Core i7-9700 vs Ryzen 5 3500X
Core i7-9700
Ryzen 5 3500X
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. 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 Core i7-9700
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3500X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-9700 | Ryzen 5 3500X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($150) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($171) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-9700 | Ryzen 5 3500X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+14%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($150) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($171) |
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 Core i7-9700 and Ryzen 5 3500X
Core i7-9700
The Core i7-9700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,206 points. Launch price was $323.
Ryzen 5 3500X
The Ryzen 5 3500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 13,165 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-9700 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3500X offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i7-9700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-9700 versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500X — a 13.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-9700 uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3500X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700 scores 13,206 against the Ryzen 5 3500X's 13,165 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-9700. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500X.
| Feature | Core i7-9700 | Ryzen 5 3500X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+33% | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+15% | 4.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 13,206 | 13,165 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 8,540 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,570 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,202 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-9700 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3500X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3500X) — the Ryzen 5 3500X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1151 (Core i7-9700) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 3500X).
| Feature | Core i7-9700 | Ryzen 5 3500X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 24+50% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700) / not specified (Ryzen 5 3500X). The Core i7-9700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 3500X requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-9700 | Ryzen 5 3500X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-9700 launched at $333 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3500X debuted at $155. At current prices ($150 vs $171), the Core i7-9700 is $21 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700 delivers 88.0 pts/$ vs 77.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3500X — making the Core i7-9700 the 13.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-9700 | Ryzen 5 3500X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $333 | $155-53% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150-12% | $171 |
| Performance per Dollar | 88.0+14% | 77.0 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2019 |
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