Core i9-9900KS vs Ryzen 5 5500

Core i9-9900KS vs Ryzen 5 5500 Performance Spectrum

Core i9-9900KS

8 / 16

19,397

+0.4%

19,311

0.0%

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 i9-9900KS vs Ryzen 5 5500 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 i9-9900KS vs Ryzen 5 5500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i9-9900KS

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.8 vs 121.5 PassMark/$ ($513 MSRP vs $159 MSRP).
❌95.4% higher power demand at 127W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5500

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $354 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $513 MSRP).
✅Delivers 221.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 121.5 vs 37.8 PassMark/$ ($159 MSRP vs $513 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 127W, a 62W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900KS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,311 vs 19,397).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9900KS better than Ryzen 5 5500?

Yes. Core i9-9900KS is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 20.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9900KS is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 20.9% 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, Core i9-9900KS is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i9-9900KS is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5500 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i9-9900KS comes in 222.6% more expensive on MSRP at $513 MSRP versus $159 MSRP, and it still gives you a 20.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5500 is also 221.2% better value on MSRP (121.5 vs 37.8 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5500 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 5500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i9-9900KS vs Ryzen 5 5500 Technical Specifications

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

Core i9-9900KS

The Core i9-9900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 127 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,397 points. Launch price was $513.

Ryzen 5 5500

The Ryzen 5 5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. 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: 19,311 points. Launch price was $159.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9900KS packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-9900KS has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900KS versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500 — a 17.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900KS (base: 4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i9-9900KS uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9900KS scores 19,397 against the Ryzen 5 5500's 19,311 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i9-9900KS. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900KS vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5500.

Feature	Core i9-9900KS	Ryzen 5 5500
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz+19%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	4 GHz+11%	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	16 MB
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	19,397	19,311

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9900KS uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i9-9900KS	Ryzen 5 5500
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-9900KS) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5500). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5500 targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i9-9900KS	Ryzen 5 5500
Integrated GPU	—	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i9-9900KS was priced at $513, while the Ryzen 5 5500 came in at $159. On launch pricing ($513 vs $159), Ryzen 5 5500 was $354 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-9900KS delivers 37.8 pts/$ vs 121.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5500 — making the Ryzen 5 5500 the 105% better value option.

Feature	Core i9-9900KS	Ryzen 5 5500
MSRP	$513	$159-69%
Performance per Dollar	37.8	121.5+221%
Release Date	2019	2022

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