AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM5
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA1150
What Buyers Say
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM5
The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is widely praised for its excellent gaming performance, energy efficiency, and lower thermals compared to previous generations. Users highlight significant improvements in system quietness and cooling, making it a compelling upgrade for new builds or those coming from older platforms. While some note that the performance uplift over the 7000 series may not justify an upgrade for existing AM5 users, the overall sentiment is highly positive, with many recommending it as a great budget-friendly option.
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Lower power draw and thermals
- Quieter system operation
- Good value for budget builds
- Future-proofing with AM5 platform
Cons
- No included cooler
- Requires BIOS update on older boards
- Performance uplift over 7000 series is modest
- No thermal paste included
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA1150
The Intel Core i7-4790K is widely praised for its impressive performance, especially in gaming and CPU-intensive tasks, with many users noting significant upgrades from older CPUs. Overclocking is a highlight, with several reviewers achieving stable 4.7 GHz or higher with proper cooling, though some express disappointment at not reaching the advertised 5 GHz on air. The main drawbacks are the lack of an included cooler, potential high temperatures under extreme loads like Prime95, and the need for a compatible motherboard (Z97 recommended). Overall, it's seen as a solid upgrade for existing LGA1150 systems, but not worth it for those with a 4770K.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Great overclocking potential
- Cooler than previous Haswell
- Good value for LGA1150 upgrade
- Fast turbo boost speeds
Cons
- No cooler included
- High temps under extreme load
- Not worth upgrade from 4770K
- Overclocking limited to 4.8 GHz
- Requires Z97 motherboard for best results
Scores
Specifications
| AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | Intel Core i7 4790K | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| Brand | AMD | Intel |
| Series | Ryzen 5 | Core i7 |
| Model | 9600X | 4790K |
| Codename | Granite Ridge | Devil's Canyon |
| Class | desktop | desktop |
| Process | 4★ | 22 |
| Cores & Clocks | ||
| Cores | 6★ | 4 |
| P-cores | 6★ | 4 |
| Threads | 12★ | 8 |
| Base Clock | ||
| Boost Clock | ||
| Cache | ||
| L2 Cache | 6★ | 1 |
| L3 Cache | 32★ | 8 |
| Performance | ||
| PassMark Multi | ||
| PassMark Single | ||
| Memory | ||
| Memory Type | DDR5★ | DDR3 |
| Max Speed | ||
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max Memory | ||
| ECC | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Platform & Power | ||
| Socket | AM5 | LGA 1150 |
| PCIe | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 28★ | 16 |
| TDP | 65★ | 88 |
| Max Turbo Power | 88★ | — |
| Unlocked | ✓ | ✓ |
| Graphics & AI | ||
| Integrated Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 4600 |
Pros & Cons
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM5
- Strong single thread (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong platform (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong efficiency (95th percentile)95th %ile
Intel Core i7 4790K 4-core LGA1150
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong feature (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong single thread (69th percentile)
Pricing
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM5 offers 1.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 94 overall, wins 6 of 6 usage categories and 16 of 27 specs.