Core i9-9920X vs M3 Pro 11-Core

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 i9-9920X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $1,189 MSRP, while M3 Pro 11-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while M3 Pro 11-Core moves to none and DDR5.

M3 Pro 11-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9920X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (24,861 vs 24,974).

Core i9-9920X

2018

M3 Pro 11-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $1,189 MSRP, while M3 Pro 11-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while M3 Pro 11-Core moves to none and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9920X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (24,861 vs 24,974).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9920X better than M3 Pro 11-Core?

Yes. Core i9-9920X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 3.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9920X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.7% 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 i9-9920X is the better fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i9-9920X is the smarter buy today. Core i9-9920X is at an unclear MSRP at $1,189 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 3.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (21.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 none + DDR5 setup, M3 Pro 11-Core 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?

M3 Pro 11-Core is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018) and a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of LGA2066. 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 i9-9920X Benchmark Check

M3 Pro 11-Core Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9920X	M3 Pro 11-Core
1080p
low	173 FPS	182 FPS
medium	150 FPS	146 FPS
high	121 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	146 FPS
medium	122 FPS	115 FPS
high	98 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	77 FPS	67 FPS
medium	70 FPS	56 FPS
high	55 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i9-9920X Open M3 Pro 11-Core

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9920X	M3 Pro 11-Core
1080p
low	508 FPS	399 FPS
medium	437 FPS	339 FPS
high	374 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	339 FPS	256 FPS
1440p
low	438 FPS	352 FPS
medium	385 FPS	309 FPS
high	332 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	288 FPS	230 FPS
4K
low	271 FPS	255 FPS
medium	237 FPS	229 FPS
high	223 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	184 FPS

Open Core i9-9920X Open M3 Pro 11-Core

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9920X	M3 Pro 11-Core
1080p
low	624 FPS	622 FPS
medium	547 FPS	622 FPS
high	499 FPS	622 FPS
ultra	435 FPS	593 FPS
1440p
low	577 FPS	622 FPS
medium	487 FPS	515 FPS
high	442 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	400 FPS
4K
low	444 FPS	452 FPS
medium	364 FPS	356 FPS
high	327 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	248 FPS

Open Core i9-9920X Open M3 Pro 11-Core

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9920X	M3 Pro 11-Core
1080p
low	624 FPS	622 FPS
medium	624 FPS	622 FPS
high	624 FPS	622 FPS
ultra	624 FPS	621 FPS
1440p
low	624 FPS	622 FPS
medium	624 FPS	622 FPS
high	624 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	620 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	624 FPS	494 FPS
medium	582 FPS	443 FPS
high	521 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i9-9920X Open M3 Pro 11-Core

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9920X and M3 Pro 11-Core

Core i9-9920X

The Core i9-9920X 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 12 cores and 24 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: 24,974 points. Launch price was $1,189.

M3 Pro 11-Core

The M3 Pro 11-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 11 cores and 11 threads. Base frequency is 2.748 GHz, with boost up to 4.06 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,861 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-9920X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the M3 Pro 11-Core offers 11 cores / 11 threads — the Core i9-9920X has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9920X versus 4.06 GHz on the M3 Pro 11-Core — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-9920X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.748 GHz). The Core i9-9920X is built on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i9-9920X scores 24,974 against the M3 Pro 11-Core's 24,861 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i9-9920X.

Feature	Core i9-9920X	M3 Pro 11-Core
Cores / Threads	12 / 24+9%	11 / 11
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+11%	4.06 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+27%	2.748 GHz
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	3 nm-79%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	—
PassMark	24,974	24,861

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9920X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the M3 Pro 11-Core uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.