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Core i9
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- Desktop
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 3900X
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 9900K
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- Matisse
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Coffee Lake Refresh
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 2019
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 2018
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 105 W
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 95 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- None
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- Desktop
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- Zen 2, Ryzen 3000 Series "Matisse"
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Coffee Lake Refresh, 9th Gen Intel Core
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- AM4
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- FCLGA1151
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- End of Life
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- End of Life
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 7 nm
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 14 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 12Best
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 8
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 12Best
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 0
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 0
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 24Best
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 16
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- Yes
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 3.8 GHz
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 3.6 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 4.6 GHz
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 5 GHz
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 6 MBBest
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 2 MB-67%
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 64 MBBest
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 16 MB-75%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 105 W
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 95 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 142 W
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 95 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- DDR4
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- DDR4-2666
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 3200 MT/sBest
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 2666 MT/s
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 2
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 2
ECC Support
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- No
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- No
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- No
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Yes
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 4
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 3.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 20
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 16-20%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- $499
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- $488
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- Retail
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- Retail
Benchmarks
- 3D Rendering
Blender Cycles (CPU)
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- 268Best
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K
- 170-37%
Blender 4.5, Blender Open Data (CC0). Median of monster + junkshop + classroom, combined samples/min.
Renders a 3D scene using every core. Shows speed for 3D and rendering work, not gaming.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 3900X if you want the higher L2 cache (6 MB vs 2 MB), the higher L3 cache (64 MB vs 16 MB) and the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).
Choose 9900K if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 9 3900X | Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $499.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $488.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.