Ryzen 9 3900X Vs Ryzen 5 5600X – All Differences

The Ryzen 9 3900X is the top variant of 3rd generation processors of AMD Ryzen that came up with Zen 2 (Matisse) architecture in July 2019. And the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is among the best CPUs of the Ryzen 5 launched in November 2020 with Zen 3 (Vermeer) architecture. To compare the features and performance of these two processors in demanding computer applications and games, let us start with the Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 5 5600X.

Key Takeaways

• The Ryzen 9 3900X has AMD Zen 2 architecture plus 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X has Zen 3 architecture plus 6 cores and 12 threads.
• The Ryzen 9 3900X has a TDP of 105 W, while the Ryzen 5 5600X has a TDP of 65 W. However, despite the lower TDP, the Ryzen 5 5600X is 2.4% more power efficient.
• Although the Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 9 3900X have a maximum operating temperature of 95 degrees, the Ryzen 5 5600X is 7.5% more thermally efficient.
• According to the MSRP, the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X ($499) is $200 more expensive than the Ryzen 5 5600X ($299).

Ryzen 9 3900X Vs Ryzen 5 5600X

Comparison Table

Feature	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Architecture	Zen 3	Zen 2
Codename	Vermeer	Matisse
CPU Socket	AM4	AM4
Cores	6	12
Threads	12	24
Base Clock	3.7 GHz	3.8 GHz
Boost Clock	Up to 4.6 GHz	Up to 4.6 GHz
Unlocked for Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Integrated Graphics	No	No
Default TDP	65 W	105 W
Max. Operating Temperature	95°C	95°C
Thermal Solution (PIB)	Wraith Stealth	Wraith Prism with RGB LED
Cores Technology	TSMC 7nm FinFET	TSMC 7nm FinFET
L2 Cache	3MB	32MB
L3 Cache	6MB	64MB
PCIe Express Version	4.0	4.0
Memory Type	DDR4	DDR4
Memory speed	Up to 3200 MHz	Up to 3200 MHz
Transistors	4.25 billion	3.9 billion
Release Date	11 May 2020	7 July 2019
MSRP	$299	$499
Best Motherboards	Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600X	Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 3900X

Architecture

The Ryzen 9 3900 has Zen 2 (Matisse) architecture, while the Ryzen 5 5600 has AMD’s Zen 3 (Vermeer) architecture.

Zen 2 is a microarchitecture released in 2019 and is the successor to the original Zen microarchitecture. It laid the foundation for several AMD’s processor product lines, including the Ryzen 3000 series desktop and EPYC 7002 server processors. Zen 2 is produced in a 7nm process technology. Additionally, it is also compatible with the PCIe 4.0 interface, which offers faster data transmission rates than the earlier PCIe 3.0 standard.

Also Read: Ryzen 9 3900X Vs Ryzen 5 5600X – All Differences

The Zen 3 microarchitecture employing 7nm technology replaced the Zen 2 architecture and was unveiled in late 2020. It was the starting point for various AMD processor product lines, such as the desktop Ryzen 5000 series and server EPYC 7003 series processors. Furthermore, Zen 3 architecture features an integrated 8-core complex, a revamped cache topology, improved branch prediction, and a larger L3 cache.

The Zen 3 architecture of the Ryzen 5 5600X is superior to the Zen 2 of Ryzen 9 3900X.

CPU Socket

The Ryzen 9 3900X and Ryzen 5 5600X use the same AM4 socket of AMD.

AM4 socket was first introduced in 2016 and has since become the standard socket for AMD’s mainstream and high-end desktop processors like Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9, and Ryzen Threadripper. This socket contains 1331 connecting pins. It has a PGA (Pin Grid Array) design, which means that the pins are located on the processor rather than the socket. The maximum memory rate allowed by the AM4 socket is 3200 MHz for dual-channel DDR4 memory. It also supports PCI Express 3.0 and 4.0 for graphics cards and other expansion cards.

You should also read the AM5 vs AM4: Worth The Upgrade?

Cores & Threads

The number of cores and threads in Ryzen 9 3900X is double that in Ryzen 5 5600X. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X features 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X has 6 cores and 12 threads. Increased core and thread counts aid in enhancing processor performance. So, in terms of cores and threads count, the Ryzen 9 3900X is superior to Ryzen 5 5600X.

Clock Speed

The base clock speed of the Ryzen 5 5600X is 3.7 GHz, and that of the Ryzen 9 3900X is 3.8 GHz. But when we see the boost clock, both CPUs can operate up to 4.6 GHz. The clock decides the processing speed of a CPU. The Ryzen 9 3900X has a higher base clock so that it will operate more quickly in basic operations. However, both processors use at comparable rates when dealing with heavier loads.

CPU Memory

The Ryzen 9 3900X and Ryzen 5 5600X support the same DDR4 memory up to 128 GB. However, the Ryzen 9 3900X has two memory channels, while the Ryzen 5 5600X has only one memory channel. Both CPUs have memory speeds of up to 3200 MHz. Considering the cache size, the Ryzen 9 3900X has 6MB L2 caches and 64MB L3 caches, while the Ryzen 5 5600X has 3MB L2 caches and 32MB L3 caches.

