AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel Core i9-9900X: What is the difference?
70points
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
53points
Intel Core i9-9900X
3900XT
Comparison winner
vs
66 facts in comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Intel Core i9-9900X
Why is AMD Ryzen 9 3900X better than Intel Core i9-9900X?
- 30.29% faster CPU speed?
12 x 3.8GHzvs10 x 3.5GHz - 534MHz higher ram speed?
3200MHzvs2666MHz - 4 more CPU threads?
24vs20 - 7nm smaller semiconductor size?
7nmvs14nm - 60W lower TDP?
105Wvs165W - 1.5x higher PassMark result?
32783vs21793 - 44.75MB bigger L3 cache?
64MBvs19.25MB - 1 newer version of PCI Express (PCIe)?
4vs3
Why is Intel Core i9-9900X better than AMD Ryzen 9 3900X?
- 4MB bigger L2 cache?
10MBvs6MB - 0.
5MB/core more L2 cache per core?
1MB/corevs0.5MB/core - 2 more memory channels?
4vs2 - Has NX bit?
Which are the most popular comparisons?
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i9-9900K
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
Intel Core i9-9900K
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i9-7960X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i9-9960X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i9-9820X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i7-7800X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
Intel Core i7-9700
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
Intel Core i5-9600K
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
vs
Intel Core i7-7700
Price comparison
Cheap alternatives
User reviews
Overall Rating
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
2 User reviews
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
10.
0/10
2 User reviews
Intel Core i9-9900X
0 User reviews
Intel Core i9-9900X
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
9.0/10
2 votes
No reviews yet
Performance
CPU speed
12 x 3.8GHz
10 x 3.5GHz
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.
CPU threads
More threads result in faster performance and better multitasking.
turbo clock speed
4.6GHz
4.4GHz
When the CPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
Has an unlocked multiplier
✔AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
✖Intel Core i9-9900X
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier which makes them easy to overclock, allowing you to gain increased performance in games and other apps.
L2 cache
A larger L2 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L3 cache
19.25MB
A larger L3 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L1 cache
A larger L1 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L2 core
0.5MB/core
1MB/core
More data can be stored in the L2 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
L3 core
5.33MB/core
1.93MB/core
More data can be stored in the L3 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
Benchmarks
PassMark result
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using multiple threads.
PassMark result (single)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using a single thread.
Geekbench 5 result (multi)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Cinebench R20 (multi) result
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s multi-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Cinebench R20 (single) result
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s single-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Geekbench 5 result (single)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Blender (bmw27) result
116.4seconds
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
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.
Blender (classroom) result
353.3seconds
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
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.
performance per watt
This means the CPU is more efficient, giving a greater amount of performance for each watt of power used.
Integrated graphics
OpenCL version
Unknown.
Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 3900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
Some apps use OpenCL to apply the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing. Newer versions introduce more functionality and better performance.
Memory
RAM speed
3200MHz
2666MHz
It can support faster memory, which will give quicker system performance.
maximum memory bandwidth
47.68GB/s
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
This is the maximum rate that data can be read from or stored into memory.
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.
memory channels
More memory channels increases the speed of data transfer between the memory and the CPU.
maximum memory amount
The maximum amount of memory (RAM) supported.
bus transfer rate
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 3900X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Supports ECC memory
✔AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
✖Intel Core i9-9900X
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.
eMMC version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 3900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
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.
bus speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 3900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Features
uses multithreading
✔AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
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.
Has AES
✔AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
Has AVX
✔AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial apps, as well as improving Linux RAID software performance.
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.
Has F16C
✔AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
bits executed at a time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 3900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
NEON provides acceleration for media processing, such as listening to MP3s.
Has MMX
✔AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
Has TrustZone
✖AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
✖Intel Core i9-9900X
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).
front-end width
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 3900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
The CPU can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), meaning that the CPU performs better
Price comparison
Which are the best CPUs?
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Intel Core i9-9900X: What is the difference?
68points
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
53points
Intel Core i9-9900X
Comparison winner
vs
66 facts in comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Intel Core i9-9900X
Why is AMD Ryzen 9 5900X better than Intel Core i9-9900X?
- 26.86% faster CPU speed?
