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AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS: Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS: the l3 cache difference

The gap that matters here is l3 cache: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 64 MB against Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS 16 MB, which puts AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 75% ahead. Add l2 cache to that, 6 MB on the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X versus 2 MB on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS, and the pattern holds. There is a split on tdp as well, 105 W on the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X versus 127 W on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS. They differ on integrated graphics too, No on the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X versus Yes on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS.

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS: which one fits your build

Take the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X for buyers wanting a genuinely balanced high-end desktop chip strong at both gaming and heavy productivity work. Avoid it for buyers who need integrated graphics, this chip requires a discrete GPU. Take the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS for enthusiasts wanting Intel's genuine all-core 5.0 GHz binning achievement for sustained multi-threaded performance. It is not the one for budget-conscious buyers, the standard i9-9900K delivers very close real-world performance for typically less.

Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 9 5900X or Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS?

Cost splits them too. Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS sits at $513, AMD Ryzen 9 5900X at $549, 7% more.

Where the two are identical

Everything else lines up. Efficiency cores, socket status, form factor, market segment and smt enabled read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 2 further specifications as well.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS differ on total cores?

Yes. Total Cores reads 12 on the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X versus 8 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS.

Is the Memory Channels the same on the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS?

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 5900X
    AMD
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Intel
  • Product Line

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    Ryzen 9
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Core i9
  • Form Factor

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    Desktop
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Desktop
  • Model Number

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    5900X
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    9900KS
  • Codename

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    Vermeer
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Coffee Lake Refresh
  • Release Year

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    2020
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    2019
  • TDP

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    105 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    127 W
  • iGPU

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    None
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • Market Segment

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    Desktop
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Desktop
  • Microarchitecture

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    Zen 3, Ryzen 5000 Series
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Coffee Lake Refresh, 9th Gen Intel Core
  • Socket

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    AM4
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    FCLGA1151
  • Socket Status

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    End of Life
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    End of Life
  • Process Node

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    7 nm
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    14 nm
  • Total Cores

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    12Best
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    8
  • Performance Cores

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    12Best
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    8
  • Efficiency Cores

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    0
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    0
  • Total Threads

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    24Best
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    16
  • SMT Enabled

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    Yes
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Yes
  • P-Core Base Clock

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    3.7 GHz
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    4 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    4.8 GHz
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    5 GHz
  • L2 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    6 MBBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    2 MB-67%
  • L3 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    64 MBBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    16 MB-75%
  • Base Power

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    105 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    127 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    142 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    127 W
  • Memory Type

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    DDR4
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    DDR4-2666
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    3200 MT/sBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    2666 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    2
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    2
  • ECC Support

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    Yes
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    No
  • Integrated Graphics

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Yes
  • Copilot Plus Certified

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    No
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    PCIe 4.0
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    3.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    24
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    16-33%
  • Launch MSRP

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    $549
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    $513
  • Retail Availability

    AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
    Boxed Retail
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Retail

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 5900X 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 9900KS if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerAMD Ryzen 9 5900XIntel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS
    Amazon

    $549.00

    View on Amazon
    Consumercarts listing

    $513.00

    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.

    More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)