Intel Core i9-10900K vs AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 1%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.
| Specification | Intel Core i9-10900K | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score | 70/100 | 71/100 |
| Tier | B | B |
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Cores | 10 | 8 |
| Threads | 20 | 16 |
| Base clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.3 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 125 W | 105 W |
| Release year | 2020 | 2020 |
Which should you buy?
For gaming specifically, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 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 Intel Core i9-10900K has more cores (10 vs 8), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 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.