The 13th-Gen Intel Core i9 and the AMD Ryzen 9 7000-Series chips are fast and powerful. But which should you pick if you're building a new system or upgrading the one you have?

Unless you're a super fan of either brand, it's difficult to pick between these two options. So, let's compare AMD's and Intel's top contenders for the most powerful CPU and see which one you should choose.

Intel Core i9 vs. AMD Ryzen 9: Models and Specifications

You can choose between six 13th-Gen Intel Core i9 and five AMD Ryzen 9 7000-Series desktop chip models at the time of writing. Here's a breakdown of their model numbers and specifications:

13th-Gen Intel Core i9 Models

Intel introduced its ground-breaking performance and efficiency cores architecture with its 12th-Gen chips and continued implementing it in its 13th-Gen processors. These are the options you get with the Intel Core i9 line. Most of these processors are widely available, except for the Intel Core i9-13900T, which are reserved for low-powered applications.

13th-Gen Intel Core i9

Performance Cores

Efficiency Cores

Total

Total L3 Cache

Base / Max TDP

GPU

MSRP

Cores (Threads)

Base / Turbo Freq

Cores (Threads)

Base / Turbo Freq

Cores (Threads)

13900KS

8 (16)

3.2GHz/5.4GHz

16 (16)

2.4GHz/4.3GHz

24 (32)

36 MB

150W/253W

UHD 770

$699

13900K

8 (16)

3.0GHz/5.4GHz

16 (16)

2.0GHz/4.3GHz

24 (32)

36 MB

125W/253W

UHD 770

$589

13900KF

8 (16)

3.0GHz/5.4GHz

16 (16)

2.0GHz/4.3GHz

24 (32)

36 MB

125W/253W

-

$564

13900

8 (16)

2.0GHz/5.2GHz

16 (16)

1.5GHz/4.2GHz

24 (32)

36 MB

65W/219W

UHD 770

$549

13900F

8 (16)

2.0GHz/5.2GHz

16 (16)

1.5GHz/4.2GHz

24 (32)

36 MB

65W/219W

-

$524

13900T

8 (16)

1.1GHz/5.1GHz

16 (16)

0.8GHz/3.9GHz

24 (32)

36 MB

35W/106W

UHD 770

$524

AMD Ryzen 9 7000-Series

The 7000-Series processors are the first consumer AMD processors to use the LGA AM5 socket. This allowed AMD to cram more pins into the system, letting it put more transistors in the same package size. It's also the second generation of AMD Ryzen processors to have 3D V-Cache models.

AMD Ryzen 9 7000 Series

Cores (Threads)

Base / Turbo Frequency

Chiplets

Total L3 Cache

TDP

GPU

MSRP

7950X3D

16 (32)

4.2GHz/5.7GHz

2 x CCD 1 x I/OD

128 MB

120W

RDNA2

$699

7950X

16 (32)

4.5GHz/5.7GHz

2 x CCD 1 x I/OD

64 MB

170W

RDNA2

$699

7900X3D

12 (24)

4.4GHz/5.6GHz

2 x CCD 1 x I/OD

128 MB

120W

RDNA2

$599

7900X

12 (24)

4.7GHz/5.6GHz

2 x CCD 1 x I/OD

64 MB

170W

RDNA2

$549

7900

12 (24)

3.7GHz/5.4GHz

2 x CCD 1 x I/OD

64MB

65W

RDNA2

$429

Intel's 13th-Generation Core i9 offerings have more physical threads than AMD's Ryzen 9 7000-Series chips because of its performance and efficiency core architecture.

On the other hand, AMD uses two Core Complex Dice (CCD) and an Input/Output Die (I/OD) for its processor. Each CCD has six to eight cores and, paired with the I/OD, acts as a single CPU. This allows the Ryzen 9 chips to have 24 to 32 threads, much like its Intel competitors.

AMD's offerings also have a higher base and turbo frequency than Intel, along with a greater L3 CPU cache. This means that its chips have a greater base thermal design power (TDP) requirement, except for its X3D chips which trade clock speed for a greater L3 cache.

Although Intel and AMD chips look different on paper, they mostly use the same technology—they both have multiple cores and threads, and you can argue that AMD's chiplet approach is somewhat similar to Intel's Performance/Efficiency Core technology.

But one thing that stands out is AMD's X3D chip, with its massive L3 cache. So, how does this affect performance?

