AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs Intel Core i7-9700K: What is the difference?
62points
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
64points
Intel Core i7-9700K
3600XT
Comparison winner
vs
64 facts in comparison
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Intel Core i7-9700K
Why is AMD Ryzen 5 3600X better than Intel Core i7-9700K?
- 534MHz higher ram speed?
3200MHzvs2666MHz - 4 more CPU threads?
12vs8 - 7nm smaller semiconductor size?
7nmvs14nm - 1MB bigger L2 cache?
3MBvs2MB - 25.91% higher PassMark result?
18325vs14554 - 20MB bigger L3 cache?
32MBvs12MB - 1 newer version of PCI Express (PCIe)?
4vs3 - 0.25MB/core more L2 cache per core?
0.5MB/corevs0.25MB/core
Why is Intel Core i7-9700K better than AMD Ryzen 5 3600X?
- 26. 32% faster CPU speed?
8 x 3.6GHzvs6 x 3.8GHz - 5°C higher maximum operating temperature?
100°Cvs95°C - 0.5GHz higher turbo clock speed?
4.9GHzvs4.4GHz - 128KB bigger L1 cache?
512KBvs384KB - Has integrated graphics?
- 8.18% higher PassMark result (single)?
2897vs2678 - 5.1 more performance per watt?
77.8vs72.7 - Has NX bit?
Which are the most popular comparisons?
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
Intel Core i7-9700F
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
Intel Core i9-9900K
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
Intel Core i5-10400
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
Intel Core i7-8700K
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
Intel Core i5-9400F
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G
Intel Core i7-9700K
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Price comparison
Cheap alternatives
User reviews
Overall Rating
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
2 User reviews
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
9. 0/10
2 User reviews
Intel Core i7-9700K
0 User reviews
Intel Core i7-9700K
0.0/10
0 User reviews
Features
Value for money
10.0/10
2 votes
No reviews yet
Gaming
9.5/10
2 votes
No reviews yet
Performance
9.0/10
2 votes
No reviews yet
Reliability
9.5/10
2 votes
No reviews yet
Energy efficiency
9.5/10
2 votes
No reviews yet
Performance
1.CPU speed
6 x 3.8GHz
8 x 3.6GHz
The CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second can be executed by a CPU, considering all of its cores (processing units). It is calculated by adding the clock rates of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors employing different microarchitectures, of each group of cores.
2. CPU threads
More threads result in faster performance and better multitasking.
3.turbo clock speed
4.4GHz
4.9GHz
When the CPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
4.Has an unlocked multiplier
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier which makes them easy to overclock, allowing you to gain increased performance in games and other apps.
5.L2 cache
A larger L2 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
6.L3 cache
A larger L3 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
7.L1 cache
A larger L1 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
8.L2 core
0.5MB/core
0. 25MB/core
More data can be stored in the L2 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
9.L3 core
5.33MB/core
1.5MB/core
More data can be stored in the L3 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
Memory
1.RAM speed
3200MHz
2666MHz
It can support faster memory, which will give quicker system performance.
2.maximum memory bandwidth
47.68GB/s
41.6GB/s
This is the maximum rate that data can be read from or stored into memory.
3.DDR memory version
DDR (Double Data Rate) memory is the most common type of RAM. Newer versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy-efficient.
4.memory channels
More memory channels increases the speed of data transfer between the memory and the CPU.
5. maximum memory amount
The maximum amount of memory (RAM) supported.
6.bus transfer rate
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
7.Supports ECC memory
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✖Intel Core i7-9700K
Error-correcting code memory can detect and correct data corruption. It is used when is it essential to avoid corruption, such as scientific computing or when running a server.
8.eMMC version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-9700K)
A higher version of eMMC allows faster memory interfaces, having a positive effect on the performance of a device. For example, when transferring files from your computer to the internal storage over USB.
9. bus speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-9700K)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Benchmarks
1.PassMark result
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using multiple threads.
2.PassMark result (single)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using a single thread.
3.Geekbench 5 result (multi)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
4.Cinebench R20 (multi) result
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s multi-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
5.Cinebench R20 (single) result
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s single-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
6.Geekbench 5 result (single)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
7.Blender (bmw27) result
235.9seconds
224.8seconds
The Blender (bmw27) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
8.Blender (classroom) result
709seconds
709.8seconds
The Blender (classroom) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
9.performance per watt
This means the CPU is more efficient, giving a greater amount of performance for each watt of power used.
Features
1.uses multithreading
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✖Intel Core i7-9700K
Multithreading technology (such as Intel’s Hyperthreading or AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading) provides increased performance by splitting each of the processor’s physical cores into virtual cores, also known as threads. This way, each core can run two instruction streams at once.
2.Has AES
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
3.Has AVX
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial apps, as well as improving Linux RAID software performance.
4.SSE version
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing an image or adjusting audio volume. Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
5.Has F16C
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
6.bits executed at a time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-9700K)
NEON provides acceleration for media processing, such as listening to MP3s.
7.Has MMX
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
8.Has TrustZone
✖AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✖Intel Core i7-9700K
A technology integrated into the processor to secure the device for use with features such as mobile payments and streaming video using digital rights management (DRM).
9.front-end width
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-9700K)
The CPU can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), meaning that the CPU performs better
Price comparison
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Which are the best CPUs?
Intel Core i7 9700K vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600X: performance comparison
VS
Intel Core i7 9700K
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
We compared two desktop CPUs: the 3. 6 GHz Intel Core i7 9700K with 8-cores against the 3.8 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600X with 6-cores. On this page, you’ll find out which processor has better performance in benchmarks, games and other useful information.
- Review
- Differences
- Performance
- Specs
- Comments
Review
General overview and comparison of the processors
Single-Core Performance
Performance in single-threaded apps and benchmarks
Core i7 9700K
68
Ryzen 5 3600X
67
Performance
Measure performance when all cores are involved
Core i7 9700K
44
Ryzen 5 3600X
47
Power Efficiency
The efficiency score of electricity consumption
Core i7 9700K
46
Ryzen 5 3600X
58
NanoReview Final Score
Generic CPU rating
Core i7 9700K
54
Ryzen 5 3600X
59
Key Differences
What are the key differences between 3600X and 9700K
Advantages of Intel Core i7 9700K
- Has 2 more physical cores
- Includes an integrated GPU Intel UHD Graphics 630
- 11% higher Turbo Boost frequency (4. 9 GHz vs 4.4 GHz)
Advantages of AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
- Has 20 MB larger L3 cache size
- More modern manufacturing process – 7 versus 14 nanometers
- Newer PCI Express version – 4.0
- Newer — released 9-months later
- Around 6.08 GB/s (15%) higher theoretical memory bandwidth
Benchmarks
Comparing the performance of CPUs in benchmarks
Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)
Core i7 9700K
1280
Ryzen 5 3600X
+3%
1322
Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)
Core i7 9700K
9424
Ryzen 5 3600X
9461
Passmark CPU (Single-Core)
Core i7 9700K
+9%
2888
Ryzen 5 3600X
2658
Passmark CPU (Multi-Core)
Core i7 9700K
14419
Ryzen 5 3600X
+27%
18254
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
Core i7 9700K
1278
Ryzen 5 3600X
+3%
1315
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
Core i7 9700K
+1%
7397
Ryzen 5 3600X
7301
▶️ Submit your Cinebench R23 result
By purchasing through links on this site, we may receive a commission from Amazon. This does not affect our assessment methodology.
