Ryzen 5 5500 vs Core i9-10900
Ryzen 5 5500
Core i9-10900
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 5500
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5500 | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($85) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($426) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cezanne (2021−2025) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5500 | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+405%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($85) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($426) |
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 5500 and Core i9-10900
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.
Core i9-10900
The Core i9-10900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 19,163 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 5500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-10900 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core i9-10900 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10900 — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5500 uses the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i9-10900 uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5500 scores 19,311 against the Core i9-10900's 19,163 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 5500. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5500 vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i9-10900.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5500 | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 10 / 20+67% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz | 5.1 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+29% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 20 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cezanne (2021−2025) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 19,311 | 19,163 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 5500 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-10900 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5500 | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5500) / not specified (Core i9-10900). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5500 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5500 | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 5500 launched at $159 MSRP, while the Core i9-10900 debuted at $483. At current prices ($85 vs $426), the Ryzen 5 5500 is $341 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5500 delivers 227.2 pts/$ vs 45.0 pts/$ for the Core i9-10900 — making the Ryzen 5 5500 the 133.9% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5500 | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $159-67% | $483 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $85-80% | $426 |
| Performance per Dollar | 227.2+405% | 45.0 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2020 |
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