A9-9420 vs Ryzen 9 5900X

A9-9420

2 Cores2 Thrd15 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2016

Ryzen 9 5900X

12 Cores24 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2020

Performance Spectrum - CPU

A9-9420

2 / 2

1,538

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen 9 5900X

12 / 24

38,955

+2432.8%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

About PassMark

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The A9-9420 is positioned at rank #1074 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar A9-9420

#1062

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

2862%

#1063

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

2820%

#1064

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

2589%

#1065

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

2578%

#1066

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

2554%

#1068

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

2466%

#1069

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2365%

#1070

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2361%

#1071

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2298%

#1074

A9-9420

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

100%

#1075

Celeron B730

MSRP: $70|Avg: $10

100%

#1078

A9-9425

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

99%

#1080

Core i5-4402E

MSRP: $266|Avg: $100

98%

#1081

A6-7000

MSRP: $100|Avg: $15

98%

#1083

Core i5-2520M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

97%

#1084

Core i7-2710QE

MSRP: $378|Avg: $40

97%

#1089

Core i5-3610ME

MSRP: $276|Avg: $22

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X

#141

Core i9-13900K

MSRP: $599|Avg: $500

105%

#142

Core i3-14100

MSRP: $134|Avg: $131

104%

#143

Ryzen 5 3400G

MSRP: $149|Avg: $80

103%

#144

Core i7-10700KF

MSRP: $405|Avg: $160

103%

#145

Core i5-11600K

MSRP: $262|Avg: $170

103%

#146

Core i7-13700K

MSRP: $409|Avg: $400

103%

#147

Ryzen 5 PRO 3400G

MSRP: $149|Avg: $80

102%

#148

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $150

102%

#149

Core i9-12900KS

MSRP: $739|Avg: $385

102%

#150

Ryzen 5 5500X3D

MSRP: $185|Avg: $180

101%

#151

Core Ultra 7 265T

MSRP: $384|Avg: $362

101%

#152

Ryzen 3 3200GE

MSRP: $85|Avg: $64

101%

#153

Core i3-9100T

MSRP: $122|Avg: $50

101%

#154

Ryzen 5 4600G

MSRP: $154|Avg: $143

100%

#155

Core i7-13700T

MSRP: $384|Avg: $250

100%

#156

Ryzen 9 5900X

MSRP: $549|Avg: $350

100%

#157

Core i7-13700F

MSRP: $359|Avg: $345

100%

#158

Core i5-13600T

MSRP: $255|Avg: $255

99%

#159

Ryzen 5 3400GE

MSRP: $149|Avg: $80

99%

#160

Core i7-12700F

MSRP: $314|Avg: $275

99%

#161

Core i5-9400

MSRP: $192|Avg: $85

99%

#162

Core i3-13100

MSRP: $134|Avg: $128

99%

#163

Core i9-10910

MSRP: $488|Avg: $200

96%

#164

Core i5-14600T

MSRP: $255|Avg: $255

96%

#165

Core i5-11500T

MSRP: $192|Avg: $120

95%

#166

Ryzen 7 5700X3D

MSRP: $249|Avg: $249

95%

#167

Ryzen 3 8300GE

MSRP: $129|Avg: $129

95%

#168

Core i3-13100T

MSRP: $134|Avg: $122

94%

#169

Core i5-10600T

MSRP: $213|Avg: $110

94%

#170

Ryzen 3 3200G

MSRP: $100|Avg: $67

94%

#171

Core Ultra 9 285

MSRP: $589|Avg: $550

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Ryzen 9 5900X (2020) utilizes 7 nm, 12 nm technology and DDR4-3200, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	A9-9420	Ryzen 9 5900X
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($30)	⚠️ Higher cost ($350)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm)	✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The A9-9420 (2016) relies on 28 nm technology and DDR4, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	A9-9420	Ryzen 9 5900X
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+117%)
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($30)	⚠️ Higher cost ($350)

Performance Check

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.

A9-9420 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5900X Benchmark Check

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of A9-9420 and Ryzen 9 5900X

A9-9420

The A9-9420 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT4. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,538 points. Launch price was $69.

Ryzen 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 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: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Processing Power

The A9-9420 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A9-9420 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 3 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The A9-9420 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the A9-9420 scores 1,538 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 184.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 497 vs 2,174, a 125.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 950 vs 11,888 (170.4% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X). L3 cache: 0 kB on the A9-9420 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Feature	A9-9420	Ryzen 9 5900X
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	12 / 24+500%
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4.8 GHz+33%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.7 GHz+23%
L3 Cache	0 kB	64 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (total)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	28 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-75%
Architecture	Stoney Ridge (2016−2019)	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	1,538	38,955+2433%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	21,000
Geekbench 6 Single	497	2,174+337%
Geekbench 6 Multi	950	11,888+1151%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A9-9420 uses the FT4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 5900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A9-9420) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 5900X). PCIe lanes: 8 (A9-9420) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (A9-9420) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).

Feature	A9-9420	Ryzen 9 5900X
Socket	FT4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	128 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	❌	✅
PCIe Lanes	8	24+200%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A9-9420 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5), while the Ryzen 9 5900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A9-9420 targets Budget Laptop, Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: A9-9420 rivals Pentium N4200; Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.

Feature	A9-9420	Ryzen 9 5900X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon R5	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Budget Laptop	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The A9-9420 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900X debuted at $549. At current prices ($30 vs $350), the A9-9420 is $320 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A9-9420 delivers 51.3 pts/$ vs 111.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900X — making the Ryzen 9 5900X the 73.9% better value option.