Specifications
Full technical specification of Intel Core i7 9700K and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
General
Vendor | Intel | AMD |
Released | October 8, 2018 | July 7, 2019 |
Type | Desktop | Desktop |
instruction set | x86-64 | x86-64 |
Codename | Coffee Lake | Zen 2 |
Model number | i7-9700K | — |
Socket | LGA-1151 | AM4 |
Integrated GPU | UHD Graphics 630 | No |
Performance
Cores | 8 | 6 |
Threads | 8 | 12 |
Base Frequency | 3. 6 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
Turbo Boost Frequency | 4.9 GHz | 4.4 GHz |
Bus frequency | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Multiplier | 36x | 38x |
Bus Bandwidth | 8 GT/s | — |
L1 Cache | 64K (per core) | 64K (per core) |
L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core) |
L3 Cache | 12MB (shared) | 32MB (shared) |
Unlocked Multiplier | Yes | Yes |
Transistors | — | 3.8 billions |
Fabrication process | 14 nm | 7 nm |
TDP | 95 W | 95 W |
Max. temperature | 100°C | 95°C |
Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | — |
GPU Base Clock | 350 MHz | — |
GPU Boost Clock | 1200 MHz | — |
Shading Units | 192 | — |
TMUs | 24 | — |
ROPs | 3 | — |
Execution Units | 24 | — |
TGP | 15 W | — |
Max. Resolution | 4096×2304 — 60 Hz | — |
iGPU FLOPS
Core i7 9700K
0.38 TFLOPS
Ryzen 5 3600X
n/a
Memory support
Memory types | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
Memory Size | 128 GB | 128 GB |
Max. Memory Channels | 2 | 2 |
Max. Memory Bandwidth | 41.6 GB/s | 47.68 GB/s |
ECC Support | No | Yes |
Official site | Intel Core i7 9700K official page | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X official page |
PCI Express Version | 3.0 | 4.0 |
PCI Express Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Extended instructions | SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX-2 | — |
Cast your vote
Choose between two processors
Core i7 9700K
6 (16.2%)
Ryzen 5 3600X
31 (83.8%)
Total votes: 37
ompetitors
1.
Intel Core i7 9700K or Apple M1 Max
2.
Intel Core i7 9700K or Intel Core i7 12700K
3.
Intel Core i7 9700K or Intel Core i5 12400
4.
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
5.
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or Intel Core i5 12400
6.
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
7.
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs Intel Core i7-9700K
Summary
-
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
109%
-
Intel Core i7-9700K
100%
Relative performance
-
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
106%
-
Intel Core i7-9700K
100%
Relative performance
-
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
113%
-
Intel Core i7-9700K
100%
Relative performance
Reasons to consider AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
6% higher single threaded performance. |
13% higher multi threaded performance. |
Around 9% higher average synthetic performance. |
Reasons to consider Intel Core i7-9700K |
Has an integrated GPU, which allows to run the system without a dedicated graphics card, unlike the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X. |
Gaming
HWBench recommends AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Based on game and synthetic benchmarks, and theoretical specifications.
Productivity
No clear winner declared
Features
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-9700K | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
MMX | ||||
SSE | ||||
SSE2 | ||||
SSE3 | ||||
SSSE3 | ||||
SSE4A | ||||
SSE4.1 | ||||
SSE4.2 | ||||
AES | ||||
AVX | ||||
AVX2 | ||||
BMI1 | ||||
BMI2 | ||||
SHA | ||||
F16C | ||||
FMA3 | ||||
AMD64 | ||||
EVP | ||||
AMD-V | ||||
SMAP | ||||
SMEP | ||||
SMT | ||||
Precision Boost 2 | ||||
XFR 2 | ||||
EIST | ||||
Intel 64 | ||||
XD bit | ||||
VT-x | ||||
VT-d | ||||
HTT | ||||
AES-NI | ||||
TSX | ||||
TXT | ||||
CLMUL | ||||
Boost 2. 0 |
Architecture
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-9700K | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Architecture | AMD Zen 2 | vs | Intel_Coffelake | |
Market | Desktop | vs | Desktop | |
Memory Support | DDR4 | vs | DDR4 | |
Codename | Zen 2 | vs | Coffee Lake | |
Release Date | Mar 2019 | vs | Sep 2018 |
Cores
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-9700K | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Cores | 6 | vs | 8 | |
Threads | 12 | vs | 8 | |
SMPs | 1 | vs | 1 | |
Integrated Graphics | No | vs | UHD Graphics 630 |
Cache
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-9700K | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
L1 Cache | 96K (per core) | vs | 64 KB (per core) | |
L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | vs | 256 KB (per core) | |
L3 Cache | 16MB (shared) | vs | 12288 KB (shared) |
Physical
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-9700K | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | vs | Intel Socket 1151 | |
Max Case Temp | unknown | vs | 72°C | |
Package | vs | FC-LGA14C | ||
Die Size | unknown | vs | unknown | |
Process | 7 nm | vs | 14 nm |
Performance
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-9700K | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Cpu Frequency | 4000 MHz | vs | 3600 MHz | |
Turbo Clock | 4800 MHz | vs | 4900 MHz | |
Base Clock | 100 MHz | vs | 100 MHz | |
Voltage | variable | vs | unknown | |
TDP | 95 W | vs | 95 W |
-
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
5376 points
-
Intel Core i7-9700K
5880 points
Points — higher is better
-
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
32793 points
-
Intel Core i7-9700K
34560 points
Points — higher is better
points — higher is better
points — higher is better
Ryzen 5 3600X vs i7-9700K — Rainbow Six Siege with RTX 2060 SUPER Benchmarks 1080p, 1440p, Ultrawide, 4K Comparison
RTX 2060 SUPER with
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Rainbow Six Siege
RTX 2060 SUPER with
Intel Core i7-9700K @ 3. 60GHz
Ryzen 5 3600X
i7-9700K
Multi-Thread Performance
21536 Pts
17589 Pts
Single-Thread Performance
2910 Pts
2834 Pts
Rainbow Six Siege
Ryzen 5 3600X vs i7-9700K in Rainbow Six Siege using RTX 2060 SUPER — CPU Performance comparison at Ultra, High, Medium, and Low Quality Settings with 1080p, 1440p, Ultrawide, 4K resolutions
Ryzen 5 3600X
i7-9700K
Ultra Quality
Resolution | Frames Per Second |
---|---|
1080p |
229.6 FPS |
1080p |
235.0 FPS |
1440p |
149.1 FPS |
1440p |
151.0 FPS |
2160p |
68.6 FPS |
2160p |
69.5 FPS |
w1440p |
116.4 FPS |
w1440p |
118.0 FPS |
High Quality
Resolution | Frames Per Second |
---|---|
1080p |
314. 1 FPS |
1080p |
320.1 FPS |
1440p |
220.0 FPS |
1440p |
222.4 FPS |
2160p |
114.6 FPS |
2160p |
115.8 FPS |
w1440p |
179.0 FPS |
w1440p |
181.0 FPS |
Medium Quality
Resolution | Frames Per Second |
---|---|
1080p |
398.5 FPS |
1080p |
405.2 FPS |
1440p |
291.0 FPS |
1440p |
293.7 FPS |
2160p |
160.5 FPS |
2160p |
162.2 FPS |
w1440p |
241.6 FPS |
w1440p |
244.1 FPS |
Low Quality
Resolution | Frames Per Second |
---|---|
1080p |
567. 4 FPS |
1080p |
575.3 FPS |
1440p |
432.9 FPS |
1440p |
436.5 FPS |
2160p |
252.4 FPS |
2160p |
254.8 FPS |
w1440p |
366.7 FPS |
w1440p |
370.2 FPS |
Ryzen 5 3600X
- The Ryzen 5 3600X has higher Level 2 Cache. Data/instructions which have to be processed can be loaded from the fast L2 and the CPU does not have to wait for the very slow DDR RAM
- The Ryzen 5 3600X has higher Level 3 Cache. This is useful when you have substantial multiprocessing workloads, many computationally intense simultaneous processes. More likely on a server, less on a personally used computer for interactive desktop workloads.
- The Ryzen 5 3600X has more threads. Larger programs are divided into threads (small sections) so that the processor can execute them simultaneously to get faster execution.
- For some games, a cpu with a higher clock speed, or in a technical name IPC (Instructions per clock), has better results than other CPU’s with higher core count and lower core speed.
- The Ryzen 5 3600X has a smaller process size. The faster a transistor can toggle on and off, the faster it can do work. And transistors that turn on and off with less energy are more efficient, reducing the operating power, or “dynamic power consumption,” required by a processor.
i7-9700K
- The i7-9700K has more cores. The benefit of having more cores is that the system can handle more threads. Each core can handle a separate stream of data. This architecture greatly increases the performance of a system that is running concurrent applications.
- The i7-9700K has a higher turbo clock boost. Turbo Boost is a CPU feature that will run CPU clock speed faster than its base clock, if certain conditions are present. It will enable older software that runs on fewer cores, to perform better on newer hardware. Since games are software too, it is also applicable to them.
