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 i9-9900X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.9% higher average FPS across 22 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅83.3% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.9 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($989 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $790 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $989 MSRP).
✅Delivers 394.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 21.9 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $989 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Core i9-9900X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900X across 22 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,077 vs 13,985).

Core i9-9900X

2018

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.9% higher average FPS across 22 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅83.3% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $790 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $989 MSRP).
✅Delivers 394.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 21.9 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $989 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Core i9-9900X.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.9 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($989 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900X across 22 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,077 vs 13,985).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9900X better than Ryzen 5 5600?

Yes. Core i9-9900X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 14.9% average FPS lead across 22 shared CPU game tests in our data, 26.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 0.5% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9900X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 14.9% more average FPS across 22 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9900X is the better fit. You are getting 26.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i9-9900X is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-9900X is 397.0% more expensive on MSRP at $989 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 14.9% average FPS lead across 22 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600 is also 394.6% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 21.9 PassMark/$), 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 5600 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 5600 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018) and 66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 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 i9-9900X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 5600
1080p
low	178 FPS	161 FPS
medium	143 FPS	130 FPS
high	116 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	141 FPS
medium	117 FPS	113 FPS
high	95 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	79 FPS
medium	69 FPS	69 FPS
high	55 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core i9-9900X Open Ryzen 5 5600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 5600
1080p
low	516 FPS	508 FPS
medium	431 FPS	419 FPS
high	360 FPS	351 FPS
ultra	323 FPS	310 FPS
1440p
low	447 FPS	447 FPS
medium	384 FPS	375 FPS
high	323 FPS	323 FPS
ultra	279 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	278 FPS	313 FPS
medium	239 FPS	268 FPS
high	220 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	209 FPS

Open Core i9-9900X Open Ryzen 5 5600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 5600
1080p
low	541 FPS	539 FPS
medium	541 FPS	526 FPS
high	541 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	527 FPS	414 FPS
1440p
low	541 FPS	539 FPS
medium	518 FPS	434 FPS
high	469 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	339 FPS
4K
low	458 FPS	371 FPS
medium	363 FPS	298 FPS
high	328 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	197 FPS

Open Core i9-9900X Open Ryzen 5 5600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 5600
1080p
low	541 FPS	539 FPS
medium	541 FPS	539 FPS
high	541 FPS	539 FPS
ultra	541 FPS	539 FPS
1440p
low	541 FPS	539 FPS
medium	541 FPS	539 FPS
high	541 FPS	539 FPS
ultra	541 FPS	493 FPS
4K
low	541 FPS	501 FPS
medium	541 FPS	448 FPS
high	506 FPS	398 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	349 FPS

Open Core i9-9900X Open Ryzen 5 5600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9900X and Ryzen 5 5600

Core i9-9900X

The Core i9-9900X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 21,655 points. Launch price was $989.

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9900X packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-9900X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9900X versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i9-9900X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9900X scores 21,655 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 21,550 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i9-9900X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 13,985 vs 11,077 (23.2% advantage for the Core i9-9900X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,459 vs 2,052, a 33.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,475 vs 8,600 (9.7% advantage for the Core i9-9900X). L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900X vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 5600
Cores / Threads	10 / 20+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+2%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+66%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	21,655	21,550
Cinebench R23 Multi	13,985+26%	11,077
Geekbench 6 Single	1,459	2,052+41%
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,475+10%	8,600

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9900X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600 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. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9900X) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 5600). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9900X) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) — the Core i9-9900X offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9900X) and B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600).

Feature	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 5600
Socket	LGA2066	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	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	44+83%	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-9900X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9900X) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 5600
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-9900X launched at $989 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($989 vs $199), the Ryzen 5 5600 is $790 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-9900X delivers 21.9 pts/$ vs 108.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600 — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 132.7% better value option.