After much delay, AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series processors have finally hit the market recently, and the prices have been revealed. Each model is priced $20 to $50 lower than the previous generation, overall presenting a fairly standard offering.
Regarding the performance of the Ryzen 9000 series processors, there have been countless rumors, including some performance comparisons released by AMD themselves. However, these comparisons might not be entirely objective, and could be seen as somewhat biased, so they should only be taken as rough references.
Now, “it’s time to show the real skill.” This article will compare the gaming performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X and Core i7-14700K.
In terms of benchmark scores, the single-core performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X is very close to that of the Core i7-14700K, only about 2% lower (compared to the Ryzen 7 7700X, which is 10% lower). However, there is a significant gap in multi-core performance, with the Ryzen 7 9700X achieving only about 60% of the Core i7-14700K’s performance (about the same as the Ryzen 7 7700X), highlighting the advantage of the Core i7-14700K’s higher number of cores and threads.
So, when it comes to gaming performance, which one comes out on top, the Ryzen 7 9700X or the Core i7-14700K? This article will reveal the answer.
01
Parameter Comparison between Ryzen 7 9700X and i7 14700K
The Ryzen 7 9700X was released on August 8, 2024, utilizing TSMC’s 4nm process. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with 8MB of L2 cache and 32MB of L3 cache. The base clock speed is 3.8GHz, with a boost clock speed of up to 5.5GHz. The TDP is 65W, and the suggested retail price is $359.
The Core i7-14700K was released on October 17, 2023, using a 10nm process. It has 8 performance cores and 12 efficiency cores, totaling 20 cores and 28 threads. The base clock speed is 3.4GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 5.5GHz (up to 5.6GHz on the highest cores). It features 28MB of L2 cache and 33MB of Intel Smart Cache, with a standard power consumption of 125W. The suggested retail price is $409.
02
Test Platform Configuration
The main configurations are as follows:
- The Core i7-14700K is paired with an ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming motherboard, while the Ryzen 7 9700X is paired with an MSI MPG X670E CARBON motherboard.
- The other configurations are identical, including 32GB of DDR5 6000MHz RAM, a GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, two Samsung 970 EVO 1TB SSDs, and the Windows 11 operating system.
03
Game Testing
Seven games were tested at 1080P with the highest graphics settings. The following images show the Core i7-14700K platform on the left and the Ryzen 7 9700X platform on the right.
1. Ghostwire: Tokyo
Core i7-14700K Platform
- Average FPS: 186
- Minimum FPS: 152
- Frame Time: 5.3ms
- CPU Usage: 15%
- Power Consumption: 80W
- Temperature: 51°C
- Memory Usage: 10.5GB
- GPU Usage: 86%
- VRAM Usage: 5.8GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 234W
- GPU Temperature: 51°C
Ryzen 7 9700X Platform
- Average FPS: 180
- Minimum FPS: 127
- Frame Time: 5.3ms
- CPU Usage: 26%
- Power Consumption: 88W
- Temperature: 55°C
- Memory Usage: 11.3GB
- GPU Usage: 86%
- VRAM Usage: 6.7GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 234W
- GPU Temperature: 49°C
In Ghostwire: Tokyo, the Ryzen 7 9700X had 11% higher CPU usage and 0.8GB more memory usage compared to the Core i7-14700K. The GPU usage was the same, but the Ryzen platform used 0.9GB more VRAM. The Core i7-14700K had 6 FPS higher average performance and 25 FPS higher minimum FPS, with equal frame times. The Ryzen platform had 8W higher CPU power consumption and 4°C higher CPU temperature.
2. Cyberpunk 2077
Core i7-14700K Platform
- Average FPS: 132
- Minimum FPS: 92
- Frame Time: 9.0ms
- CPU Usage: 57%
- Power Consumption: 117W
- Temperature: 59°C
- Memory Usage: 12.0GB
- GPU Usage: 72%
- VRAM Usage: 8.8GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 236W
- GPU Temperature: 49°C
Ryzen 7 9700X Platform
- Average FPS: 127
- Minimum FPS: 67
- Frame Time: 8.3ms
- CPU Usage: 69%
- Power Consumption: 88W
- Temperature: 63°C
- Memory Usage: 11.1GB
- GPU Usage: 73%
- VRAM Usage: 8.9GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 225W
- GPU Temperature: 50°C
In Cyberpunk 2077, the Ryzen 7 9700X had 12% higher CPU usage but used 0.9GB less memory compared to the Core i7-14700K. GPU and VRAM usage were nearly identical. The Ryzen platform had 5 FPS lower average performance and 25 FPS lower minimum FPS, with similar frame times. The Ryzen CPU consumed 29W less power but ran 4°C hotter.
3. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Core i7-14700K Platform
- Average FPS: 203
- Minimum FPS: 132
- Frame Time: 4.4ms
- CPU Usage: 40%
- Power Consumption: 132W
- Temperature: 66°C
- Memory Usage: 14.3GB
- GPU Usage: 98%
- VRAM Usage: 10.8GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 280W
- GPU Temperature: 53°C
Ryzen 7 9700X Platform
- Average FPS: 209
- Minimum FPS: 123
- Frame Time: 4.5ms
- CPU Usage: 66%
- Power Consumption: 88W
- Temperature: 64°C
- Memory Usage: 15.6GB
- GPU Usage: 97%
- VRAM Usage: 11.9GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 286W
- GPU Temperature: 54°C
In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, the Ryzen 7 9700X had 26% higher CPU usage and used 1.3GB more memory and 1.1GB more VRAM compared to the Core i7-14700K. The Ryzen platform had 6 FPS higher average performance but 9 FPS lower minimum FPS, with similar frame times. The Ryzen CPU consumed 44W less power and ran 2°C cooler.
