Intel Core i9-9900KS vs AMD Ryzen 9 4900U

Processor comparisons 23-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-9900KS vs AMD Ryzen 9 4900U and decide which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, machine learning, video editing, programming. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A step-by-step 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 joint testing in software tests like 3DMark, UserBenchmark, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, 7zip, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, Gears 5, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, PassMark, AIDA64, MATLAB, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, VeraCrypt, Prime95.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 4900U or Intel Core i9-9900KS.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-9900KS

55%

Ryzen 9 4900U

56%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 4900U is 1% better than Core i9-9900KS. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9900KS

55%

Ryzen 9 4900U

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play 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, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, NBA 2K20, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.7	94.6
Valorant	111.0	107.5
Cyberpunk 2077	62.2	60.2
Apex Legends	104.4	101.0
Call of Duty Warzone	83.3	80.6
Overwatch	89.9	87.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.6	74.1
DOOM Eternal	55.5	53.7
Warzone	86.6	83.8
Assassin's Creed	93.3	90.3
Valheim	92.1	89.2

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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-9900KS

35%

Ryzen 9 4900U

267%

To make a finishing resolution 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 4900U is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9900KS as it consumes less power: 127W vs. 15W. 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 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 programming, video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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 i9-9900KS	AMD Ryzen 9 4900U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	222	208
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2201	1398
Cinbench 20 Single-core	518	503
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5226	3307
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1284	1270
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12704	10053

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	AMD Ryzen 9 4900U
Single-Core	3018	2015
Multi-Core	19522	21586

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

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	AMD Ryzen 9 4900U
Single-Core	1368	1203
Multi-Core	9501	6431

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. 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 the newest games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-9900KS	AMD Ryzen 9 4900U
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	January 12, 2021
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FP6
Core name	Coffee Lake	Renoir
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	9	4
Turbo Frequency	5 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	2 MHz
Cores	8	8
Threads	16	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	127 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200 LPDDR4-4266
Max. Memory	128 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency		4266
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		2MB
L3 cache	16 MB	8MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-9900KS is 50% better than Ryzen 9 4900U in terms of CPU frequency. 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 i9-9900KS is better: 26
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 4900U is better: 8
However, it should be realized that all the number in the table above 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 opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-9900KS and AMD Ryzen 9 4900U before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-9900KS - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-9900KS specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 4900U specs and review.