A mid-range chip will delight gamers, an area in which Intel’s Core i5-9600K is particularly comfortable. The comparison is often difficult given AMD’s offer in the application area, which is much faster this year.

With the Ryzen 9 3950X, AMD offers a much more comfortable 16-core processor than its predecessors in the Threadripper line. The switch to 7 nm allows it to maintain a high frequency, which, coupled with the Zen 2 architecture, increases performance. A formidable weapon in applications requiring high computing power or a high number of cores is also at home in video games – Intel keeps a short lead in the field. A rather contained power consumption crowns the whole compared to the achieved performances—an excellent processor.

General Info

	Intel Core i5-9600K	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Price	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE
CPU Model	i5-9600K	Ryzen 9 3950X
Manufacturing Process	14 nm	7 nm
Maximum CPU Configuration	1S	1S
Number of PCIe Lanes	16 Lanes	24 Lanes
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Weight	68.03 g	360.60 g

Intel Core i5-9600K

The Core i5-9600K is the most affordable Intel desktop processor built on the Coffee Lake Refresh design. It has only six, not eight computing cores, but it is cheaper than the younger eight-core brother in the face of the Core i7-9700K – by 30% in terms of the official price or more than 40% in terms of the real price.

Even though there is a whole abyss between the Core i5-9600K and the Core i5-8600K in terms of the model number, these processors are quite similar in passport characteristics. Intel did not change any fundamental parameters when converting the Core i5 series to the Coffee Lake Refresh design. The Core i5-9600K, like the Core i5-8600K, remained a six-core without Hyper-Threading support, with L3 cache at the rate of 1.5 MB per core (9 MB in total).

At the same time, the CPU-Z diagnostic utility allows you to make sure that the Core i5-9600K is based on a different semiconductor crystal, a new P0 modification, and not U0, which was used in the previous generation Coffee Lake processors, in which the number of processing cores was no more than six.

This means that internally, the Core i5-9600K is only a distant relative of the Core i5-8600K. The new six-core uses the same eight-core semiconductor crystal as the Core i9-9900K and Core i7-9700K processors, but with a couple of cores blocked during the production phase. And important conclusions follow from this. First, it means that the Core i5-9600K has the first hardware patch against the Meltdown and L1TF (Foreshadow) vulnerabilities. Secondly, the memory controller of this processor is certified to support 128GB DDR4 SDRAM, which will be significant after the upcoming 32GB modules are available on the market.

There are also noticeable differences between the Core i5-9600K and the Core i5-8600K in clock speeds. The new six-core has a 100 MHz higher base frequency and a more aggressive turbo mode, allowing it to accelerate to 4.6 GHz under low-threaded load versus 4.3 GHz in its predecessor. The Core i5-9600K promises the best clock speed in turbo mode, even with a full load on all cores. It is installed at 4.3 GHz, while the Core i5-8600K operates at only 4.1 GHz under the same conditions.

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

The new 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X is very similar to the Ryzen 9 3900X. Before us is the second mainstream AMD processor, which is based not on two but on three semiconductor crystals at once, called chiplets in modern terminology. One of these crystals is a universal 12nm IOD chipset, responsible for I / O functions and contains a memory controller, a PCI Express controller, and SoC elements. The other two are 7nm CCD chiplets, which contain eight computational cores. All of this is connected into a single whole through the Infinity Fabric bus, which links each CCD chiplets to the cIOD die.

At the same time, CCDs have no mutual connection, but this does not entail any negative consequences since all the Infinity Fabric logic is located in the I / O chipset, which makes all cores equal in rights. In other words, Ryzen 9 3950X, as opposed to multi-core processorsThreadripper of the last generation, does not have any NUMA nodes and has an absolutely monolithic design from a logical point of view, in which the latencies when working with memory. During mutual data, the exchange is the same for all cores.

In our Ryzen 9 3950X instance, the consumption of the second chipset was not much lower than that of the first. However, the general principle is still clear: the first CCD chipset in the processor is high-frequency, and the second is slower but with reduced energy appetites.

We will not dwell on a detailed analysis of the remaining characteristics of the Ryzen 9 3950X: they are the same as those of the Ryzen 9 3900X. So, the processor has a 64 MB L3 cache, which consists of four 16 MB parts, distributed over four CCX (Core Complex), and also offers 24 PCI Express 4.0 lanes, 16 of which are usually allocated for a video card, 4 for NVMe -store and 4 more – for connection with a set of system logic. All this can be seen in more detail in the CPU-Z screenshot.

Performance

Memory Support

Integrated Graphics

Benchmarks

Conclusion!

Intel Core i5-9600K

Against the Core i9-9900K and Core i7-9700K background, the new six-core Core i5-9600K seems somehow completely ordinary and not worthy of close attention. Indeed, it does not offer any changes in the basic characteristics compared to the Core i5-8600K: it is the same processor with six cores without Hyper-Threading support, equipped with a third-level cache memory of 9 MB an unlocked multiplier.

