AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX and AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D are both 8-core, 16-thread Zen 3 parts, but they target very different platforms and use cases. Benchmark data shows the Ryzen 7 5700X3D wins 15 of 23 head-to-head tests, dominating in multi-threaded and cache-sensitive workloads, while the Ryzen 9 5900HX takes 8 wins, mostly in light-threaded and math-specific tasks. The 5700X3D’s massive 96 MB L3 cache and desktop power envelope give it a clear performance edge in sustained all-core work, but the 5900HX’s higher clocks and mobile efficiency make it competitive in single-thread and certain integer workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 24,822 compared to the Ryzen 7 5700X3D’s 24,709. This is a marginal 0.5% difference, with the 5900HX’s nearest rival list showing a 0.5 deltaPct versus the 5700X3D.

Q: How do their multi-core Cinebench scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X3D is significantly faster in multi-core rendering. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the 5700X3D scores 22,366 versus the 5900HX’s 12,845, a 42.6% advantage. The gap is smaller in Cinebench R15 multicore (2,254 vs 2,106), but the 5700X3D still leads by 6.6%.

Q: Which CPU wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The results are mixed. The 5900HX wins 3DMark single-thread (881 vs 804, 9.6% faster) and PassMark single-thread (3,178 vs 2,970, 7% faster). However, the 5700X3D wins Cinebench R23 single-core (3,157 vs 1,488, 52.9% faster) and Cinebench R15 single-core (318 vs 240, 24.5% faster), indicating a test-dependent outcome.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Ryzen 9 5900HX has only 16 MB. This 80 MB difference is the defining architectural feature, and it explains the 5700X3D’s dominance in cache-sensitive workloads like passmark_find_prime_numbers, where it scores 224 versus 53 (76.3% faster).

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration. However, the 5900HX has higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 68.3 GB/s versus the 5700X3D’s 51.2 GB/s. The 5700X3D supports ECC memory, while the 5900HX does not.

Q: What are their PCIe generations?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X3D supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 9 5900HX is limited to PCIe Gen 3. This makes the 5700X3D more suitable for modern GPUs and NVMe drives that benefit from Gen 4 bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs are built on TSMC’s 7 nm process and use the Zen 3 architecture, but they are fundamentally different dies. The Ryzen 9 5900HX is codenamed Cezanne and designed for mobile, while the Ryzen 7 5700X3D is codenamed Vermeer and built for desktop. The transistor counts reflect this: the 5900HX has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, whereas the 5700X3D has 8,850 million transistors on a much smaller 74 mm² die.

The most significant architectural difference is the L3 cache. The 5700X3D’s 96 MB shared L3 cache is 6 times larger than the 5900HX’s 16 MB. This massive cache is the reason the 5700X3D excels in workloads that repeatedly access the same data, such as physics simulations and prime number calculations. Both CPUs have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (512 KB per core) caches.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The 5900HX has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the 5700X3D operates at 3.00 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost. The 5900HX’s higher clocks give it an edge in latency-sensitive single-thread tasks, but the 5700X3D’s cache compensates in other scenarios.

The 5900HX is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP, while the 5700X3D is a desktop part with a 105 W TDP. This power envelope difference explains why the 5700X3D can sustain higher all-core performance despite lower clocks. The 5900HX includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the 5700X3D has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. The 5900HX also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 5700X3D is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 7 5700X3D’s biggest win is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 22,366 versus the 5900HX’s 12,845. That is a 42.6% advantage, the largest single-test gap in the entire dataset. The 5700X3D also crushes the 5900HX in Cinebench R23 single-core (3,157 vs 1,488, 52.9% faster) and in passmark_physics (2,686 vs 909, 66.2% faster). These results show that the 5700X3D’s cache and desktop power delivery translate into massive gains in both rendering and simulation workloads.

The 5700X3D also leads in Geekbench multicore (11,086 vs 8,720, 21.3% faster) and PassMark multithread (26,318 vs 22,326, 15.2% faster). In 3DMark 16-thread tests, it scores 6,764 versus 6,490, a 4.1% win. Its other wins include passmark_data_compression (307,237 vs 287,793, 6.3% faster), passmark_extended_instructions (21,202 vs 19,488, 8.1% faster), and passmark_random_string_sorting (31,492 vs 30,042, 4.6% faster). The 5700X3D also wins Cinebench R15 multicore (2,254 vs 2,106, 6.6% faster) and passmark_data_encryption (18,788 vs 18,188, 3.2% faster).