Compare Ryzen 5 3600X vs i7-9700K specifications
Ryzen 5 3600X vs i7-9700K Architecture
Ryzen 5 3600X | i7-9700K | |
---|---|---|
Codename | Zen 2 | Coffee Lake |
Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen 2) |
Core i7 (Coffee Lake Refresh) |
Market | Desktop | Desktop |
Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4 |
Part# | unknown | unknown |
Production Status | Active | Active |
Released | Jul 2019 | Oct 2018 |
Ryzen 5 3600X vs i7-9700K Cache
Ryzen 5 3600X | i7-9700K | |
---|---|---|
Cache L1 | 96K (per core) | 64K (per core) |
Cache L2 | 512K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
Cache L3 | 32MB (shared) | 12MB (shared) |
Ryzen 5 3600X vs i7-9700K Cores
Ryzen 5 3600X | i7-9700K | |
---|---|---|
# of Cores | 6 | 8 |
# of Threads | 12 | 8 |
Integrated Graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 630 |
SMP # CPUs | 1 | 1 |
Ryzen 5 3600X vs i7-9700K Performance
Ryzen 5 3600X | i7-9700K | |
---|---|---|
Base Clock | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Frequency | 3. 8 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
Multiplier | 38.0x | 36.0x |
Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
TDP | 95 W | 95 W |
Turbo Clock | up to 4.4 GHz | up to 4.9 GHz |
Voltage | variable | unknown |
Ryzen 5 3600X vs i7-9700K Physical
Ryzen 5 3600X | i7-9700K | |
---|---|---|
Die Size | unknown | unknown |
Foundry | TSMC | Intel |
Package | FC-LGA14C | |
Process Size | 7 nm | 14 nm |
Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1151 |
Transistors | 4,800 million | unknown |
tCaseMax | unknown | 72°C |
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AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs Intel Core i5-9600K: Mid-Range Rumble
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Competition is always great for consumers, so we should be grateful that AMD and Intel have been duking it out on the CPU front for decades. If only one chip maker existed without the other, we wouldn’t have the quality of processors that we have today. For example, Intel’s Core i5 desktop lineup was stuck on four cores for nearly a decade while AMD struggled to release a competitive product. But Ryzen changed things quickly, forcing Intel to respond with more cores and lower per-core pricing. Now enthusiasts and casual users alike can find great values at nearly every price point, but particularly in the mid-range market, as you can see in our CPU Benchmarks Hierarchy.
Intel’s Core i5 and AMD’s Ryzen 5 families are the biggest volume-movers in the mainstream desktop segment, and honestly, that’s the most chip most gamers need. But then the eternal question arises: Who reigns supreme in the mid-range, AMD or Intel?
On one side, we have the Ryzen 5 3600X that from AMD’s Matisse family. The Ryzen 5 3600X comes equipped with six cores and 12 threads. On the other side, we have the Core i5-9600K , which represents Intel’s Coffee Lake lineup. The Core i5-9600K has six cores, but unlike its AMD rival, it’s limited to six threads.
To help you pick one, we put the hexa-core processors from both chipmakers through a seven-round face-off, based on their features, overclockability, coolers, motherboards, performance, and value.
Looking for something in a different price/performance range? Head over to our best CPU page. And check out our CPU Benchmarks Hierarchy to see where these processors land in comparison to higher- and lower-end parts.
Features
The Ryzen 5 3600X is part of the Ryzen 3000-series lineup, so it inherits all of Ryzen’s important attributes, like the Zen 2 microarchitecture and the 7nm FinFET process node from TSMC. The Ryzen 5 3600X combines its six-core, 12-thread configuration with a whopping 32MB L3 cache.
AMD assigns the Ryzen 5 3600X a 3.8 GHz base clock and 4.4 GHz single-core boost clock. The Ryzen 5 3600X boasts a dual-channel memory controller that supports DDR4-3200 memory modules natively, and it also exposes 16 PCIe 4. 0 lanes to the user. Like other Zen 2 chips, the Ryzen 5 3600X doesn’t come with integrated graphics, so you’ll need to use a dedicated graphics card of some form.
Intel Core i5-9600K | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | |
---|---|---|
Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen 2 |
Socket | LGA1151 | AM4 |
Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 6 / 12 |
Base Frequency (GHz) | 3.7 | 3.8 |
Boost Frequency (GHz) | 4.6 | 4.4 |
L3 Cache | 9MB | 32MB |
Process | 14nm | 7nm |
TDP | 95W | 95W |
Memory Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
Memory Controller | Dual-Channel | Dual-Channel |
Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | N/A |
Recommended Customer Pricing | $262 — $263 | $249 |
Today’s best Intel Core i5-9600K, AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and deals
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The Core i5-9600K, which is based on the Coffee Lake microarchitecture, hails from Intel’s 14nm manufacturing process. While it does have six cores, the Core i5-9600K doesn’t come with Hyper-Threading, which limits the chip to six threads. The processor also has 9MB of L3 cache.
The Core i5-9600K checks in with a 3.7 GHz base clock and a 4.6 GHz single-core boost clock. Intel has implemented the UHD Graphics 630 iGPU inside the Core i5-9600K as well as a dual-channel memory controller with DDR4-2933 support.
Winner: AMD. The Ryzen 5 3600X comes a much more generous featureset. The hexa-core processor offers more threads, L3 cache and support for the PCIe 4.0 interface and DDR4-3200 memory sticks. It’s only weak point is the absence of an iGPU, so the conversation stops there if you aren’t planning on using a discrete graphics card.
Motherboard Options
The Ryzen 5 3600X has great backward compatibility with prior AM4 motherboards. With the adequate firmware, the Ryzen 5 3600X will work on AMD 300-and 400-series motherboards. However, building a system around a pre-X570 motherboard means you lose out on PCIe 4.0 functionality. X570 motherboards, which start at $145, are the only PCIe 4.0 option at the moment until motherboard manufacturers start rolling out the budget 500-series motherboards.
The Core i5-9600K drops into the LGA1151 socket. Unlike the Ryzen 5 3600, the Core i5-9600K won’t work on motherboards that aren’t built around the Intel 300-series chipset. Intel offers multiple chipsets for different needs, but assuming you want to pair the Core i5-9600K with a capable enthusiast board, the starting price for Z370 and Z390 motherboards begins around $115.
If you’re interested in future-proofing, investing in a LGA1151 motherboard isn’t a wise decision right now. Reports point to Intel introducing the a new LGA1200 socket for upcoming Comet Lake desktop chips, so the LGA1151 socket already has one foot inside the retirement home. AMD, on the other hand, says it will support the AM4 socket until 2020, meaning we could see one more wave of processors on the socket before the chipmaker transitions to a new one.
Winner: AMD. X570 motherboards cost a little bit more than Z370 and Z390 motherboards due to support for new features, like PCIe 4.0. This won’t change until more budget-friendly AMD 500-series chipsets come to market. With Intel on the brink of abandoning the LGA1151 socket, it surely isn’t worth it to buy an Intel 300-series motherboard if you’re interested in future-proofing.
Overclocking Potential
The Ryzen 5 3600X has a 4.4 GHz single-core boost clock and the all-core frequency is around 200 MHz to 300 MHz lower the single-core value. Based on our experiences with the Ryzen 5 3600X, you’re better off letting AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) feature do its job. Overclocking all cores to a static frequency increases performance in multi-threaded workloads, but you sacrifice lightly-threaded performance.
Intel advertises the Core i5-9600K with a 4.6 GHz single-core clock. However, the hexa-core processor comes equipped with a 4.3 GHz all-core boost clock. We managed to overclock our sample to 5 GHz on all six cores with a 1.36V Vcore and auto Load-Line Calibration (LLC) settings. The overclock bumps the chip’s power consumption up to 179W under heavy load.
Winner: Intel. Intel’s overclocking superiority is hard to beat. If you plan to do a fair bit of overclocking, you’ll have a lot of fun with the Core i5-9600K.
Cooling Solutions
The Ryzen 5 3600X and Core i5-9600K feature a 95W TDP (thermal design power). Intel measures the TDP at the base clock, so the Core i5-9600K’s power draw is slightly higher. Our tests show that a stock Core i5-9600K can pull up to 119W with extreme workloads.
