AMD Ryzen 5 3500 vs. Intel Core i5-9600KF - Better for Gaming?

I've been trying to decide between the AMD Ryzen 5 3500 and Intel Core i5-9600KF for my gaming PC, but I'm having a hard time deciding which one is better. Can anyone help me out?

Well, both CPUs have good performance overall, but they do have some differences. The Ryzen 5 3500 has a higher base frequency and support for PCIe 4.0, which can result in better gaming performance when using high-end graphics cards.

Another thing to consider is the single-core max boost frequency. The Ryzen 5 3500 has a 4.1 GHz single-core max boost frequency, while the i5-9600KF has a higher 4.6 GHz single-core max turbo boost frequency. This can make a difference in performance, especially for games that are more demanding on individual cores.

Also, have you seen the TechReviewer article AMD Ryzen 5 3500 vs. Intel Core i5-9600KF comparing these two processors? It provides a detailed analysis of their performance, including gaming and general app usage.

That's helpful information. I didn't know about the differences in base frequency and PCIe support. I'm also interested in overclocking capabilities and DDR support for my build. Any insights on that?

The Ryzen 5 3500 has excellent support for overclocking, which can provide an extra performance boost. The i5-9600KF is also capable of overclocking but might be slightly less efficient than the Ryzen 5 3500 in this regard.

As for DDR support, the Ryzen 5 3500 supports DDR4 with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz, while the i5-9600KF supports DDR4 with a max stock speed of 2666 MHz. This difference might not be significant for most users, but it's something to keep in mind if you plan on pushing your RAM speeds higher.

Thanks for the advice! I'm still unsure which one is better for gaming though. Any personal experiences or recommendations?

I've used both CPUs in my own builds, and they're both capable of delivering great performance. If I had to choose, I would go with the Ryzen 5 3500 due to its higher base frequency, PCIe 4.0 support, and better overall gaming experience. However, it ultimately depends on your budget, specific needs, and preferences.

Another factor to consider is that the Ryzen 5 3500's L3 cache is larger than the i5-9600KF's, which can give it an edge in certain professional tools performance. This might not be as relevant for gaming, but it's something to keep in mind if you plan on using your PC for other tasks as well.

That makes sense. I appreciate all the input! I'll need to do some more research and testing before making my final decision. Thanks again!

You're welcome! Good luck with your decision-making process. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Same here! Let us know if you need any additional advice or help. Happy building!