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AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core i9-14900KS: Comparison
What is the difference between AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and Intel Core i9-14900KS?
On l3 cache the spread is 44%, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 64 MB against Intel Core i9-14900KS 36 MB, so AMD Ryzen 9 9950X takes it. Everyday Performance backs the spec sheet up. Intel Core i9-14900KS scores 129 to 123, 5% clear. Add l2 cache to that, 16 MB on the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X versus 32 MB on the Intel Core i9-14900KS, and the pattern holds.
Who each one is for
Take the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X for enthusiast gaming and heavy content-creation desktop builds wanting AMD's strongest mainstream Zen 5 performance. It is the wrong buy for buyers on a tighter budget, the Ryzen 9 9900X or 7 9700X deliver strong performance at meaningfully lower cost. The Intel Core i9-14900KS is the one to take for enthusiast desktop gaming and overclocking, though it is not built for laptops and fanless designs. Our rating of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (9/10): the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is the strongest mainstream desktop chip for heavy multithreaded work, pairing 16 Zen 5 cores with excellent efficiency. Our rating of the Intel Core i9-14900KS (8.7/10): the Intel Core i9-14900KS is an unlocked flagship desktop chip, a top pick for enthusiasts who want to overclock.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: total threads, integrated graphics, form factor, release year and market segment are identical here. They match on 10 further specifications as well.
Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X or Intel Core i9-14900KS?
The Intel Core i9-14900KS asks 6% more, $689 against $649 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and Intel Core i9-14900KS differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 16 on the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X versus 24 on the Intel Core i9-14900KS.
Is the SMT Enabled the same on the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and Intel Core i9-14900KS?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Everyday Performance
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 123-5%
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 129Best
Heavy Workload Performance
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 173Best
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 170-2%
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Desktop
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Granite Ridge
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Raptor Lake Refresh
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 2024
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 2024
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 170 W
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 150 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Zen 5, Ryzen 9000 Series
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Raptor Lake Refresh
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- AM5
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- FCLGA1700
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Current
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- End of Life
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 4 nm
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 7 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 16
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 24Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 16Best
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 0
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 16Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 32
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 32
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 4.3 GHz
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 3.2 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 5.7 GHz
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 6.2 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 16 MB-50%
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 32 MBBest
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 64 MBBest
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 36 MB-44%
3D Stacked Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- No
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- No
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 170 W
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 150 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 230 W
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 253 W
Max Operating Temp
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 95 C
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 100 C
Bundled Cooler
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- None
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- None
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- DDR5-5600
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- DDR5 or DDR4
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 5600 MT/s
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 5600 MT/s
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 2
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 256 GBBest
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 192 GB
ECC Support
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Yes
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Yes
iGPU Model
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
Copilot Plus Certified
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- No
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- PCIe 5.0
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 24
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 20-17%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- $649
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- $689
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Boxed Retail
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- Boxed Retail
Benchmarks
- 3D Rendering
Blender Cycles (CPU)
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 625Best
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 522-16%
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.
- General CPU
Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 2,292Best
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 2,272-1%
Renders a 3D scene on every core. Shows speed in rendering and other heavy work.
Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 137-4%
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 142Best
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 22,094-8%
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 23,926Best
Everyday tasks like photo editing, compression and compiling, run on all cores.
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- 3,414Best
- Intel Core i9-14900KS
- 3,392-1%
The same everyday tasks on one core. Tracks how responsive the PC feels.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 9950X if you want the higher heavy workload performance (173.0 vs 170.0), the higher L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB) and the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).
Choose 14900KS if you want the higher everyday performance (129.0 vs 123.0), the higher L2 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB) and the higher cinebench 2024 (Single-Core) (142 vs 137).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core i9-14900KS |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $649.00 View on Amazon | $689.00 View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
| B&H Photo | View on B&H Photo |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is the strongest mainstream desktop chip for heavy multithreaded work, pairing 16 Zen 5 cores with excellent efficiency.
Intel Core i9-14900KS
8.7 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i9-14900KS is an unlocked flagship desktop chip, a top pick for enthusiasts who want to overclock.