AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core i7-14700K

The Intel Core i7-14700K is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 2%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.

Intel Core i7-14700K wins — about 2% faster for gaming
Specification AMD Ryzen 9 9950X Intel Core i7-14700K
Gaming score 88/100 90/100
Tier A S
Manufacturer AMD Intel
Cores 16 20
Threads 32 28
Base clock 4.3 GHz 3.4 GHz
Boost clock 5.7 GHz 5.6 GHz
Power draw (TDP) 170 W 125 W
Release year 2024 2023

Which should you buy?

For gaming specifically, the Intel Core i7-14700K is the better buy — it holds a 2% lead in our index, which shows up most at 1080p and in CPU-bound titles like strategy and simulation games. The Intel Core i7-14700K has more cores (20 vs 16), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. The Intel Core i7-14700K runs 45W 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.