Intel Core i7-9700 vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 2%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.
| Specification | Intel Core i7-9700 | AMD Ryzen 9 3950X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score | 61/100 | 62/100 |
| Tier | C | B |
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Cores | 8 | 16 |
| Threads | 8 | 32 |
| Base clock | 3 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.7 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 65 W | 105 W |
| Release year | 2019 | 2019 |
Which should you buy?
For gaming specifically, the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X 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 AMD Ryzen 9 3950X has more cores (16 vs 8), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. The Intel Core i7-9700 runs 40W 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.