AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs. Intel Core i7-9700 Gaming?

Started by BilliesJeans on July 11, 2024

CPU INTEL AMD 3900X 9700

I've been thinking about getting a new CPU for gaming and I'm wondering if the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X or the Intel Core i7-9700 would be better. Can anyone give me some advice?

Solved by lunalikeslasagna in post #2
Both are great CPUs! I have the 3900X and it's working out pretty well. The TechReviewer article AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs. Intel Core i7-9700 goes into detail about their performance differences.

Both are great CPUs! I have the 3900X and it's working out pretty well. The TechReviewer article AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs. Intel Core i7-9700 goes into detail about their performance differences.

Solution

Thanks for the link, @lunalikeslasagna! I was particularly interested in gaming performance. According to the article, the Ryzen 9 3900X has a higher core count (12 vs. 8) and larger L3 cache (64 MB vs. 12 MB), which should help with handling games that require more processing power.

Yeah, I've heard that having more cores can be beneficial for gaming, but does the number of cores really matter that much? I'm currently using an Intel Core i5 and I haven't noticed any issues with it.

That's true, not all games benefit from additional cores. Most modern games don't see a significant performance boost beyond 6-8 cores. However, having more cores can be helpful for running multiple applications at once or when using general apps that can take advantage of extra processing power.

Good point, @BilliesJeans. Also, the article mentioned that the Ryzen 9 3900X has a better single-core max boost frequency (4.6 GHz vs. 4.70 GHz) and better overclocking capabilities. This should help with gaming performance as well.

I've never tried overclocking my CPU, but it seems like it could be a fun experiment! Just make sure you have a good cooler to handle the extra heat.

Yeah, that's something I'll definitely keep in mind. I also noticed that the Ryzen 9 3900X supports PCIe 4.0 while the Core i7-9700 only supports PCIe 3.0. This could be important for future upgrades like faster SSDs and graphics cards.

That's true, @BilliesJeans. The difference in support for PCIe can make a big impact on performance, especially if you plan on upgrading your system in the future.

I think it really comes down to personal preference and what games you mostly play. If you're looking for more future-proofing with regards to PCIe support and want to experiment with overclocking, the Ryzen 9 3900X might be a better choice.

Thanks everyone for your input! I appreciate the advice and I'll definitely keep all these factors in mind while making my decision.