Core i9-9900X vs Ryzen 7 7736U

CPU

GPU

Core i9-9900X

10 Cores20 Thrd165 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2018

Similar parts

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Ryzen 7 7736U

8 Cores16 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2023

Ryzen family

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Core i9-9900X vs Ryzen 7 7736U Performance Spectrum

Core i9-9900X

10 / 20

21,655

0.0%

21,696

+0.2%

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 i9-9900X vs Ryzen 7 7736U 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 i9-9900X vs Ryzen 7 7736U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i9-9900X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).
✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $989 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 7736U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1000% higher power demand at 165W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 7736U moves to FP7 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 7736U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 7736U

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 165W, a 150W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 680M, while Core i9-9900X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,768 vs 13,985).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 19 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9900X better than Ryzen 7 7736U?

Yes. Core i9-9900X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 10.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 9.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9900X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 10.1% 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 i9-9900X is the stronger fit. You are getting 9.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 20.3% larger total L3 cache (19 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Core i9-9900X is the better buy right now. Core i9-9900X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $989 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 10.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (21.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 7 7736U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018) and a healthier platform with FP7 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i9-9900X vs Ryzen 7 7736U Technical Specifications

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

Core i9-9900X

The Core i9-9900X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 21,655 points. Launch price was $989.

Ryzen 7 7736U

The Ryzen 7 7736U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 21,696 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-9900X packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7736U offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-9900X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9900X versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7736U — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 7736U (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i9-9900X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7736U uses Rembrandt-R (2023−2025) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9900X scores 21,655 against the Ryzen 7 7736U's 21,696 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 7 7736U. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 13,985 vs 12,768 (9.1% advantage for the Core i9-9900X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,459 vs 1,869, a 24.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 7736U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,475 vs 8,020 (16.6% advantage for the Core i9-9900X). L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7736U.

Feature	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 7 7736U
Cores / Threads	10 / 20+25%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.7 GHz+4%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+30%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)+20%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	14 nm	6 nm-57%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Rembrandt-R (2023−2025)
PassMark	21,655	21,696
Cinebench R23 Multi	13,985+10%	12,768
Geekbench 6 Single	1,459	1,869+28%
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,475+18%	8,020

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9900X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 7736U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9900X versus LPDDR5-6400 on the Ryzen 7 7736U — the Ryzen 7 7736U supports 140.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-9900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9900X) vs 2 (Ryzen 7 7736U). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9900X) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 7736U) — the Core i9-9900X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9900X) and SoC (Ryzen 7 7736U).

Feature	Core i9-9900X	Ryzen 7 7736U
Socket	LGA2066	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	LPDDR5-6400+140%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	44+120%	20

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Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-9900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i9-9900X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9900X) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 7 7736U). The Ryzen 7 7736U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 680M), while the Core i9-9900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 7736U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 7736U rivals Core i7-1255U.