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.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $180 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9800X3D across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 39,966).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 83.4 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.1% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 14.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 83.4 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($479 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
60.2% HIGHER MSRP
$479 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $180 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.1% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 14.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 83.4 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($479 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9800X3D across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 39,966).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 83.4 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
60.2% HIGHER MSRP
$479 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 9800X3D better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 34.1% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data, 83% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 34.1% more average FPS across 45 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 96 MB vs 32 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better fit. You are getting 83% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 9800X3D is 60.2% more expensive on MSRP at $479 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.1% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 14.2% better value on MSRP (83.4 vs 73.1 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play 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 7 9800X3D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 96 MB L3 cache instead of 32 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 9800X3D Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	203 FPS	276 FPS
medium	174 FPS	257 FPS
high	140 FPS	219 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	169 FPS	260 FPS
medium	141 FPS	217 FPS
high	113 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	179 FPS
medium	76 FPS	149 FPS
high	60 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	100 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	464 FPS	880 FPS
medium	387 FPS	713 FPS
high	324 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	291 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	397 FPS	697 FPS
medium	334 FPS	591 FPS
high	290 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	383 FPS
4K
low	263 FPS	383 FPS
medium	226 FPS	328 FPS
high	205 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	263 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	546 FPS	944 FPS
medium	473 FPS	772 FPS
high	432 FPS	698 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	604 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	731 FPS
medium	413 FPS	598 FPS
high	375 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	452 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	506 FPS
medium	292 FPS	419 FPS
high	255 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	316 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	546 FPS	999 FPS
medium	546 FPS	999 FPS
high	546 FPS	907 FPS
ultra	546 FPS	811 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	885 FPS
medium	546 FPS	778 FPS
high	546 FPS	685 FPS
ultra	524 FPS	592 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	639 FPS
medium	484 FPS	568 FPS
high	435 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 9800X3D

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.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 November 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 39,966 points. Launch price was $479.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — a 12.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (base: 3.7 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's 39,966 — a 58.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.2 GHz+13%
Base Clock	3.7 GHz	4.7 GHz+27%
L3 Cache	32 MB	96 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	21,845	39,966+83%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	23,277
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,450
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	18,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — the Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D) — the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X) and X670E,B650E,X870E,B850 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Socket	AM4	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	28+17%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs AMD-V, AMD-Vi (Ryzen 7 9800X3D). The Ryzen 7 9800X3D includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 9800X3D targets Extreme Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 9800X3D rivals Core i9-14900K.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V, AMD-Vi
Target Use	Desktop	Extreme Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D debuted at $479. On MSRP ($299 vs $479), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $180 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 73.1 pts/$ vs 83.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — making the Ryzen 7 9800X3D the 13.3% better value option.