AMD Ryzen 9 vs Intel i9: Which Has Better Benchmarks?
Comparing processors comes down to particulars. When examining more budget offerings of Intel and AMD’s chipset, it’s a matter of who does more with less. Only when comparing the best CPUs of each does the question of true quality come into play.
The AMD Ryzen 9 and Intel i9 line of processors both signify the best of what each company can do. Each chip is a major investment when performing at this unparalleled level. There’s no room for settling for second place if a definitive winner appears.
Today, WTFast will compare the best chips on the market by every metric that matters. Speed, power, gaming performance, workload based on Cinebench tests, ports, price, and practical gaming benchmarks will all come into focus. Today, it’s Intel i9 vs AMD Ryzen 9.
Where Do These Chips Stand in Context?
Examining both pieces deserves a bit of context as to where they stand within their lines. The Ryzen line, in general, is named for the purpose and strength of individual components. Ryzen 5 are mainstream chips, Ryzen 7 are performance chips, and Ryzen 9 are made for true enthusiasts.
There is no such strict delineation between Intel chips. Intel follows similar naming patterns, with Intel Core i7 chips being a midrange option. Intel also offers other lines like the Xeon, differentiated and designed for workstation purposes.
A bigger differential between the two is time. AMD’s most recent Ryzen 9 CPU was released in Q1 of 2021. Desktop Intel chips, meanwhile, have been released between Q1 2021 and Q1 2022. The result is that Intel’s processors more closely resemble the best of what they’ll have in the near future.
What Are the Benefits of the AMD Ryzen 9?
All Ryzen 5000 desktops — including the ones we are about to discuss — are powered by Zen 3 Architecture. At the time of their release, Zen 3 chips completely outperformed. AMD asserted dominance in the field to the point that comparison may have seemed moot. The AMD Ryzen 5900x and AMD Ryzen 5950x processors were the definitive word in high-end processors. A small look at their statistics says everything about why that is.
Every Ryzen 9 5000 series chip is supported by 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes. This allows for an extremely competitive transfer rate that falls just short of PCIe 5.0.
Depending on the device, the base clock speed ranges from 3.0 to 3.7 GHz. The boost clock speed, by comparison, is much closer, with a range of 4.7-4.9 GHz.
The Ryzen 9 5900 and 5900x utilize 12 cores, while the Intel CPU, the 5950x features 16 cores. These pairings feature 24 and 32 threads, respectively. This is made possible by using two core complex dice and one input/output die. A TDP of 65 and 105 makes the PCs relatively energy-light considering their power.
All these processors are distinct in the presence and scope of their L3 cache memory. This specialized cache, for the most part, is only featured in motherboards rather than on processors. With 64MB of L3 memory, all Ryzen 5000 processors feature a surprisingly extensive memory by any standard.
Any of the above would make for powerful chips in a 4K gaming build. We should note the upper limit of benefits offered by the best of these chips relies on your refresh rate.
This gives a baseline look at what makes AMD Ryzen 9 processors special. We’re now ready to see how they compare vs Intel core i9 processors.
What Are the Benefits of the Intel Core i9?
Intel’s place in the tech world has been a complicated one. It’s gone from being the gold standard to losing its luster to regaining it between generations. At the highest level, the 12th-generation Intel processors elevate the company above its previous depreciated status.
One way that Intel differentiates itself from AMD is through integrated graphics cards. This technology has gone through several names, including UHD. Integrated graphics save physical space and reduce costs but are weaker than high-end graphics cards. This may help with less intensive games, but a dedicated GPU is necessary for 4K gaming. Thankfully, all Intel chips with “F” at the end of their name are designed without integrated graphics for personalized builds.
The 11th gen Rocket Lake chips were unfortunately named due to the power consumption of the chips. The 10th-gen core i9-10900k and 11th-gen Core i9-11900k featured 5.3 and 5.2 GHz turbo speeds. The result was significant overheating compared to competitor chips. Alder Lake has maintained these chips' power and linear progress but has thankfully addressed the overheating issue.
The core is one way in which all modern Intel chips are distinguished. Larger performance cores are contrasted by smaller efficiency cores, balancing processing power with overall heat. The multi-core Alder Lake i9 chips feature eight cores of each type but only 24 threads.
With the highest power consumption, the strongest chip is the 12900K, with a TDP of 243 during turbo. The 12900T features slightly weaker performance metrics but a TDP ranging from 35 to 106.
Intel 12th gen supports DDR4, but also DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. This latter characteristic is twice as fast as PCIe 4.0 for better specs regarding data transfer.
AMD Ryzen 9 vs Intel i9: A Side by Side Comparison
Comparing these two processors side-by-side has some interesting results. The sheer power of Intel’s chips makes it an immediately effective choice. However, this can be limiting for serious gamers due to the presence of the integrated graphics card. It will take a discrete graphics card to run games in 4K, negating these processors' immediate benefit.
However, this can be negated with an “F” Intel chip. The Intel Core i9-12900K is powerful, but the 12900KF is identical save for the lack of integrated graphics. This latter chip also retails slightly cheaper than its counterpart. Put an Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card with it, and you’ll be able to have a truly superior build.
Price also needs to be considered. At the time of writing, the average online price of an AMD Ryzen 9 5900x is roughly $400. The more powerful Ryzen 9 5950x runs closer to a range of $550-650. The Intel i9-12900K chip runs from roughly $580-700, depending on the vendor.
Intel is still running red-hot compared to AMD when it comes to cooling systems. Overclocking your system only heightens the gap between the top offerings of the two brands.
Under most benchmarks, the Core i9-12900K is better than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950x. It has better single-core speed, lighting, render speeds, and more. From the user-reported metrics linked above, it is 25% better in most regards. This may be inaccurate, as other tests put the 5950x and 12900K within similar fps ranges for high-end games.
There is precisely one benchmark where AMD wins out, which is in memory latency. This is likely due to the processor's superior L1, 2, and 3 caches. Even with this victory, the winner between AMD and Ryzen is obvious.
Which Processor Is Best for Gamers?
Between AMD Ryzen 9 and Intel i9 chips, there’s a clear winner. The current series of Intel chips is simply stronger. Most of the victories for AMD can be negated through various methods. The 12900KF provides power while allowing for a discrete graphics card. A powerful cooling system can account for overarching power consumption.
This isn’t to say that it is the only possible piece of technology for those who want an upgrade in multi-core and single-core performance. The Ryzen 9 3900x, for instance, is far cheaper on Amazon and other online marketplaces. This makes it an effective budget option that trades lower specs for much lower energy consumption.
Intel is the clear winner for now, and that “for now” is a deliberate choice of words. AMD is scheduled to release its next generation of chips later this year. This includes the new Zen 4 architecture.
AMD is releasing new processors for both desktops and laptops. Intel is making its first serious power play into the world of discrete graphics cards. The amount of energy going into the technology field right now is phenomenal.
It’s more than possible that the landscape will be completely different in six months. It may also be time to re-examine your gaming setup when that time comes. Fortunately, we’ve also collected a comparison of the best ones to inspire your inner technical designer.
What Really Matters in Gaming
It’s not just your processor that matters. Many of the features in your PC build are interconnected. Your monitor limits what you can see, and your actual PC limits what you can do. Your internet and choice of connection change your ability to play the multiplayer games you love.
WTFast knows that nothing enhances your game like incredible graphics, powerful components, and lightning-speed internet connections. On the other hand, a severe deficiency can genuinely harm your experience. We provide our PC-client route optimizer to reduce lag, and we provide guides like these for everything else.
Sources:
What is a Level 3 Cache (L3 Cache)? I Techopedia
