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 i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 7 5800 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 25,735).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 73.7 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Ryzen 7 5800

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $36 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 97.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.7 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($349 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Ryzen 7 5800

2020

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 7 5800 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $36 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 97.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.7 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($349 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 25,735).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 73.7 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 5800 better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Ryzen 7 5800 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 34.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 78.8% 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 5800 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 34.5% 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, Ryzen 7 5800 is the better fit. You are getting 78.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 5800 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 5800 is $36 cheaper on MSRP at $349 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 97.2% better value on MSRP (73.7 vs 37.4 PassMark/$), 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 7 5800 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018), 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 5800 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 5800
1080p
low	308 FPS	166 FPS
medium	278 FPS	136 FPS
high	231 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	145 FPS
medium	221 FPS	116 FPS
high	178 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	80 FPS
medium	140 FPS	69 FPS
high	108 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 7 5800

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 5800
1080p
low	360 FPS	643 FPS
medium	321 FPS	541 FPS
high	291 FPS	441 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	397 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	551 FPS
medium	282 FPS	477 FPS
high	258 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	345 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	342 FPS
medium	221 FPS	299 FPS
high	208 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	241 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 7 5800

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 5800
1080p
low	360 FPS	643 FPS
medium	360 FPS	547 FPS
high	360 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	558 FPS
medium	360 FPS	460 FPS
high	360 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	358 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	405 FPS
medium	360 FPS	325 FPS
high	360 FPS	294 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 7 5800

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 5800
1080p
low	360 FPS	643 FPS
medium	360 FPS	643 FPS
high	360 FPS	643 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	643 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	643 FPS
medium	360 FPS	643 FPS
high	360 FPS	622 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	536 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	556 FPS
medium	360 FPS	502 FPS
high	360 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	391 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen 7 5800

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Ryzen 7 5800

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Ryzen 7 5800

The Ryzen 7 5800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 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: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 25,735 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 5800's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800 — a 6.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5800 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Ryzen 7 5800's 25,735 — a 56.5% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 5800
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+7%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+6%	3.4 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB+167%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	14,397	25,735+79%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 5800 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 5800) — the Ryzen 7 5800 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 5800
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 7 5800 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 5800 targets OEM Gaming.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 7 5800
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	OEM Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5800 debuted at $349. On MSRP ($385 vs $349), the Ryzen 7 5800 is $36 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 73.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5800 — making the Ryzen 7 5800 the 65.4% better value option.