It shouldn’t be hard to find an air or liquid CPU cooler to keep the Ryzen 5 3600X or Core i5-9600K’s operating temperatures under control. If you’re not overclocking, even budget CPU coolers are more than adequate. In the Ryzen 5 3600X’s case, AMD includes the Wraith Spire so you don’t have to spend a dime on an aftermarket CPU cooler.
Winner: AMD. The Ryzen 5 3600X has slightly lower power consumption. As a result, it’s easier and cheaper to find a CPU cooler that can cool the processor. Nevertheless, the added value lies in the inclusion of the Wraith Spire CPU cooler, meaning you save a few bucks to put towards other components in your system.
Gaming Performance
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We include information about our test systems at the bottom of the page.
It was a very close fight between the Ryzen 5 3600X and the Core i5-9600K in our gaming test suite. The Ryzen 5 3600X delivered more performance than the Core i5-9600K in six of the 10 games that we tested, but some of the margins were slim. That’s important because we test at the FHD resolution with a leading graphics card, while most systems in this price band will come with lesser cards. Also, bumping up the resolution would push the bottleneck back to the GPU, making CPU performance less of a factor. All of this is to say that these results would be nearly identical if a graphics bottleneck comes into play.
Winner: AMD. Normally, Intel chips are better at gaming. On this occasion, the Ryzen 5 3600X turned the table on the Core i5-9600K. AMD’s hexa-core chip is a surprisingly nimble gaming processor.
Productivity Performance
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It wasn’t a complete blowout for the Ryzen 5 3600X in the productivity tests. The Core i5-9600K managed to edge out the Ryzen chip in a few benchmarks, particularly in lightly-threaded applications. However, for the most part, the Ryzen 5 3600X beats the Core i5-9600K as a result of having twice the threads and a considerable amount of L3 cache.
The Core i5-9600K often catches the Ryzen 5 3600X when it is overclocked to 5 GHz on all its cores. On other occasions, even a 5 GHz overclock can’t push the Core i5-9600K into striking range of the Ryzen 5 3600X.
Winner: AMD. If it wasn’t obvious before, the Ryzen 5 3600X clearly packs more firepower than the Core i5-9600K when it comes to multi-threaded workloads. Intel does cling to its single-threaded advantage, but that isn’t enough to offset the 3600X’s better balance of performance in all workloads.
Value Proposition
Price Per Core | Current Pricing (USD) | Cores / Threads | TDP (Watts) | Base / Boost Frequency (GHz) | L3 Cache (MB) | PCIe Lanes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Core i5-9600K | $27. 50 | $219.99 | 6 / 6 | 95 | 3.7 / 4.6 | 9 | 16 x PCIe 3.0 |
Ryzen 5 3600X | $26.39 | $211.15 | 6 / 12 | 95 | 3.8 / 4.4 | 32 | 16 x PCIe 4.0 |
Ryzen 5 3600 | $21.87 | $174.99 | 6 / 12 | 65 | 3.6 / 4.2 | 32 | 16 x PCIe 4.0 |
You can find AMD’s Ryzen 3000-series processors at ridiculously good pricing. The Ryzen 5 3600X is available for as low as $200, working out to ~$33 per core. Intel has recently slashed the prices on its processors to compete with AMD, but even after those cuts, the Core i5-9600K is still more expensive. The processor starts at $219.99, which comes out to ~$37 per core.
An X570 motherboard will set you back $145 at a minimum, while a Z370 or Z390 motherboard begins at $115. Of course, you’ll have to factor in the cost of a CPU cooler with the Core i5-9600K, while the Ryzen 5 3600X comes with a capable Wraith Spire cooler that even grants some overclocking headroom.
Winner: AMD. The starting investment for both platforms is roughly the same. However, the Ryzen 5 3600X has more upside because you get access to the PCIe 4.0 feature to exploit the latest SSDs and graphics cards.
The Ryzen 5 3600X claims a one-two punch victory over the Core i5-9600K today. Obviously, it’s not typical to see an AMD processor excel in both the gaming and productivity departments, but the Ryzen 5 3600X is the leader on both sides of the ball.
The Ryzen 5 3600X’s six-core, 12-thread configuration is a success for AMD. The chip not only ushers in the PCIe 4.0 standard for consumers, it’s also a better gaming and productivity chip than the Core i5-9600K. The only way for the Core i5-9600K to get into the conversation is if you need integrated graphics or you’re interested in the highest overclocking potential. But getting a really good sample that can overclock beyond 5 GHz requires winning the silicon lottery.
The Ryzen 5 3600X is the only chip that’s worth your consideration at the $200 price point, and the bundled cooler is a nice addition. Now all we need is for motherboard vendors to bring the more wallet-friendly 500-series motherboards to market. Once that happens, the price-to-performance ratio for the Ryzen 5 3600X will get even better.
Currently the only real competition for the 3600X comes from AMD’s own stable. As you can see throughout our tests, after overclocking, the Ryzen 5 3600 offers slightly more performance than the stock 3600X, but trails when overclocking. Pricing for Ryzen chips fluctuates wildly, but currently both chips retail for the same price. However, opting for a 3600 often equates to a savings if you aren’t interested in that last bit of overclocking performance with the Ryzen 5 3600X, so keep that in mind at checkout.
Overall Winner: AMD
Rounds
Intel Core i5-9600K | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | |
---|---|---|
Features | ✗ | |
Motherboard Options | ✗ | |
Overclocking Potential | ✗ | |
Cooling Solutions | ✗ | |
Gaming | ✗ | |
Productivity Performance | ✗ | |
Value Proposition | ✗ | |
Total | 1 | 6 |
Test System and Configuration
Components | |
---|---|
AMD Socket AM4 (X570) | AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, Ryzen 7 3800X, Ryzen 7 3700X, Ryzen 5 3600X, Ryzen 5 3600, Ryzen 7 2700X, Ryzen 5 2600X |
MSI MEG X570 Godlike | |
2x 8GB G. Skill Flare DDR4-3200Ryzen 3000 — DDR4-3200, DDR4-3600 | |
Second-gen Ryzen — DDR4-2933, DDR4-3466 | |
Intel LGA 1151 (Z390) | Intel Core i7-9700K, Core i5-9600K. Core i5-9400F |
MSI MEG Z390 Godlike | |
2x 8GB G.Skill FlareX DDR4-3200 @ DDR4-2667 & DDR4-3466 | |
AMD Socket AM4 (X470) | AMD Ryzen 5 1600X |
MSI X470 Gaming M7 AC | |
2x 8GB G.Skill FlareX DDR4-3200 @ DDR4-2933 | |
All Systems | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti |
2TB Intel DC4510 SSD | |
EVGA Supernova 1600 T2, 1600W | |
Windows 10 Pro (1903 — All Updates) | |
Cooling | Corsair h215i — Stock and OC cooler except where noted in charts |
Custom Loop, EKWB Supremacy EVO waterblock, Dual-720mm radiators (HEDT only — n/a here) | |
AMD Wraith Spire, as noted |
MORE: Best CPUs
MORE: CPU Benchmarks Hierarchy
MORE: All CPUs Content
Zhiye Liu is a Freelance News Writer at Tom’s Hardware US. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.
How Does AMD’s 3600X Compare With Intel’s 9700K?
Compare AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X with Intel’s Core i7 9700K. Which CPU is better for gaming, general apps, and professional tools?
Ryzen 5 3600X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
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Core i7 9700K
Intel Core i7-9700K
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This article compares AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X with Intel’s Core i7 9700K, exploring which CPU is better for:
- Gaming — the latest graphics-intense games
- General Apps — web browsing, streaming, and office applications
- Professional Tools — 2D and 3D graphics tools, video editors, compilers, and engineering tools
Gaming on the Ryzen 5 3600X vs.
Core i7 9700K
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Ryzen 5 3600X
When using AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X CPU for gaming, you can expect good game performance with either a high-performance CPU cooler or a stock CPU cooler.
Core i7 9700K
When using Intel’s Core i7 9700K CPU for gaming, you can expect good game performance with a high-performance CPU cooler or mediocre game performance with a basic or stock CPU cooler.
Ryzen 5 3600X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
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Core i7 9700K
Intel Core i7-9700K
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Gaming Considerations
While a good GPU is critical for gaming performance, your CPU will also have a significant impact. If the CPU is too slow, it can be a bottleneck for your GPU, which can reduce your framerate or cause stuttering. The most important CPU capabilities for gaming are single-core max boost frequency and the number of cores. A high base frequency is also critical for inadequately cooled CPUs.
