Core i7-990X vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Core i7-990X
Ryzen 7 3700X
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. The Core i7-990X is positioned at rank #1046 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 i7-990X
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-990X | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-990X | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+405%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
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 i7-990X and Ryzen 7 3700X
Core i7-990X
The Core i7-990X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,135 points. Launch price was $1,104.
Ryzen 7 3700X
The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. 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: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.
Processing Power
The Core i7-990X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Core i7-990X versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 16.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.46 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-990X uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-990X scores 7,135 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 103.5% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-990X vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Core i7-990X | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz | 4.4 GHz+18% |
| Base Clock | 3.46 GHz | 3.6 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 32 MB+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 7,135 | 22,430+214% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-990X uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-990X | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-990X launched at $999 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. At current prices ($225 vs $140), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $85 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-990X delivers 31.7 pts/$ vs 160.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 133.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-990X | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $999 | $329-67% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $225 | $140-38% |
| Performance per Dollar | 31.7 | 160.2+405% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2019 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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