Core i5-9600T vs Ryzen 3 5300U

Core i5-9600T vs Ryzen 3 5300U Performance Spectrum

Core i5-9600T

6 / 6

9,601

+1.6%

9,453

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

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 i5-9600T vs Ryzen 3 5300U 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 i5-9600T vs Ryzen 3 5300U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-9600T

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.6% higher PassMark.
✅+125% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 4 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 3 5300U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $213 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 5300U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.

Ryzen 3 5300U

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (9,453 vs 9,601).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 9 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 5300U better than Core i5-9600T?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 3 5300U is ahead with a 21.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-9600T pulls ahead with 1.6% better PassMark. Core i5-9600T 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, Core i5-9600T is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Ryzen 3 5300U is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-9600T is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 3 5300U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $213 MSRP, and it still gives you a 21.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i5-9600T is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.6% better PassMark. Core i5-9600T is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (45.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 3 5300U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-9600T vs Ryzen 3 5300U Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-9600T

The Core i5-9600T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2019 (6 years ago). It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 9,601 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 3 5300U

The Ryzen 3 5300U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,453 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-9600T packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen 3 5300U offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-9600T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-9600T versus 3.8 GHz on the Ryzen 3 5300U — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-9600T (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Ryzen 3 5300U is built on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-9600T scores 9,601 against the Ryzen 3 5300U's 9,453 — a 1.6% lead for the Core i5-9600T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,344 vs 1,457, a 8.1% lead for the Ryzen 3 5300U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 9 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i5-9600T vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 5300U.

Feature	Core i5-9600T	Ryzen 3 5300U
Cores / Threads	6 / 6+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+3%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	2.6 GHz+13%
L3 Cache	9 MB Intel® Smart Cache+125%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	512K (per core)
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	—	Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021)
PassMark	9,601+2%	9,453
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	5,522
Geekbench 6 Single	1,344	1,457+8%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,526

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9600T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 5300U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-9600T versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 3 5300U — the Ryzen 3 5300U supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-9600T supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-9600T) vs 12 (Ryzen 3 5300U) — the Core i5-9600T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B360,H370,H310,Q370,Z390,B365 (Core i5-9600T) and SoC (Ryzen 3 5300U).

Feature	Core i5-9600T	Ryzen 3 5300U
Socket	LGA1151	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200+20%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9600T) vs Yes (Ryzen 3 5300U). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-9600T) and Radeon Vega 6 (Ryzen 3 5300U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9600T targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9600T rivals Ryzen 5 2400G.