The eternal debate: Intel or AMD? Today we are going to make a comparison but we are not going to enter to assess whether better Intel or better AMD, but we are going to compare two of its best-selling mid-range processors: AMD Ryzen 3600X vs Intel Core i5-9400F , which processor is it better and which one should you buy? Let’s see it by technically comparing them.
They are actually two processors that, being both mid-range, play in different leagues. For this reason we precisely want to make this comparison, since even though one is technically inferior to the other, there is a price difference between the two that many people do not know if it is worth paying, so we are going to see it to determine which of the two processors is the Better option.
AMD Ryzen 3600X vs Intel Core i5-9400F, technical comparison
| AMD Ryzen 3600X | Intel Core i5-9400F | |
|---|---|---|
| Lithography | 7 nm | 14 nm |
| Physical cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process threads | 12 | 6 |
| Base frequency | 3.8 GHz | 2.9 GHz |
| Turbo Frequency | 4.4 GHz | 4.1 GHz |
| TDP | 95 W | 65 W |
| Maximum temperature | 95ºC | 100ºC |
| Thermal Solution | AMD Wraith Spire | Intel Stock |
| Cache (L1 + L2 + L3) | 384 KB + 3 MB + 32 MB | 384 KB + 1536 KB + 9 MB |
| Memory interface | DDR4-3200 MHz Dual channel | DDR4-2666 MHz Dual channel |
| Maximum memory | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| PVPR | 199 Euros | 149 Euros |
Obviously, the AMD processor has a lot to gain in terms of performance just because of the fact that it has SMT while the Intel option does not have HyperThreading, so although both have six physical cores, the Ryzen 5 3600X has the double the process capacity , this first. To this we must add that its speed, both base and turbo is substantially higher, and of course its lithographic process makes it more efficient.
The Ryzen 5 3600X also has a greater amount of cache memory, and is capable of managing -based- higher speed in RAM memory, so in terms of gross performance the AMD processor undoubtedly wins, and by much. Likewise, AMD wins if we consider the cooling solution that both incorporate from the factory, since the Wraith Spire heatsink from AMD is much better than the one that Intel includes in its processors.
Of course, there are two factors in which the Intel processor takes the lead, and these are first in TDP, since it has 30W less consumption than the AMD processor, and the second is the price, since on average it costs 50 euros less .
Which processor is better to buy?
As always, it will depend on what you will mainly use it for. Actually, if what you want is a gaming equipment with the Intel processor you will have more than enough, and you will have 50 euros that you can invest, for example, in a better graphics card or in a SSD of greater capacity. However, the AMD processor is undoubtedly more powerful, and if those 50 euros difference do not represent a budget problem for you, of course you will have a better result.
Now, if we had to decide we would opt for the AMD processor , more than anything for the extra gross power that it brings us for other tasks beyond gaming, as well as for the possibility of “stretching” it for the future, since that as you know the current AMD platform has PCI-Express 4.0 sockets and Intel does not. In fact, already only in terms of performance, this AMD processor has much more life expectancy to remain perfectly valid for many more years than the Intel one.