The Ryzen 9 5900HX wins in several light-threaded and math-specific tests. Its best win is in 3DMark single-thread (881 vs 804, 9.6% faster) and 3DMark 2-thread (1,720 vs 1,575, 9.2% faster). It also wins passmark_integer_math (86,735 vs 81,257, 6.7% faster) and passmark_floating_point_math (47,556 vs 46,492, 2.3% faster). In 3DMark 4-thread, it scores 3,285 versus 3,097 (6.1% faster), and in 3DMark 8-thread it wins narrowly at 5,406 versus 5,357 (0.9% faster). The 5900HX also wins passmark_single_thread (3,178 vs 2,970, 7% faster) and passmark_singlethread (same scores).

Notably, the 5900HX’s wins are concentrated in low-thread-count tests and pure math operations, while the 5700X3D dominates in all-core and cache-heavy benchmarks. The 5700X3D’s passmark_find_prime_numbers score of 224 versus 53 (76.3% faster) is a clear demonstration of its cache advantage, as prime finding is highly cache-dependent. The 5900HX’s only substantial win in a multi-threaded test is passmark_floating_point_math, but even that is a slim 2.3% margin.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every platform-defining specification. The 5900HX uses AMD Socket FP6, while the 5700X3D uses AMD Socket AM4. The 5900HX is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP, while the 5700X3D is a desktop processor with a 105 W TDP. The 5900HX has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz, whereas the 5700X3D has a 3.00 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost.

The L3 cache is the largest spec difference: the 5900HX has 16 MB shared, while the 5700X3D has 96 MB shared. Memory bandwidth also differs, with the 5900HX at 68.3 GB/s versus the 5700X3D’s 51.2 GB/s. The 5700X3D supports ECC memory, which the 5900HX does not. PCIe support differs: the 5900HX has PCIe Gen 3, while the 5700X3D has PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The 5900HX includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the 5700X3D has no integrated graphics. The 5900HX has an unlocked multiplier, but the 5700X3D is locked. The 5900HX has a part number of 100-000000300, while the 5700X3D has 100-000001503100-100001503WOF. The 5900HX was released on 2021-01-11, while the 5700X3D was released on 2024-01-07. The 5700X3D has a launch MSRP of $249. Transistor count and die size also differ: the 5900HX has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while the 5700X3D has 8,850 million transistors on a 74 mm² die.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Ryzen 7 5700X3D is the faster processor in the majority of benchmarks, winning 15 of 23 tests. Its 42.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 66.2% lead in PassMark physics are decisive for anyone running rendering, simulation, or other multi-threaded workloads. The 5700X3D’s 96 MB L3 cache is the key differentiator, providing a 76.3% advantage in prime number finding and strong wins in data compression and encryption.

The Ryzen 9 5900HX is not without merit. It wins in 8 tests, including 3DMark single-thread and PassMark single-thread, and it has a higher average benchmark score (24,822 vs 24,709). Its wins in integer math and floating-point math suggest it handles pure arithmetic better, and its higher boost clock (4.60 GHz vs 4.10 GHz) helps in light-threaded tasks. However, its mobile 45 W TDP limits sustained all-core performance, as shown by its 15.2% deficit in PassMark multithread.

For users choosing between these two, the 5700X3D is the obvious pick for desktop builds where power draw is not a constraint. The 5900HX is only relevant if you need a mobile processor with integrated graphics, but even then, its performance is significantly lower in multi-core workloads. The 5700X3D offers a launch MSRP of $249, making it a compelling desktop option, while the 5900HX has no MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 5700X3D wins in nearly every multi-threaded and cache-intensive workload. It is the clear choice for Cinebench R23 multicore (22,366 vs 12,845), Cinebench R15 multicore (2,254 vs 2,106), Geekbench multicore (11,086 vs 8,720), and PassMark multithread (26,318 vs 22,326). It also wins in physics simulations (2,686 vs 909), prime number finding (224 vs 53), data compression (307,237 vs 287,793), data encryption (18,788 vs 18,188), extended instructions (21,202 vs 19,488), random string sorting (31,492 vs 30,042), and 3DMark 16-thread (6,764 vs 6,490). It even wins Cinebench R23 single-core (3,157 vs 1,488) and Cinebench R15 single-core (318 vs 240), showing its cache advantage extends to some single-thread scenarios.

The Ryzen 9 5900HX wins in light-threaded and math-specific tests. It is better in 3DMark single-thread (881 vs 804), 3DMark 2-thread (1,720 vs 1,575), 3DMark 4-thread (3,285 vs 3,097), and 3DMark 8-thread (5,406 vs 5,357). It also wins PassMark single-thread (3,178 vs 2,970), PassMark integer math (86,735 vs 81,257), and PassMark floating-point math (47,556 vs 46,492). These wins suggest the 5900HX is better suited for tasks that rely on high clock speeds and raw arithmetic throughput, such as legacy single-threaded applications or certain scientific calculations. However, its wins are smaller in magnitude than the 5700X3D’s, with the largest being 9.6% in 3DMark single-thread, compared to the 5700X3D’s 76.3% blowout in prime numbers.