AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Ryzen 9 3900X compared with Ryzen 9 5950X
AMDRyzen 9 3900XAMDRyzen 9 5950X
Overview
ReleasedJuly 2019November 2020
Cores and clocks
Cores1216 (better)
Threads2432 (better)
Base clock3.8 GHz3.4 GHz
Boost clock4.6 GHz4.9 GHz (better)
L3 cache64 MB64 MB
CoresZen 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.
ClocksUnlocked for overclocking; Precision Boost Overdrive with Automatic Overclocking supported, as described in AMD's launch notice.Unlocked for overclocking; Precision Boost 2 and Precision Boost Overdrive described in AMD's launch notice.
Cache768 KB L1; 6 MB L2; 64 MB L3.8 MB L2; Zen 3's unified eight-core complex provides 32 MB of L3 cache per complex, as described in AMD's launch notice.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphicsNoNo
GraphicsNo integrated graphics; a separate graphics card is required.A separate graphics card is required.
Platform
SocketAM4AM4
Base power105 W105 W
UnlockedYesYes
Cooler in the boxYesNo
Memory supportDDR4; two channels; up to 3200 MT/s.DDR4; up to 3200 MT/s.
PCIePCIe 4.0 x16; AMD introduced PCIe 4.0 support with the X570 platform at launch.PCIe 4.0.
ChipsetsX570 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.
ProcessTSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores; 14nm I/O die (PCGamesN).TSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores.
CoolerRetail 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.

More comparisons