TDP And Max Temperature

When you see the thermal design powers of the Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 5 5600X, the Ryzen 9 3900X has 61.5% greater TDP. The TDP of Ryzen 5 5600X is only 65 W, and that of Ryzen 9 3900X is 105 W. A higher TDP helps in more excellent CPU performance but leads to more heat and ultimately higher temperature. Please read our article on How To Lower CPU Temperature.

The maximum operating temperature of the Ryzen 9 3900X and Ryzen 5 5600X is identical at 95 degrees. AMD provides thermal solutions (PIB) with both of these processors. The Ryzen 9 3900X has Wraith Prism with RGB LED, and the Ryzen 5 5600X has Wraith Stealth. Moreover, the Wraith Prism with RGB LED is a better thermal solution than the Wraith Stealth, particularly for more expensive CPUs with greater TDPs.

Productivity Benchmarks

Let us compare the capabilities of the Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 5 5600X in several arduous tasks. We have gathered the data on productivity from Benchmark PC Tech.

Compression

The Ryzen 9 3900X compressed a few files at 91 million instructions per second, while the Ryzen 5 5600X compressed duplicate files at 62.6 million instructions per second. Thus, the Ryzen 9 3900X has ~45.4% higher compression rate than the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Encryption

The Ryzen 9 3900X encrypted data at a speed of 19.5 GB/s, while the Ryzen 5 5600X encrypted the same data at a speed of 17.4 GB/s. So, the encryption rate of Ryzen 9 3900X is 12% higher than that of Ryzen 5 5600X.

Also Check: Ryzen 7 3800x vs Ryzen 5 5600x: Worth Upgrading?

Video Encoding

X264

In x264 video encoding (Transcoding), the Ryzen 5 5600X encoded the video file at a bitrate of 11.5. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 3900X encoded the same video to x264 format at a bitrate of 14.6. Thus, the Ryzen 9 3900X completes the x264 video encoding with a time efficiency of ~27% compared to the Ryzen 5 5600X.

X265

The Ryzen 9 3900X encoded a video to x265 or High-Efficiency Video Coding format at a bitrate of 43.3. At the same time, the Ryzen 5 5600X executed the same process at a bitrate of 35.6. Thus, the Ryzen 9 3900X is ~21.6% more time efficient than the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Cinebench R20

After running a series of rendering tests, Cinebench R20 assigned 600 scores to the single core of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and 510 scores to the single core of the Ryzen 9 3900X. Thus, the single core of the Ryzen 5 5600X is ~17.6% more efficient and powerful than Ryzen 9 3900X’s.

When we see the multi-core scores achieved by both the processors, the Ryzen 9 3900X made 7880 scores, while the Ryzen 5 5600X had 4470 scores. Since the Ryzen 9 3900X has 12 cores, and the Ryzen 5 5600X has only 6 cores, the Ryzen 9 3900X earned ~76.3% greater multi-core performance scores.

Gaming Benchmarks

Let’s now evaluate how these Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 5 5600X perform in games. We have collected the benchmark data from TheSpyHood.

Gaming Rig

• Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB
• RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro Series 4*16GB DDR4 3600MHz
• SSD: SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 500GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2
• Power Supply: Cooler Master V1000 SMPS
• CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken Z73 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler

Control

• In GPU-intensive Control, the average performance of the Ryzen 5 5600X was ~5% more profitable than the Ryzen 9 3900X.
• The Ryzen 9 3900X delivered an average frame rate of 142 FPS, while the Ryzen 5 5600X was up to 149 FPS.
• The performance of Ryzen 9 3900X maintained 131 Low 1% FPS, and the Low 1% frame rate of Ryzen 5 5600X was 134 FPS.

Similar Comparison: Ryzen 5 7600x vs Ryzen 5 5600x [Gaming & Productivity]

Days Gone

• The Ryzen 5 5600X outperformed the Ryzen 9 3900X on average in Days Gone by about 5.8%.
• The average frame rate for the Ryzen 9 3900X was 155 FPS, while the Ryzen 5 5600X could reach 164 FPS.
• During Days Gone, the Low 1% frame rate of Ryzen 5 5600X was 141 FPS, while Ryzen 9 3900X retained 139 Low 1% FPS.

Metro Exodus

• In GPU-intensive Metro Exodus, the Ryzen 5 5600X played ~8% better on average than the Ryzen 9 3900X.
• The Ryzen 5 5600X attained an average of 149 FPS, whereas the Ryzen 9 3900X only managed an average of 138 FPS.
• During Metro Exodus, the Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 9 3900X delivered 129 and 115 frames per second, respectively, at the low 1% performance.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• In highly taxing Red Dead Redemption 2, the Ryzen 5 5600X consistently topped the Ryzen 9 3900X by roughly 5.7%.
• The Ryzen 5 5600X averaged 149 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 3900X produced 141 frames per second on average.
• During gameplay, the low 1% frame rate delivered by the Ryzen 5 5600X was 127 FPS, and that by the Ryzen 9 3900X was 119 FPS.

