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 i9-14900

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $275 less on MSRP ($524 MSRP vs $799 MSRP).
✅Delivers 52.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.5 vs 56.8 PassMark/$ ($524 MSRP vs $799 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 770, while Ryzen 9 5950X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5950X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,321 vs 45,353).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen 9 5950X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.8% higher average FPS across 50 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 56.8 vs 86.5 PassMark/$ ($799 MSRP vs $524 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-14900 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-14900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-14900.

Core i9-14900

2024

Ryzen 9 5950X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $275 less on MSRP ($524 MSRP vs $799 MSRP).
✅Delivers 52.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.5 vs 56.8 PassMark/$ ($524 MSRP vs $799 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 770, while Ryzen 9 5950X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.8% higher average FPS across 50 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 5950X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (45,321 vs 45,353).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 64 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 56.8 vs 86.5 PassMark/$ ($799 MSRP vs $524 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i9-14900 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-14900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-14900.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5950X better than Core i9-14900?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5950X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5950X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 5.8% 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 5950X is the better fit. You are getting 0.1% 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 5950X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i9-14900 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 5950X is 52.5% more expensive on MSRP at $799 MSRP versus $524 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-14900 is also 52.4% better value on MSRP (86.5 vs 56.8 PassMark/$), 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 i9-14900 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 i9-14900 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 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 i9-14900 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5950X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-14900	Ryzen 9 5950X
1080p
low	318 FPS	317 FPS
medium	309 FPS	288 FPS
high	244 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	206 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	276 FPS	285 FPS
medium	238 FPS	236 FPS
high	176 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	155 FPS	156 FPS
4K
low	190 FPS	195 FPS
medium	162 FPS	162 FPS
high	121 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	110 FPS

Open Core i9-14900 Open Ryzen 9 5950X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-14900	Ryzen 9 5950X
1080p
low	497 FPS	684 FPS
medium	436 FPS	591 FPS
high	355 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	546 FPS
medium	381 FPS	484 FPS
high	317 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	258 FPS	341 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	320 FPS
medium	217 FPS	286 FPS
high	206 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	180 FPS	236 FPS

Open Core i9-14900 Open Ryzen 9 5950X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-14900	Ryzen 9 5950X
1080p
low	760 FPS	746 FPS
medium	624 FPS	595 FPS
high	541 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	465 FPS	409 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	658 FPS
medium	567 FPS	532 FPS
high	485 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	374 FPS
4K
low	500 FPS	461 FPS
medium	439 FPS	388 FPS
high	391 FPS	344 FPS
ultra	334 FPS	279 FPS

Open Core i9-14900 Open Ryzen 9 5950X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-14900	Ryzen 9 5950X
1080p
low	990 FPS	997 FPS
medium	886 FPS	885 FPS
high	774 FPS	775 FPS
ultra	688 FPS	690 FPS
1440p
low	821 FPS	828 FPS
medium	723 FPS	726 FPS
high	631 FPS	636 FPS
ultra	555 FPS	554 FPS
4K
low	606 FPS	609 FPS
medium	543 FPS	545 FPS
high	480 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	421 FPS	419 FPS

Open Core i9-14900 Open Ryzen 9 5950X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-14900 and Ryzen 9 5950X

Core i9-14900

The Core i9-14900 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 2 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 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): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 45,321 points. Launch price was $549.

Ryzen 9 5950X

The Ryzen 9 5950X 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 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. Passmark benchmark score: 45,353 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-14900 packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5950X offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Core i9-14900 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.6 GHz on the Core i9-14900 versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5950X — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-14900 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i9-14900 uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5950X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-14900 scores 45,321 against the Ryzen 9 5950X's 45,353 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen 9 5950X. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-14900 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5950X.

Feature	Core i9-14900	Ryzen 9 5950X
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+50%	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5.6 GHz+14%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.4 GHz+70%
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)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	45,321	45,353
Cinebench R23 Multi	36,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	3,000	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	20,000	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-14900 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 5950X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i9-14900 versus 3200 on the Ryzen 9 5950X — the Ryzen 9 5950X supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-14900 supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-14900) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5950X) — the Ryzen 9 5950X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i9-14900) and AM4 (Ryzen 9 5950X).

Feature	Core i9-14900	Ryzen 9 5950X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+157286300%	128
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5950X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-14900) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5950X). The Core i9-14900 includes integrated graphics (UHD 770), while the Ryzen 9 5950X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-14900 targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core i9-14900 rivals Ryzen 9 7900; Ryzen 9 5950X rivals Core i9-10900K.

Feature	Core i9-14900	Ryzen 9 5950X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD 770	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Enthusiast	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-14900 launched at $524 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5950X debuted at $799. On MSRP ($524 vs $799), the Core i9-14900 is $275 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-14900 delivers 86.5 pts/$ vs 56.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5950X — making the Core i9-14900 the 41.5% better value option.