Intel Core i9-10900K vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-10900K vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, video editing, rendering, streaming, programming. Here you can find all information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Blender, Prime95, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, AIDA64, MATLAB, RealBench, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, Handbrake, WPrime, 7zip, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i9-10900K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10900K

57%

Ryzen 5 5600X

56%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10900K is 1% better than Ryzen 5 5600X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10900K

58%

Ryzen 5 5600X

55%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.7	97.1
Valorant	116.7	110.4
Cyberpunk 2077	65.3	61.8
Apex Legends	109.7	103.8
Call of Duty Warzone	87.5	82.8
Overwatch	94.5	89.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.5	76.2
DOOM Eternal	58.3	55.2
Warzone	91.0	86.1
Assassin's Creed	98.0	92.7
Valheim	96.8	91.6

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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

Core i9-10900K

43%

Ryzen 5 5600X

90%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Ryzen 5 5600X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10900K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, programming, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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

	Intel Core i9-10900K	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	234	258
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2677	1970
Cinbench 20 Single-core	539	604
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6399	4562
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1418	1572
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17325	11268

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

	Intel Core i9-10900K	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Single-Core	3141	3352
Multi-Core	24010	22120

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

	Intel Core i9-10900K	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Single-Core	1617	1768
Multi-Core	14374	8968

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, 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. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-10900K	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	November 05, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	AM4
Core name	Comet Lake	Vermeer
Architecture	x86	Zen 3
Generation	10	5
Turbo Frequency	5.3 MHz	4.6 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	10	6
Threads	20	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	4800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		3MB
L3 cache	20 MB	32MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000065 100-100000065BOX 100-100000065MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Another difference is that Core i9-10900K has 4 more core than Ryzen 5 5600X. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10900K is better: 24
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is better: 12
However, it should be realized that all the data that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-10900K specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 5600X specs and review.