Depending on the game, the CPU will often handle tasks including scene management, gameplay logic, physics calculations, and asset loading.
Having multiple CPU cores can improve performance with games that utilize them. However, developers cannot split up every task to take advantage of a growing number of cores. Most modern games don’t benefit from having more than 6–8 cores. Game performance will experience diminishing returns as you add more CPU cores.
Cores
3600X:
The 3600X’s 6 cores allow for good performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
9700K:
The 9700K’s 8 cores allow for excellent performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Learn more about Core Counts below.
Base Frequency
3600X:
The 3600X’s 3.8 GHz base frequency is good for performance with the latest graphics-intense games, when not boosting. You can reach these base frequencies even without a high-end cooler.
9700K:
The 9700K’s 3.60 GHz base frequency is good for performance with the latest graphics-intense games, when not boosting. You can reach these base frequencies even without a high-end cooler.
Learn more about CPU Clock Speeds below.
Single-Core Boost
3600X:
With a high-end cooler, the 3600X’s 4.4 GHz single-core max boost frequency is excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games. You can maintain these frequencies with a high-end cooler.
9700K:
With a high-end cooler, the 9700K’s 4.90 GHz single-core max turbo boost frequency is excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games. You can maintain these frequencies with a high-end cooler.
Learn more about CPU Clock Speeds below.
P-Core Boost
3600X:
The 3600X does not have Performance cores.
9700K:
The 9700K does not have Performance cores.
Learn more about CPU Clock Speeds below.
Overclocking Support
3600X:
When using a high-end cooler, the 3600X CPU’s support for overclocking can be excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
9700K:
When using a high-end cooler, the 9700K CPU’s support for overclocking can be excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Learn more about Overclocking below.
DDR Support
3600X:
The 3600X CPU’s support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz can be good for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
9700K:
The 9700K CPU’s support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 2666 MHz can be mediocre for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Learn more about DDR Support below.
PCIe
3600X:
The 3600X CPU’s support for PCIe 4.0 can be excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games, when using the fastest SSDs and graphics cards.
9700K:
The 9700K CPU’s support for PCIe 3.0 can be poor for performance with the latest graphics-intense games, as it will limit the potential of the latest SSDs and graphics cards.
L3 Cache
3600X:
The 3600X’s impressive 32 MB of L3 cache is excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
9700K:
The 9700K’s 12 MB of L3 cache is mediocre for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Learn more about Cache Sizes below.
General Apps on the Ryzen 5 3600X vs. Core i7 9700K
Ryzen 5 3600X
When using AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X CPU for general apps, you can expect good app performance with either a high-performance CPU cooler or a stock CPU cooler.
Core i7 9700K
When using Intel’s Core i7 9700K CPU for general apps, you can expect good app performance with either a high-performance CPU cooler or a stock CPU cooler.
Ryzen 5 3600X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
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Core i7 9700K
Intel Core i7-9700K
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General App Considerations
If you’re only planning to stream shows, use office apps, or browse the internet, you won’t need a top-end CPU to get good performance. The most important CPU capability for general app usage is the single-core max boost frequency. A high base frequency is also helpful for inadequately cooled CPUs.
Browsers depend on your CPU to quickly load pages and video content and manage multiple browser tabs. Higher single-core boost frequencies can speed up page load times.
Office and web applications are typically single-threaded, so running a single application won’t take advantage of a many-core CPU.
The more cores a CPU has, the more applications you can run simultaneously without noticing a performance impact.
Office and web applications rarely max out the CPU for long periods. These applications can use boost speeds when a burst of processing power is needed, returning to the more efficient base frequencies afterward.
Cores
3600X:
The 3600X’s 6 cores allow for excellent performance with modern apps.
9700K:
The 9700K’s 8 cores allow for excellent performance with modern apps.
Learn more about Core Counts below.
Single-Core Boost
3600X:
With a high-end cooler, the 3600X’s 4.4 GHz single-core max boost frequency is excellent for performance with modern apps. You can maintain these frequencies with a high-end cooler.
9700K:
With a high-end cooler, the 9700K’s 4.90 GHz single-core max turbo boost frequency is excellent for performance with modern apps. You can maintain these frequencies with a high-end cooler.
Learn more about CPU Clock Speeds below.
P-Core Boost
3600X:
The 3600X does not have Performance cores.
9700K:
The 9700K does not have Performance cores.
Learn more about CPU Clock Speeds below.
DDR Support
3600X:
The 3600X CPU’s support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz can be good for performance with modern apps.
9700K:
The 9700K CPU’s support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 2666 MHz can be mediocre for performance with modern apps.
Learn more about DDR Support below.
Professional Tools on the Ryzen 5 3600X vs.
Core i7 9700K
Ryzen 5 3600X
When using AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X CPU for professional tools, you can expect good tool performance with either a high-performance CPU cooler or a stock CPU cooler.
Core i7 9700K
When using Intel’s Core i7 9700K CPU for professional tools, you can expect good tool performance with a high-performance CPU cooler or mediocre tool performance with a basic or stock CPU cooler.
Ryzen 5 3600X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
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Core i7 9700K
Intel Core i7-9700K
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Professional Tool Considerations
Video editors, 2D and 3D graphics tools, software compilers, and engineering tools require high-performing CPUs.
Professional tools are often well optimized to use many cores. CPU cores allow tools to parallelize processing tasks. Increasing the number of cores can divide the time required to process a task if the tool has good multi-threading support.
To maximize performance with professional tools, you’ll want to use a CPU with a high boost frequency and many CPU cores. Good heat dissipation is needed to maintain boost frequencies for extended periods.
While graphics applications use your GPU for some rendering tasks, most calculations and data operations are still dependent on your CPU.
Cores
3600X:
The 3600X’s 6 cores allow for good performance with professional tools.
9700K:
The 9700K’s 8 cores allow for excellent performance with professional tools.
Learn more about Core Counts below.
Base Frequency
3600X:
The 3600X’s 3.8 GHz base frequency is good for performance with professional tools, when not boosting. You can reach these base frequencies even without a high-end cooler.
9700K:
The 9700K’s 3.60 GHz base frequency is good for performance with professional tools, when not boosting. You can reach these base frequencies even without a high-end cooler.
Learn more about CPU Clock Speeds below.
Single-Core Boost
3600X:
With a high-end cooler, the 3600X’s 4.4 GHz single-core max boost frequency is excellent for performance with professional tools. You can maintain these frequencies with a high-end cooler.
9700K:
With a high-end cooler, the 9700K’s 4.90 GHz single-core max turbo boost frequency is excellent for performance with professional tools. You can maintain these frequencies with a high-end cooler.
Learn more about CPU Clock Speeds below.
P-Core Boost
3600X:
The 3600X does not have Performance cores.
9700K:
The 9700K does not have Performance cores.
Learn more about CPU Clock Speeds below.
Overclocking Support
3600X:
When using a high-end cooler, the 3600X CPU’s support for overclocking can be excellent for performance with professional tools.
9700K:
When using a high-end cooler, the 9700K CPU’s support for overclocking can be excellent for performance with professional tools.
Learn more about Overclocking below.
DDR Support
3600X:
The 3600X CPU’s support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz can be good for performance with professional tools.
9700K:
The 9700K CPU’s support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 2666 MHz can be mediocre for performance with professional tools.
Learn more about DDR Support below.
PCIe
3600X:
The 3600X CPU’s support for PCIe 4. 0 can be excellent for performance with professional tools, when using the fastest SSDs and graphics cards.
9700K:
The 9700K CPU’s support for PCIe 3.0 can be poor for performance with professional tools, as it will limit the potential of the latest SSDs and graphics cards.
L3 Cache
3600X:
The 3600X’s impressive 32 MB of L3 cache is excellent for performance with professional tools.
9700K:
The 9700K’s 12 MB of L3 cache is mediocre for performance with professional tools.
Learn more about Cache Sizes below.
Considerations When Choosing a CPU
Core Count
AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X CPUs have 6 cores.
Intel’s Core i7-9700K CPUs have 8 cores.
Increased core counts can improve the performance of games and professional tools that use them. Most modern games don’t benefit from having more than 6–8 cores. Even general apps can benefit from many cores when numerous applications are open simultaneously. Web browsers don’t significantly take advantage of multiple cores when loading a single page. However, more CPU cores can improve performance when running demanding web apps in multiple windows.
