Core i9-11900 vs Ryzen 7 5700X

Intel

Core i9-11900

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2021
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 5700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2022
Ryzen family
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Core i9-11900 vs Ryzen 7 5700X Performance Spectrum

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 i9-11900 vs Ryzen 7 5700X 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 i9-11900 vs Ryzen 7 5700X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i9-11900

2021

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Lower PassMark (22,422 vs 26,609).
    • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
    • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 51.1 vs 89.0 PassMark/$ ($439 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

    Ryzen 7 5700X

    2022

    Why buy it

    • +18.7% higher PassMark.
    • +100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
    • Costs $140 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $439 MSRP).
    • Delivers 74.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 89.0 vs 51.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $439 MSRP).
    • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

    Trade-offs

    • Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Ryzen 7 5700X better than Core i9-11900?
    It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i9-11900 is ahead with a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5700X pulls ahead with 18.7% better PassMark. Ryzen 7 5700X also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5700X is the stronger fit. You are getting 18.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Ryzen 7 5700X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 5700X comes in $140 cheaper on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $439 MSRP, and it still gives you 18.7% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i9-11900 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 74.2% better value on MSRP (89.0 vs 51.1 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i9-11900 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Ryzen 7 5700X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Core i9-11900 vs Ryzen 7 5700X Technical Specifications

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

    Intel

    Core i9-11900

    The Core i9-11900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 22,422 points. Launch price was $299.

    AMD

    Ryzen 7 5700X

    The Ryzen 7 5700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 26,609 points. Launch price was $299.

    Processing Power

    Both the Core i9-11900 and Ryzen 7 5700X share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-11900 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700X — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i9-11900 uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900 scores 22,422 against the Ryzen 7 5700X's 26,609 — a 17.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700X. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 5700X.

    FeatureCore i9-11900Ryzen 7 5700X
    Cores / Threads
    8 / 16
    8 / 16
    Boost Clock
    5.1 GHz+11%
    4.6 GHz
    Base Clock
    2.5 GHz
    3.4 GHz+36%
    L3 Cache
    16 MB (total)
    32 MB (total)+100%
    L2 Cache
    256K (per core)
    512K (per core)+100%
    Process
    14 nm
    7 nm-50%
    Architecture
    Rocket Lake (2021)
    Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
    PassMark
    22,422
    26,609+19%
    Cinebench R23 Multi
    14,000
    Geekbench 6 Single
    2,116
    Geekbench 6 Multi
    9,715
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Core i9-11900 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureCore i9-11900Ryzen 7 5700X
    Socket
    LGA1200
    AM4
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 3.0
    PCIe 4.0+33%
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR4-3200
    Max RAM Capacity
    128 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    Yes
    PCIe Lanes
    24
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-11900) / AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5700X). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5700X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 5700X rivals Core i7-11700K.

    FeatureCore i9-11900Ryzen 7 5700X
    Integrated GPU
    No
    Unlocked
    Yes
    AVX-512
    No
    Virtualization
    AMD-V
    Target Use
    Gaming
    💰

    Value Analysis

    At launch, the Core i9-11900 was priced at $439, while the Ryzen 7 5700X came in at $299. On launch pricing ($439 vs $299), Ryzen 7 5700X was $140 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-11900 delivers 51.1 pts/$ vs 89.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5700X — making the Ryzen 7 5700X the 54.1% better value option.

    FeatureCore i9-11900Ryzen 7 5700X
    MSRP
    $439
    $299-32%
    Performance per Dollar
    51.1
    89.0+74%
    Release Date
    2021
    2022

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