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Uzair Qureshi

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Ryzen 5 5600X has 6 cores, while the Ryzen 9 3900X has 12 cores, which adds up to 24 threads, i.e. 12 more than the thread count on the Ryzen 9 3900X.
2. Clock Speeds: The Ryzen 5 5600X has a base clock of 3.7GHz and a boost capability of up to 4.6GHz. On the contrary, the base clock of the Ryzen 9 3900X is around 3.8GHz, with a boost of up to 4.6GHz.
3. TDP: The base TDP of the Ryzen 5 5600X is around 65 watts, whereas the Ryzen 9 3900X has a much higher TDP of 105 watts.
4. L3 Cache: The L3 cache of the Ryzen 9 is substantially larger at 64 MB, whereas the Ryzen 5 has an L3 cache of only 6 MB, which is 14 times smaller than that of the Ryzen 9 3900X.
5. Process Node: Both the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 9 3900X are based upon the same 7nm processing nodes, despite being far apart in generations.

To compare the features and performance of the Ryzen 9 3900X and the Ryzen 5 5600X in demanding computer applications and games, let us start with the Ryzen 9 3900X vs the Ryzen 5 5600X. Both processors belong to the AMD Ryzen series but there is a vast gap between the two processors’ generations. Let’s see if the gap is justified.

Ryzen 9 3900X Vs Ryzen 5 5600X – Gaming Benchmarks

Let us start discussing the results of the gaming benchmarks involved in testing the CPU strengths.

Gaming Rig

• Operating System: Windows 11 | 64 Bit
• MOBO: GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Pro Wifi
• GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3090
• RAM: Patriot Viper LED DDR4-3600 16GB RAM
• SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus G 2TB
• Power Supply: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
• CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360mm

Control

• We tested Control on both the processors at first, where the Ryzen 9 3900X delivered a ~5% smaller average frame rate of 142 FPS, while the Ryzen 5 5600X was up to 149 FPS.
• The performance of Ryzen 9 3900X maintained 131 Low 1% FPS, and the Low 1% frame rate of Ryzen 5 5600X was 134 FPS. 

Days Gone

• Moving onto Days Gone, we noticed that the average frame rate for the Ryzen 9 3900X was 155 FPS, while the Ryzen 5 5600X could reach a 5.8% greater framerate of 164 FPS.
• During Days Gone, the Low 1% frame rate of Ryzen 5 5600X was 141 FPS, while Ryzen 9 3900X retained 139 Low 1% FPS.

Metro Exodus

• In GPU-intensive Metro Exodus, the Ryzen 5 5600X played ~8% better with an average of 149FPS than the Ryzen 9 3900X attaining an average of 138FPS.
• During Metro Exodus, the Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 9 3900X delivered 129 and 115 frames per second, respectively, at the low 1% performance.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• In RDR 2 benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 5600X averaged 149 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 3900X produced 141 FPS on average, roughly 5.7% less.
• During gameplay, the low 1% frame rate delivered by the Ryzen 5 5600X was 127 FPS, and that by the Ryzen 9 3900X was 119 FPS.

Watch Dogs Legion

• As per our analysis in CPU-intensive Watch Dogs Legion, the Ryzen 5 5600X dominated with a 7.5% greater average of 117 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 3900X turned over an average of 109 FPS.
• In low 1% performance, the frame rates of Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 9 3900X were 93 FPS and 100 FPS, respectively.

Ryzen 9 3900X Vs Ryzen 5 5600X – Overall Gaming Analysis

In our gaming benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 5600X offered an average frame rate which was 6.3% greater than the Ryzen 9 3900’s performance. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X could not lead the FPS battle in any game. In 1% low tests, the battle was led by the Ryzen 5 as well, as it dominated with a 4 FPS lead over its competitor.

Power Consumption

When the game tests were conducted, the Ryzen 5 5600X CPU consumed ~2.4% lower power than the Ryzen 9 3900X. The Ryzen 9 3900X, on the flip side, gained substantial amounts of power more than its competitor. Thus, the Ryzen 5 5600X is more power efficient and is a better choice for users on a tighter budget.

Thermal Efficiency

During our gaming benchmarks, the average gaming temperature of the Ryzen 5 5600X stayed at 4.5°C more relaxed, it is 7.5% more thermally efficient than the Ryzen 9 3900X. This makes the Ryzen 5 more compelling for users aiming for a cooler CPU by default.

Price And Availability

Compared to the Ryzen 9 3900X, the Ryzen 5 5600X is 146% less expensive according to current prices on Amazon. This difference is colossal and immediately tilts the scales towards the Ryzen 5 5600X as the Ryzen 5 5600X is still easily accessible. You can easily buy it from Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, and other stores.

Conclusive Remarks – Which One We Recommend?

Ryzen 9 3900X: If you have to use a CPU for applications and software executions, the Ryzen 9 3900X would be a more suitable option because of its fantastic productivity performance. But, you would have to endure for its availability and huge price as compared to the Ryzen 5.

Ryzen 5 5600X: The Ryzen 5 5600X provides an encouraging 6.3% improvement over the Ryzen 9 3900X. The gaming power consumption of the Ryzen 9 3900X is 2.4% more than the Ryzen 5 5600X. The Ryzen 5 5600X also provides a thermal efficiency of 7.5% over the Ryzen 9 3900X in gaming.

We would recommend the Ryzen 5 5600X because this processor is on par with the Ryzen 9 3900X when it comes to gaming performance, that too at an astonishingly lower price and far better thermal and power ratings.

More from Ryzen 5 5600X:

• Ryzen 5 5600x vs Ryzen 7 3700x
• Intel i3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600x [Full Comparison]
• Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 5 5600x

More from Ryzen 9 3900X:

• Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 9 5900X
• Ryzen 9 3900X Vs Ryzen 5 5600X

Uzair Qureshi

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com