Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 vs Core i7-9700K
Ryzen 9 PRO 3900
Core i7-9700K
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 9 PRO 3900
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+117%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 9 PRO 3900 and Core i7-9700K
Ryzen 9 PRO 3900
The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 30 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 31,251 points. Launch price was $499.
Core i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 13% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 scores 31,251 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 73.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900. L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24+50% | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz | 4.9 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB+433% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+2300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen 2 (2017−2020) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 31,251+117% | 14,397 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 17,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,688 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 10,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 9 PRO 3900) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 PRO 3900) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24+50% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 PRO 3900) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 targets Professional Content Creation, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 rivals Core i9-10900.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Professional Content Creation | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 launched at $499 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($200 vs $200), the Core i7-9700K is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 delivers 156.3 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 the 73.8% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $499 | $385-23% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $200 | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 156.3+117% | 72.0 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2018 |
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