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 i9-10940X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 35.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($784 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $485 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $784 MSRP).
✅Delivers 106.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 35.3 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $784 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10940X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 27,684).

Core i9-10940X

2019

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $485 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $784 MSRP).
✅Delivers 106.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 35.3 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $784 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 35.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($784 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10940X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 27,684).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10940X better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Core i9-10940X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 16.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 26.7% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10940X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 16.5% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-10940X is the better fit. You are getting 26.7% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 28 threads.

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

Core i9-10940X is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-10940X is 162.2% more expensive on MSRP at $784 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 16.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 106.9% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 35.3 PassMark/$), 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 5600X 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 5600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019) 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 i9-10940X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-10940X	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	279 FPS	203 FPS
medium	249 FPS	174 FPS
high	206 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	174 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	233 FPS	169 FPS
medium	189 FPS	141 FPS
high	154 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	164 FPS	85 FPS
medium	134 FPS	76 FPS
high	105 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i9-10940X Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-10940X	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	550 FPS	464 FPS
medium	457 FPS	387 FPS
high	379 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	342 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	456 FPS	397 FPS
medium	394 FPS	334 FPS
high	332 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	283 FPS	263 FPS
medium	246 FPS	226 FPS
high	226 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i9-10940X Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-10940X	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	692 FPS	546 FPS
medium	692 FPS	473 FPS
high	692 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	692 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	508 FPS
medium	692 FPS	413 FPS
high	692 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	595 FPS	348 FPS
medium	500 FPS	292 FPS
high	444 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i9-10940X Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-10940X	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	692 FPS	546 FPS
medium	692 FPS	546 FPS
high	692 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	692 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	546 FPS
medium	692 FPS	546 FPS
high	639 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	560 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	580 FPS	529 FPS
medium	516 FPS	484 FPS
high	464 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i9-10940X Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-10940X and Ryzen 5 5600X

Core i9-10940X

The Core i9-10940X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 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: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 27,684 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-10940X packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-10940X has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-10940X versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-10940X (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-10940X uses the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10940X scores 27,684 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 23.6% lead for the Core i9-10940X. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-10940X vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i9-10940X	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	14 / 28+133%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+4%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	3.7 GHz+12%
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)	32 MB+66%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Cascade Lake-X (2019)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	27,684+27%	21,845
Cinebench R23 Multi	19,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,450	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,000	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-10940X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. The Core i9-10940X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-10940X) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X). PCIe lanes: 48 (Core i9-10940X) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Core i9-10940X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-10940X) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	Core i9-10940X	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	LGA2066	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+100%	128 GB
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	48+100%	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-10940X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-10940X) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: Core i9-10940X targets High-End Desktop, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i9-10940X	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	High-End Desktop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-10940X launched at $784 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($784 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $485 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-10940X delivers 35.3 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 69.7% better value option.