Intel Core i9 vs. AMD Ryzen 9: The 3D V-Cache Advantage

The CPU cache is where the processor stores information it needs to work on next, allowing it to quickly grab it from onboard the chip instead of waiting for the RAM to send it. AMD's 3D V-Cache doubles the L3 cache found on the vanilla Ryzen 9 processors, which already has almost double that of Intel's Core i9 processors.

Given that, AMD's X3D processors have more than 3.5x greater L3 cache than even the most powerful Intel Core i9 chip. This allows AMD's X3D CPUs to run more efficiently and help prevent PC performance bottlenecks.

This feature is helpful if you're running CPU-bound apps and games, even though 3D V-Cache has a base frequency penalty. It also runs at a lower base TDP, meaning the processor doesn't demand that much power to deliver on performance.

Intel Core i9 vs. AMD Ryzen 9: Benchmark Results

All these digits, specifications, and other technologies that AMD and Intel advertise are just different ways of achieving the same thing—to deliver performance and power to let you get things done quickly.

So, how do these top-end processors compare? First, let's check out and compare results from UserBenchmark.

Intel Core i9 vs. AMD Ryzen 9 performance and price-to-performance chart

While it's understood that benchmarks are not the end-all and be-all of computer performance, it helps us determine its average power. The chart shows that all top-end chips are neck-and-neck regarding their average score, except for the 7950X3D, which gained over 90 points.

However, if you're looking for value for money and looking strictly at the processor, the "entry-level" 13900F delivers the most bang for your buck.

Intel Core i9 vs. AMD Ryzen 9: Motherboard and RAM Compatibility

AMD AM5 Socket
Image Credit: AMD

Of course, a computer isn't just a CPU. Instead, you need several additional parts to make it work. At the very least, you need a motherboard, some RAM, storage, a power supply, and a GPU if your processor doesn't have an integrated video card.

The most notable issue for AMD's latest generation CPU is its motherboard and RAM compatibility. If you pick the Intel option, the 13th-gen Core i9 processor is compatible with previous-generation motherboards and both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM.

However, AMD's 7000-Series chips use the new AM5 socket. So, if you're upgrading from an older Ryzen chip, you must upgrade to an AMD AM5 socket motherboard. Furthermore, the Ryzen 7000 processors require faster DDR5 RAM.

So, if you're building an AMD 7000-Series computer from scratch, you can expect to spend a bit more than assembling a comparable 13th-Gen Intel desktop. Even so, you can expect it to perform better because you're paying for more modern parts. This means it'll also potentially last longer before needing an upgrade.

Intel Core i9 vs. AMD Ryzen 9: Launch and Retail Prices

13th gen Intel Core hero image
Image Credit: Intel

One of the biggest factors in choosing a processor is its price. If we're looking at just the chip prices, Intel's and AMD's options are priced competitively. Both of their most expensive options—the Intel Core i9-13900KS and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D have a launch price of $699.

However, if you're on a budget but still need massive power, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 starts at just $429. This price is $95 less than Intel's most affordable offering while still delivering on performance.

But these are just launch prices. As proven during the 2020 to 2021 pandemic, actual retail prices could vary wildly from what the manufacturer announced at launch. So, let's check Amazon for current prices.

As of the time of writing, these are the prices we've discovered:

While these numbers will change, we can see that the prices of the most powerful processors are heavily inflated. Even so, many of AMD's offerings are heavily discounted, especially the 7950X and the 7900X.

However, this doesn't automatically mean getting an AMD system will be more affordable. After all, you'll have to shell out more for an AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM. On the flip side, these additional investments will mean better performance for your system in the long run.

And since AMD guarantees that it will support this socket until 2025 and potentially longer, you can enjoy future processor upgrades without fearing that your system won't support the latest chips.

Are You Buying New or Upgrading Your Current System?

upgrade windows 11 22h2 unsupported hardware

If you already have an Intel 12th-Gen desktop computer, it might make more sense to just stick with the 13th-Gen Intel Core i9. That way, you can spend more on higher-tier Core i9 models instead of buying a completely new system.

But, if you're building from scratch and want something that'll last longer—or money is not an object—go with AMD's processors, specifically its X3D options. The 7950X3D and 7900X3D can go head to head with the 13900KS and 13900K, all while being priced competitively.

Today Is the Best Time to Buy a Powerful Processor

If you want the most powerful consumer desktop that money can buy, you can never go wrong with either the 13th-Gen Intel Core i9 or the AMD Ryzen 9 7000-Series processors. Their performance is all comparable with each other, and they're all priced competitively. You just have to look at your situation to get the best option.

But before purchasing, ask yourself, "Do you really need all that power?"