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AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT vs Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K: Comparison
What is the difference between AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT and Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K?
Start with l3 cache, because it is the widest measured gap between them: AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT 64 MB against Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K 20 MB, 69% in favour of AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT. AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT also leads on l2 cache, 6 MB on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT versus 2.5 MB on the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K. There is a split on tdp as well, 105 W on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT versus 125 W on the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K. There is a split on integrated graphics as well, No on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT versus Yes on the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K.
Which should you buy, AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT or Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K?
The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT is the one to take for mainstream desktop builds and everyday productivity, though it is the wrong buy for extreme overclocking (unless K/X-series) and workstation-class multi-threaded workloads. Take the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K for desktop gaming builds specifically wanting the highest available Comet Lake single-core clock speed. It is not the one for budget-conscious buyers, the near-identical 10850K, covered elsewhere on this site, delivers very close performance for typically less.
What AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT and Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, efficiency cores, release year, market segment, smt enabled and unlocked multiplier included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 3 further specifications as well.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT vs Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K price
Price will not decide this: $488 against $499 at the last check.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT and Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 12 on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT versus 10 on the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K.
Is the Memory Channels the same on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT and Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K?
It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- Ryzen 9
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Core i9
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- Desktops, Boxed Processor
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 3900XT
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 10900K
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- Matisse
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Comet Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 2020
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 2020
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 105 W
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 125 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- None
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- Desktop
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Desktop
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- AM4
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- FCLGA1200
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- End of Life
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Mature
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 7 nm
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 14 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 12Best
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 10
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 12Best
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 10
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 0
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 0
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 24Best
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 20
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- Yes
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 3.8 GHz
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 3.7 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 4.7 GHz
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 5.3 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- Yes
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 6 MBBest
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 2.5 MB-58%
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 64 MBBest
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 20 MB-69%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 105 W
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 125 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 142 W
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 250W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- DDR4
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- DDR4-2933
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 3200 MT/sBest
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 4 MT/s
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 2
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 2
ECC Support
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- No
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- No
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- No
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Yes
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- PCIe 4.0
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- PCIe 3.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- 20
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- 16-20%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- $499
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- $488
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- Retail
- Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K
- Retail
Which one should you pick?
Choose 3900XT if you want the higher L2 cache (6 MB vs 2.5 MB), the higher L3 cache (64 MB vs 20 MB) and the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).
Choose 10900K if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT | Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900K |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $499.00 View on Consumercarts listing | |
| Amazon | $488.00 View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.