Ryzen 9 3900X Vs Ryzen 5 5600X – All Differences

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Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

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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

[Comparisons Specialist]

I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Get In Touch: uzair@tech4gamers.com