GuidesComparisonsRyzen 9 9900X vs Core i7-14700K: Our Analysis

Ryzen 9 9900X vs Core i7-14700K: Our Analysis

Does the higher tier Ryzen 9 9900X hold a candle to the performance of the i7-14700K? Keep reading to find out!

Expert Verified By

Ryzen 9 9900X

Rated: 8/10

Core i7-14700K

Rated: 8.5/10


Pros And Cons 

CPUProsCons
Ryzen 9 9900X✅ Slightly better in terms of performance
✅ Larger L3 cache size
❌ Higher TDP
❌ More expensive
Core i7 14700K✅ Has 8 more physical cores
✅ Much cheaper
❌ Worse in terms of performance

Key Takeaways

  • Both processors performed almost identically in our gaming tests, with an average framerate difference of only about 0.28%.
  • When we measured the temperatures, the Ryzen 9 9900X took around 13% more power than the Core i7-14700K, but the Intel chip was around 13% hotter.
  • Because of its recent release and higher tier, the Ryzen 9 9900X is around 16% more expensive than the Core i7-14700K.
  • The higher performance and lower price tag make the Core i7-14700K the obvious better deal compared to the 9900X.


Comparison Table

FeatureCore i7 14700KRyzen 9 9900X
CodenameRaptor Lake RefreshZen 5 (Granite Ridge)
Integrated GPUUHD Graphics 770Radeon Graphics
SocketLGA-1700AM5
GPU Boost Clock1600 MHz2200 MHz
Memory Size192 GB192 GB
Max. Memory Channels22
Best MotherboardsThe Best Motherboards For i7-14700K The Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9900X
Best CPU CoolersBest CPU Cooler For i7-14700KBest CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 9900X
Best RAM5 Best RAM For i7-14700K -

Architectural Differences

  1. Core Count: The 14700K has 20 cores (a mix of performance and efficiency), totaling 28 threads. On the other hand, the 9900X has 12 cores, totaling 24 threads.
  2. Clock Speed: The base clock of the 14700K’s P-cores is around 3.4GHz, while the 9900X hangs around 4.4GHz. The boost clocks are the same between the two at 5.6GHz.
  3. L3 Cache: Though the 14700K has a sizeable L3 cache of 33 MB, the 9900X almost doubles this by offering a cache of 64 MB.
  4. Process Node: The 14700K sticks to an older 10nm process node, while the 9900X makes use of a much more recent 4nm process size.
  5. Memory Types: Since the Ryzen 7000 series of chips, AMD has only supported DDR5 memory, while Intel still continues to support both DDR5 and DDR4 memory.

Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

We kept our testing of these chips short in this comparison, only looking at around 7 games. These tests were done on an identical setup for both chips, paired with the same GPU, memory, and storage. You can give the specs a read below:

Test Bench

Dragon Dogma 2

 Dragon Dogma 2
Dragon Dogma 2 @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • The first game of our testing showed the i7’s average framerate of 102 FPS, close to 13% higher than the disappointing 90 FPS average we saw from the 9900X.
  • The 1% lows were measured close to 50 FPS on the AMD chips, which had the 14700K in a 10% lead with an average framerate of around 55 FPS.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawn Trail

 Final Fantasy XIV Dawn Trail
Final Fantasy XIV Dawn Trail @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • Maxing out the graphics at 1080p to stress the CPUs gave us an average framerate of 333 FPS on the 9900X, which was around 9% higher than the 306 FPS average of the 14700K.
  • The 1% lows were much closer between the two chips, with the 9900X hovering around 162 FPS, only 1.2% higher than the i7’s minimum of 160 FPS.

F1 2024

 F1 24
F1 24 @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • F1 ran at blazing fast framerates, with the 9900X getting an average framerate of 382 FPS, 2.4% higher than the 373 FPS that the i7-14700K supplied in our test.
  • The minimum framerates flipped to favor our Intel CPU, with 1% lows of 232 FPS on the chip, around 10.5% higher than the 210 FPS that the 9900X brought to the table.

