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

✅+50.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).
✅214.3% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 14) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,459 vs 2,500).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.9 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($989 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8500G moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 8500G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅+71.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $810 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $989 MSRP).
✅Delivers 448.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 21.9 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $989 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,310 vs 13,985).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 19 MB).

Core i9-9900X

2018

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅+50.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).
✅214.3% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 14) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+71.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $810 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $989 MSRP).
✅Delivers 448.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 21.9 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $989 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,459 vs 2,500).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.9 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($989 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8500G moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 8500G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,310 vs 13,985).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 19 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 8500G better than Core i9-9900X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 8500G is ahead with a 1.1% average FPS lead across 41 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9900X pulls ahead with 50.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i9-9900X also has the bigger cache pool with 20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).

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 50.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 8500G is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 8500G is $810 cheaper on MSRP at $179 MSRP versus $989 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 41 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i9-9900X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 50.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also 448.1% better value on MSRP (120.0 vs 21.9 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 8500G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2018) and a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066. 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.

Core i9-9900X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 8500G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	178 FPS	267 FPS
medium	143 FPS	238 FPS
high	116 FPS	203 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	173 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	231 FPS
medium	117 FPS	186 FPS
high	95 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	159 FPS
medium	69 FPS	130 FPS
high	55 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i9-9900X Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	516 FPS	455 FPS
medium	431 FPS	371 FPS
high	360 FPS	321 FPS
ultra	323 FPS	279 FPS
1440p
low	447 FPS	394 FPS
medium	384 FPS	338 FPS
high	323 FPS	294 FPS
ultra	279 FPS	248 FPS
4K
low	278 FPS	287 FPS
medium	239 FPS	251 FPS
high	220 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core i9-9900X Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	541 FPS	537 FPS
medium	541 FPS	537 FPS
high	541 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	527 FPS	537 FPS
1440p
low	541 FPS	537 FPS
medium	518 FPS	537 FPS
high	469 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	458 FPS	497 FPS
medium	363 FPS	418 FPS
high	328 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	293 FPS

Open Core i9-9900X Open Ryzen 5 8500G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	541 FPS	537 FPS
medium	541 FPS	537 FPS
high	541 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	541 FPS	537 FPS
1440p
low	541 FPS	537 FPS
medium	541 FPS	537 FPS
high	541 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	541 FPS	537 FPS
4K
low	541 FPS	537 FPS
medium	541 FPS	519 FPS
high	506 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	393 FPS

Open Core i9-9900X Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9900X and Ryzen 5 8500G

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 8500G

The Ryzen 5 8500G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix2 (2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,481 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9900X packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 8500G 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 5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8500G — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8500G (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 8500G uses Phoenix2 (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9900X scores 21,655 against the Ryzen 5 8500G's 21,481 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i9-9900X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 13,985 vs 9,310 (40.1% advantage for the Core i9-9900X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,459 vs 2,500, a 52.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 8500G that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,475 vs 10,000 (5.4% advantage for the Ryzen 5 8500G). L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8500G.

Feature	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 8500G
Cores / Threads	10 / 20+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	5 GHz+11%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)+20%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Phoenix2 (2024)
PassMark	21,655	21,481
Cinebench R23 Multi	13,985+50%	9,310
Geekbench 6 Single	1,459	2,500+71%
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,475	10,000+6%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9900X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9900X versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 5 8500G — the Ryzen 5 8500G supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 8500G supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9900X) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 8500G). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9900X) vs 14 (Ryzen 5 8500G) — the Core i9-9900X offers 30 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9900X) and A620,B650,B650E,X670,X670E,B840,B850,X870,X870E (Ryzen 5 8500G).

Feature	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 8500G
Socket	LGA2066	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	44+214%	14

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9900X) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 8500G). The Ryzen 5 8500G includes integrated graphics (Radeon 740M), while the Core i9-9900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 8500G targets General Use. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 8500G rivals Core i5-13400.

Feature	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 5 8500G
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon 740M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	General Use

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-9900X launched at $989 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 8500G debuted at $179. On MSRP ($989 vs $179), the Ryzen 5 8500G is $810 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-9900X delivers 21.9 pts/$ vs 120.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 8500G — making the Ryzen 5 8500G the 138.3% better value option.