Core i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 220

Core i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 220 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-9700K

8 / 8

14,397

0.0%

19,889

+38.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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 i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 220 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 i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 220: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 PRO 220 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 19,889).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $385 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 PRO 220 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1483.3% higher power demand at 95W vs 6W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 PRO 220 moves to FP7/FP7r2 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 PRO 220

2025

Why buy it

✅+38.1% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 6W instead of 95W, a 89W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7/FP7r2 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 PRO 220 better than Core i7-9700K?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-9700K is ahead with a 5.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 PRO 220 pulls ahead with 38.1% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 PRO 220 also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 PRO 220 is the stronger fit. You are getting 38.1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 PRO 220 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Ryzen 5 PRO 220 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it still gives you 38.1% better PassMark. Core i7-9700K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (37.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 5 PRO 220 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FP7/FP7r2 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/8. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-9700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 220 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K 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 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Ryzen 5 PRO 220

The Ryzen 5 PRO 220 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,889 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 220's 19,889 — a 32% lead for the Ryzen 5 PRO 220. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 220.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 220
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+12%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+4167%	6 MB
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025)
PassMark	14,397	19,889+38%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 uses FP7/FP7r2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 220
Socket	LGA1151	FP7/FP7r2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) / not specified (Ryzen 5 PRO 220). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 220
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i7-9700K was priced at $385, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 220 came in at $0. On launch pricing ($385 vs $0), Ryzen 5 PRO 220 was $385 cheaper.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 220
MSRP	$385	$0-100%
Performance per Dollar	37.4	—
Release Date	2018	2025

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