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 9 9900X

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 16.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 109.3 vs 94.0 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 9900X3D across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (19,756 vs 26,000).

Ryzen 9 9900X3D

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 94.0 vs 109.3 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Ryzen 9 9900X

2024

Ryzen 9 9900X3D

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 16.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 109.3 vs 94.0 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 9900X3D across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (19,756 vs 26,000).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 94.0 vs 109.3 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 9900X3D better than Ryzen 9 9900X?

Yes. Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 31.6% better Geekbench multi-core, 3.2% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 64 MB.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the better fit. You are getting 31.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 64 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 9900X3D is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 9 9900X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 9900X3D is 20.0% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 9 9900X is also 16.3% better value on MSRP (109.3 vs 94.0 PassMark/$), 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 9 9900X3D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 64 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 12/24. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 9 9900X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 9900X3D Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 9900X	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
1080p
low	287 FPS	281 FPS
medium	259 FPS	257 FPS
high	218 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	265 FPS
medium	218 FPS	218 FPS
high	170 FPS	173 FPS
ultra	152 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	186 FPS	183 FPS
medium	151 FPS	150 FPS
high	112 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	100 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 9900X Open Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 9900X	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
1080p
low	772 FPS	824 FPS
medium	625 FPS	670 FPS
high	467 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	393 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	635 FPS	662 FPS
medium	534 FPS	562 FPS
high	412 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	335 FPS
4K
low	356 FPS	369 FPS
medium	303 FPS	317 FPS
high	266 FPS	278 FPS
ultra	224 FPS	233 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 9900X Open Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 9900X	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
1080p
low	899 FPS	890 FPS
medium	711 FPS	722 FPS
high	618 FPS	649 FPS
ultra	526 FPS	559 FPS
1440p
low	726 FPS	716 FPS
medium	577 FPS	582 FPS
high	492 FPS	511 FPS
ultra	418 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	517 FPS	510 FPS
medium	432 FPS	420 FPS
high	388 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	322 FPS	316 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 9900X Open Ryzen 9 9900X3D

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 9900X	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
1080p
low	1126 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	989 FPS	1001 FPS
high	862 FPS	878 FPS
ultra	766 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	891 FPS	872 FPS
medium	774 FPS	766 FPS
high	677 FPS	673 FPS
ultra	580 FPS	584 FPS
4K
low	644 FPS	637 FPS
medium	569 FPS	566 FPS
high	502 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	433 FPS	435 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 9900X Open Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Ryzen 9 9900X

The Ryzen 9 9900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 54,530 points. Launch price was $499.

Ryzen 9 9900X3D

The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 56,301 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 9900X3D share an identical 12-core/24-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9900X versus 5.5 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9900X3D — a 1.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 9900X (base: 4.4 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). Both are built on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture using a 4 nm process. In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 9900X scores 54,530 against the Ryzen 9 9900X3D's 56,301 — a 3.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,401 vs 3,400, a 0% lead for the Ryzen 9 9900X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 19,756 vs 26,000 (27.3% advantage for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D). L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 9900X vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 9900X3D.

Feature	Ryzen 9 9900X	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.6 GHz+2%	5.5 GHz
Base Clock	4.4 GHz	4.4 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)	128 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	4 nm	4 nm
Architecture	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	54,530	56,301+3%
Cinebench R23 Multi	33,003	—
Geekbench 6 Single	3,401	3,400
Geekbench 6 Multi	19,756	26,000+32%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM5 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 9900X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 24 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A620,B650,X670,X870 (Ryzen 9 9900X) and X670,X670E,X870,X870E (Ryzen 9 9900X3D).

Feature	Ryzen 9 9900X	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Socket	AM5	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+33%	192 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Radeon 610M (Ryzen 9 9900X) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2 Cores) (Ryzen 9 9900X3D) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 9900X3D targets High End Gaming/Creation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 9900X3D rivals Core Ultra 9 285K.

Feature	Ryzen 9 9900X	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Radeon 610M	AMD Radeon Graphics (2 Cores)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	—	High End Gaming/Creation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 9900X launched at $499 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D debuted at $599. On MSRP ($499 vs $599), the Ryzen 9 9900X is $100 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 9900X delivers 109.3 pts/$ vs 94.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D — making the Ryzen 9 9900X the 15% better value option.