Competition is important, whether it's the car market, fresh fruit market or the world's most advanced processor. And thanks to fierce competition between Intel and AMD, now is the time to invest in a new processor.
And so you can choose the model that suits your budget and tasks, we have compiled a list of the best processors of 2019. It is based on the results of testing the Master Lu benchmark, which is very popular in China.
10.Intel Core i9-9900KF
The average price is 33,100 rubles.
Characteristics:
- 8-core processor, Socket LGA1151 v2
- frequency 3600 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 2048 KB / 16386 KB
- core of Coffee Lake
- technical process 14 nm
- built-in memory controller
While you can find cheaper options for AMD Ryzen processors, such as the 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X, the Intel Core i9-9900K is still one of the best processors for today's heavy gaming.
One of the great benefits of the Core family is Intel's Multi-Core Enhancement feature, which is supported to varying degrees by most high-end motherboards. Thanks to it, under high workloads with active Machine Check Exception technology, which allows you to go beyond the manufacturer's specified thermal package, all Core i9-9900K cores will operate at up to 5 GHz. This gives a huge boost in performance and this is one of the reasons this model is good for gaming.
This is the "F" variant of the Core i9-9900K, meaning it does not come with integrated graphics. But for the enthusiast gamers who are likely to buy this processor, it doesn't matter as they will surely add one of the best graphics cards of 2019... Just remember that you won't see anything on your display without a graphics card in your system.
pros: A versatile all-rounder suitable for any task (photo and video processing, streaming, modern games).
Minuses: lack of integrated graphics.
9.AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
The average price is 25,090 rubles.
Characteristics:
- Socket: AM4
- L3 cache size: 32768 KB
- Number of cores: 8
- Processor frequency: 3900 MHz
- Complectation: BOX, OEM
- 8-core processor, Socket AM4
- frequency 3900 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 4096 KB / 32768 KB
- core Zen 2
- process technology 7 nm
- built-in memory controller
The least expensive processor in our ranking has 8 cores and 16 threads. It is identical in spec to the Ryzen 7 3700X, but the latter has a lower TDP of 65W versus 105W for the Ryzen 7 3800X.
The Ryzen 7 3800X can be overclocked to 4.4 GHz, while the 3700X can be overclocked to 4.3 GHz, but this difference is insignificant. But the difference in price between the models is significant - about 5 thousand rubles. So if you're willing to put up with a lower clock speed (3600 MHz), consider purchasing the Ryzen 7 3700X.
pros: good for work tasks such as video and audio processing, and for games.
Minuses: heats up to 95 degrees under load.
8.Intel Core i9-7900X
The average price is 49,000 rubles.
Characteristics:
- 10-core processor, Socket LGA2066
- frequency 3300 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 10240 KB / 14080 KB
- Skylake core (2017)
- technical process 14 nm
- built-in memory controller
The 10-core Core i9-7900X is an example of a successful transition from Broadwell to Skylake, and like all Intel Core X chips, it requires an LGA 2066 motherboard.
Unlike its brothers the Core i7-7800X and Core i7-7820X, which offer only 28 PCI Express lanes, the Core i9-7900X offers 44 lanes. This is less than some of the other top solutions, but still good.
If you're wondering what you can actually do with all those PCI Express lanes on the CPU, Core X will introduce another feature that can be quite bandwidth-hungry: VROC. It allows you to run multiple PCI Express / NVMe drives together in your chosen RAID option directly from the CPU. Technically, the feature supports combining up to 20 drives in a way that provides a theoretical bandwidth of up to 128GB per second.
pros: 10 cores and 20 threads for a low price compared to the 10-core i9-9900X.
Minuses: Requires a new, expensive motherboard, not the fastest in Full HD games, warms up.
7.Intel Core i9-9900X
The average price is 65,750 rubles.
Characteristics:
- 10-core processor, Socket LGA2066
- frequency 3500 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 10240 KB / 19712 KB
- Skylake X core
- technical process 14 nm
- built-in memory controller
It is gratifying to see Intel continue to deliver solutions designed for gamers and streamers alike. However, in terms of features and almost all specifications, the Intel Core i9-9900X basically duplicates the Intel Core i9-9900K.
Of course, there are also differences, such as:
- socket LGA2066;
- increased number of cores;
- a large number of PCI Express lanes (44 versus 16 for the i9-9900K);
- increased cache size L2 / L3.
But it's up to you to decide if it's worth the double price.
pros: One of the fastest 1080p gaming processors on the market, good for multitasking plus very high performance for single core tasks.
Minuses: high TDP - 165 W, poor overclocking potential, no integrated graphics core.
6.AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
The average price is 23 793 rubles.
Characteristics:
- Socket: AM4
- L3 cache size: 32768 KB
- Number of cores: 8
- Processor frequency: 3600 MHz
- Integrated graphics core: no
- Complectation: BOX, OEM
- 8-core processor, Socket AM4
- frequency 3600 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 4096 KB / 32768 KB
- core Zen 2
- process technology 7 nm
- built-in memory controller
If you're only really interested in gaming and basic performance tasks, you can grab a mid-range processor like the Intel Core i5-8400 and save some money. But if you are thinking about streaming games or doing video editing, then you need a more powerful processor, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X.
It delivers twice the bandwidth of its closest competitor, the Core i7-9700K, and uses less power.
