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AMD

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

Released Nov 5, 2020$549 launch priceDesktop Processor

Twelve Zen 3 cores split across two chiplets, boosting to 4.8 GHz on a 105 W TDP. It is the AM4 chip for people who render, compile or encode and also game, with the caveat that the split-CCD layout gives it no gaming advantage over an eight-core.

Pros

  • 12 cores / 24 threads make short work of Blender, code compiles and video encodes
  • 4.8 GHz boost keeps single-thread performance near the top of the Zen 3 stack
  • 64 MB of L3 across the two CCDs
  • Same 105 W TDP / 142 W PPT as the 5800X for 50% more cores
  • PCIe 4.0 and full PBO / Curve Optimizer support

Cons

  • Two CCDs mean cross-chiplet latency; it is no faster than a 5800X in games and loses to the 5800X3D
  • No cooler in the box, and 142 W PPT needs a large tower cooler or 240 mm AIO
  • $549 launch price, and no integrated graphics for troubleshooting
64.1Inno Score

Good

Computed from specs & benchmarks via our public methodology.

Single-core54.4
Multi-core62.1
Gaming79.6

Full specifications

Everything we track for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

General

Announced
2020
Socket
AM4
Process
7 nm
Base TDP
105 W
Max turbo power
142 W
Unlocked multiplier
Yes
Cooler included
No

Cores & Clocks

Cores
12
Performance cores
12
Efficiency cores
0
Threads
24
Base clock
3.7 GHz
Boost clock
4.8 GHz
L2 cache
6 MB
L3 cache
64 MB

Memory

Memory support
DDR4-3200
Max memory
128 GB
Memory channels
2

Platform

PCIe version
4
CPU PCIe lanes
24

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6 (single)
2,100
Geekbench 6 (multi)
13,500
Cinebench R23 (single)
1,600
Cinebench R23 (multi)
21,700
PassMark
39,000

Quick answers

Is the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X good in 2026?

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X earns an Inno Score of 64.1/100 (“Good”) based on its specs and benchmark results. Twelve Zen 3 cores split across two chiplets, boosting to 4.8 GHz on a 105 W TDP. It is the AM4 chip for people who render, compile or encode and also game, with the caveat that the split-CCD layout gives it no gaming advantage over an eight-core.

What are the key specs of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X?

Cores: 12 · Threads: 24 · Boost clock: 4.8 GHz · Socket: AM4

What are the closest alternatives to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X?

Its closest rivals on InnoReviews are AMD Ryzen 7 7700, Intel Core i7-12700K, Intel Core i5-13600K — open the comparison pages for a spec-by-spec breakdown.