12 x 3.7GHzvs10 x 3.5GHz - 534MHz higher ram speed?
3200MHzvs2666MHz - 4 more CPU threads?
24vs20 - 7nm smaller semiconductor size?
7nmvs14nm - 0.
4GHz higher turbo clock speed?
4.8GHzvs4.4GHz - 60W lower TDP?
105Wvs165W - 1.81x higher PassMark result?
39349vs21793 - 44.75MB bigger L3 cache?
64MBvs19.25MB
Why is Intel Core i9-9900X better than AMD Ryzen 9 5900X?
- 4MB bigger L2 cache?
10MBvs6MB - 0.5MB/core more L2 cache per core?
1MB/corevs0.5MB/core - 2 more memory channels?
4vs2
Which are the most popular comparisons?
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i9-9900K
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i9-7960X
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i9-9960X
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
Intel Core i7-12700
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i9-9820X
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
Intel Core i7-7800X
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
Intel Core i7-13700K
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
Intel Core i9-9900X
vs
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
vs
Intel Core i9-10900K
Price comparison
Cheap alternatives
User reviews
Overall Rating
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
5 User reviews
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
10.
0/10
5 User reviews
Intel Core i9-9900X
0 User reviews
Intel Core i9-9900X
0.0/10
0 User reviews
Features
Value for money
9.4/10
5 votes
No reviews yet
Gaming
10.0/10
5 votes
No reviews yet
Performance
10.0/10
5 votes
No reviews yet
Reliability
9.6/10
5 votes
No reviews yet
Energy efficiency
9.4/10
5 votes
No reviews yet
Performance
CPU speed
12 x 3.7GHz
10 x 3.5GHz
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.
CPU threads
More threads result in faster performance and better multitasking.
turbo clock speed
4.8GHz
4.4GHz
When the CPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
Has an unlocked multiplier
✔AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
✖Intel Core i9-9900X
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier which makes them easy to overclock, allowing you to gain increased performance in games and other apps.
L2 cache
A larger L2 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L3 cache
19.25MB
A larger L3 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L1 cache
A larger L1 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L2 core
0.5MB/core
1MB/core
More data can be stored in the L2 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
L3 core
5.33MB/core
1.93MB/core
More data can be stored in the L3 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
Benchmarks
PassMark result
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using multiple threads.
PassMark result (single)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using a single thread.
Geekbench 5 result (multi)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Cinebench R20 (multi) result
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s multi-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Cinebench R20 (single) result
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s single-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Geekbench 5 result (single)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Blender (bmw27) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 5900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
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.
Blender (classroom) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 5900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
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.
performance per watt
This means the CPU is more efficient, giving a greater amount of performance for each watt of power used.
Integrated graphics
OpenCL version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 5900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
Some apps use OpenCL to apply the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing. Newer versions introduce more functionality and better performance.
Memory
RAM speed
3200MHz
2666MHz
It can support faster memory, which will give quicker system performance.
maximum memory bandwidth
47.68GB/s
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
This is the maximum rate that data can be read from or stored into memory.
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.
memory channels
More memory channels increases the speed of data transfer between the memory and the CPU.
maximum memory amount
The maximum amount of memory (RAM) supported.
bus transfer rate
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 5900X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Supports ECC memory
✖AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
✖Intel Core i9-9900X
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.
eMMC version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 5900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
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.
bus speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 5900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Features
uses multithreading
✔AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
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.
Has AES
✔AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
Has AVX
✔AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial apps, as well as improving Linux RAID software performance.
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.
Has F16C
✔AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
bits executed at a time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 5900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
NEON provides acceleration for media processing, such as listening to MP3s.
Has MMX
✔AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
✔Intel Core i9-9900X
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
Has TrustZone
✖AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
✖Intel Core i9-9900X
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).
front-end width
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD Ryzen 9 5900X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i9-9900X)
The CPU can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), meaning that the CPU performs better
Price comparison
Which are the best CPUs?
Intel Core i9 9900 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X:
performance comparison
VS
Intel Core i9 9900
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Which is better: 8-core Intel Core i9 9900 at 3.1 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X with 6 cores at 3.7 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 core
Core i9 9900
59
Ryzen 5 5600x
74
Multi -flow performance
Tests in benchmarks where all nucleus
9 9,000 9,000 9,000 9,000 9,000
Core i9 9900
44
Ryzen 5 5600x
47
Energy efficiency
Energy consumption chip
Core I9 9900
51
Ryzen 5 5600x
70
Renting Nanoreview Nanreview.
