The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture. It has a base clock speed of 3.4 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.9 GHz. It also has 72 MB of L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory.
The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture. It has a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.8 GHz. It also has 64 MB of L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory.
In terms of performance, the Ryzen 9 5950X is generally considered to be slightly faster than the Ryzen 9 5900X, due to its higher core count and additional threads. The Ryzen 9 5950X is well-suited to heavily multi-threaded workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, and content creation and should offer a significant performance boost over the Ryzen 9 5900X in these types of tasks.
The Ryzen 9 5900X may still be a good choice for gaming and some other single-threaded tasks, but it is generally not as well-suited to heavily multi-threaded workloads as the Ryzen 9 5950X.
Overall, the Ryzen 9 5950X is a more powerful processor that is better suited to demanding workloads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X is a more budget-friendly option that may be suitable for some lighter workloads.
Theoretical Specifications (Comparison)
| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 5950X | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Generation | 5th generation | 5th Generation |
| Cores/Threads | 16/32 | 12/24 |
| Base/Boost Frequency | 3.4 GHz/4.9GHz | 3.7 GHz/4.8 GHz |
| L1/L2/L3 Cache | -/8MB/64MB | -/6MB/64MB |
| Overclocking | Available | Available |
| PCIe Version | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Memory Support | DDR4 3200MHz | DDR4 3200MHz |
| Boxed Cooling Solution | No | No |
| Integrated Graphics Card | No | No |
| Maximum Temperature | 90°C | 90°C |
You can see that there is a difference in the operating frequency and all other things are almost similar. So, how much performance difference could these give when it comes to the real-world application? Let’s see all that below.
Benchmark Scores (Comparison)
| Parameter | AMD Ryzen 9 5950X | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Mark Score | 45,857 | 39,313 |
| Single-Core Score (Geekbench) | 1,684 | 1,670 |
| Multi-Core Score (GeekBench) | 16,471 | 13,943 |
| Single-Thread Rating (PassMark) | 3,464 | 3,461 |
The single-core performance is almost similar in both CPUs. But, in multi-core benchmark tests, 12700K is the winner. You can see the multi-core GeekBench score is too high for 12700K as compared to 12700. From here, we can say that the 12700K is going to perform very well when it comes to productivity and other multi-core tasks.
Cinebench R23 Scores (Comparison)
Here you can see that the 5950X is capable of scoring better numbers in R23 sine and multi-core benchmark tests.
Which one is good for gaming: 5950X or 5900X?
Both processors feature 16 cores and 32 threads and have similar clock speeds, but the 5950X has a slightly higher boost clock speed, with a maximum boost clock of 4.9 GHz compared to the 5900X’s maximum boost clock of 4.8 GHz. This gives the 5950X a slight advantage in single-threaded tasks, such as some games.
As per the benchmark scores as well, we can say that the 5950X is a much more capable CPU when it comes to gaming as well. Let’s see a gaming benchmark comparison video and find it ourselves.
As we discussed above, the 5950X is capable of giving a better gaming performance in all kinds of environments.
Which one is good for productivity: 5950X or 5900X?
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and the Ryzen 9 5900X are both powerful processors that can handle productivity tasks well, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and image manipulation. However, the 5950X will offer a slight advantage in terms of overall performance and is surely a better choice for productivity.
In terms of software, both processors are capable of running a wide range of productivity applications, such as Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Blender, Android Studio, and AutoCAD. However, the actual performance of these applications will depend on the specific workload and other system components, such as the graphics card and memory.
In general, the additional cores and threads of the Ryzen 9 5950X may allow it to perform better in multitasking and CPU-intensive tasks, such as video editing and 3D rendering, compared to the 5900X. However, the actual performance difference between the two processors will depend on the specific workload and other system components, such as the graphics card and memory.
Cache Difference
The Ryzen 9 5900X has a total cache size of 70 MB, which is divided into 64 MB of L3 cache and 6 MB of L2 cache. The L3 cache is a shared cache that is shared among all the cores on the processor and is used to store frequently accessed data. The L2 cache is a smaller, dedicated cache that is associated with each core and is used to store more frequently accessed data.
The Ryzen 9 5950X has a total cache size of 72 MB, which is divided into 64 MB of L3 cache and 8 MB of L2 cache. This means that the 5900X has slightly less L2 cache than the 5950X.
In general, a larger cache size can improve the performance of a processor by allowing it to store more data closer to the cores, which can reduce the number of times it has to access the slower main memory. However, the actual impact of cache size on performance will depend on the specific workload and other system components.
You can see that the 5950X has 2MB of higher cache size which will not make any serious difference in the performance
Memory Difference
The Ryzen 9 5950X and 5900X both support DDR4 memory with a maximum speed of 3200 MHz in dual-channel mode. Both the CPUs support PCIe 4.0 interface only. No PCIe 5.0 support is available with the both.
Overclocking
The Ryzen 9 5950X has a base clock speed of 3.4 GHz and can boost up to 4.9 GHz with its boost clock. The 5950X has an unlocked multiplier, which means it can be overclocked by increasing its base clock speed or by adjusting its multiplier.
The Ryzen 9 5900X has a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz and can boost up to 4.8 GHz with its boost clock. Like the 5950X, the 5900X has an unlocked multiplier, which means it can be overclocked in the same way.
So, both can be overclocked to higher frequencies and achieve better performance.
Price
Which one to choose: 5900X or 5950X?
Before going further, I must say that the price difference between these is huge. By the time I am writing this article, the 5950X is around 150$ expensive as compared to the 5900X. So, I don’t think there is any good reason to pick the 5950X over the 5900X. However, if you think 5950X is the only CPU that can fulfill your needs, you can surely go for it.
Also, if your aim is gaming, you can save those bucks and invest them in a good GPU.
But, if you don’t which one to choose for gaming, productivity, or any other thing, I would say 5900X is a good value-for-money option to pick.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
I am Anshul Rana, an experienced author specializing in PC gear reviews and Windows 10 software tutorials. With a strong passion for technology and an in-depth understanding of the PC industry, I provide insightful and detailed analyses of computer peripherals, gaming gear, and software solutions. My writing style is concise yet informative, making complex topics accessible to both beginners and advanced users. Through my reviews and tutorials, I aim to offer valuable guidance, helping readers make informed decisions to enhance their PC experience and explore the vast possibilities of Windows 10 software.
