AMD Ryzen 9 3900 vs Intel Core i9-10940X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 vs Intel Core i9-10940X tests and see which is better for games or normal use for rendering, programming, streaming, video editing, machine learning. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like PassMark, SuperPi, 7zip, UserBenchmark, Prime95, AIDA64, Blender, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, Gears 5, Handbrake, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, MATLAB.
   And how good the processors are in games:

Red Dead Redemption 2
Fortnite
Halo Infinite
Borderlands 3
Valorant
Cyberpunk 2077
Death Stranding
Apex Legends
Watch Dogs Legion
DOOM: Eternal
Grand Theft Auto V
Last Man Standing
Rainbow Six Siege
Overwatch
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Fallout 76
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Valheim
Assassin's Creed Valhalla

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10940X or AMD Ryzen 9 3900.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Ryzen 9 3900

59%

Core i9-10940X

58%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 3900 is 1% better than Core i9-10940X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 9 3900

57%

Core i9-10940X

59%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Control, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.6	104.3
Valorant	115.5	118.5
Cyberpunk 2077	64.7	66.4
Apex Legends	108.6	111.4
Call of Duty Warzone	86.6	88.9
Overwatch	93.5	96.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.7	81.8
DOOM Eternal	57.7	59.2
Warzone	90.1	92.4
Assassin's Creed	97.0	99.5
Valheim	95.9	98.3

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen 9 3900

67%

Core i9-10940X

24%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Ryzen 9 3900 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10940X since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 165W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900	Intel Core i9-10940X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	196	201
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2922	3117
Cinbench 20 Single-core	485	442
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6789	7609
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1149	1263
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16943	21309

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900	Intel Core i9-10940X
Single-Core	2627	2704
Multi-Core	30807	29374

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900	Intel Core i9-10940X
Single-Core	1324	1226
Multi-Core	13362	15950

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900	Intel Core i9-10940X
Announcement date	September 30, 2019	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM4	FCLGA2066
Core name	Matisse	Cascade Lake
Architecture	Zen 2	x86
Generation	2	10
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.1 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	12	14
Threads	24	28
Bus rate		8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory		256 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200
Memory bandwidth		94 GB/s
L1 cache	768KB
L2 cache	6MB
L3 cache	64MB	19.25 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000072

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-10940X is 6% better than Ryzen 9 3900 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10940X has 2 more core than Ryzen 9 3900. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 3900 is better: 9
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10940X is better: 29
Although it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen 9 3900 and Intel Core i9-10940X before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen 9 3900 specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10940X specs and review.