Intel Core i9-9980XE vs AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-9980XE vs AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and understand which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, rendering, machine learning, video editing. Here you can find all information from various benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, MATLAB, 3DMark, PassMark, WPrime, Blender, Blender, 7zip, Gears 5, VeraCrypt, Prime95, AIDA64, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, UserBenchmark, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 3900X or Intel Core i9-9980XE.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-9980XE

59%

Ryzen 9 3900X

60%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 3900X is 1% better than Core i9-9980XE. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9980XE

60%

Ryzen 9 3900X

57%

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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Control, Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.2	101.5
Valorant	120.7	115.4
Cyberpunk 2077	67.6	64.6
Apex Legends	113.5	108.5
Call of Duty Warzone	90.5	86.5
Overwatch	97.8	93.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.3	79.6
DOOM Eternal	60.3	57.7
Warzone	94.1	90.0
Assassin's Creed	101.4	96.9
Valheim	100.2	95.8

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 comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-9980XE

23%

Ryzen 9 3900X

42%

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 9 3900X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9980XE since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 105W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was 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 streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU uses all cores and threads 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 check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, 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 i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	201	214
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3240	3168
Cinbench 20 Single-core	459	521
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7516	7178
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1124	1342
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	22944	18424

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

	Intel Core i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Single-Core	2551	2758
Multi-Core	32096	32949

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

	Intel Core i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Single-Core	1178	1335
Multi-Core	17856	13268

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 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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	July 07, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	AM4
Core name	Skylake	Matisse
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	9	3
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.6 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	18	12
Threads	36	24
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	105 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s
L1 cache		768KB
L2 cache		6MB
L3 cache	24.75 MB	64MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000023 100-100000023BOX 100-100000023MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 3900X is 21% better than Core i9-9980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9980XE has 6 more core than Ryzen 9 3900X. 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 i9-9980XE is better: 22
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is better: 15
Although it should be understood that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-9980XE and AMD Ryzen 9 3900X before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-9980XE specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 3900X specs and review.