AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core i9-14900 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D posts an average benchmark score of 58,386, while the Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58,115. That puts the AMD part 0.5% ahead of the Intel chip in the nearest-rivals comparison.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900 wins decisively, scoring 31,070 versus the Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s 22,807. That is a 26.6% advantage for Intel in this heavily threaded workload.

Q: Which CPU has better single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D leads in both Cinebench R23 and R15 single-core tests. In R23 it scores 2,228 versus 2,212 for Intel (a 0.7% edge), and in R15 it scores 343 versus 315 (an 8.9% margin). PassMark single-thread also favors AMD, 4,704 to 4,323 (8.8% ahead).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14900 has 24 cores and 32 threads. Intel’s higher core count is a major factor in its multi-threaded wins.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the Intel Core i9-14900 support ECC memory. However, they differ in memory type support: AMD supports only DDR5, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What is the launch MSRP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a launch MSRP of $499, while the Intel Core i9-14900 has a launch MSRP of $549.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, fabricated on TSMC’s 4 nm process with a die size of 70.6 mm² and 8,315 million transistors. The Intel Core i9-14900 uses the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture (Raptor Lake-R), manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm node with a significantly larger die size of 257 mm². The process node difference is stark: 4 nm for AMD versus 10 nm for Intel.

Core configuration diverges sharply. AMD packs 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel offers 24 cores and 32 threads. The AMD chip’s base clock is 4.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, whereas Intel runs a much lower 2.00 GHz base but a higher 5.80 GHz boost. TDP ratings also differ: AMD is rated at 120 W, while Intel is rated at 65 W.

Cache hierarchies are another key differentiator. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but AMD has 1 MB of L2 per core versus Intel’s 2 MB per core. The big gap is in L3 cache: AMD has 96 MB shared L3, while Intel has only 36 MB shared. This large L3 pool is a defining feature of the AMD part.

Memory support also varies. AMD supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a reported bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is provided in the data. PCIe lanes differ as well: AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on both, but they differ: AMD has Radeon Graphics, while Intel has UHD Graphics 770. Both are desktop parts and both are currently in active production. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, while Intel’s is not. Release dates also differ: AMD launched on 2026-01-28, Intel on 2024-01-07.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear split between these two CPUs. For workloads that scale with core count, the Intel Core i9-14900 is the stronger choice. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 26.6%, Cinebench R15 multi-core by 25.9%, and PassMark multi-thread by 7.3%. It also dominates integer math, floating-point math, data compression, data encryption, and random string sorting, with margins ranging from 13.8% to 31.9%. If your tasks are heavily threaded and CPU-bound, Intel’s 24 cores and 32 threads deliver measurably higher throughput.

For single-threaded and latency-sensitive workloads, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the better pick. It wins every single-core benchmark in the comparison: Cinebench R23 single-core by 0.7%, Cinebench R15 single-core by 8.9%, and PassMark single-thread by 8.8%. It also wins extended instructions by 28.2%, find prime numbers by a massive 131.4%, and physics by 67.8%. The Ryzen part’s 96 MB of L3 cache and higher base clock contribute to these wins.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 58,386 for AMD versus 58,115 for Intel — and both sit in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D edges out the i9-14900 by 0.5% in the average. The choice comes down to workload character: Intel for raw multi-core muscle, AMD for single-thread efficiency and cache-heavy tasks. The AMD part also has a lower launch MSRP of $499 versus Intel’s $549.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D | Intel Core i9-14900 |

|----------------|----------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 8 | 24 |

| Threads | 16 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 4.70 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.80 GHz |

| TDP | 120 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Raptor Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 70.6 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 96 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Release Date | 2026-01-28 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $499 | $549 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-14900 wins 8 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins 7. The wins are lopsided in each direction, reflecting the architectural divide.

Intel’s biggest wins:

• Cinebench R23 multi-core: Intel scores 31,070 versus AMD’s 22,807, a 26.6% advantage. This is the largest multi-threaded gap in the dataset.
• Cinebench R15 multi-core: Intel leads 4,793 to 3,551, a 25.9% margin.
• PassMark data encryption: Intel scores 33,540 versus 22,856, a 31.9% lead — the biggest single delta of any benchmark.
• PassMark floating-point math: Intel wins 120,262 to 81,998, a 31.8% margin.
• PassMark integer math: Intel leads 175,010 to 123,140, a 29.6% advantage.
• PassMark data compression: Intel scores 550,271 versus 474,501, a 13.8% win.
• PassMark random string sorting: Intel leads 61,060 to 49,764, an 18.5% margin.
• PassMark multi-thread: Intel wins 44,578 to 41,318, a 7.3% edge.

AMD’s biggest wins:

• PassMark find prime numbers: AMD scores 435 versus Intel’s 188, a staggering 131.4% advantage. This is the largest win for either side.
• PassMark physics: AMD leads 4,171 to 2,486, a 67.8% margin.
• PassMark extended instructions: AMD scores 39,272 versus 30,624, a 28.2% win.
• Cinebench R15 single-core: AMD leads 343 to 315, an 8.9% margin.
• PassMark single-thread: AMD wins 4,704 to 4,323, an 8.8% edge.
• Cinebench R23 single-core: AMD leads 2,228 to 2,212, a narrow 0.7% win.

The overall win count is nearly even — 8 for Intel, 7 for AMD — but the average benchmark score favors AMD by 0.5% (58,386 versus 58,115). The pattern is consistent: Intel dominates all-core throughput tests, while AMD wins every single-thread and several specialized instruction tests. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s 96 MB L3 cache and higher base clock appear to drive its wins in cache-sensitive tasks like prime number finding and physics. Intel’s 24-core, 32-thread configuration powers its multi-core supremacy. Both CPUs sit at the 92nd percentile, and their nearest rivals are nearly identical in average score, making this a genuine toss-up depending on the application mix.