Intel’s 12th generation and newer CPUs have performance (P) cores and efficiency (E) cores. The P cores are comparable to previous generation cores. E cores are focused on adding additional threads in an energy-efficient manner. They take up much less room on the CPU and generate less heat. However, their smaller cache and minimal interconnect capabilities make them more appropriate for offloading background tasks.
CPU Clock Speeds
The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X has a 3.8 GHz base frequency and supports a 4.4 GHz single-core max boost frequency.
The Intel Core i7-9700K has a 3. 60 GHz base frequency and supports a 4.90 GHz single-core max turbo boost frequency.
Single-core performance is essential for some games, as many don’t take full advantage of multiple cores. Professional tools depend on high single and multi-core boost frequencies to maximize their processing speed.
Boost frequencies are only achieved under ideal circumstances. The safest strategy for consistent gaming performance with a basic cooler is to get a processor with a higher base clock speed. However, with adequate cooling, you may be able to maintain speeds near the max boost frequency.
Check out my article, Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X, for recommended coolers that can maintain these boost frequencies on the 3600X.
Check out my article, Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for Intel’s Core i7-9700K, for recommended coolers that can maintain these boost frequencies on the 9700K.
DDR Support
The 3600X CPU’s fastest supported DDR memory type is DDR4, with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz.
The 9700K CPU’s fastest supported DDR memory type is DDR4, with a max stock speed of 2666 MHz.
You can exceed these stock speeds officially supported by CPUs when overclocking memory, such as with an XMP profile. Motherboard specifications will indicate their supported overclocked-memory speeds. To be able to overclock DDR memory, your motherboard chipset needs to support memory overclocking.
Faster PC memory can improve game and professional tool performance by reducing the time it takes to perform calculations and data operations.
Using the quickest RAM may not have as much of an impact as upgrading your CPU and graphics card or adding more RAM.
Learn about our recommended RAM for the 3600X in Choosing the Best RAM for AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X CPU.
Learn about our recommended RAM for the 9700K in Choosing the Best RAM for Intel’s Core i7-9700K CPU.
Cache Size
The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X has an L3 cache capacity of 32 MB.
The Intel Core i7-9700K has an L3 cache capacity of 12 MB.
A CPU’s cache is a small amount of memory, close to the CPU cores, containing recently used data. An L3 cache capacity of at least 20 MB is ideal for games and professional tool performance.
Games and professional tool performance can improve as cache size increases, as it can reduce delays when retrieving commonly used assets from memory. While nearly any task will use a CPU’s cache, a large cache becomes less impactful for general PC usage, such as browsing webpages.
Remember that cache sizes often increase with core counts, so if you want to increase your L3 cache, you may need to get a CPU with more cores.
Overclocking
The 3600X supports overclocking.
The 9700K supports overclocking.
Overclocking is mainly relevant for PC gamers who want to maximize their game framerates. CPU overclocking increases frequencies past their default limits. Excellent heat dissipation via fans or another solution is required to maintain system stability while overclocking.
Professional tools can benefit from overclocked frequencies. However, overclocking may introduce some possibility of system instability, which may be less acceptable in business scenarios.
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Learn More About the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
- Which Chipsets Work With AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X CPU?
- Choosing the Best Power Supply for AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X CPU
- Choosing the Best Motherboard for AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X
- Is the Ryzen 5 3600X CPU Good for Gaming?
- Choosing the Best RAM for AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X CPU
- Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X
- What Is the TDP of the Ryzen 5 3600X CPU?
- How Many Cores Do AMD Ryzen 5 3600X CPUs Have?
Learn More About the Intel Core i7 9700K
- Which Chipsets Work With Intel’s Core i7-9700K CPU?
- Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for Intel’s Core i7-9700K
- Choosing the Best Power Supply for Intel’s Core i7-9700K
- Is the Core i7-9700K CPU Good for Gaming?
- Choosing the Best RAM for Intel’s Core i7-9700K CPU
- Choosing the Best Motherboard for Intel’s Core i7-9700K
- How Many Cores Do Intel Core i7-9700K CPUs Have?
- What Is the TDP of the Core i7-9700K CPU?
You can find detailed 9700K specifications on Intel’s site.
Have a suggestion or correction for this article? Send us an email at:
[email protected]
You can also contact the author at:
[email protected]
Intel Core i7 9700K vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600X:
performance comparison
VS
Intel Core i7 9700K
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Which is better: 8-core Intel Core i7 9700K at 3.6 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X with 6 cores at 3.8 GHz? To find out, read our comparative testing of these desktop processors in popular benchmarks, games and heavy applications.
- Overview
- Differences
- Performance
- Features
- Comments
Overview
Overview and comparison of the main metrics from NanoReview
Single -flow performance
Rating in tests using one nucleus
Core i7 9700k
68
Ryzen 5 3600x
67
Multi -flow performance
Tests in benchmarks where all nucleus
9 9,000 9,000 9,000
Core i7 9700k
44
Ryzen 5 3600x
47
Energy Equality
Energy Effect CHIP
Core I7 9700K
46
Ryzen 5 3600x
9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58 9000 58
Core i7 9700K
54
Ryzen 5 3600X
59
Key differences
What are the main differences between 3600X and 9700K
Reasons to choose Intel Core i7 9700K
- Has 2 more physical cores
- There is an integrated graphics accelerator Intel UHD Graphics 630
- 11% higher frequency in Turbo Boost (4. 9 GHz vs 4.4 GHz)
Reasons to choose AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
- Has 20 MB more L3 cache
- More modern process technology — 7 vs. 14 nanometers
- New PCI Express standard — 4.0
- Appeared on 9months later than rival
- 6.08 GB/s (15%) higher maximum memory bandwidth
Benchmark tests
Compare the results of processor tests in benchmarks
Cinebench R23 (single core)
Core i7 9700K
1280
Ryzen 5 3600X
+3%
1322
Cinebench R23 (multi-core)
Core i7 9700K
9424
Ryzen 5 3600X
9461
Passmark CPU (single core)
Core i7 9700K
+9%
2888
Ryzen 5 3600X
2658
Passmark CPU (multi-core)
Core i7 9700K
900 R2 14419
+27%
18254
Geekbench 5 (single core)
Core i7 9700K
1278
Ryzen 5 3600X
+3%
1315
Geekbench 5 (multi-core)
Core i7 9700K
+1%
7397
Ryzen 5 3600X
7301
▶️ Add your score to Cinebench R23
Specifications
List of full specifications for Intel Core i7 9700K and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
General information
Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
Release date | October 8, 2018 | July 7, 2019 |
Type | Desktop | Desktop |
Instruction set architecture | x86-64 | x86-64 |
Codename | Coffee Lake | Zen 2 |
Model number | i7-9700K | — |
Socket | LGA-1151 | AM4 |
Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | No |
Performance
Cores | 8 | 6 |
Number of threads | 8 | 12 |
Frequency | 3. 6 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
Max. frequency in Turbo Boost | 4.9 GHz | 4.4 GHz |
Bus frequency | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Multiplier | 36x | 38x |
Bus speed | 8 GT/s | — |
Level 1 cache | 64KB (per core) | 64KB (per core) |
Level 2 cache | 256KB (per core) | 512KB (per core) |
Level 3 cache | 12MB (shared) | 32MB (shared) |
Unlocked multiplier | Yes | Yes |
Power consumption
Number of transistors | — | 3.8 billion |
Process | 14 nanometers | 7 nanometers |
Power consumption (TDP) | 95 W | 95 W |
Critical temperature | 100°C | 95°C |
Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | — |
GPU frequency | 350 MHz | — |
Boost GPU frequency | 1200 MHz | — |
Shader blocks | 192 | — |
TMUs | 24 | — |
ROPs | 3 | — |
Computer units | 24 | — |
TGP | 15W | — |
Max. resolution | 4096×2304 — 60Hz | — |
Igpu Flops
Core i7 9700k
0.38 Teraflops
Ryzen 5 3600x
N/D
Memory Support
Type of memory type | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
Max. size | 128 GB | 128 GB |
Number of channels | 2 | 2 |
Max. bandwidth | 41.6 GB/s | 47.68 GB/s |
ECC support | No | Yes |
Other
Site Intel Core i7 9700K | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | |
PCI Express Version | 3.0 | 4.0 |
Max. PCI Express lanes | 16 | 16 |
Extended instructions | SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX-2 | — |
Poll
What processor do you think is the best?
