AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel Core i9-10900K

CPU comparison with benchmarks

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X		Intel Core i9-10900K
CPU comparison In this CPU comparison, we compare the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and the Intel Core i9-10900K and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster. We compare the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12 core processor released in Q3/2019 with the Intel Core i9-10900K which has 10 CPU cores and was introduced in Q2/2020.
AMD Ryzen 9 (35)	Family	Intel Core i9 (78)
AMD Ryzen 3000 (15)	CPU group	Intel Core i 10000 (43)
3	Generation	10
Matisse (Zen 2)	Architecture	Comet Lake S
Desktop / Server	Segment	Desktop / Server
--	Predecessor	Intel Core i9-9900K
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X	Successor	Intel Core i9-11900K
CPU Cores and Base Frequency The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is a 12 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.80 GHz (4.60 GHz). The processor can compute 24 threads at the same time. The Intel Core i9-10900K clocks with 3.70 GHz (5.30 GHz), has 10 CPU cores and can calculate 20 threads in parallel.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Characteristic	Intel Core i9-10900K
12	Cores	10
24	Threads	20
normal	Core architecture	normal
Yes	Hyperthreading	Yes
Yes	Overclocking ?	Yes
3.80 GHz	Frequency	3.70 GHz
4.60 GHz	Turbo Frequency (1 Core)	5.30 GHz
4.00 GHz	Turbo Frequency (All Cores)	4.90 GHz
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Characteristic	Intel Core i9-10900K
--	AI hardware	--
--	AI specifications	--
Internal Graphics Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.
no iGPU	GPU	Intel UHD Graphics 630
	GPU frequency	0.35 GHz
--	GPU (Turbo)	1.20 GHz
--	GPU Generation	9.5
	Technology	14 nm
	Max. displays	3
--	Compute units	24
--	Shader	192
No	Hardware Raytracing	No
No	Frame Generation	No
--	Max. GPU Memory	64 GB
--	DirectX Version	12
Hardware codec support A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
no iGPU	GPU	Intel UHD Graphics 630
No	Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit)	Decode / Encode
No	Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit)	Decode / Encode
No	Codec h264	Decode / Encode
No	Codec VP9	Decode / Encode
No	Codec VP8	Decode / Encode
No	Codec AV1	No
No	Codec AVC	Decode / Encode
No	Codec VC-1	Decode
No	Codec JPEG	Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe Up to 128 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, while the Intel Core i9-10900K supports a maximum of 128 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s enabled.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Characteristic	Intel Core i9-10900K
DDR4-3200	Memory	DDR4-2933
128 GB	Max. Memory	128 GB
2 (Dual Channel)	Memory channels	2 (Dual Channel)
51.2 GB/s	Max. Bandwidth	46.9 GB/s
Yes	ECC	No
6.00 MB	L2 Cache	--
64.00 MB	L3 Cache	20.00 MB
4.0	PCIe version	3.0
20	PCIe lanes	16
39.4 GB/s	PCIe Bandwidth	15.8 GB/s
Thermal Management The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has a TDP of 105 W. The TDP of the Intel Core i9-10900K is 125 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Characteristic	Intel Core i9-10900K
105 W	TDP (PL1 / PBP)	125 W
142 W	TDP (PL2)	--
--	TDP up	--
--	TDP down	95 W
95 °C	Tjunction max.	100 °C
Technical details The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X has 70.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 7 nm. The cache of Intel Core i9-10900K is at 20.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 14 nm.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Characteristic	Intel Core i9-10900K
7 nm	Technology	14 nm
Chiplet	Chip design	Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit)	Instruction set (ISA)	x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4a, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, FMA3	ISA extensions	SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
AM4 (PGA 1331)	Socket	LGA 1200
AMD-V, SVM	Virtualization	VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
Yes	AES-NI	Yes
Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux	Operating systems	Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux
Q3/2019	Release date	Q2/2020
485 $	Release price	490 $
show more data		show more data
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12C 24T @ 3.80 GHz (4.60 GHz) buy now on Amazon and save! Intel Core i9-10900K 10C 20T @ 3.70 GHz (5.30 GHz) buy now on Amazon and save!

Devices using this processor
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Intel Core i9-10900K
Unknown	Unknown

Comparison of the two processors

With the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, AMD positions a 12 core processor against Intel's mainstream top model, the Intel Core i9-10900K. The latter has 10 cores (20 threads) that can be clocked at up to 4.9 GHz. The maximum turbo is even 5.3 GHz in single-core mode. This sets a record for the clock frequency of desktop processors based on x86-64.

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X cannot clock its 12 cores (24 threads) quite as high with 4.2 GHz (multi-core) or 4.6 GHz (single-core). However, the 12-core processor based on the Zen-2 architecture has a higher computing power per clock (IPC), so that it achieves a performance similar to the Intel Core i9-10900K under single-core load. For applications that are very much adapted to multi-threading, the AMD processor is approx. 10 percent faster than the Intel Core i9-10900K.

Both processors have an open multiplier and are officially approved for overclocking. However, both processors are clocked quite high ex works, so that hardly any further clock increases are possible with the Intel Core i9-10900K. In addition, the waste heat of the CPUs increases sharply during overclocking. Since Intel's 10-core processor already exceeds 225 watts under full load, very good air or, better, water cooling is required here to get the additional waste heat under control.

Both processors support up to 128 GB of RAM in two memory channels. Intel's processor is officially approved up to DDR4-2933, the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X even up to DDR4-3200. The clock frequency of the main memory can also be increased above the official values. This can be done manually or via D.O.C.P. (AMD) or XMP (Intel) profile and requires a correspondingly approved memory. When it comes to the maximum clock frequencies of the memory, Intel is currently ahead of the game, because most processors manage DDR-4000, while AMD usually ends with DDR4-3600 / DDR4-3800 as long as the BLCK is not increased.

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