Core i9 9900
51
Ryzen 5 5600X
63
Key differences
What are the main differences between 5600X and 9900
Reasons to choose Intel Core i9 9900
- Has 2 more physical cores
- Integrated graphics accelerator Intel UHD Graphics 630
- 9% higher frequency in Turbo Boost (5 GHz vs 4.6 GHz)
Reasons to choose AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- More modern process — 7 vs. 14 nanometers
- Has 16MB more L3 cache
- Unlocked multiplier
- Launched 1 year and 6 months later than rival0012
- New PCI Express Standard — 4.0
- 30% Faster in Single Core Geekbench v5 — 1654 and 1277 points
- 6.08 GB/s (15%) higher maximum memory bandwidth
Benchmark tests
Compare the results of processor tests in benchmarks
Cinebench R23 (single core)
Core i9 9900
1292
Ryzen 5 5600X
+20%
1554
Cinebench R23 (multi-core)
Core i9 9900
+3%
12303
Ryzen 5 5600X
11893
Passmark CPU (single core)
Core i9 9900
2858
Ryzen5 5
+18%
3384
Passmark CPU (multi-core)
Core i9 9900
16909
Ryzen 5 5600X
+31%
22070
Geekbench 5 (single core)
Core i9 9900
1282
Ryzen 5 5600X
+30%
1670
Geekbench 5 (multi-core)
Core i9 9900
7992
Ryzen 5 5600X
+12%
8955
Add your Cinebench R23 results
Specifications
List of full specifications for Intel Core i9 9900 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
General information
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Release date | April 23, 2019 | October 8, 2020 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Instruction set architecture | x86-64 | x86-64 |
| Codename | Coffee Lake | Zen 3 (Vermeer) |
| Model number | i9-9900 | — |
| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | No |
Processor
| Cores | 8 | 6 |
| threads | 16 | 12 |
| Frequency | 3. 1 GHz |
3.7 GHz |
| Max. frequency in Turbo Boost | 5 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| Number of cores | 8 | 6 |
| Number of threads | 16 | 12 |
| Bus frequency | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
| Multiplier | 31x | 37x |
| Tire speed | 8 GT/s | — |
| Level 1 cache | 64KB (per core) | 64KB (per core) |
| Level 2 cache | 256KB (per core) | |
| Level 3 cache | 16MB (shared) | 32MB (shared) |
| Unlocked multiplier | No | Yes |
| Process | 14 nanometers | 7 nanometers |
| Socket | LGA-1151 | AM4 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 65 W | 65 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 i9 9900
0.38 Teraflops
Ryzen 5 5600x
N/D
Memory Support
| Memory type | Type type | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 | |
| Max. size | 128 GB | 128 GB | ||
| Number of channels | 2 | 2 | ||
| Max. throughput | 41.6 GB/s | 47.68 GB/s | ||
| ECC support | No | Yes |
Other
| Official site | Site Intel Core i9 9900 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |
| PCI Express Version | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Max. PCI Express lanes | 16 | 20 |
| Extended instructions | SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX-2 | — |
Poll
What processor do you think is the best?
Core i9 9900
7 (31.
8%)
Ryzen 5 5600X
15 (68.2%)
Total votes: 22
Competitors
1.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 7 3700X
2.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 7 5700G
3.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 5 5600G
4.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Apple M1
5.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Core i5 12400F
6.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Core i3 12100F
7.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 7 5700X
8.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 7 5800X3D
9.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Core i5 13600K
10.
Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 5 7600X
Compare other CPUs (480+)
nine0003
Render Processor in 2023 — Maximum Performance
Finding the best render processor that is also as affordable as possible is what you need to do before building a new 3D render machine or dedicated render host.
3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, Blender, and many other 3D software packages have built-in and plug-in rendering engines, but they all rely on the performance of a multi-core CPU. nine0003
Since there are so many processors with different clock speeds, number of cores, hyperthreading, and under different brands, it can be difficult to choose the right platform.