It supports PCIe 4.0 (when paired with an X570 motherboard) and comes with the powerful and attractive Wraith Spire RGB cooler, while Intel offers its own coolers for the i7 or i9 series.
Also note the backward compatibility of these processors with inexpensive X470 motherboards.
pros: Large size and impressive cache speed, 7nm process, unlocked multiplier.
Minuses: Limited overclocking options (AMD has squeezed almost everything it can out of this model anyway) expensive X570 motherboards are required to support PCIe 4.0.
5.AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
The average price is 41,990 rubles.
Characteristics:
- Socket: AM4
- L3 cache size: 65536 KB
- Number of cores: 12
- Processor frequency: 3800 MHz
- Complectation: BOX, OEM
- 12-core processor, Socket AM4
- frequency 3800 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 6144 KB / 65536 KB
- core Zen 2
- process technology 7 nm
- built-in memory controller
The Ryzen 3000 family is the company's first 7nm processors. And Zen 2's core adds many enhancements, including:
- increased cache of micro-ops;
- doubled the maximum size of the L3 cache;
- doubled AVX floating point performance.
Add to that the fact that this processor is already overclocked out of the box (although this can upset overclockers), the ability to stay cool even under load, and you have almost ideal option for work and play tasks. Its power reserve should be more than enough for the next couple of years.
pros: Fast and efficient architecture, manufactured using 7nm process technology.
Minuses: most applications do not need 12 cores, poor overclocking potential.
4. AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X
The average price is 52,599 rubles.
Characteristics:
- 16-core processor, Socket sTR4
- frequency 3400 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 8192 KB / 32768 KB
- Colfax core
- technical process 14 nm
- built-in memory controller
One of the top desktop gaming processors offers a whopping 16 cores and 32 threads for superior multitasking power.And although it is manufactured using a 14nm process technology, and not 12nm, like its older brother Threadripper 2950X, you are unlikely to complain about this when working or playing.
Under the heat spreader are four CCX units, each of which contains four cores with its own 8MB L3 cache. They form two Zeppelin segments, each with 8 cores.
The manufacturer claims support for DDR4 memory up to 2667 MHz, but 3000 MHz memory will also work.
pros: Large number of lanes (up to 64) supported by PCI-Express controller, both UMA and NUMA memory mode can be used.
Minuses: Due to the Threadripper 1950X's demands on the quality of cooling and power supply, the transition to this processor may require replacing the motherboard, power supply unit and cooler.
3. AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
The average price is 59 695 rubles.
Characteristics:
- 16-core processor, Socket sTR4
- frequency 3500 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 8192 KB / 32768 KB
- Colfax core
- technical process 12 nm
- built-in memory controller
This processor offers more performance, consumes less power, and performs better than its Core i9 competitors.
As with the 2nd Gen Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 models, this processor has reduced cache and DRAM latency with support for slightly faster memory. It is based on the Zen + architecture, which uses the 12nm manufacturing process from GlobalFoundries.
The TR 2950X has the same layout as the 1950X: it includes two active Zeppelin crystals, each containing 8 cores, two memory channels, and 32 PCIe gen 3 lanes.
pros: optimal price / performance ratio.
Minuses: Slightly faster than TR 1950X, requires 4 channel memory for optimal performance.
2.Intel Core i9-9980XE
The average price is 129,554 rubles.
Characteristics:
- 18-core processor, Socket LGA2066
- frequency 3000 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 18432 KB / 25344 KB
- Skylake X core
- technical process 14 nm
- built-in memory controller
The second place in the top of the best processors was given by the Chinese benchmark to models from Intel. The i9-9980XE has the same 18 cores and 36 threads, the same cache size, and even the same TDP (165W) as the 7980XE. However, it had an increased base clock (now 3GHz), Turbo Boost 2.0 increased by 200 MHz (now 4.4 GHz) and Turbo Boost Max 3.0 increased by 100 MHz (now 4.5 GHz).
There is one interesting difference; Intel lowered the maximum CPU core temperature from 94 degrees to 84 degrees for the 9980XE.
pros: Suitable for the most demanding tasks, including game development, audio and video processing, and more.
Minuses: high price.
1.AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
The average price is 116,999 rubles.
Characteristics:
- 32-core processor, Socket sTR4
- frequency 3000 MHz
- L2 / L3 cache size: 16384 KB / 65536 KB
- Colfax core
- process technology 12 nm
- built-in memory controller
The most powerful processor of 2019 is the world's first 32-core, 64-thread desktop processor. The manufacturer positions it as a top-end computing solution for content creation such as game development, streaming, video editing, design, etc.
The Threadripper 2990WX is based on the Zen + architecture and is manufactured using a 12nm process technology. Unlike its predecessor from the X series, the WX is based not on 2, but on 4 Zen + Zeppelin crystals. And it also has a very high declared TDP - 250 W, so you have to take seriously the choice of a motherboard that will work in tandem with such a "power monster".
However, gamers looking to have a ton of cores would be better off looking at the cheaper 2950X over the 2990WX. The memory configuration in the 2950X is more symmetrical and has a UMA (uniform memory access) mode. The 2990WX processor is designed for NUMA (non-uniform memory access) only. Because of this, memory bandwidth suffers slightly, but overall latency is reduced.
pros: High operating frequencies in the range of 3.0 to 4.2 GHz, support for 60 PCI Express 3.0 lanes.
Minuses: high price.