AMD Ryzen 9 5900X vs Intel Core i7-6950X

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Ryzen 9 5900X compared with Core i7-6950X

	AMDRyzen 9 5900X	IntelCore i7-6950X
Overview
Released
Released	November 2020	May 2016
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	12 (better)	10
Threads
Threads	24 (better)	20
Base clock
Base clock	3.7 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4.8 GHz (better)	4 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	64 MB (better)	25 MB
Cores
Cores	Zen 3; Vermeer. Two CPU chiplets with six active cores each (PC Gamer).	Broadwell-E; 10 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Clocks
Clocks	Unlocked for overclocking; AMD's launch notice describes Precision Boost 2 and Precision Boost Overdrive.	Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.00 GHz on the preferred core; ordinary Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz. The main boost field uses Intel’s highest published frequency. May availability follows Tom’s Hardware’s 31 May 2016 report, attributing immediate sale of all four models to Intel. Intel’s family record is dated 30 May and ARK gives Q2 2016; the announcement day is not treated as an exact first-sale day.
Cache
Cache	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	A separate graphics card is required.	No processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.
Platform
Socket
Socket	AM4	LGA2011-v3
Base power
Base power	105 W	140 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	DDR4; up to 3200 MT/s.	Up to 128 GB; four channels of DDR4-2133/2400; no ECC.
PCIe
PCIe	PCIe 4.0.	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0
Chipsets
Chipsets	AMD's launch notice specifies 500-series motherboards with a BIOS update; check the motherboard CPU support list.	X99 and LGA2011-v3, distinguished by Intel’s exact-model comparison chart and the reviews. Current ARK abbreviates the socket as FCLGA2011; this is not compatible with the older X79 LGA2011 platform.
Process
Process	TSMC 7nm FinFET CPU cores; separate 12nm I/O die (PC Gamer).	14 nm; Broadwell-E.
Cooler
Cooler	No thermal solution included; AMD recommends liquid cooling for optimal performance. Maximum operating temperature 90°C.	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.