Intel Core i9-11900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 1%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.
| Specification | Intel Core i9-11900K | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score | 72/100 | 73/100 |
| Tier | B | B |
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Cores | 8 | 12 |
| Threads | 16 | 24 |
| Base clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 125 W | 105 W |
| Release year | 2021 | 2020 |
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.