AMD Ryzen, Threadripper, Intel i5, i7, i9, XEON, Celeron , some with high core counts and others with high clock speeds.
In the end it all comes down to pure CPU performance, which I will be measuring with Cinebench, which is currently leading CPU Rendering Performance Benchmarking Software.
Of course, there are plenty of Cinebench-tested lists on the internet, but more important than the scores is how good the performance/price ratio is, because we all want to avoid unnecessary costs.
That’s why I created a performance/recommended price ($) table that you can sort to your liking.
nine0003
It will show you the best rendering processor for the money :
The best 3D rendering processor
Rendering performance based on Cinebench R23 results: higher is better .
| CPU | Render performance | Performance to price |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Threadripper 3990X |
75671 |
18.965 |
| AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX |
73220 |
13.339 |
| AMD Threadripper PRO 5995WX |
66403 |
10.217 |
| AMD Threadripper PRO 5975WX |
53977 |
16.362 |
| AMD Epyc 7702P |
48959 |
11. |
| AMD Threadripper 3970X |
46874 |
23.449 |
| AMD Threadripper Pro 3975WX |
43450 |
15.806 |
| Intel i9 13900K |
41012 |
69.630 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 7950X |
40795 |
58.362 |
| AMD Threadripper PRO 5965WX |
40535 |
16.897 |
| AMD Threadripper 3960X |
34932 |
24.969 |
| Intel i7 13700K |
31069 |
75.963 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 7900X |
30020 |
54.681 |
| AMD Threadripper 2990WX |
29651 |
16. |
| AMD Ryzen 9 5950X |
28782 |
47.970 |
| Intel i9 12900KS |
27796 |
37.613 |
| Intel i9 12900K |
27483 |
46.660 |
| Intel i9 12900KF |
27472 |
47.861 |
| AMD Threadripper Pro 3955WX |
27175 |
23.651 |
| Intel i99980XE |
27093 |
13.690 |
| Intel i9 12900F |
26455 |
53.553 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 3950X |
26375 |
35.214 |
| Intel i9 10980XE |
25490 |
26. |
| Intel i5 13600K |
24528 |
74.553 |
| Intel i7 12700K |
23488 |
56.057 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
22046 |
48.991 |
| Intel i7 12700F |
21568 |
66.568 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 7700X |
20144 |
50.486 |
| AMD Threadripper 1950X |
19635 |
19.655 |
| AMD Threadripper 2950X |
18797 |
20.909 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 3900X |
18682 |
43.046 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT |
18511 |
37. |
| Intel i9 10900K |
18034 |
36.140 |
| Intel i9 9960X |
17953 |
10.661 |
| Intel i5 12600K |
17660 |
59.064 |
| Intel i9 10850K |
16820 |
36.250 |
| Intel i9 11900K |
16211 |
29.528 |
| AMD Threadripper 1920X |
15038 |
18.821 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D |
15003 |
33.414 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
14812 |
49.373 |
| Intel i7 11700K |
14812 |
36. |
| Intel i9 9920X |
14793 |
12.442 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 7600X |
14780 |
49.431 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 5700G |
14350 |
39.972 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 5700X |
14214 |
47.538 |
| Intel i9 9900X |
13994 |
14.150 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 3800X |
13848 |
40.850 |
| Intel i7 10700K |
13302 |
34.641 |
| Intel i5 12500 |
12974 |
61.198 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT |
12955 |
32. |
| Intel i9 9900K |
12470 |
24.990 |
| Intel i5 12400 |
12344 |
62.030 |
| Intel i5 12400F |
12321 |
70.810 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
12195 |
37.067 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600 |
11429 |
57.432 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600G |
11285 |
43.571 |
| Intel i5 11600K |
11277 |
41.460 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |
11201 |
|
| AMD Ryzen 5 5500 |
10710 |
67. |
| AMD Ryzen 7 2700X |
10140 |
30.821 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT |
9945 |
39.940 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
9526 |
40.364 |
| Intel i7 9700K |
9428 |
24.488 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
9073 |
45.593 |
| AMD Threadripper 1900X |
8979 |
30.030 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 1700X |
8869 |
38.561 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 2600X |
7523 |
32.852 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 3300X |
6787 |
56. |
| Intel i5 9600K |
6596 |
25.176 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 3100 |
5423 |
54.778 |
Now you know the best price/performance ratio for different processors when it comes to pure rendering on the CPU.
