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 $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 19.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 3900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 30,588).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900.

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Ryzen 5 5600X.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 19.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Ryzen 5 5600X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 3900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 30,588).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 3900 better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Ryzen 9 3900 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 18.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 40% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 3900 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 18.6% 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, Ryzen 9 3900 is the better fit. You are getting 40% 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 3900 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 3900 is 66.9% more expensive on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 18.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 19.2% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 61.3 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 5600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 3900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	203 FPS	159 FPS
medium	174 FPS	130 FPS
high	140 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	92 FPS
1440p
low	169 FPS	144 FPS
medium	141 FPS	115 FPS
high	113 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	78 FPS
medium	76 FPS	67 FPS
high	60 FPS	53 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	43 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 9 3900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	464 FPS	534 FPS
medium	387 FPS	470 FPS
high	324 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	291 FPS	342 FPS
1440p
low	397 FPS	460 FPS
medium	334 FPS	411 FPS
high	290 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	289 FPS
4K
low	263 FPS	288 FPS
medium	226 FPS	261 FPS
high	205 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	213 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 9 3900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	546 FPS	709 FPS
medium	473 FPS	589 FPS
high	432 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	541 FPS
medium	413 FPS	448 FPS
high	375 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	347 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	394 FPS
medium	292 FPS	315 FPS
high	255 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	224 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 9 3900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	546 FPS	765 FPS
medium	546 FPS	765 FPS
high	546 FPS	711 FPS
ultra	546 FPS	638 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	725 FPS
medium	546 FPS	644 FPS
high	546 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	524 FPS	486 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	516 FPS
medium	484 FPS	469 FPS
high	435 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	360 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600X Open Ryzen 9 3900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 9 3900

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 3900

The Ryzen 9 3900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (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: 30,588 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 3900 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 3900 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900 — a 6.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 9 3900 uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Ryzen 9 3900's 30,588 — a 33.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 3900. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3900.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 3900
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+7%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+19%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512 kB (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	21,845	30,588+40%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,700
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,713
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,983

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. 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 X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 3900).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 3900
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop, Ryzen 9 3900 targets Workstation Desktop (low power). Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 3900 rivals Core i9-9900.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Ryzen 9 3900
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Workstation Desktop (low power)

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 3900 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 61.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 3900 — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 17.5% better value option.