However, the first impression is deceiving. Although the Core i5-9600K cannot please the owners with an increased number of cores in the “up to $ 300” price segment, it surpasses the Core i5-8600K in most parameters. First of all, the six-core novelty of the Coffee Lake Refresh generation has increased clock frequencies, thanks to which, when operating in nominal mode, it can offer a performance advantage of 3-5% in applications and games. Secondly, the Core i5-9600K has a better overclocking potential available out of the box. When using a good cooler, reaching a frequency of about 5 GHz for such a processor does not pose any problem, which cannot say about the Core i5-8600K. And thirdly, in the Core i5-9600K, as in any other representative of the Coffee Lake Refresh family,

Of course, all this is unlikely to induce someone to switch from a Core i5-8600K to a Core i5-9600K; however, when assembling a new system and looking for a suitable Intel processor for it in the range from $ 250 to $ 300, it is logical to focus on the new six-core, and not on his predecessor. Moreover, the overpayment for the Core i5-9600K is only a few dollars if you focus on the official price. By the way, it is fortunate that the Core i5-9600K suffers from undersupply less than other Intel processors. Although it is difficult to believe in it, in the global market, in some places, it is sold even cheaper than the recommended price. In Russia, they offer to pay 1,000 rubles more for the Core i5-9600K than for the Core i5-8600K, but even this can hardly be considered some fundamental overpayment.

Really serious rivals for the Core i5-9600K can become not Intel’s processors of previous generations, but the proposals of AMD. Of course, the Core i5-9600K provides excellent gaming performance, and in this regard, Ryzen 7 and even more so Ryzen 5 as competitors to the six-core Coffee Lake Refresh are untenable. But in demanding computing and creative applications, one can question the superiority of the Core i5-9600K. For workloads, AMD processors at the same price point almost always look more interesting, as they can offer more ramified multithreading in the case of Ryzen 5 or more cores in the case of Ryzen 7.

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

The new Ryzen 9 3950X has even more challenging rivals. In fact, this is the only product of its kind that balances between desktops and workstations but doesn’t really fall into either category. Sixteen cores for a mass desktop are too much. The Ryzen 9 3950X cannot become a full-fledged HEDT product due to dual-channel memory and an insufficient number of PCI Express lanes, limiting the possibilities of equipping platforms based on it.

Therefore, it is most correct to consider the Ryzen 9 3950X as an experiment and a kind of demonstration of capabilities, in which AMD clearly and convincingly demonstrates all the advantages of its chipset approach. The building blocks of Zen 2 are eight-core 7-nm crystals, and if a couple of them fit inside the Socket AM4 package, then why not take advantage of this – that’s what AMD thought. And then everything turned out by itself: both the 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X and the 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X. Of course, in order to make a fully functional three-chip processor that would fit within the 105-watt thermal package, AMD had to work hard and figure out how to organize the selection of suitable crystals. But in the end, a very inventive solution was found for this problem, and now we have to get used to the new reality,

AMD’s skyrocketing increase in desktop processor power is likely to make the Ryzen 9 3950X a bit of a loaf of the trolley in the mainstream. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine that an average user today would be able to appreciate the opportunity to equip a conventional Socket AM4 system with a 16-core CPU, especially considering the complete uselessness of such several cores for gaming applications. But that doesn’t mean the Ryzen 9 3950X has no market prospects. On the contrary, such a price has been chosen for this processor that there will certainly be those among enthusiasts who will be guided by the logic “why not” or even “there aren’t too many cores.” In the end, AMD offers to get twice the number of productive computing cores compared to the Core i9-9900K, overpaying only one and a half times.

In addition, it cannot deny that the Ryzen 9 3950X is really good at handling content that requires serious CPU resources and very good at rendering. In terms of speed in such applications, it can be safely compared with the twice more expensive Core i9-9960X, which until recently was among the flagship processors of the HEDT segment. Now, the Ryzen 9 3950X allows you to get the same on a regular desktop.

Honestly, the Ryzen 9 3950X could have become a much more popular solution if AMD had not promised to introduce the third-generation Ryzen Threadripper in a week. Now, those who really need high-performance and uncompromising multithreading will be targeting the new Socket sTRX4 platform, which, judging by the available data, will set new standards for HEDT systems. All of this further complicates the formulation of specific recommendations for the Ryzen 9 3950X. But if you feel that 8 or 12 cores are too little for you, and 24 and 32 are expensive and generally redundant, then take a closer look at the Ryzen 9 3950X. This processor is clearly worth the money and will certainly not disappoint with its performance.

Intel is only offering the third reworking of its Skylake architecture released in 2015 (sixth generation Core) with its ninth generation of Core processors. No innovation, consequently, but a growing number of hearts.

Pros and Cons

General Info

Performance

Memory Support

Integrated Graphics

Benchmarks

Conclusion!

Intel Core i3-9100

The Core i3-9100 represents an interesting entry-level solution to equip an office automation machine. We will not ask too much because its application performance is far from exceptional, but we appreciate the iGPU which, if it is not intended for video games, allows you to do away with the purchase of a graphics card. dedicated.

Intel Core i3-9100F

First prize in terms of the ninth-generation Core processor, the i3-9100F offers satisfactory performance for office use. Devoid of integrated graphics circuit, it requires purchasing a dedicated graphics card and directly attacks chips like the AMD Ryzen 3 3100, whose performance, regardless of the price, is superior in every way.

