AMD Ryzen 9 5950X or AMD Ryzen 9 3950X - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X has 16 cores with 32 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.90 GHz. Up to 128 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X was released in Q4/2020.
The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X has 16 cores with 32 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.70 GHz. The CPU supports up to 128 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X was released in Q3/2019.
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X has 16 CPU cores and can calculate 32 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is 3.40 GHz (4.90 GHz) while the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X has 16 CPU cores and 32 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is at 3.50 GHz (4.70 GHz).
The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X or AMD Ryzen 9 3950X has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
no iGPU
GPU
no iGPU
GPU frequency
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--
GPU (Turbo)
--
--
GPU Generation
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Technology
Max. displays
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Compute units
--
--
Shader
--
No
Hardware Raytracing
No
No
Frame Generation
No
--
Max. GPU Memory
--
--
DirectX Version
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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
no iGPU
No
Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
No
No
Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
No
No
Codec h264
No
No
Codec VP9
No
No
Codec VP8
No
No
Codec AV1
No
No
Codec AVC
No
No
Codec VC-1
No
No
Codec JPEG
No
Memory & PCIe
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X can use up to 128 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X supports up to 128 GB of memory in 2 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 51.2 GB/s.
The thermal design power (TDP for short) of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is 105 W, while the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X has a TDP of 105 W. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently.
Here you can rate the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.7 stars (89 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.9 stars (16 ratings). Rate now:
Average performance in benchmarks
⌀ Single core performance in 7 CPU benchmarks
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (100%)
AMD Ryzen 9 3950X (79%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 9 CPU benchmarks
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (100%)
AMD Ryzen 9 3950X (86%)
Price-performance ratio
Geekbench 6 multi-core score divided by the processor's release price. Higher is better.
The Cinebench 2024 benchmark is based on the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxon's 3D program Cinema 4D. The benchmark runs are each 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
The Multi-Core test of the Cinebench 2024 benchmark uses all cpu cores to render using the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxons Cinema 4D. The benchmark run is 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Geekbench 6 is a partial load benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. In the single-core test, only the fastest CPU core is measured. The test run simulates the performance in practice.
The practical Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark tests the system's performance under partial load. The processor's maximum power consumption is far from being used up.
Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Cinebench R20 is the successor of Cinebench R15 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Cinebench R20 is the successor of Cinebench R15 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
In the Blender Benchmark 3.1, the scenes "monster", "junkshop" and "classroom" are rendered and the time required by the system is measured. In our benchmark we test the CPU and not the graphics card. Blender 3.1 was presented as a standalone version in March 2022.
Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Blender is a free 3D graphics software for rendering (creating) 3D bodies, which can also be textured and animated in the software. The Blender benchmark creates predefined scenes and measures the time (s) required for the entire scene. The shorter the time required, the better. We selected bmw27 as the benchmark scene.
Efficiency of the processor under full load in the Cinebench R23 (multi-core) benchmark. The benchmark result is divided by the average energy required (CPU package power in watts). The higher the value, the more efficient the CPU is under full load.
In the CPU comparison between the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X, the newer AMD Ryzen 9 5950X can set itself apart from its direct predecessor (Zen 2 Basis) with an almost 20 percent increase in raw performance per clock (IPC). In addition, AMD was able to slightly increase the turbo clock frequencies, which in turn helps the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X to achieve a small increase in performance.
Both processors are equipped with 16 cores, which can process up to 32 threads simultaneously by using SMT. This makes the high-end processors particularly suitable for video editing or other intensive calculations. In a game PC, the processors are also very fast, but usually cannot fully utilize their high number of cores.
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is based on the Zen 3 CPU core design, which AMD presented on October 8, 2020. Larger cache changes and the reduction in the number of internally combined modules led to the largest IPC jump since Zen 1. All processors (Ryzen 3xxx, 4xxG and 5xxx) are already manufactured in a modern 7 nm process at TSMC and are therefore very efficient. AMD specifies an efficiency that is superior to the Intel 10th Gen desktop processors (such as the Intel Core i9-10900K) by a factor of 2.8.
Both processors can address a maximum of 128 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM via a maximum of two memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is around 60 gigabytes per second using both memory channels. In order to be able to use the dual-channel mode, at least two working memory modules are required.
All Ryzen 3xxx and 5xxx processors do not have an internal graphics (iGPU) and are therefore dependent on a dedicated graphics card. Intel usually builds an iGPU into its mainstream processors to reduce the dependency on a dedicated graphics card, although most gaming PCs naturally have a dedicated GPU.