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.

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $220 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 61.8 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 33,912).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen 9 5900

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.8 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Ryzen 9 5900

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $220 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 61.8 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 33,912).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.8 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900 better than Ryzen 7 3700X?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5900 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 51.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5900 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.0% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 5900 is the better fit. You are getting 51.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 5900 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 3700X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 5900 is 66.9% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 3700X is also 10.4% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 61.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 9 5900 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019), 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

Ryzen 7 3700X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen 9 5900
1080p
low	200 FPS	164 FPS
medium	163 FPS	135 FPS
high	137 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	150 FPS
medium	121 FPS	120 FPS
high	100 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	84 FPS
medium	71 FPS	72 FPS
high	56 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	47 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Ryzen 9 5900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen 9 5900
1080p
low	561 FPS	734 FPS
medium	525 FPS	625 FPS
high	428 FPS	495 FPS
ultra	383 FPS	437 FPS
1440p
low	545 FPS	608 FPS
medium	471 FPS	529 FPS
high	394 FPS	440 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	361 FPS
4K
low	350 FPS	358 FPS
medium	304 FPS	314 FPS
high	274 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	253 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Ryzen 9 5900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen 9 5900
1080p
low	561 FPS	805 FPS
medium	561 FPS	627 FPS
high	561 FPS	543 FPS
ultra	561 FPS	449 FPS
1440p
low	561 FPS	690 FPS
medium	561 FPS	543 FPS
high	538 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	393 FPS
4K
low	499 FPS	490 FPS
medium	394 FPS	404 FPS
high	343 FPS	359 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	296 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Ryzen 9 5900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen 9 5900
1080p
low	561 FPS	848 FPS
medium	561 FPS	848 FPS
high	561 FPS	836 FPS
ultra	561 FPS	744 FPS
1440p
low	561 FPS	848 FPS
medium	561 FPS	760 FPS
high	561 FPS	665 FPS
ultra	555 FPS	570 FPS
4K
low	561 FPS	626 FPS
medium	501 FPS	559 FPS
high	447 FPS	494 FPS
ultra	396 FPS	426 FPS

Open Ryzen 7 3700X Open Ryzen 9 5900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 3700X and Ryzen 9 5900

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. 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: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

Ryzen 9 5900

The Ryzen 9 5900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 33,912 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 3700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900 — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 22,430 against the Ryzen 9 5900's 33,912 — a 40.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900.

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen 9 5900
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	12 / 24+50%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.7 GHz+7%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	22,430	33,912+51%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 24 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen 9 5900
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X) / AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900 targets OEM Gaming.

Feature	Ryzen 7 3700X	Ryzen 9 5900
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	AMD-V
Target Use	—	OEM Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 7 3700X launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900 debuted at $549. On MSRP ($329 vs $549), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $220 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 3700X delivers 68.2 pts/$ vs 61.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900 — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 9.9% better value option.