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 i9-14900T

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $749 MSRP).
✅Delivers 35.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 69.5 vs 51.4 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $749 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 105W, a 70W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3950X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 3950X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (38,168 vs 38,519).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen 9 3950X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 51.4 vs 69.5 PassMark/$ ($749 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌200% higher power demand at 105W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-14900T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-14900T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-14900T

2024

Ryzen 9 3950X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $749 MSRP).
✅Delivers 35.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 69.5 vs 51.4 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $749 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 105W, a 70W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3950X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 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 3950X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (38,168 vs 38,519).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 51.4 vs 69.5 PassMark/$ ($749 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
❌200% higher power demand at 105W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-14900T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-14900T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 3950X better than Core i9-14900T?

Yes. Ryzen 9 3950X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 12.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 3950X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 12.6% 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 3950X is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 77.8% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 36 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 3950X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i9-14900T makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 3950X is 36.4% more expensive on MSRP at $749 MSRP versus $549 MSRP, and it gives you a 12.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-14900T is also 35.2% better value on MSRP (69.5 vs 51.4 PassMark/$), 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 i9-14900T 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 i9-14900T 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 i9-14900T Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 3950X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-14900T	Ryzen 9 3950X
1080p
low	318 FPS	207 FPS
medium	309 FPS	182 FPS
high	244 FPS	147 FPS
ultra	205 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	276 FPS	167 FPS
medium	238 FPS	138 FPS
high	176 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	155 FPS	91 FPS
4K
low	190 FPS	89 FPS
medium	162 FPS	79 FPS
high	121 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	50 FPS

Open Core i9-14900T Open Ryzen 9 3950X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-14900T	Ryzen 9 3950X
1080p
low	496 FPS	701 FPS
medium	434 FPS	616 FPS
high	354 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	438 FPS
1440p
low	421 FPS	580 FPS
medium	379 FPS	519 FPS
high	316 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	360 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	340 FPS
medium	216 FPS	306 FPS
high	205 FPS	283 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	252 FPS

Open Core i9-14900T Open Ryzen 9 3950X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-14900T	Ryzen 9 3950X
1080p
low	759 FPS	871 FPS
medium	623 FPS	701 FPS
high	540 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	464 FPS	520 FPS
1440p
low	676 FPS	710 FPS
medium	563 FPS	572 FPS
high	482 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	420 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	494 FPS	494 FPS
medium	427 FPS	412 FPS
high	381 FPS	365 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	307 FPS

Open Core i9-14900T Open Ryzen 9 3950X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-14900T	Ryzen 9 3950X
1080p
low	954 FPS	963 FPS
medium	877 FPS	963 FPS
high	767 FPS	887 FPS
ultra	682 FPS	796 FPS
1440p
low	815 FPS	881 FPS
medium	716 FPS	772 FPS
high	626 FPS	678 FPS
ultra	550 FPS	597 FPS
4K
low	602 FPS	648 FPS
medium	538 FPS	577 FPS
high	475 FPS	513 FPS
ultra	417 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i9-14900T Open Ryzen 9 3950X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-14900T and Ryzen 9 3950X

Core i9-14900T

The Core i9-14900T 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 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,168 points. Launch price was $549.

Ryzen 9 3950X

The Ryzen 9 3950X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 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 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 38,519 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-14900T packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 9 3950X offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-14900T has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-14900T versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3950X — a 15.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-14900T (base: 1.1 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i9-14900T uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 3950X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-14900T scores 38,168 against the Ryzen 9 3950X's 38,519 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen 9 3950X. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-14900T vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3950X.

Feature	Core i9-14900T	Ryzen 9 3950X
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.5 GHz+17%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	1.1 GHz	3.5 GHz+218%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	64 MB+78%
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	38,168	38,519

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-14900T uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 3950X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5600 on the Core i9-14900T versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 3950X — the Core i9-14900T supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-14900T supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-14900T) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 3950X) — the Ryzen 9 3950X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760 (Core i9-14900T) and X570,B550 (Ryzen 9 3950X).

Feature	Core i9-14900T	Ryzen 9 3950X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	5600+139900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	192	128 GB+69904967%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 3950X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-14900T) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3950X). The Core i9-14900T includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 3950X requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i9-14900T rivals Ryzen 9 7900.

Feature	Core i9-14900T	Ryzen 9 3950X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-14900T launched at $549 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 3950X debuted at $749. On MSRP ($549 vs $749), the Core i9-14900T is $200 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-14900T delivers 69.5 pts/$ vs 51.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 3950X — making the Core i9-14900T the 29.9% better value option.