Intel Core i9-9980XE vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-9980XE vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, rendering. Here is useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like MATLAB, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, RealBench, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, WPrime, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, PassMark, PCMark 10, Gears 5, 7zip, Blender, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, UserBenchmark, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 2600 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 5 2600

54%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-9980XE is 8% better than Ryzen 5 2600. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9980XE

60%

Ryzen 5 2600

53%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.2	94.8
Valorant	120.7	107.8
Cyberpunk 2077	67.6	60.4
Apex Legends	113.5	101.3
Call of Duty Warzone	90.5	80.8
Overwatch	97.8	87.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.3	74.4
DOOM Eternal	60.3	53.9
Warzone	94.1	84.1
Assassin's Creed	101.4	90.5
Valheim	100.2	89.5

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K 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 5 2600

56%

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 5 2600 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9980XE since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out 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. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, 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 i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	201	164
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3240	1310
Cinbench 20 Single-core	459	374
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7516	2736
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1124	1024
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	22944	7220

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

	Intel Core i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Single-Core	2551	2280
Multi-Core	32096	13255

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

	Intel Core i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Single-Core	1178	1104
Multi-Core	17856	6712

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. 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. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-9980XE	AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	April 19, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	AM4
Core name	Skylake	Pinnacle Ridge
Architecture	x86	Zen+
Generation	9	2
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	3.9 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.4 MHz
Cores	18	6
Threads	36	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	4 Ã— 8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	12 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	3600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		2933
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s
L1 cache		576KB
L2 cache		3MB
L3 cache	24.75 MB	16MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		YD2600BBM6IAF YD2600BBAFBOX YD2600BBAFMPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 2600 is 11% better than Core i9-9980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9980XE has 12 more core than Ryzen 5 2600. 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: 31
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is better: 6
Although it should be realized that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-9980XE and AMD Ryzen 5 2600 before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-9980XE specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 2600 specs and review.