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 7 8700F

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $279 less on MSRP ($270 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 63.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 115.7 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Spire), unlike Ryzen 9 5900X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (18,040 vs 21,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 16 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 71.0 vs 115.7 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 8700F moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8700F.

Ryzen 7 8700F

2024

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $279 less on MSRP ($270 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 63.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 115.7 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Spire), unlike Ryzen 9 5900X.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 16 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (18,040 vs 21,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 64 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 71.0 vs 115.7 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 8700F moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8700F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Ryzen 7 8700F?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5900X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 16.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 24.7% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5900X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.2% 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 5900X is the better fit. You are getting 16.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 5900X is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 8700F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 5900X is 103.3% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $270 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 8700F is also 63.1% better value on MSRP (115.7 vs 71.0 PassMark/$), 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 7 8700F 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 8700F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of AM4. 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 7 8700F Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5900X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 8700F	Ryzen 9 5900X
1080p
low	266 FPS	323 FPS
medium	240 FPS	291 FPS
high	206 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	233 FPS	307 FPS
medium	190 FPS	248 FPS
high	158 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	157 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	193 FPS
medium	131 FPS	156 FPS
high	102 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	103 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 8700F Open Ryzen 9 5900X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 8700F	Ryzen 9 5900X
1080p
low	483 FPS	772 FPS
medium	403 FPS	647 FPS
high	347 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	450 FPS
1440p
low	423 FPS	619 FPS
medium	374 FPS	536 FPS
high	322 FPS	443 FPS
ultra	273 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	283 FPS	365 FPS
medium	259 FPS	318 FPS
high	244 FPS	289 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	255 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 8700F Open Ryzen 9 5900X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 7 8700F	Ryzen 9 5900X
1080p
low	781 FPS	832 FPS
medium	781 FPS	645 FPS
high	767 FPS	558 FPS
ultra	649 FPS	459 FPS
1440p
low	766 FPS	721 FPS
medium	629 FPS	565 FPS
high	544 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	463 FPS	407 FPS
4K
low	530 FPS	511 FPS
medium	457 FPS	421 FPS
high	402 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	308 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 8700F Open Ryzen 9 5900X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 7 8700F	Ryzen 9 5900X
1080p
low	781 FPS	974 FPS
medium	781 FPS	974 FPS
high	781 FPS	934 FPS
ultra	781 FPS	826 FPS
1440p
low	781 FPS	959 FPS
medium	781 FPS	843 FPS
high	692 FPS	726 FPS
ultra	602 FPS	617 FPS
4K
low	615 FPS	694 FPS
medium	553 FPS	621 FPS
high	495 FPS	541 FPS
ultra	431 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 8700F Open Ryzen 9 5900X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 8700F and Ryzen 9 5900X

Ryzen 7 8700F

The Ryzen 7 8700F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 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: 31,240 points. Launch price was $270.

Ryzen 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 8700F packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8700F versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700F (base: 4.1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Ryzen 7 8700F uses the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 8700F scores 31,240 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 22% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 18,040 vs 21,000 (15.2% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,649 vs 2,174, a 19.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 8700F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,500 vs 11,888 (12.7% advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700F). L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8700F vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Feature	Ryzen 7 8700F	Ryzen 9 5900X
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	12 / 24+50%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+4%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	4.1 GHz+11%	3.7 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	64 MB+300%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	4 nm-43%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Phoenix (2023−2024)	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	31,240	38,955+25%
Cinebench R23 Multi	18,040	21,000+16%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,649+22%	2,174
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,500+14%	11,888

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 8700F uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 8700F versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900X — the Ryzen 7 8700F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 8700F 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. PCIe lanes: 20 (Ryzen 7 8700F) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: XB650,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 8700F) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).

Feature	Ryzen 7 8700F	Ryzen 9 5900X
Socket	AM5	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+100%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 8700F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 8700F targets High-performance Gaming w/ dGPU, Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 8700F rivals Core i7-14700F; Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.

Feature	Ryzen 7 8700F	Ryzen 9 5900X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	High-performance Gaming w/ dGPU	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 7 8700F launched at $270 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900X debuted at $549. On MSRP ($270 vs $549), the Ryzen 7 8700F is $279 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 8700F delivers 115.7 pts/$ vs 71.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900X — making the Ryzen 7 8700F the 47.9% better value option.