Watch Dogs Legion

• In CPU-intensive Watch Dogs Legion, the Ryzen 5 5600X averaged a 7.4% performance advantage over the Ryzen 9 3900X.
• The Ryzen 5 5600X achieved an average of 117 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 3900X turned over an average of 109 FPS.
• In low 1% performance, the frame rates of Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 9 3900X were 93 FPS and 100 FPS, respectively.

Also Read: Core i5 12600K vs Ryzen 5 5600X [Gaming Benchmarks]

Overall Gaming Analysis

Let’s compare the overall gameplay statistics after analyzing the individual gameplay performance of the Ryzen 9 3900X vs the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Performance

The Ryzen 5 5600X delivered more sumptuous frame rates than Ryzen 9 3900X during gameplay at 1080p resolution. The Ryzen 5 5600X offered an average frame rate of 145.6 FPS, and the Ryzen 9 3900X only managed an average of 137 FPS. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X could not lead the FPS battle in any game.

Considering the Low 1% frame rate, the Ryzen 9 3900X turned over 120.8 FPS on average in all games, while the exact figure for Ryzen 5 5600X was 124.8 FPS. The Ryzen 5 5600X made an average lead of 4 FPS. However, in low 1% frame rates, the Ryzen 9 3900X achieved the higher value in Watch Dogs Legion.

Thus, the Ryzen 5 5600X provides a 6.3% more promising gaming performance than Ryzen 9 3900X.

Overall Power Consumption

Regarding power consumption, the Ryzen 5 5600X is more efficient and consumes less power. When the game tests were conducted, the system with Ryzen 9 3900X CPU consumed 554 W power. In contrast, the system with Ryzen 5 5600X CPU engulfed 541 W. Since the rest of the specifications of both systems except the CPU were identical, the Ryzen 9 3900X caused more power consumption. Thus, the Ryzen 5 5600X is ~2.4% more power efficient and is a better choice for users on a tighter budget.

Thermal Efficiency

During tests, the average gaming temperature of Ryzen 9 3900X was about 64.5 degrees compared to the 60 degrees temperature of Ryzen 5 5600X. Since the Ryzen 5 5600X stayed 4.5 degrees more relaxed, it is 7.5% more thermally efficient than the Ryzen 9 3900X.

Also read our guide on CPU Temperature While Gaming.

Price And Availability

The cost and availability of processors must be considered while selecting one. At launch, the Ryzen 9 3900X, the top variant of the Ryzen 3000 series, was priced by AMD at $499. In contrast, the Ryzen 5 5700X, one of the lower variants of the Ryzen 5000 series, was priced at $299. Compared to the Ryzen 9 3900X, the Ryzen 5 5600X is 67% less expensive according to MSRP.

Because of its old age, the Ryzen 9 3900X is not readily available in markets. However, the Ryzen 5 5600X is still easily accessible, and suppliers usually demand $140 to $170 for this CPU. You can easily buy it from Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, and other stores.

Which One Should You Go For?

Before recommending any processor to you, we would like to summarise the key aspects of Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 5 5600X to aid in better decision-making.

The Ryzen 9 3900X uses an outdated Zen 2 architecture of AMD compared to the Ryzen 5 5600X, which uses an advanced Zen 3 architecture. Both processors have tha same AM4 CPU socket.

The Ryzen 5 5600X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 3900X has 12 cores and 24 threads. The 3.8 GHz base clock of the Ryzen 9 3900X is higher than the 3.7 GHz of the Ryzen 5 5600X. However, both processors have a maximum boost clock of 4.6 GHz.

The Ryzen 9 3900X and Ryzen 5 5600X do not offer integrated graphics. You would need a dedicated graphics card with these processors. Both processors have the same 128GB DDR4 memory with a max speed of 3200 MHz.

Also Check: Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 5 5600x

In productivity tests, the Ryzen 9 3900X tops all benchmarks with superior application performance.

Regarding gaming performance, the Ryzen 5 5600X provides an encouraging 6.3% improvement over the Ryzen 9 3900X. The gaming power consumption of the Ryzen 9 3900X is 2.4% more than the Ryzen 5 5600X. The Ryzen 5 5600X also provides a thermal efficiency of 7.5% over the Ryzen 9 3900X in gaming.

After evaluating all the features and functionality of these two processors, we urge you to pursue the Ryzen 5 5600X. The Ryzen 5 5600X has a higher performance to price ratio and is more updated.
However, if you have to use a CPU for applications and software executions, the Ryzen 9 3900X would be a more suitable option because of its fantastic productivity performance. But, you would have to endure for its availability.

---

Related Articles

• Ryzen 5 5600x vs Ryzen 7 3700x
• Intel i3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600x [Full Comparison]