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 $200 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 9900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 54,530).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 109.3 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 9900X moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 9 9900X

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Delivers 49.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 109.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
66.9% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Ryzen 9 9900X

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Delivers 49.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 109.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 9900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 54,530).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 109.3 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 9900X moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
66.9% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 9900X better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Ryzen 9 9900X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 31.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 149.6% 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 9 9900X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 31.8% 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, Ryzen 9 9900X is the better fit. You are getting 149.6% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 9900X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 9900X is 66.9% more expensive on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 31.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 49.6% better value on MSRP (109.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$), 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 9 9900X 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, 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 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 9 9900X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 9900X
1080p
low	203 FPS	287 FPS
medium	174 FPS	259 FPS
high	140 FPS	218 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	169 FPS	270 FPS
medium	141 FPS	218 FPS
high	113 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	186 FPS
medium	76 FPS	151 FPS
high	60 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	100 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 9 9900X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 9900X
1080p
low	464 FPS	772 FPS
medium	387 FPS	625 FPS
high	324 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	291 FPS	393 FPS
1440p
low	397 FPS	635 FPS
medium	334 FPS	534 FPS
high	290 FPS	412 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	321 FPS
4K
low	263 FPS	356 FPS
medium	226 FPS	303 FPS
high	205 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	224 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 9 9900X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 9900X
1080p
low	546 FPS	899 FPS
medium	473 FPS	711 FPS
high	432 FPS	618 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	526 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	726 FPS
medium	413 FPS	577 FPS
high	375 FPS	492 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	418 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	517 FPS
medium	292 FPS	432 FPS
high	255 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	322 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 9 9900X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 9900X
1080p
low	546 FPS	1126 FPS
medium	546 FPS	989 FPS
high	546 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	546 FPS	766 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	891 FPS
medium	546 FPS	774 FPS
high	546 FPS	677 FPS
ultra	524 FPS	580 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	644 FPS
medium	484 FPS	569 FPS
high	435 FPS	502 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	433 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 9 9900X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 9 9900X

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 9 9900X

The Ryzen 9 9900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 64 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: 54,530 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 9900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 9900X has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 5.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9900X — a 19.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 9900X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 9 9900X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Ryzen 9 9900X's 54,530 — a 85.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 9900X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 9900X.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 9900X
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5.6 GHz+22%
Base Clock	3.7 GHz	4.4 GHz+19%
L3 Cache	32 MB	64 MB (total)+100%
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	54,530+150%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	33,003
Geekbench 6 Single	—	3,401
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	19,756

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 9900X 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 9 9900X — the Ryzen 9 9900X supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 9900X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 24 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X) and A620,B650,X670,X870 (Ryzen 9 9900X).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 9900X
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	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 9 9900X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Ryzen 9 9900X includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 9900X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon 610M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 9900X debuted at $499. On MSRP ($299 vs $499), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $200 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 73.1 pts/$ vs 109.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 9900X — making the Ryzen 9 9900X the 39.7% better value option.