Keep in mind that in order to really find not only the best performing CPU for rendering, but also the best overall system for your rendering needs, you must also consider:
- Power Consumption : The CPU uses a lot of power and adds to your electricity bill.
- Single and multi-processor systems : What is the total system price per CPU? For example, many Intel Xeon processors are available as 2-socket systems, which can reduce the overall system price per CPU.
- Heat : The CPU gets very hot. Do you need a loud and expensive cooling solution? Ryzen and Threadripper processors tend to be easier to cool
- Motherboard price : A cheap processor might not be such a big deal if you need an expensive motherboard for it.
- Number of cores (performance) per system : The Ryzen 5 5600 can have an extremely high rendering value, but you will need several of these CPUs (and therefore multiple systems) to achieve the performance of a single Threadripper 3990X.
nine0011 CPU cooler price : Some processors, such as AMD Ryzen processors, already have a CPU cooler included in the package.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X vs Intel i9 13900K
I’ve been asked this a few times since these processors are very popular. 5950X vs 12900K . Which one is better for rendering?
Let’s do a quick comparison:
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X: 16 cores, 32 threads, uses less power, stays cooler — 40795 Cinebench (R23) points
- Intel Core i9 13900K: 24 cores, 32 threads, 10% better single core performance, can get very hot with high power consumption — 41012 Cinebench (R13) points
Everything but performance aside, it usually comes down to this:
- You render a lot and want to reduce noise and power consumption — get Ryzen 9 7950X
- You are actively working on this PC — use Core-i9 13900K
One of these two processors is usually chosen when building an animation computer or a 3D modeling computer because they are among the highest performing processors. nine0003
Number of cores versus high core clock
Both high core count and high core clock will improve rendering speed . Having more cores is usually the best way to increase 3D rendering speed.
Of course, rendering in itself is not something you usually do on a typical workstation. When actively working on it, be it 3D, photo editing, graphic design or video editing, high clock speeds will benefit you much more than having a lot of cores.
This means that it would be better to have as many cores as and high clock speeds. Since processors usually trade cores for frequencies (due to thermal and power limitations), you usually have to find a middle ground between the number of cores and clock speed.
Best laptop rendering processor
Now all of the above are processors that will be built into a computer or workstation for 3D rendering. If you are interested in using something more mobile, say a laptop for animation, and also want to get high CPU rendering speed, then the following list is for you:
| CPU | One core | Multi | General |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i9-12950HX |
23019 |
138. |
|
| Intel Core i9-12900HX |
1902 |
18845 |
123.200 |
| Intel Core i9-12900HK |
1938 |
18197 |
122.141 |
| Intel Core i9-12900H |
1917 |
115.940 |
|
| Intel Core i7-12700H |
1806 |
16745 |
113.104 |
| Apple M2 Pro |
1701 |
15248 |
104.761 |
| Apple M2 Max |
1701 |
15248 |
104.761 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 6980HS |
1669 |
14736 |
102.030 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX |
1669 |
14711 |
101. |
| AMD Ryzen 9 6950HS |
1662 |
14670 |
101.588 |
| AMD Ryzen 96950H |
1662 |
14670 |
101.588 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX |
1662 |
14670 |
101.588 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX |
1662 |
14670 |
101.588 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS |
1579 |
13977 |
96.649 |
| Intel Core i9-11980HK |
1574 |
13977 |
96.492 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX |
1524 |
13460 |
93.180 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX |
1478 |
13875 |
|
| AMD Ryzen 7 6800H |
1499 |
13611 |
92.907 |
| Intel Core i9-11950H |
1574 |
12836 |
92.641 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS |
1521 |
12844 |
91.007 |
| Apple M1 Max |
1555 |
12422 |
90.648 |
| Intel Core i9-11900H |
1540 |
12354 |
89.948 |
| Apple M1 Pro |
1543 |
12170 |
89.421 |
| Intel Core i7-11850H |
1517 |
12354 |
89.228 |
| Intel Core i7-11800H |
1492 |
12180 |
87. |
| Apple M2 |
1701 |
8538 |
82.111 |
| Intel Core i5-11500H |
1492 |
9532 |
|
| AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS |
1339 |
10472 |
77.298 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600H |
1370 |
10123 |
77.091 |
| Apple M1 |
1528 |
7799 |
74.196 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS |
1342 |
9439 |
73.905 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 5700U |
1274 |
9555 |
72.167 |
| Intel Core i5-1185G7 |
1538 |
6264 |
69.328 |
| Intel Core i5-1165G7 |
1504 |
67. |
|
| Intel Core i7-11370H |
1517 |
5812 |
67.144 |
| Intel Core i5-1135G7 |
1343 |
5913 |
62.034 |
| Intel Core i5-1145G7 |
1419 |
5059 |
61.532 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 5500U |
1165 |
6784 |
59.398 |
If you are doing very specific tasks that you know require a lot of cores (such as CPU rendering), sort the table by multi-core performance. Or if you are sure that your workloads require high performance only one core, sort by this column.
