AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Intel Core i9-11900K
The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 1%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.
| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X | Intel Core i9-11900K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score | 73/100 | 72/100 |
| Tier | B | B |
| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |
| Cores | 12 | 8 |
| Threads | 24 | 16 |
| Base clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.8 GHz | 5.3 GHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 105 W | 125 W |
| Release year | 2020 | 2021 |
Which should you buy?
For gaming specifically, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is the better buy — it holds a 1% lead in our index, which shows up most at 1080p and in CPU-bound titles like strategy and simulation games. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X has more cores (12 vs 8), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X runs 20W cooler, meaning a cheaper cooler and less case heat. Either way, pair it with a graphics card of similar standing — check the bottleneck calculator before you buy.