Intel Core i9-10940X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-10940X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and see which is better for games or normal use for streaming, programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, 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 software tests such as PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, Blender, Gears 5, MATLAB, PassMark, 3DMark, Handbrake, WPrime, RealBench, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, 7zip, AIDA64, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 5900X or Intel Core i9-10940X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10940X

58%

Ryzen 9 5900X

61%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 5900X is 4% 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.

Core i9-10940X

59%

Ryzen 9 5900X

58%

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 this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little 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 processors were compared: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Control, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.3	102.7
Valorant	118.5	116.7
Cyberpunk 2077	66.4	65.3
Apex Legends	111.4	109.7
Call of Duty Warzone	88.9	87.5
Overwatch	96.0	94.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.8	80.5
DOOM Eternal	59.2	58.3
Warzone	92.4	91.0
Assassin's Creed	99.5	98.0
Valheim	98.3	96.8

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 comparisons 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. Therefore, 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-10940X

24%

Ryzen 9 5900X

51%

To make a finishing decision 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 9 5900X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10940X since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 105W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate 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 programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

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

	Intel Core i9-10940X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	201	270
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3117	3684
Cinbench 20 Single-core	442	637
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7609	8468
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1263	1622
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	21309	21878

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

	Intel Core i9-10940X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Single-Core	2704	3470
Multi-Core	29374	39428

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

	Intel Core i9-10940X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Single-Core	1226	1612
Multi-Core	15950	14387

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful 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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-10940X	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	November 05, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	AM4
Core name	Cascade Lake	Vermeer
Architecture	x86	Zen 3
Generation	10	4
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.3 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	14	12
Threads	28	24
Bus rate	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	9400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	105 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4
Max. Memory	256 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	94 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		6MB
L3 cache	19.25 MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000061 100-100000061WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 5900X is 10% better than Core i9-10940X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10940X has 2 more core than Ryzen 9 5900X. 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 i9-10940X is better: 18
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is better: 17
However, it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-10940X and AMD Ryzen 9 5900X before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-10940X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900X specs and review.