How do the scores compare?

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X scores 42.8/100 overall; Intel Core i7-9700K scores 37.6/100. AMD Ryzen 5 3600X wins 13 individual spec rows, Intel Core i7-9700K wins 4.

What are the main differences between the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and the Intel Core i7-9700K?

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X advantages: Stronger gaming score: 60 vs 40; 167% higher L3 cache: 32 MB vs 12 MB; 50% lower process: 7 nm vs 14 nm; 50% higher threads: 12 vs 8; 50% higher L2 cache: 3 MB vs 2 MB; Lower launch price: $249 vs $374. Intel Core i7-9700K advantages: 33% higher cores: 8 vs 6; 33% higher Performance cores: 8 vs 6; 13% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 1,680 vs 1,490; 11% higher Boost clock: 4.9 GHz vs 4.4 GHz.

Which is cheaper: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or Intel Core i7-9700K?

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X launched cheaper at $249, versus $374 for the Intel Core i7-9700K.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs Intel Core i7-9700K

WINNER

AMD

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X

$249

Intel

Intel Core i7-9700K

$374

36.5Single-core39

37.4Multi-core35.5

60.3Gaming39.8

13 spec wins — AMD Ryzen 5 3600X4 spec wins — Intel Core i7-9700K

InnoReviews verdict

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X wins this desktop processor face-off, 42.8 to 37.6, pulling ahead mainly in gaming (+21) and Multi-core (+2). Intel Core i7-9700K still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.

Which would you pick?

Key differences

Reasons to pick the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X

Stronger gaming score: 60 vs 40
167% higher L3 cache: 32 MB vs 12 MB
50% lower process: 7 nm vs 14 nm
50% higher threads: 12 vs 8
50% higher L2 cache: 3 MB vs 2 MB
Lower launch price: $249 vs $374

Reasons to pick the Intel Core i7-9700K

33% higher cores: 8 vs 6
33% higher Performance cores: 8 vs 6
13% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 1,680 vs 1,490
11% higher Boost clock: 4.9 GHz vs 4.4 GHz

General

General comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X versus Intel Core i7-9700K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X	Intel Core i7-9700K
Announced	2019	2018
Socket	AM4	LGA1151-v2
Process	7 nm+50%	14 nm
Base TDP	95 W	95 W
Max turbo power	128 W+8%	119 W
Unlocked multiplier	Yes	Yes
Cooler included	Yes	No

Cores & Clocks

Cores & Clocks comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X versus Intel Core i7-9700K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X	Intel Core i7-9700K
Cores	6	8+33%
Performance cores	6	8+33%
Efficiency cores	0	0
Threads	12+50%	8
Base clock	3.8 GHz+6%	3.6 GHz
Boost clock	4.4 GHz	4.9 GHz+11%
L2 cache	3 MB+50%	2 MB
L3 cache	32 MB+167%	12 MB

Integrated GPU

Integrated GPU comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X versus Intel Core i7-9700K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X	Intel Core i7-9700K
iGPU	—	Intel UHD Graphics 630
iGPU clock	—	1,200 MHz

Memory

Memory comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X versus Intel Core i7-9700K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X	Intel Core i7-9700K
Memory support	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2666
Max memory	128 GB	128 GB
Memory channels	2	2

Platform

Platform comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X versus Intel Core i7-9700K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X	Intel Core i7-9700K
PCIe version	4+33%	3
CPU PCIe lanes	24+50%	16

Benchmarks

Benchmarks comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X versus Intel Core i7-9700K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X	Intel Core i7-9700K
Geekbench 6 (single)	1,490Top 68%	1,680+13%Top 53%
Geekbench 6 (multi)	7,200+3%Top 55%	7,000Top 57%
Cinebench R23 (single)	1,290+3%Top 61%	1,250Top 66%
Cinebench R23 (multi)	9,700Top 59%	9,700Top 59%
PassMark	18,400+29%Top 55%	14,300Top 64%

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