Core i7 9700K
6 (16. 2%)
Ryzen 5 3600X
31 (83.8%)
Total votes: 37
Competitors
1.
Intel Core i7 9700K and Apple M1 Max
2.
Intel Core i7 9700K and Intel Core i7 12700K
3.
Intel Core i7 9700K and Intel Core i5 12400
4.
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
5.
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and Intel Core i5 12400
6.
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
7.
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
What will you choose: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or Intel Core i7 9700K?
Name
Message
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs Intel Core i7-9700K: What is the difference?
62points
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
64points
Intel Core i7-9700K
3600XT
Compare winnerAMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Intel Core i7-9700K
Why is AMD Ryzen 5 3600X better than Intel Core i7-9700K?
- 534MHz higher RAM speed?
3200MHz vs 2666MHz - 4 more CPU threads?
12 vs 8 - Smaller 7nm semiconductors?
7nm vs 14nm - 1MB more L2 cache?
3MB vs 2MB - 25. 91% higher PassMark score?
18325 vs 14554 - 20MB more L3 cache?
32MB vs 12MB - 1 newer PCI Express (PCIe) version?
4 vs 3 - 0.25MB/core more L2 cache per core?
0.5MB/core vs 0.25MB/core
- 26.32% higher CPU speed?
8 x 3.6GHz vs 6 x 3.8GHz - 5°C higher than maximum operating temperature?
100°C vs 95°C - 0.5GHz higher turbo clock speed?
4.9GHz vs 4.4GHz - 128KB more L1 cache?
512KB vs 384KB - Does it have integrated graphics?
- 8.18% higher PassMark score (single)?
2897 vs 2678 - 5.1 higher performance per watt?
77.8 vs 72.7 - Has NX bit?
What are the most popular comparisons?
AMD RYZEN 5 3600X
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 5600x
Intel Core i7-9700k
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 5600x
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
VS
VS
AMD RYZEN i7-9700K
vs
AMD RYZEN 7 3700X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 5600g
Intel Core i7-9700K
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
AMD 7 5800x
Intel Core i7-9700k
VS
Intel Core i7-9700F
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
Intel Core
VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 ITEL 9900k
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
VS
AMD Ryzen 7 3700x
Intel Core i7-9700K
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 5600g
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x 9000) VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 ntt Intel Core i7-9700K
VS
Intel Core i7-8700k
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 5500u
Intel Core i7-9700k
5800-AMD RYAR AMD Ry 5 3600X
VS
Intel Core i5-9400f
Intel Core i7-9700k
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G
I77 MORTEL CORE IMEN vs
AMD Ryzen 9 3900x
Comparison of prices
cheaper
Reviews of users
total rating
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
2 Reviews of users
AMD Ryzen 5 3600x
9. 0 /10
2 reviews of users
Intel Core i7-9700k
0 Reviews of users
Intel Core i7-9700k
0.0874 /10
0 Reviews of Users
Functions 9000 9000 9000 Qualities
10.0 /10
2 Votes
Reviews are not yet
Games
/10
2 Votes
reviews yet not
performance
9.0 /10
2 Votes
Reviews yet not
Reliability
/10
2 Votes
Reviews yet not
9000
9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000
9.5 /10
2 votes
No reviews yet
Performance
1.cpu speed
6 x 3.8GHz
8 x 3.6GHz
CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second the processor can perform, considering all its cores (processors). It is calculated by adding the clock speeds of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors, each group of cores.
2nd processor thread
More threads result in better performance and better multi-tasking.
3.speed turbo clock
4.4GHz
4.9GHz
When the processor is running below its limits, it can jump to a higher clock speed to increase performance.
4. Unlocked
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier and can be easily overclocked for better performance in games and other applications.
5.L2 cache
More L2 scratchpad results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
6.L3 cache
More L3 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
7.L1 cache
More L1 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
8.core L2
0.5MB/core
0.25MB/core
More data can be stored in L2 scratchpad for access by each processor core.
9.core L3
5.33MB/core
1.5MB/core
More data can be stored in L3 scratchpad memory to access each processor core.
Memory
1.RAM speed
3200MHz
2666MHz
Can support faster memory which speeds up system performance.
2.max memory bandwidth
47.68GB/s
41.6GB/s
This is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored in memory.
3.DDR version
DDR (Dynamic Random Access Memory, Double Data Rate) is the most common type of RAM. New versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy efficient.
4 memory channels
More memory channels increase the speed of data transfer between memory and processor.
5.Maximum memory
Maximum memory (RAM).
6.bus baud rate
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between various components of a computer or device.
7.Supports memory troubleshooting code
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✖Intel Core i7-9700K
The memory error recovery code can detect and repair data corruption. It is used when necessary to avoid distortion, such as in scientific computing or when starting a server.
8.eMMC version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-9700K)
The newer version of eMMC — built-in flash memory card — speeds up the memory interface, has a positive effect on device performance, for example, when transferring files from a computer to internal memory via USB.
9.bus frequency
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-9700K)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between various components of a computer or device
Geotagging
1. PassMark result
This test measures processor performance using multi-threading.
2. PassMark result (single)
This test measures processor performance using a thread of execution.
3.Geekbench 5 result (multi-core)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures the performance of a multi-core processor. (Source: Primate Labs,2022)
4.Cinebench R20 result (multi-core)
Cinebench R20 is a test that measures the performance of a multi-core processor by rendering a 3D scene.
5. Cinebench R20 result (single core)
Cinebench R20 is a test to evaluate the performance of a single core processor when rendering a 3D scene.
6.Geekbench 5 result (single core)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures the single core performance of a processor. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
7.Blender test result (bmw27)
235.9seconds
224.8seconds
The Blender test (bmw27) measures CPU performance by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render a scene in a shorter time.
8.Blender result (classroom)
709seconds
709.8seconds
The Blender (classroom) benchmark measures CPU performance by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render a scene in a shorter time.
9.performance per watt
This means that the processor is more efficient, giving more performance per watt of power used.
Features
1.uses multithreading
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✖Intel Core i7-9700K
Multithreading technology (such as Intel’s Hyperthreading or AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading) provides better performance by dividing each physical processor core into logical cores, also known as threads. Thus, each core can run two instruction streams at the same time.
2. Has AES
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
3. Has AVX
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial applications, and to improve the performance of the Linux RAID program.
4.Version SSE
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing images or adjusting audio volume. Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
5. Has F16C
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as image contrast adjustment or volume control.
6 bits transmitted at the same time
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-9700K)
NEON provides faster media processing such as MP3 listening.
7. Has MMX
✔AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✔Intel Core i7-9700K
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting image contrast or adjusting volume.
8.Has TrustZone
✖AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
✖Intel Core i7-9700K
Technology is integrated into the processor to ensure device security when using features such as mobile payments and streaming video using Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology ).
9.interface width
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD Ryzen 5 3600X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-9700K)
The processor can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), which means the processor performs better
Price comparison
Cancel
Which CPUs are better?
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X — Assassin’s Creed Odyssey vs GTX 1080 performance comparison
GTX 1080 with
Intel Core i7-9700K @ 3.60GHz
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
GTX 1080 with
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
i7-9700K
Ryzen 5 3600X
Multi-Thread Performance
17589 Pts
21536 Pts
Single-Thread Performance
2834 Pts
2910 Pts
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X Assassin’s Creed Odyssey using GTX 1080 — processor performance comparison at Ultra, High, Medium and Low Quality settings at 1080p, 1440p, Ultrawide, 4K
i7-9700K
Ryzen 5 3600X
Ultra Quality
Resolution | Frames per second |
---|---|
1080p |
66. 9 FPS |
1080p |
65.5 FPS |
1440p |
46.1 FPS |
1440p |
45.7 FPS |
2160p |
32.5 FPS |
2160p |
32.2 FPS |
w1440p |
42.0 FPS |
w1440p |
41.7 FPS |
High quality
Resolution | Frames per second |
---|---|
1080p |
112.1 FPS |
1080p |
110.1 FPS |
1440p |
81.6 FPS |
1440p |
81.0 FPS |
2160p |
60.3 FPS |
2160p |
59.9 FPS |
w1440p |
75.3 FPS |
w1440p |
74. 8 FPS |
Medium quality
Resolution | Frames per second |
---|---|
1080p |
157.4 FPS |
1080p |
154.8 FPS |
1440p |
117.0 FPS |
1440p |
116.2 FPS |
2160p |
88.2 FPS |
2160p |
87.5 FPS |
w1440p |
108.6 FPS |
w1440p |
107.9 FPS |
Low quality
Resolution | Frames per second |
---|---|
1080p |
247.8 FPS |
1080p |
244.0 FPS |
1440p |
187.9 FPS |
1440p |
186. 7 FPS |
2160p |
143.9 FPS |
2160p |
142.8 FPS |
w1440p |
175.1 FPS |
w1440p |
174.2 FPS |
i7-9700K
- The i7-9700K has more cores. The advantage of having more cores is that the system can handle more threads. Each core can process a separate data stream. This architecture greatly improves the performance of a system running parallel applications.
