Ryzen 9 3950X vs i5-9600KF

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1027	205
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	7.35	18.01
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	AMD Ryzen 9
Power efficiency	6.69	21.98
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
Release date	8 January 2019 (5 years ago)	14 November 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$262	$799

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Ryzen 9 3950X has 145% better value for money than i5-9600KF.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	6 (Hexa-Core)	16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads	6	32
Base clock speed	3.7 GHz	3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.6 GHz	4.7 GHz
Bus type	DMI 3.0	no data
Bus rate	4 × 8 GT/s	no data
Multiplier	37	no data
L1 cache	64K (per core)	96K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)
L3 cache	9 MB (shared)	64 MB
Chip lithography	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Die size	149 mm2	2 x 72 mm + 125 mm (IO-Die) mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	19,200 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	+	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1 (Uniprocessor)	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCLGA1151	AM4
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	105 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	86x MMX(+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4A,-64, AMD-V, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA, Precision Boost 2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	no data
TSX	+	-
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	-
SIPP	+	-
Precision Boost 2	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	no data
EDB	+	no data
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	-
Identity Protection	+	-
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X are enumerated here.

AMD-V	-	+
VT-d	+	no data
VT-x	+	no data
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4 Dual-channel
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	no data
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	51.196 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X.

PCIe version	3.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

---

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

---

Pros & cons summary

---

Performance score	6.72	24.39
Recency	8 January 2019	14 November 2019
Physical cores	6	16
Threads	6	32
Chip lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	105 Watt

---

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-9600KF and Ryzen 9 3950X, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.

---