AMD Ryzen 5 3500X vs Intel Core i7-4790K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is the clear victor in this matchup, winning 18 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks against the Intel Core i7-4790K. The data shows a generational leap in performance, with the Ryzen 5 3500X leading by margins that range from narrow single-thread advantages to staggering multi-thread and encryption deltas. The sole exception is a single PassMark test where the older Intel part ekes out a 1% win, but this does little to offset the overall dominance of the AMD processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking results come from the PassMark data encryption and find prime numbers tests, where the Ryzen 5 3500X absolutely demolishes the i7-4790K. In data encryption, the AMD chip scores 7276 against Intel's 2264, a 221.4% advantage. Similarly, in the find prime numbers test, the Ryzen 5 3500X scores 130 versus 34, a 282.4% lead. These are not incremental improvements; they represent a complete overhaul in processing efficiency, likely stemming from the architectural differences between the two chips.

Multi-threaded workloads show a consistent and massive gap. The Cinebench R23 multicore test has the Ryzen 5 3500X scoring 11196 compared to the i7-4790K's 6855, a 63.3% difference. This pattern repeats across Cinebench R15 (1128 vs 690, a 63.5% lead) and R20 (4702 vs 2879, a 63.3% lead). The PassMark multithread score tells the same story, with the AMD processor at 13172 and the Intel at 8062, a 63.4% delta. The Ryzen 5 3500X's six physical cores, even without hyper-threading, prove far more capable than the i7-4790K's four cores with eight threads.

The gap narrows considerably in single-threaded tests, but the AMD chip still wins. In Geekbench single-core, the Ryzen 5 3500X scores 1539 versus 1361, a 13.1% lead. PassMark single-thread shows a much tighter race, with scores of 2502 and 2466 respectively, a mere 1.5% difference. This suggests that while the i7-4790K's high base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost of 4.40 GHz keep it competitive in lightly-threaded tasks, the newer Zen 2 architecture of the Ryzen 5 3500X still holds the edge.

The only benchmark where the Intel Core i7-4790K wins is PassMark random string sorting, scoring 16431 against the AMD's 16263. This is a slim 1% victory and appears to be an outlier rather than a trend. In every other measure, from the 38.6% lead in Geekbench multicore (6331 vs 4569) to the 125.2% lead in PassMark physics (1234 vs 548), the Ryzen 5 3500X is the superior processor.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X in multi-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 5 3500X leads by 63.3% in Cinebench R23 multicore (11196 vs 6855) and by 38.6% in Geekbench multicore (6331 vs 4569). The PassMark multithread score also shows a 63.4% advantage for the AMD chip.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-4790K better at any single task?

A: Yes, the data shows a single win for the Intel part. In the PassMark random string sorting test, the i7-4790K scores 16431, which is 1% higher than the Ryzen 5 3500X's 16263.

Q: What is the difference in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X wins all single-threaded tests. The largest margin is a 13.1% lead in Geekbench single-core (1539 vs 1361), while the smallest is a 1.5% lead in PassMark single-thread (2502 vs 2466).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 3500X has an average benchmark score of 12000, while the i7-4790K scores 11745. Interestingly, both processors sit in the 67th percentile of all CPUs, according to the data.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has a 32 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i7-4790K has an 8 MB shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of design. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is built on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Matisse) using a 7 nm process from TSMC. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-4790K uses the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process from Intel. This manufacturing difference is significant, as the Ryzen 5 3500X packs 3,800 million transistors into a 74 mm² die, while the i7-4790K contains 1,400 million transistors on a much larger 177 mm² die.

Core and thread counts also differ substantially. The AMD chip offers 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel chip provides 4 cores and 8 threads. The Ryzen 5 3500X features 64 KB of L1 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, whereas the i7-4790K has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache situation is a major differentiator, with the AMD part offering 32 MB shared versus the Intel's 8 MB shared.

Memory support is another clear divide. The Ryzen 5 3500X supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i7-4790K is limited to DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, but with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The AMD processor also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes, while the Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Intel part includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is the superior processor. It wins 18 out of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, and the margins of victory are often overwhelming. In compute-heavy tasks like data encryption, prime number finding, and multi-core rendering, the Ryzen 5 3500X is between 58.2% and 282.4% faster. Even in single-threaded tasks, where the i7-4790K's high clock speeds should help, the AMD chip maintains a lead, albeit a smaller one.

The Intel Core i7-4790K's single win in random string sorting (1% ahead) does not compensate for its losses elsewhere. The data indicates that the Ryzen 5 3500X offers a dramatically better experience for modern workloads, from content creation to general productivity. The i7-4790K, with its end-of-life production status and older DDR3 memory support, is simply outclassed.

For anyone choosing between these two, the data strongly favors the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X. Its higher average benchmark score (12000 vs 11745), coupled with massive wins in multi-threaded and encryption tests, makes it the clear choice for performance. The Intel chip's only potential advantage is its integrated graphics, but for users with a discrete GPU, this is irrelevant. The verdict from the data is simple: pick the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X.

Specification Differences

The core specifications between these two CPUs highlight their generational gap. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i7-4790K has 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds differ, with the AMD part running at 3.60 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, while the Intel chip runs higher at 4.00 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. However, the Ryzen 5 3500X has a lower TDP of 65 watts versus the i7-4790K's 88 watts.

The process nodes are generations apart: 7 nm for AMD versus 22 nm for Intel. This leads to major differences in transistor count and die size, with the AMD chip using 3,800 million transistors on 74 mm², and the Intel chip using 1,400 million on 177 mm². Memory support is split between DDR4 and DDR3, with corresponding bandwidth differences of 51.2 GB/s and 25.6 GB/s. PCIe support also differs, with the Ryzen 5 3500X offering Gen 4 with 24 lanes and the i7-4790K offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Intel part has integrated graphics, while the AMD part does not.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is the winner in almost every category. It dominates in multi-threaded workloads, as shown by its 63.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 63.4% lead in PassMark multithread. For users running video rendering, 3D modeling, or software compilation, the Ryzen 5 3500X is the definitive choice. It is also massively faster in security-related tasks, with a 221.4% lead in data encryption, and in complex mathematical operations, with a 282.4% lead in prime number finding. The AMD chip also wins in floating-point math (58.2% ahead) and extended instructions (85.4% ahead), making it better for scientific computing and code that leverages modern instruction sets.

The Intel Core i7-4790K has a single, narrow victory in PassMark random string sorting (1% ahead). This suggests a specific, niche workload where the Intel architecture performs slightly better. For all other tasks, the Ryzen 5 3500X is faster. Even in single-threaded performance, where the i7-4790K's higher clocks might offer an advantage, the AMD chip wins by up to 13.1%. The data clearly shows that the Ryzen 5 3500X is the better processor for virtually any use case, from gaming to productivity. The only reason to consider the i7-4790K would be if a system absolutely required its integrated graphics or an older platform, but from a pure performance standpoint, the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X wins decisively.