Baldurs Gate 3

Baldurs Gate 3
Baldurs Gate 3 @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • In our test of Baldur’s Gate 3, the Ryzen 9 was behind its rival by around 9.7%, with an average framerate of 103 FPS, while the 14700K had a framerate of around 113 FPS.
  • The 14700K blazed ahead by around 22% in this title with its lows, with a framerate of around 63 FPS, while the 14700K hung around 77 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • The 9900X took another loss in Cyberpunk 2077, where we measured an average framerate of 176 FPS32% behind the 14700K with an average framerate of 232 FPS.
  • The 1% lows tanked by a similar 31% with 1% lows of around 142 FPS, while the Core i7-14700K had a framerate of around 186 FPS.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III

 Call Of Duty Modern Warfare III
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • The tides swung in favor of the Ryzen in MW III; with an average framerate of around 399 FPS, it came ahead by around 17%, while the 14700K had an average framerate of around 341 FPS.
  • The lows were close to 211 FPS on the 9900X, around 11% higher than the 189 FPS we saw with the Core i7-14700K.

Forza Horizon 5

 Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • Finally, our testing reached a conclusion in Forza Horizon 5: the newer chip had an average of 297 FPS, while the i7 was around 3.7% ahead with 308 FPS on average.
  • The minimum framerates also differed by only 3.5%, with the 9900X coming close to 232 FPS, while the 14700K held 1% lows of around 240 FPS.

Overall Performance

ProcessorAverage FPS1% Lows
Ryzen 9 9900X227📈123.25📉
Core i7 14700K226.5📈131📉
Winner: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

Average FPS

Surprisingly, the Core i7-14700K and the Ryzen 9 9900X were neck and neck in terms of average framerate, with the difference being only 0.28% in favor of the 9900X.

Though this figure might signify that both chips performed identically, the difference from game to game was quite drastic.

1% Lows

The minimum framerates saw a much more substantial difference between the two chips, with the 14700K being around 6.4% higher on average in our testing.

The games we tested ran at such high frame rates that the performance difference between the two chips was negligible. The CPU is no longer the bottleneck at higher resolutions, making both processors perform nearly identically to the human eye.

Power Consumption

GameRyzen 9 9900XCore i7-14700K
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawn Trail10583
Dragon Dogma 210282
F1 248980
Baldurs Gate 39284
Cyberpunk 20779488
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III9591
Forza Horizon 59284
Average Power Draw95.5⚡84.5⚡
Winner: Core i7 14700K

Despite having a much more recent manufacturing process, the Ryzen 9 9900X consumed around 13% more power than the Core i7-14700K. This, coupled with its slightly lower average framerate, makes it significantly less power efficient, at least when it comes to gaming.

Temperatures

GameRyzen 9 9900XCore i7-14700K
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawn Trail7073
Dragon Dogma 26679
F1 246273
Baldurs Gate 36370
Cyberpunk 20776474
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III6270
Forza Horizon 56172
Average Temperature 64🌡️73🌡️
Winner: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

The 9900X dissipated the heat it got from its extra wattage without a sweat, with an average temperature of around 13% cooler than the 14700K. Even though the 14700K was more toasty, its temperature did not raise to an alarming level.


Price And Availability

CPULaunch MSRPCurrent Price
Ryzen 9 9900X💲499💲449
Core i7 14700K💲409💲382
Price Difference19.82%16.13%

Now comes the most vital aspect of every processor: its price. The 14700K is around 16% cheaper than the 9900X, which is a hard sell considering its lower price tag. Both processors should be available at any computer store near you.


Editor`s Note
Image

Our recommendation may vary depending on the platform you’re coming from. If power efficiency isn’t a problem and you’re on an AM5 platform, go for the 9900X. If you have an LGA1700 platform, then go for Intel. If you’re making a PC from scratch, then go with our recommendation!

– Shehryar Khan


What We Recommend

Core i7-14700K: In our testing of both chips, the 14700K comes on top in all categories but temperatures. Despite being older than the 9900X, it outperforms it in every metric, which is why it’s still our go-to recommendation for high-end builds.

Ryzen 9 9900X: Even though it is more recent and has a much more advanced manufacturing process, it underperformed in our testing. The improvements with the 9900X can be meaningful, but their application in gaming is debatable at best.

Having reviewed all the aspects of the Ryzen 9 9900X vs. Core i7-14700K, we think that the latter chip is the better deal. It is more power efficient in games, has better performance, and costs less.


FAQs

Do the Core i7-14700K and the Ryzen 9 9900X both support ECC memory?

Yes, the Core i7-14700K and the Ryzen 9 9900X both support ECC or error correction code memory.

How many lanes of PCIe support does the Ryzen 7 9900X have?

The Ryzen 9 9900X supports 28 lanes of PCIe 5.0 connections.

How many lanes of PCIe support does the Core i7-14700K have?

The Ryzen 9 9900X supports 20 lanes of PCIe 5.0 connections. 


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