- The i7-9700K has a higher turbo clock. Turbo Boost is a processor feature that will run at a processor clock speed faster than its base clock speed if certain conditions are present. This will allow older software that runs on fewer cores to run better on newer hardware. Since games are also software, they are also applicable.
Ryzen 5 3600X
- Ryzen 5 3600X has higher level 2 cache. Data/instructions that need to be processed can be loaded from fast L2 and the CPU doesn’t have to wait for very slow DDR 9 RAM0012
- Ryzen 5 3600X has higher L3 cache. This is useful when you have significant multi-processor workloads, many computational processes at the same time. Rather on a server rather than a personal computer for interactive workloads.
- Ryzen 5 3600X has more themes. Large programs are divided into threads (small sections) so that the processor can execute them simultaneously to speed up execution.
- In some games, a processor with a higher clock speed, or with the technical name IPC (Instructions per clock), performs better than other processors with more cores and a lower core frequency.
- Ryzen 5 3600X The Ryzen 5 3600X has a smaller process size. The faster a transistor can turn on and off, the faster it can work. And transistors that turn on and off with less power are more efficient, reducing the operating power or «dynamic power» required by the processor.
Compare i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X specifications
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X Architecture
i7-9700K | Ryzen 5 3600X | |
---|---|---|
Codename | Coffee Lake | Zen 2 |
Generation | Core i7 (Coffee Lake Refresh) |
Ryzen 5 (Zen 2) |
Market | Desktop | Desktop |
Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4 |
Part# | unknown | unknown |
Production Status | Active | Active |
Released | Oct 2018 | Jul 2019 |
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X Cache
i7-9700K | Ryzen 5 3600X | |
---|---|---|
Cache L1 | 64K (per core) | 96K (per core) |
Cache L2 | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core) |
Cache L3 | 12MB (shared) | 32MB (shared) |
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X Cores
i7-9700K | Ryzen 5 3600X | |
---|---|---|
# of Cores | 8 | 6 |
# of Threads | 8 | 12 |
Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | N/A |
SMP# CPUs | 1 | 1 |
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X Features
i7-9700K | Ryzen 5 3600X |
---|
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X Notes
i7-9700K | Ryzen 5 3600X |
---|
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X Performance
i7-9700K | Ryzen 5 3600X | |
---|---|---|
Base Clock | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Frequency | 3. 6 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
Multiplier | 36.0x | 38.0x |
Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
TDP | 95W | 95W |
Turbo Clock | up to 4.9 GHz | up to 4.4 GHz |
Voltage | unknown | variable |
i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 3600X Physical
i7-9700K | Ryzen 5 3600X | |
---|---|---|
Die Size | unknown | unknown |
Foundry | Intel | TSMC |
Package | FC-LGA14C | |
Process Size | 14nm | 7nm |
Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket AM4 |
Transistors | unknown | 4,800 million |
tCaseMax | 72°C | unknown |
0
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Which processor to choose? Comparison of AMD or Intel
Processors Home News & Reviews AMD or Intel?
The processor market has long been divided by two giant companies with their vision of an ideal processor — AMD is trying to create a niche product with a low price, Intel focuses on top-end, productive processors. Which processor is better, Intel or AMD?
PICKUP IN CHOOSING A PROCESSOR
If you are going to buy a processor for an already assembled computer, everything is greatly simplified. Just choose the right processor for your motherboard — the more expensive the processor, the more powerful it is. And although the increase in performance drops significantly closer to the most expensive options, there are simply no options to get a more powerful processor for a finished system unit.
However, budgeting for the processor of a future computer is somewhat more difficult. When comparing, do not forget about the cost of components that match the processor parameters and your requirements. The difference in price will be different when choosing the following components:
- Motherboard (sometimes $10-15 difference)
- Cooler (up to $10-15 difference depending on mounting type and power dissipation) )
HOW TO KNOW THE PROCESSOR PERFORMANCE?
There are many target sites for this, but SERVER. BY recommends userbenchmark.com. This performance comparison site contains real measurements of user performance (processors, video cards, SSDs, hard drives, flash drives, RAM). You can test the components of your computer yourself by downloading a free test on the site. When comparing processors, pay attention to the number of points scored in the following categories: 900 ($50-60)
If you are going to use a graphics card, and not integrated graphics in the processor, then we recommend taking a closer look at the 4-core AMD Athlon X4 950
AMD Ryzen 3 2200G vs. Intel Core i3-8100 ( $110-130)
Parity between Ryzen 3 and Core i3 processors, but Intel is slightly ahead of AMD: i3-8100 has a higher single core power. However, the third Ryzen is cheaper (-$20), and has a more powerful built-in graphics Radeon Vega 8 (+55% performance) — you can run any game without problems, even the most demanding one, but at the minimum settings (for example, Assassin`s Creed: Odyssey). Both processors are good in their own way, and are capable of opening most video cards, so the choice is in favor of Ryzen if the computer is planned without a video card. By the way, a very smart move is to invest to the maximum in a computer without a video card, and then pick it up and buy a new and powerful video card.
Intel Core i5-8400 vs. AMD Ryzen 5 2600 ($190-215)
And here Ryzen 5 has the upper hand. Yes, Core i5 wins in core power, but look what a gap in the multi-threaded test! It affects the support of as many as twelve AMD threads against six Intel ones. And the price of $190 for Ryzen is more attractive than $215 for Core i5. The only plus. The presence of an integrated graphics core of the Intel processor is the only plus over the AMD processor, which is deprived of such joy. How significant this plus is, you decide. Let’s go further!
Intel Core i7-8700K vs. AMD Ryzen 7 2700X ($370-450)
Wow, this is hot! Again, Intel is ahead of AMD due to the power of individual cores. Although Ryzen 7 is significantly faster in multi-threaded tasks, this is not enough to overtake the Core i7 — there is still a small performance gap for the Intel processor. But wait, let’s take a look at the cost — the $370 Ryzen 7 2700X looks way better than the $450 Core i7-8700K. The clear winner is of course Ryzen, if it’s not about maximum performance.
BIG PICTURE
Looking at these tests, one thing can be said for sure?
- AMD processors cope better with multi-threaded tasks, more than 4 threads are mathematical calculations , archiving and copying large file arrays, converting files, working with video and 2 rendering 23632 video
- Intel processors show themselves faster in tasks using 1-4 threads — this is everyday work, web surfing, leisure, games and streaming , audio work .
This doesn’t mean that you can’t render on Intel and run broadcasts on AMD — these processors do an excellent job with all tasks. But if the question is about maximum efficiency in relation to the money invested, then try to stick to the list above.
ALL THE SAME — WHO IS THE WINNER, INTEL OR AMD?
There is not and will not be a clear winner — each company is strong in several segments. AMD processors focus on cheap multitasking, the ability to perform many tasks at the same time and inexpensively. Intel processors tend to have more power per core, and are better at tasks that don’t require a lot of processing power from multiple cores. In terms of reliability, SERVER.BY prefers Intel processors — most of the repaired computers in the service center fall on the AMD platform. As for the price, AMD processors are leading in the average price range of $100-200, but everything can change dramatically at any time, as it already happened with Intel processors in the fall of 2018. The sharp rise in price of the entire line of Intel products twice dramatically changed the balance of power in the direction of AMD.