AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT vs Intel Core i7-9700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700 and AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT are two desktop processors from different design philosophies. The data in the database shows a clear pattern: the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT dominates the vast majority of benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-9700 holds onto a few specific strengths. This analysis breaks down the recorded scores to help determine which processor fits specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results present a decisive victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT in most tests. Of the 19 recorded comparisons, the Ryzen 5 3600XT wins 16, while the Intel Core i7-9700 secures only 3 wins. The most striking difference appears in multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 3600XT scores 15776 against the Intel Core i7-9700's 11200, a 29% lead. This pattern repeats across the entire Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD processor scores 6625 versus 4704, again a 29% advantage, while in Cinebench R15 multi-core it posts 1590 against 1128, a 29.1% margin. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend: the Ryzen 5 3600XT leads by 29% in R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests.

The Ryzen 5 3600XT also shows a substantial advantage in Geekbench multi-core, scoring 7973 compared to the Intel chip's 6800, a 14.7% difference. In Geekbench single-core, the lead narrows to 6.4%, with scores of 1667 and 1560 respectively. The PassMark suite reveals some of the largest gaps. In data encryption, the Ryzen 5 3600XT scores 14608 versus just 4322 for the Intel Core i7-9700, a massive 70.4% difference. The find prime numbers test shows a 57.5% lead for AMD, with scores of 113 and 48. PassMark physics also favors the AMD processor significantly, with a 32.2% difference (1210 vs 820). PassMark multi-thread results show the Ryzen 5 3600XT at 18562 against 13223, a 28.8% lead, and integer math shows a 21.9% advantage with scores of 51416 and 40138. Data compression favors AMD by 21.3% (230645 vs 181411), and random string sorting shows a narrower 5.9% lead (24960 vs 23482). The extended instructions test is nearly a tie, with the AMD part winning by only 0.7% (14585 vs 14488).

The Intel Core i7-9700 does claim one notable victory in floating point math, scoring 34187 against the AMD processor's 30149, a 13.4% advantage. It also wins the PassMark single-thread test by a razor-thin 0.1% margin, with scores of 2756 and 2752. Both processors sit at nearly identical overall percentiles, with the Intel part at the 72nd percentile and the AMD part at the 71st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded applications?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT wins every multi-threaded comparison. It leads by 29% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 29% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 29.1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 14.7% in Geekbench multi-core, and 28.8% in PassMark multi-thread.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-9700 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the data shows three wins. It leads by 13.4% in PassMark floating point math and by 0.1% in both PassMark single-thread tests.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The results are mixed. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT holds a 29% lead in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests and a 6.4% lead in Geekbench single-core, but the Intel Core i7-9700 edges out a 0.1% win in PassMark single-thread.

Q: What is the largest benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark data encryption, where the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT scores 14608 compared to the Intel Core i7-9700's 4322, a 70.4% difference.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory bandwidth?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT supports 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core i7-9700 supports 42.7 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design approaches. The Intel Core i7-9700 uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel, with a die size of 180.3 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT uses the Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Matisse 2 codename, built on a 7 nm process node by TSMC, with a die size of 74 mm². The AMD processor contains 3,800 million transistors, while the transistor count for the Intel part is not recorded.

Cache configurations differ substantially. Both allocate 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache differs, with the Intel part offering 256 KB per core and the AMD part offering 512 KB per core. The L3 cache shows the biggest difference: the Intel Core i7-9700 has 12 MB shared, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has 32 MB shared. This larger cache pool likely contributes to the AMD processor's strong performance in data-heavy workloads.

The Intel Core i7-9700 includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has no integrated graphics at all. The Intel part uses 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part supports PCIe Gen 4. Both processors support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, though the AMD part supports higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-9700 offers 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT offers 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the Intel part runs at 3.00 GHz and the AMD part at 3.80 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the Intel part reaching 4.70 GHz and the AMD part reaching 4.50 GHz. The thermal design power differs by 30 watts, with the Intel part rated at 65 W and the AMD part at 95 W.

The sockets are incompatible: the Intel Core i7-9700 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT uses AMD Socket AM4. The Intel part is part of the Core i7 generation known as Coffee Lake Refresh, while the AMD part belongs to the Ryzen 5 series within the Zen 2 Matisse generation. The Intel part has a locked multiplier, while the AMD part has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i7-9700 launched at an MSRP of $333, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT launched at $249. The Intel part is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD part remains in active production.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT is clearly the stronger choice for multi-threaded productivity workloads. The benchmark data shows consistent 29% leads across all Cinebench versions, which indicates a significant advantage in rendering and content creation tasks. The 70.4% lead in data encryption and the 57.5% lead in prime number finding suggest the AMD processor excels at cryptography, scientific computing, and other mathematically intensive tasks. The 28.8% lead in PassMark multi-thread and the 32.2% lead in physics simulation reinforce its strength in heavily threaded applications and physics-based workloads. The 21.9% lead in integer math and the 21.3% lead in data compression make it the better option for file archiving, database operations, and general computational tasks.

The Intel Core i7-9700 wins in floating point math by 13.4%, which points to an edge in workloads that rely heavily on floating point calculations, such as certain scientific simulations and some types of audio processing. Its 0.1% lead in PassMark single-thread tests is negligible in practical terms, but it does show that the Intel part remains competitive in lightly threaded scenarios. The Intel processor also includes integrated graphics, which matters for systems built without a discrete GPU, and it carries a lower 65 W TDP, which may be relevant for compact builds with modest cooling.

The Verdict

The data points clearly toward the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT for most users. It wins 16 of 19 recorded comparisons, often by substantial margins. The 29% advantage across all Cinebench multi-core tests makes it the better choice for video editing, 3D rendering, and other creative workloads. The massive leads in encryption and prime number tests make it the obvious pick for anyone doing scientific or cryptographic work. Its higher base clock, larger L3 cache, higher memory bandwidth, and support for PCIe Gen 4 provide a modern foundation that the Intel part cannot match. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT is the better all-around processor according to the recorded data.

The Intel Core i7-9700 remains relevant only in narrow scenarios. Its 13.4% lead in floating point math could matter for specific scientific applications, and its integrated graphics make it a fallback option for systems without a dedicated GPU. The lower TDP of 65 W could also favor it in power-constrained builds. However, its end-of-life production status, locked multiplier, and consistent losses in nearly every benchmark make it difficult to recommend over the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT. The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT is the superior processor for the vast majority of workloads.