Core i7-9700 vs Ryzen 5 3500X

CPU

GPU

Core i7-9700

8 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2019

Popular choices:

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Ryzen 5 3500X

6 Cores6 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2019

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-9700

8 / 8

13,206

+0.3%

13,165

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-9700

2019

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 3500X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.7 vs 84.9 PassMark/$ ($333 MSRP vs $155 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 3500X

2019

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $178 less on MSRP ($155 MSRP vs $333 MSRP).
✅Delivers 114.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.9 vs 39.7 PassMark/$ ($155 MSRP vs $333 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,165 vs 13,206).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700

2019

Ryzen 5 3500X

2019

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 3500X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $178 less on MSRP ($155 MSRP vs $333 MSRP).
✅Delivers 114.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.9 vs 39.7 PassMark/$ ($155 MSRP vs $333 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.7 vs 84.9 PassMark/$ ($333 MSRP vs $155 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,165 vs 13,206).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-9700 better than Ryzen 5 3500X?

Yes. Core i7-9700 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.3% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.3% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-9700 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.3% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-9700 is the better fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-9700 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3500X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-9700 is 114.8% more expensive on MSRP at $333 MSRP versus $155 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3500X is also 114.2% better value on MSRP (84.9 vs 39.7 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 3500X can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 3500X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-9700 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 3500X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700	Ryzen 5 3500X
1080p
low	197 FPS	197 FPS
medium	171 FPS	159 FPS
high	138 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	103 FPS
1440p
low	169 FPS	154 FPS
medium	142 FPS	119 FPS
high	113 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	74 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	70 FPS
medium	78 FPS	58 FPS
high	62 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	48 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-9700 Open Ryzen 5 3500X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700	Ryzen 5 3500X
1080p
low	330 FPS	329 FPS
medium	303 FPS	329 FPS
high	279 FPS	327 FPS
ultra	248 FPS	294 FPS
1440p
low	314 FPS	329 FPS
medium	275 FPS	329 FPS
high	255 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	241 FPS	286 FPS
medium	215 FPS	249 FPS
high	205 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	178 FPS	198 FPS

Open Core i7-9700 Open Ryzen 5 3500X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700	Ryzen 5 3500X
1080p
low	330 FPS	329 FPS
medium	330 FPS	329 FPS
high	330 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	330 FPS	329 FPS
medium	330 FPS	329 FPS
high	330 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	301 FPS
4K
low	330 FPS	309 FPS
medium	330 FPS	243 FPS
high	330 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	307 FPS	160 FPS

Open Core i7-9700 Open Ryzen 5 3500X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700	Ryzen 5 3500X
1080p
low	330 FPS	329 FPS
medium	330 FPS	329 FPS
high	330 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	330 FPS	329 FPS
medium	330 FPS	329 FPS
high	330 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	330 FPS	329 FPS
medium	330 FPS	329 FPS
high	330 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	329 FPS

Open Core i7-9700 Open Ryzen 5 3500X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700 and Ryzen 5 3500X

Core i7-9700

The Core i7-9700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,206 points. Launch price was $323.

Ryzen 5 3500X

The Ryzen 5 3500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 13,165 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-9700 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3500X offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i7-9700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-9700 versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500X — a 13.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-9700 uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3500X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700 scores 13,206 against the Ryzen 5 3500X's 13,165 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-9700. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500X.

Feature	Core i7-9700	Ryzen 5 3500X
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 6
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+15%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.6 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	13,206	13,165
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,540	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,570	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,202	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3500X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3500X) — the Ryzen 5 3500X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1151 (Core i7-9700) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 3500X).

Feature	Core i7-9700	Ryzen 5 3500X
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700) / not specified (Ryzen 5 3500X). The Core i7-9700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 3500X requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core i7-9700	Ryzen 5 3500X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700 launched at $333 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3500X debuted at $155. On MSRP ($333 vs $155), the Ryzen 5 3500X is $178 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700 delivers 39.7 pts/$ vs 84.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3500X — making the Ryzen 5 3500X the 72.7% better value option.