4. Microsoft Flight Simulator
Core i7-14700K Platform
- Average FPS: 96
- Minimum FPS: 78
- Frame Time: 9.8ms
- CPU Usage: 13%
- Power Consumption: 75W
- Temperature: 54°C
- Memory Usage: 11.4GB
- GPU Usage: 62%
- VRAM Usage: 6.4GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 220W
- GPU Temperature: 50°C
Ryzen 7 9700X Platform
- Average FPS: 88
- Minimum FPS: 74
- Frame Time: 10.7ms
- CPU Usage: 24%
- Power Consumption: 88W
- Temperature: 59°C
- Memory Usage: 10.5GB
- GPU Usage: 59%
- VRAM Usage: 6.7GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 205W
- GPU Temperature: 49°C
In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Ryzen 7 9700X showed 11% higher CPU usage, almost double that of the Core i7-14700K, with 0.9GB less memory usage, 3% lower GPU usage, and 0.3GB more VRAM usage. The Ryzen platform had 8 FPS lower average performance and 4 FPS lower minimum FPS, with frame times approximately 1ms higher. CPU power consumption was 13W higher, and temperature was 5°C higher.
5. The Witcher 3
Core i7-14700K Platform
- Average FPS: 119
- Minimum FPS: 78
- Frame Time: 8.2ms
- CPU Usage: 40%
- Power Consumption: 100W
- Temperature: 54°C
- Memory Usage: 11.9GB
- GPU Usage: 87%
- VRAM Usage: 7.6GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 271W
- GPU Temperature: 47°C
Ryzen 7 9700X Platform
- Average FPS: 110
- Minimum FPS: 62
- Frame Time: 9.2ms
- CPU Usage: 51%
- Power Consumption: 88W
- Temperature: 63°C
- Memory Usage: 12.3GB
- GPU Usage: 81%
- VRAM Usage: 7.7GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 252W
- GPU Temperature: 49°C
In The Witcher 3, the Ryzen 7 9700X had 11% higher CPU usage and used 0.4GB more memory, while GPU usage was 6% lower, and VRAM usage was nearly identical. The Ryzen platform had 9 FPS lower average performance and 12 FPS lower minimum FPS, with frame times approximately 1ms higher. CPU power consumption was 12W lower, but the temperature was 9°C higher.
6. Hogwarts Legacy
Core i7-14700K Platform
- Average FPS: 76
- Minimum FPS: 62
- Frame Time: 13.6ms
- CPU Usage: 18%
- Power Consumption: 77W
- Temperature: 51°C
- Memory Usage: 15.1GB
- GPU Usage: 52%
- VRAM Usage: 10.9GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 199W
- GPU Temperature: 47°C
Ryzen 7 9700X Platform
- Average FPS: 70
- Minimum FPS: 57
- Frame Time: 14.8ms
- CPU Usage: 31%
- Power Consumption: 88W
- Temperature: 57°C
- Memory Usage: 19.6GB
- GPU Usage: 51%
- VRAM Usage: 10.8GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 188W
- GPU Temperature: 49°C
In Hogwarts Legacy, the Ryzen 7 9700X had 13% higher CPU usage and used 4.5GB more memory, while GPU and VRAM usage were nearly identical. The Ryzen platform had 6 FPS lower average performance and 5 FPS lower minimum FPS, with frame times approximately 1ms higher. CPU power consumption was 11W higher, and the temperature was 6°C higher.
7. Starfield
Core i7-14700K Platform
- Average FPS: 127
- Minimum FPS: 66
- Frame Time: 7.6ms
- CPU Usage: 62%
- Power Consumption: 137W
- Temperature: 61°C
- Memory Usage: 13.6GB
- GPU Usage: 88%
- VRAM Usage: 6.4GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 275W
- GPU Temperature: 50°C
Ryzen 7 9700X Platform
- Average FPS: 115
- Minimum FPS: 58
- Frame Time: 9.5ms
- CPU Usage: 82%
- Power Consumption: 88W
- Temperature: 66°C
- Memory Usage: 13.2GB
- GPU Usage: 81%
- VRAM Usage: 6.5GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 258W
- GPU Temperature: 51°C
In Starfield, the Ryzen 7 9700X had 20% higher CPU usage and used 0.4GB less memory, with 7% lower GPU usage and nearly identical VRAM usage. The Ryzen platform had 12 FPS lower average performance and 8 FPS lower minimum FPS, with frame times approximately 2ms higher. CPU power consumption was 49W lower, but the temperature was 5°C higher.
04
Additional Notes
Some observant readers may have noticed that the Ryzen 7 9700X consistently shows a power consumption of 88W across all games, which is unusual. However, this is indeed the case, as observed in some other tests as well. Please refer to the images above for details.
This could be related to compatibility issues with the monitoring software, meaning the reported power consumption might not be accurate. Therefore, this article does not provide a comparison or evaluation of power consumption. The power data is provided for reference only, and further testing will be conducted to address this.
05
Comparative Conclusion
Overall, the gaming performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X lags slightly behind the Core i7-14700K. The difference is minimal, making it almost a tie.
When comparing single-core and multi-core performance alone, the Ryzen 7 9700X is clearly outperformed by the Core i7-14700K, making the latter a better choice for those prioritizing raw processing power.
However, the Ryzen 7 9700X is $50 cheaper than the Core i7-14700K, and there have been widespread reports of instability issues with Intel’s 13th and 14th generation Core processors, which is a significant drawback.
Taking everything into account, the Ryzen 7 9700X is still the more stable option to purchase. However, it should be noted that the performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X in this test fell slightly short of the author’s initial expectations.
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