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 9 5900X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +78.1% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 156.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.0 vs 27.7 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $500 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
9.8% HIGHER MSRP
$549 MSRPvs$500 MSRP
❌600% higher power demand at 105W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Embedded V3C18I moves to FP7 and DDR5.

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($500 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 105W, a 90W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,856 vs 38,955).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.7 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($500 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +78.1% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 156.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.0 vs 27.7 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $500 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($500 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 105W, a 90W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
9.8% HIGHER MSRP
$549 MSRPvs$500 MSRP
❌600% higher power demand at 105W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen Embedded V3C18I moves to FP7 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,856 vs 38,955).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.7 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($500 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Ryzen Embedded V3C18I?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5900X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 78.1% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data and 181.1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5900X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 78.1% more average FPS across 31 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 5900X is the better fit. You are getting 181.1% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 5900X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 5900X is 9.8% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $500 MSRP, and it gives you a 78.1% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 156.0% better value on MSRP (71.0 vs 27.7 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with FP7 and DDR5 instead of AM4. 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.

Ryzen 9 5900X Benchmark Check

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
1080p
low	323 FPS	172 FPS
medium	291 FPS	138 FPS
high	243 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	307 FPS	142 FPS
medium	248 FPS	112 FPS
high	192 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	157 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	193 FPS	66 FPS
medium	156 FPS	55 FPS
high	115 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	35 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
1080p
low	772 FPS	173 FPS
medium	647 FPS	151 FPS
high	508 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	450 FPS	109 FPS
1440p
low	619 FPS	149 FPS
medium	536 FPS	134 FPS
high	443 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	98 FPS
4K
low	365 FPS	108 FPS
medium	318 FPS	100 FPS
high	289 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	74 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
1080p
low	832 FPS	346 FPS
medium	645 FPS	346 FPS
high	558 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	459 FPS	346 FPS
1440p
low	721 FPS	346 FPS
medium	565 FPS	346 FPS
high	488 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	346 FPS
4K
low	511 FPS	346 FPS
medium	421 FPS	317 FPS
high	374 FPS	280 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	225 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
1080p
low	974 FPS	346 FPS
medium	974 FPS	346 FPS
high	934 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	826 FPS	346 FPS
1440p
low	959 FPS	346 FPS
medium	843 FPS	346 FPS
high	726 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	617 FPS	346 FPS
4K
low	694 FPS	346 FPS
medium	621 FPS	346 FPS
high	541 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	326 FPS

Open Ryzen 9 5900X Open Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 5900X and Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

Ryzen 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

The Ryzen Embedded V3C18I is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,856 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 9 5900X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X versus 3.8 GHz on the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I — a 23.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I uses Rembrandt (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900X scores 38,955 against the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I's 13,856 — a 95.1% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I.

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
Cores / Threads	12 / 24+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+26%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+95%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB+300%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512 kB (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	6 nm-14%
Architecture	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)	Rembrandt (2022)
PassMark	38,955+181%	13,856
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,174	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,888	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 9 5900X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
Socket	AM4	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	24	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X) / not specified (Ryzen Embedded V3C18I). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.

Feature	Ryzen 9 5900X	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Workstation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 9 5900X launched at $549 MSRP, while the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I debuted at $500. On MSRP ($549 vs $500), the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I is $49 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 5900X delivers 71.0 pts/$ vs 27.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I — making the Ryzen 9 5900X the 87.7% better value option.