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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i9-14901E

2024

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,894 vs 3,300).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (14,262 vs 15,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 54.4 vs 107.5 PassMark/$ ($557 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 9600X

2024

Why buy it

✅+14% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $278 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $557 MSRP).
✅Delivers 97.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.5 vs 54.4 PassMark/$ ($279 MSRP vs $557 MSRP).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

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

Core i9-14901E

2024

Ryzen 5 9600X

2024

Why buy it

✅+14% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $278 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $557 MSRP).
✅Delivers 97.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.5 vs 54.4 PassMark/$ ($279 MSRP vs $557 MSRP).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,894 vs 3,300).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (14,262 vs 15,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 54.4 vs 107.5 PassMark/$ ($557 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 9600X better than Core i9-14901E?

Yes. Ryzen 5 9600X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 5.2% better Geekbench multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 9600X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 9600X is the better fit. You are getting 5.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 9600X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 9600X is $278 cheaper on MSRP at $279 MSRP versus $557 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 97.7% better value on MSRP (107.5 vs 54.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i9-14901E 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 5 9600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i9-14901E Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 9600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-14901E	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	273 FPS	264 FPS
medium	254 FPS	243 FPS
high	212 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	256 FPS	225 FPS
medium	214 FPS	188 FPS
high	166 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	175 FPS	156 FPS
medium	147 FPS	131 FPS
high	108 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i9-14901E Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-14901E	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	757 FPS	546 FPS
medium	677 FPS	451 FPS
high	549 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	479 FPS	339 FPS
1440p
low	659 FPS	469 FPS
medium	594 FPS	401 FPS
high	491 FPS	342 FPS
ultra	395 FPS	294 FPS
4K
low	369 FPS	294 FPS
medium	337 FPS	256 FPS
high	317 FPS	239 FPS
ultra	273 FPS	207 FPS

Open Core i9-14901E Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-14901E	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	757 FPS	750 FPS
medium	653 FPS	724 FPS
high	570 FPS	641 FPS
ultra	481 FPS	551 FPS
1440p
low	720 FPS	724 FPS
medium	587 FPS	565 FPS
high	506 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	435 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	508 FPS	471 FPS
medium	437 FPS	397 FPS
high	394 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	331 FPS	285 FPS

Open Core i9-14901E Open Ryzen 5 9600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-14901E	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	757 FPS	750 FPS
medium	757 FPS	750 FPS
high	757 FPS	750 FPS
ultra	729 FPS	750 FPS
1440p
low	757 FPS	750 FPS
medium	750 FPS	750 FPS
high	656 FPS	676 FPS
ultra	576 FPS	583 FPS
4K
low	629 FPS	577 FPS
medium	563 FPS	512 FPS
high	499 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	436 FPS	399 FPS

Open Core i9-14901E Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-14901E and Ryzen 5 9600X

Core i9-14901E

The Core i9-14901E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Julho 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,298 points. Launch price was $499.

Ryzen 5 9600X

The Ryzen 5 9600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,003 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-14901E packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-14901E has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.6 GHz on the Core i9-14901E versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 9600X — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Core i9-14901E (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i9-14901E uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 9600X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-14901E scores 30,298 against the Ryzen 5 9600X's 30,003 — a 1% lead for the Core i9-14901E. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,894 vs 3,300, a 13.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 9600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 14,262 vs 15,000 (5% advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X). L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-14901E vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i9-14901E	Ryzen 5 9600X
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.6 GHz+4%	5.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz	3.9 GHz+39%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)+13%	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	4 nm-60%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	30,298	30,003
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,894	3,300+14%
Geekbench 6 Multi	14,262	15,000+5%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-14901E uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 9600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-14901E) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 9600X) — the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 Series,Intel 700 Series (Core i9-14901E) and X870E,X870,X670E,X670,B650E,B650 (Ryzen 5 9600X).

Feature	Core i9-14901E	Ryzen 5 9600X
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	192 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 9600X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Core i9-14901E) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 9600X). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-14901E) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 9600X) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 9600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 9600X rivals Intel Core i5-14600K.

Feature	Core i9-14901E	Ryzen 5 9600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-14901E launched at $557 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 9600X debuted at $279. On MSRP ($557 vs $279), the Ryzen 5 9600X is $278 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-14901E delivers 54.4 pts/$ vs 107.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 9600X — making the Ryzen 5 9600X the 65.6% better value option.