Intel has enjoyed in recent years, the specter of further stagnation was not very optimistic. Especially after a fairly large, at least compared to previous architectures, the increase in performance, which Skylake processors provided compared to Haswell,  undoubtedly stimulated consumers’ appetites. Even with fairly credible leaks, pre-premiere guesses are, however, only assumptions that are high time to verify.

General Info

	i5-7600K	i7-7700K
Price	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE
CPU Model	7600K	7700K
Manufacturing Process	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum CPU Configuration	1S	1S
Number of PCIe Lanes	16 Lanes	16 Lanes
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Architecture codename	Skylake	Skylake
Release date	January 3, 2017	January 3, 2017

i5-7600K

The Intel Core i5-7600K has four cores, while its base clock is 3.8 GHz. Under load, thanks to Turbo Boost technology, this value increases to a maximum of 4.2 GHz, while at rest – it drops to 0.8 GHz. The standard supply voltage varies between 0.7 and 1.3 volts depending on the task currently being performed. These are, of course, values ​​very similar to those that characterized the previous LGA 1151 processors from the Skylake family. This CPU is equipped with 4×256 KB second-level cache and 6 MB L3 cache, so also, in this respect, there are no differences to the Core i5-6600K.

i7-7700K

The parameters of the Core i7-7700K are identical to the weaker model. The most obvious difference is the support for Hyper-Threading technology, which allows each core to execute two threads simultaneously and thus maximize the use of internal resources. In addition, the i7-7700K has a base clock of 4.2 GHz, which can go up to a maximum of 4.5 GHz. There is also more L3 cache, this time we find 8 MB.

Performance

The temperature in the room ranged from 21-23 ° C. The HWiNFO64 software version 5.43-3055 was used to perform the measurements. The air cooling set – Scythe Mugen MAX was watching over the correct working conditions of the processors. The thermally conductive paste used is Noctua NT-H1, characterized by the lack of the need to heat up, thanks to which it achieves optimal performance immediately after application.

One of the Kaby Lake jokes we have noticed while browsing popular IT forums is temperature measurements. Of course, it is about “mustard” under the IHS instead of high-quality thermal paste, preferably simply soldering. It is not that bad in practice because to cool the Core i7-7700K processor overclocked to around 5 GHz, a medium-performance cooler is enough. The cheaper i5-7600K is slightly cooler due to the lack of Hyper-Threading technology, which significantly increases heat generation. Nevertheless, the new products note an increase in temperatures than their predecessors from the Skylake family, which clearly proves that a better thermally conductive material would definitely be here. What if the popularity of removing the “caps” from the CPU and applying CLP will certainly not fall.

Memory Support

Integrated Graphics

Benchmarks

Conclusion!

The biggest advantage of the tested Core i5-7600K and i7-7700K is undoubtedly the high overclocking capabilities, comparable to Sandy Bridge processors, which were considered a model in this aspect since their premiere. 5 GHz, easily achievable with air cooling, is a result that can be respected. The debutants are also looking solid in terms of performance, delivering about 10% more performance than their predecessors in the Skylake family.

Kaby Lake is undoubtedly a solid product but not fully meeting the expectations associated with it.

So what are the disadvantages? The most obvious one is the lack of performance increase per clock cycle. This is the first such case in Intel’s offer for a long time that the new products did not offer something more in this respect than their direct predecessors. Even if the differences were as small as in the case of Ivy Bridge, which family was characterized by a few percent stronger thread than the aforementioned Sandy Bridge, the consumer still got the improved architecture in his hands. However, this time, the entire increase in performance is due to the raised clocks, which is not to be proud of. The operating temperatures, which have increased concerning Skylake, can also be perceived negatively. Of course, we are not able to say 100% whether this is only the effect of saving on thermal paste for IHS or whether the calibration of the sensors has also changed, but all this does not change the fact that the “glut” served to us by Intel for a long time ceased to be tasty. The more so that you do not pay little for processors with an unlocked multiplier.

The question that remains is the final verdict. In light of the above arguments,  that both tested processors deserve four stars. Of course, at the moment, we do not know the average price in stores, but it remains to be hoped that after the initial turmoil, it will stabilize at a level similar to that of the Skylake family. Who could I recommend the more expensive Core i7-7700K? First of all, people willing to use it for semi-professional applications, especially combining the creative process with the final rendering. In viewports, Kaby Lake will feel like a fish in the water, thanks to the high OC and the associated high power of a single core. Nevertheless, the competition from HEDT platforms is fierce, making the decision unlikely to be easy. In turn, the Core i5-7600K is a good choice for players who have 120+ Hz monitors paired with powerful graphics cards and, therefore, aim for maximum frames per second. Such a powerful CPU will also be useful for people who prefer more FPS at the expense of lower graphics settings. On the other hand, players who can come to terms with the relatively low liquidity, but while maintaining maximum details, should rather be interested in cheaper models with a locked multiplier, because in their case, the profit from a faster processor will be almost none, because the GPU is the inhibiting factor anyway.