Intel Core i9-9960X vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-9960X vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing, rendering. Here you can find useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, MATLAB, PassMark, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, 7zip, Handbrake, Blender, Blender, 3DMark, Dolphin Emulator, WPrime, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT or Intel Core i9-9960X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-9960X

59%

Ryzen 5 3600XT

55%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-9960X is 6% better than Ryzen 5 3600XT. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9960X

60%

Ryzen 5 3600XT

54%

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: NBA 2K20, Control, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Battlefield V, Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.4	96.6
Valorant	120.9	109.7
Cyberpunk 2077	67.7	61.4
Apex Legends	113.6	103.1
Call of Duty Warzone	90.7	82.3
Overwatch	97.9	88.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.4	75.7
DOOM Eternal	60.5	54.9
Warzone	94.3	85.6
Assassin's Creed	101.6	92.2
Valheim	100.3	91.1

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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. 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 i9-9960X

24%

Ryzen 5 3600XT

48%

To make a final decision 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 5 3600XT is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9960X as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 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 i9-9960X	AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT
Cinbench 15 Single-core	200	207
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2872	1671
Cinbench 20 Single-core	457	519
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6671	3855
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1086	1330
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	22943	9945

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

	Intel Core i9-9960X	AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT
Single-Core	2684	2831
Multi-Core	30816	18815

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

	Intel Core i9-9960X	AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT
Single-Core	1230	1386
Multi-Core	18032	8390

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful 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 later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-9960X	AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT
Announcement date	January 01, 2019	July 23, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	AM4
Core name	Skylake	Matisse
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	9	3
Turbo Frequency	4.4 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.1 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	16	6
Threads	32	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	4200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		3MB
L3 cache	22 MB	32MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-100000281BOX

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 3600XT is 18% better than Core i9-9960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9960X has 10 more core than Ryzen 5 3600XT. 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 i9-9960X is better: 23
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT is better: 13
However, it should be realized that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-9960X and AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-9960X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT specs and review.