This list uses Cinebench R23.
Benchmarks and Real World Rendering
Be aware that benchmarks typically do not reflect all types of real world workloads. The
Threadripper 3990WX , for example, renders scenes very quickly, which would otherwise take a huge amount of time in the bucket rendering phase (the phase that is most easily parallelized). Most modern rendering engines go into this phase (the «progressive» phase) where you gradually see the rendered scene more clearly every few seconds. nine0003
When rendering frames that don’t take long (<1 min), it's usually better to have several low end processors instead of one very powerful one. That’s because you can’t perfectly parallelize the entire rendering process!
Rendering consists of many steps :
- Preparation time
- Mesh export
- Texture loading time
- Cache creation time
- Ray tracing tree build time
- Light-Cache and other GI caching times
…to name but a few. All of these render steps are performed before the more well-known bucket render step begins.
Some of these steps may even be limited to one core. And when you have 64 cores (as in the Threadripper 3990X), 63 of those cores will be idly waiting until these preparatory steps are completed. nine0003
Many of the benchmarks like Cinebench measure the rendering phase of segments, when a multi-core CPU with a lot of cores easily gets ahead, since base scenes aren’t usually that hard.
In short :
Mandatory analyze the type of scenes you plan to render . Measure which rendering step typically takes the most time in one of your typical scenes. Monitor CPU usage in Task Manager to see if the current rendering phase is using all CPU cores or just a few to figure out what needs to be improved. nine0003
Nowadays, most processor render engines show the current render stage somewhere in the render window, as in the following example from the Cinema 4D Image Viewer [Geometry Update]:
More rendering performance needed way to improve rendering performance.
- Optimize your scene so it renders faster.
- Buy a faster processor or graphics processor for your workstation. nine0012
- If one workstation can’t handle it, create your own render farm with multiple render nodes.
- And if all of the above is still not fast enough for you, you need to use an online render farm.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rendering Processors
Which is Better for Rendering Intel or AMD
AMD Threadripper processors are clearly in the lead when it comes to rendering. Number of cores, performance per dollar and lower power consumption — AMD currently has the best processors for pure multi-core rendering .
Is GPU rendering faster than CPU rendering? The GPU architecture and its thousands of CUDA/thread processing cores are purpose-built for parallel processing and easily outperform the CPU.
Faster real-time interactive preview takes your 3D projects to a whole new level of quality with additional iterative capabilities made possible by GPU rendering. nine0003
GPUs are also easier to add, scale, and port across multiple motherboard/CPU generations, making them more cost-effective in the long run.
However, a direct performance comparison is difficult to make because the feature sets of GPU and CPU rendering engines differ too much, and rendered images do not always look the same. Hybrid mechanisms are close to this, but they also do not always support all the functions of both hardware components. nine0003
Whether the CPU affects the rendering performance of the GPU
The CPU can affect the rendering performance of the GPU . The task of the CPU is to prepare parts of the 3D scene and send the assets to the GPU. On very short renders, the CPU becomes a significant factor. The longer the Bucket (pure GPU) rendering phase lasts, the less the CPU influences the rendering time.
If your entire scene fits in your GPU’s VRAM, the CPU’s impact on rendering time is less than when you use external access to the system’s RAM.