Core i5-9600K vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

Core i5-9600K vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE Performance Spectrum

Core i5-9600K

6 / 6

10,645

0.0%

10,693

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

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.

Core i5-9600K vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-9600K vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-9600K

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+125% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Costs $160 less on MSRP ($263 MSRP vs $423 MSRP).
✅Delivers 60.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 40.5 vs 25.3 PassMark/$ ($263 MSRP vs $423 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,645 vs 10,693).
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-9600K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 9 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.3 vs 40.5 PassMark/$ ($423 MSRP vs $263 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-9600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE better than Core i5-9600K?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-9600K is ahead with a 6.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. Core i5-9600K also has the bigger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE is still the much better call for a fresh build. Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE comes in 60.8% more expensive on MSRP at $423 MSRP versus $263 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% better PassMark. Core i5-9600K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 60.1% better value on paper (40.5 vs 25.3 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/6. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-9600K vs Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-9600K

The Core i5-9600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 10,645 points. Launch price was $262.

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

The Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,693 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-9600K packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-9600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-9600K versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE — a 14% clock advantage for the Core i5-9600K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-9600K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9600K scores 10,645 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE's 10,693 — a 0.4% lead for the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9600K vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE.

Feature	Core i5-9600K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
Cores / Threads	6 / 6+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+15%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+6%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	9 MB (total)+125%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark	10,645	10,693

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9600K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-9600K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i5-9600K) / not specified (Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE). The Core i5-9600K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core i5-9600K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-9600K was priced at $263, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE came in at $423. On launch pricing ($263 vs $423), Core i5-9600K was $160 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-9600K delivers 40.5 pts/$ vs 25.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE — making the Core i5-9600K the 46.2% better value option.

Feature	Core i5-9600K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP	$263-38%	$423
Performance per Dollar	40.5+60%	25.3
Release Date	2018	2022

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