How do the Intel Core i9 and AMD Ryzen 9 processors differ?

The Intel Core 12900K is the most powerful gaming processor in this comparison. With the extremely high turbo speed of 5.2GHz, the processor is suitable for demanding professional gaming. Do you stream gameplay via Twitch? The combination of the many threads and cores with the large cache memory allow you to multitask smoothly. The same applies if you want to use the CPU for other tasks like rendering 3D models of editing 4K company videos. In addition, this CPU is future-proof, thanks to the PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM support. You do need an LGA 1700 socket on your motherboard for this processor, otherwise it won't work. That means you probably need a new motherboard and DDR5 RAM.

• Suitable for a future-proof desktop.
• The most powerful gaming processor from the 12th Intel generation.

• You need an LGA 1700 motherboard.

When you don't have a new motherboard and you're looking for the most powerful energy-efficient processor, choose the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. With a TDP of 105W, this CPU is more energy-efficient than every other Intel Core i9 processor. The 5950X is also more energy-efficient than the 12900K, which is more energy-efficient than previous Intel generations, thanks to the new build of the processor. The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is less future-proof, but this CPU is more than powerful enough for demanding tasks. It biggest downside is that it doesn't have a built-in video chip. This way, you need a dedicated video card when you use this processor.

• Suitable for very demanding games and multitasking.
• More energy-efficient than all Intel Core i9 processors.

• No built-in video chip, so you need a dedicated video card.

The Intel Core i9 11900K is a direct competitor to the Ryzen 9 5900X. They were released around the same time, so neither have an advantage in terms of DDR5 compatibility. The 11900K stands out because of a higher 5.3GHz turbo speed and the 750 Xe video card. This way, you don't need a dedicated GPU for 1080p gaming. In addition, you can overclock the 11900K if you need a bit of extra power. For example, if you need extra fps. These are the only areas where the 11900K scores better than the 5900X. In terms of fps, the i9 11900K doesn't perform as well, so the images are less smooth with this processor than with the 5900X, for example.

• Suitable for gaming and multitasking.
• Built-in 750 Xe video chip suitable for 1080p gaming.

• Fewer fps in competitive gaming then similar processors.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X has 64GB cache memory, a 3.7GHz clock speed, 4.9GHz turbo speed, and a maximum TDP of 105W. This makes the CPU less powerful but more affordable than the 5950X. The 5900X reaches a higher fps when you game, and it's suitable for the most demanding tasks. Think of Fortnite, where this processor can reach up to 300 fps. The computer also won't slow down when you multitask, thanks to the large cache memory. The 5900X doesn't have a built-in video chip, so you need a dedicated video card.

• Suitable for very demanding games and multitasking.
• Very energy-efficient and large cache memory.

• No built-in video chip, so you need a dedicated video card.

If you want a more affordable alternative, the Intel Core i9 10900K offers high clock speeds up to 5.1GHz after you overclock it. This way, you'll have almost the same power at a lower price. The built-in UHD 630 GPU provides smooth images when you game in 1080p, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. This CPU has 10 cords and 20 threads, so it multitasks faster than the 11900K. The largest downside how future-proof it is. This CPU is from the older 10th generation and supports up to PCIe 3.0. You mainly notice that when you place other components, like an M.2 SSD. The SSDs with a PCIe 4.0 protocol write and read up to 5 times faster than an SSD that supports up to PCIe 3.0.

• Suitable for demanding gaming and multitasking.
• Built-in UHD 630 GPU for 1080p gaming.

• Supports up to PCI 3.0, and it's less future-proof.