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 i9-9990XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅57.1% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.1 vs 107.5 PassMark/$ ($2,000 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
❌292.3% higher power demand at 255W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 9600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 9600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 9600X

2024

Why buy it

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $1,721 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 613.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.5 vs 15.1 PassMark/$ ($279 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 255W, a 190W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9990XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 16,199).

Core i9-9990XE

2019

Ryzen 5 9600X

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅57.1% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $1,721 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 613.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.5 vs 15.1 PassMark/$ ($279 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 255W, a 190W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.1 vs 107.5 PassMark/$ ($2,000 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
❌292.3% higher power demand at 255W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 9600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 9600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9990XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 16,199).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9990XE better than Ryzen 5 9600X?

Yes. Core i9-9990XE is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 8% better Geekbench 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 i9-9990XE is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9990XE is the better fit. You are getting 8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 28 threads.

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

Core i9-9990XE is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 9600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-9990XE is 616.8% more expensive on MSRP at $2,000 MSRP versus $279 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 9600X is also 613.1% better value on MSRP (107.5 vs 15.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 5 9600X 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 9600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and 66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB). 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 i9-9990XE Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 9600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	328 FPS	264 FPS
medium	288 FPS	243 FPS
high	238 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	275 FPS	225 FPS
medium	220 FPS	188 FPS
high	178 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	142 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	172 FPS	156 FPS
medium	138 FPS	131 FPS
high	108 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i9-9990XE Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	634 FPS	546 FPS
medium	521 FPS	451 FPS
high	431 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	389 FPS	339 FPS
1440p
low	554 FPS	469 FPS
medium	475 FPS	401 FPS
high	394 FPS	342 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	294 FPS
4K
low	328 FPS	294 FPS
medium	286 FPS	256 FPS
high	267 FPS	239 FPS
ultra	232 FPS	207 FPS

Open Core i9-9990XE Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	754 FPS	750 FPS
medium	754 FPS	724 FPS
high	683 FPS	641 FPS
ultra	575 FPS	551 FPS
1440p
low	754 FPS	724 FPS
medium	639 FPS	565 FPS
high	546 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	558 FPS	471 FPS
medium	458 FPS	397 FPS
high	411 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	342 FPS	285 FPS

Open Core i9-9990XE Open Ryzen 5 9600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	754 FPS	750 FPS
medium	754 FPS	750 FPS
high	754 FPS	750 FPS
ultra	754 FPS	750 FPS
1440p
low	754 FPS	750 FPS
medium	754 FPS	750 FPS
high	746 FPS	676 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	583 FPS
4K
low	665 FPS	577 FPS
medium	591 FPS	512 FPS
high	526 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	399 FPS

Open Core i9-9990XE Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9990XE and Ryzen 5 9600X

Core i9-9990XE

The Core i9-9990XE 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 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 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): 255 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,162 points. Launch price was $2,800.

Ryzen 5 9600X

The Ryzen 5 9600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 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: 30,003 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9990XE packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-9990XE has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-9990XE versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 9600X — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X (base: 4 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i9-9990XE uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 9600X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9990XE scores 30,162 against the Ryzen 5 9600X's 30,003 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i9-9990XE. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,392 vs 3,300, a 81.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 9600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 16,199 vs 15,000 (7.7% advantage for the Core i9-9990XE). L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9990XE vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 5 9600X
Cores / Threads	14 / 28+133%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.4 GHz+6%
Base Clock	4 GHz+3%	3.9 GHz
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+66%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	30,162	30,003
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,392	3,300+137%
Geekbench 6 Multi	16,199+8%	15,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9990XE uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 9600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9990XE versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 5 9600X — the Ryzen 5 9600X supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 9600X supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9990XE) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 9600X). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9990XE) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 9600X) — the Core i9-9990XE offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9990XE) and X870E,X870,X670E,X670,B650E,B650 (Ryzen 5 9600X).

Feature	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 5 9600X
Socket	LGA2066	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	44+57%	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9990XE) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 9600X). The Ryzen 5 9600X includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the Core i9-9990XE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-9990XE targets HEDT, Ryzen 5 9600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i9-9990XE rivals Threadripper 2970WX; Ryzen 5 9600X rivals Intel Core i5-14600K.

Feature	Core i9-9990XE	Ryzen 5 9600X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	HEDT	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-9990XE launched at $2000 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 9600X debuted at $279. On MSRP ($2000 vs $279), the Ryzen 5 9600X is $1721 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-9990XE delivers 15.1 pts/$ vs 107.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 9600X — making the Ryzen 5 9600X the 150.8% better value option.