Core i7-9700K vs Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

CPU

GPU

Core i7-9700K

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2018

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Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

12 Cores24 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2022

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Core i7-9700K vs Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-9700K

8 / 8

14,397

0.0%

34,549

+140.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

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 9 PRO 5945 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 9 PRO 5945: 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

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 34,549).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $385 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

2022

Why buy it

✅+140% higher PassMark.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 better than Core i7-9700K?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-9700K is ahead with a 2.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 pulls ahead with 140% better PassMark. Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 also has the bigger cache pool with 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is the stronger fit. You are getting 140% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it still gives you 140% better PassMark. Core i7-9700K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (37.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 9 PRO 5945 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018), 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-9700K vs Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 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 9 PRO 5945

The Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 34,549 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 — a 4.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945's 34,549 — a 82.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	12 / 24+50%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+4%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	64 MB+433%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	14,397	34,549+140%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	23,200
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,175
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,500

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 — the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 20 (Ryzen 9 PRO 5945) — the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and X570,B550,A520,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 PRO 5945).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200+20%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

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Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 9 PRO 5945). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 targets High-end Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 rivals Core i9-12900.