Ryzen 5 3500X vs Core i9-9900T
Ryzen 5 3500X
Core i9-9900T
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3500X
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9900T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3500X | Core i9-9900T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($171) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($215) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3500X | Core i9-9900T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+25%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($171) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($215) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3500X and Core i9-9900T
Ryzen 5 3500X
The Ryzen 5 3500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 13,165 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i9-9900T
The Core i9-9900T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,208 points. Launch price was $439.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 3500X packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i9-9900T offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-9900T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500X versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i9-9900T — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900T (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3500X uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Core i9-9900T uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3500X scores 13,165 against the Core i9-9900T's 13,208 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i9-9900T. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500X vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900T.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500X | Core i9-9900T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz | 4.4 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+71% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total)+100% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Matisse (2019−2020) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 13,165 | 13,208 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 3500X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-9900T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500X | Core i9-9900T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 3500X launched at $155 MSRP, while the Core i9-9900T debuted at $423. At current prices ($171 vs $215), the Ryzen 5 3500X is $44 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3500X delivers 77.0 pts/$ vs 61.4 pts/$ for the Core i9-9900T — making the Ryzen 5 3500X the 22.5% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500X | Core i9-9900T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $155-63% | $423 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $171-20% | $215 |
| Performance per Dollar | 77.0+25% | 61.4 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2019 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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