AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Ryzen 9 3900X compared with Ryzen 9 5900X

	AMDRyzen 9 3900X	AMDRyzen 9 5900X
Overview
Released
Released	July 2019	November 2020
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	12	12
Threads
Threads	24	24
Base clock
Base clock	3.8 GHz	3.7 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4.6 GHz	4.8 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	64 MB	64 MB
Cores
Cores	Zen 2; Matisse; twelve cores with simultaneous multithreading. Two CPU chiplets with six active cores each and a separate I/O die (PCGamesN).	Zen 3; Vermeer. Two CPU chiplets with six active cores each (PC Gamer).
Clocks
Clocks	Unlocked for overclocking; Precision Boost Overdrive with Automatic Overclocking supported, as described in AMD's launch notice.	Unlocked for overclocking; AMD's launch notice describes Precision Boost 2 and Precision Boost Overdrive.
Cache
Cache	768 KB L1; 6 MB L2; 64 MB L3.	6 MB L2; Zen 3 unifies each eight-core complex around 32 MB of L3 cache, as described in AMD's launch notice.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
Graphics	No integrated graphics; a separate graphics card is required.	A separate graphics card is required.
Platform
Socket
Socket	AM4	AM4
Base power
Base power	105 W	105 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	Yes	No
Memory support
Memory support	DDR4; two channels; up to 3200 MT/s.	DDR4; up to 3200 MT/s.
PCIe
PCIe	PCIe 4.0 x16; AMD introduced PCIe 4.0 support with the X570 platform at launch.	PCIe 4.0.
Chipsets
Chipsets	X570 at launch; check the motherboard's CPU support list and BIOS for other AM4 boards.	AMD's launch notice specifies 500-series motherboards with a BIOS update; check the motherboard CPU support list.
Process
Process	TSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores; 14nm I/O die (PCGamesN).	TSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores; separate 12nm I/O die (PC Gamer).
Cooler
Cooler	Retail boxed processor includes an RGB cooler (PCGamesN; inclusion also confirmed by TechRadar); AMD's current support specification does not name a cooler. Maximum operating temperature 95°C.	No thermal solution included; AMD recommends liquid cooling for optimal performance. Maximum operating temperature 90°C.