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 i5-14600

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $244 less on MSRP ($255 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 94.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 126.7 vs 65.2 PassMark/$ ($255 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3900X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 3900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (32,319 vs 32,517).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900X.

Ryzen 9 3900X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Core i5-14600.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 65.2 vs 126.7 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $255 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-14600 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-14600 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-14600

2024

Ryzen 9 3900X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $244 less on MSRP ($255 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 94.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 126.7 vs 65.2 PassMark/$ ($255 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3900X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +34.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Core i5-14600.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 3900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (32,319 vs 32,517).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900X.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 65.2 vs 126.7 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $255 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-14600 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-14600 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 3900X better than Core i5-14600?

Yes. Ryzen 9 3900X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 34.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 3900X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 34.1% 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 3900X is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 3900X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-14600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 3900X is 95.7% more expensive on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $255 MSRP, and it gives you a 34.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-14600 is also 94.5% better value on MSRP (126.7 vs 65.2 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-14600 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?

Core i5-14600 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 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.

Core i5-14600 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 3900X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-14600	Ryzen 9 3900X
1080p
low	259 FPS	209 FPS
medium	249 FPS	170 FPS
high	207 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	114 FPS
1440p
low	221 FPS	171 FPS
medium	190 FPS	131 FPS
high	151 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	132 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	152 FPS	92 FPS
medium	130 FPS	77 FPS
high	99 FPS	61 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	49 FPS

Open Core i5-14600 Open Ryzen 9 3900X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-14600	Ryzen 9 3900X
1080p
low	616 FPS	781 FPS
medium	522 FPS	654 FPS
high	444 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	406 FPS	447 FPS
1440p
low	533 FPS	648 FPS
medium	467 FPS	552 FPS
high	398 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	369 FPS
4K
low	313 FPS	380 FPS
medium	280 FPS	326 FPS
high	267 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	258 FPS

Open Core i5-14600 Open Ryzen 9 3900X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-14600	Ryzen 9 3900X
1080p
low	647 FPS	813 FPS
medium	530 FPS	794 FPS
high	466 FPS	730 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	647 FPS
1440p
low	590 FPS	707 FPS
medium	490 FPS	583 FPS
high	426 FPS	522 FPS
ultra	370 FPS	459 FPS
4K
low	433 FPS	503 FPS
medium	374 FPS	403 FPS
high	339 FPS	361 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	292 FPS

Open Core i5-14600 Open Ryzen 9 3900X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-14600	Ryzen 9 3900X
1080p
low	808 FPS	813 FPS
medium	808 FPS	813 FPS
high	726 FPS	813 FPS
ultra	652 FPS	813 FPS
1440p
low	788 FPS	813 FPS
medium	703 FPS	813 FPS
high	608 FPS	714 FPS
ultra	536 FPS	619 FPS
4K
low	539 FPS	669 FPS
medium	490 FPS	594 FPS
high	438 FPS	525 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-14600 Open Ryzen 9 3900X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-14600 and Ryzen 9 3900X

Core i5-14600

The Core i5-14600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 32,319 points. Launch price was $255.

Ryzen 9 3900X

The Ryzen 9 3900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 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 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 32,517 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-14600 packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 9 3900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i5-14600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i5-14600 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900X — a 12.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-14600 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-14600 uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 3900X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-14600 scores 32,319 against the Ryzen 9 3900X's 32,517 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 3900X. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-14600 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3900X.

Feature	Core i5-14600	Ryzen 9 3900X
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+13%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	3.8 GHz+41%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	64 MB+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	32,319	32,517
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,300
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-14600 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 3900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-14600 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 3900X — the Core i5-14600 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-14600 supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-14600) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 3900X) — the Ryzen 9 3900X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-14600	Ryzen 9 3900X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 3900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-14600) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3900X). The Core i5-14600 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 3900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-14600 targets Desktop, Ryzen 9 3900X targets Workstation.

Feature	Core i5-14600	Ryzen 9 3900X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-14600 launched at $255 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 3900X debuted at $499. On MSRP ($255 vs $499), the Core i5-14600 is $244 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-14600 delivers 126.7 pts/$ vs 65.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 3900X — making the Core i5-14600 the 64.2% better value option.