Atom x5-E3940 vs Ryzen 9 5900X
Atom x5-E3940
Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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 Atom x5-E3940 is positioned at rank #337 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-E3940
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom x5-E3940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom x5-E3940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Atom x5-E3940 and Ryzen 9 5900X
Atom x5-E3940
The Atom x5-E3940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,816 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 Atom x5-E3940 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Atom x5-E3940 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 90.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Atom x5-E3940 uses the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x5-E3940 scores 1,816 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 182.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom x5-E3940 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 12 / 24+200% |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 4.8 GHz+167% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.7 GHz+131% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 64 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+300% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) | Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 1,816 | 38,955+2045% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 21,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,174 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 11,888 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom x5-E3940 uses the FCBGA1296 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1866 on the Atom x5-E3940 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900X — the Ryzen 9 5900X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 5900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 6 (Atom x5-E3940) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 18 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1296 (Atom x5-E3940) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1296 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1866 | DDR4-3200+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 128 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 6 | 24+300% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom x5-E3940) / AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). The Atom x5-E3940 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 500), while the Ryzen 9 5900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 500 | — |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
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