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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i7-3960X vs Ryzen 5 3500X

The Core i7-3960X is quite a bit slower than the Ryzen 5 3500X on average across 100+ games and it's also a much worse value for money, as it's $200.00 more expensive!

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CPU

$300.00View CPUAll CPUs

Available for $300.00

CPU

$100.00View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 88% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 8 years newer

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

Counter-Strike 22023

Core i7-3960X

401FPS

Ryzen 5 3500X

563FPS

Dota 22013

Core i7-3960X

171FPS

Ryzen 5 3500X

199FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i7-3960X

189FPS

Ryzen 5 3500X

207FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i7-3960X

139FPS

Ryzen 5 3500X

239FPS

Valorant2020

Core i7-3960X

543FPS

Ryzen 5 3500X

610FPS

Escape From Tarkov2017

Core i7-3960X

209FPS

Ryzen 5 3500X

225FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i7-3960X

575FPS

Ryzen 5 3500X

639FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i7-3960X

Ryzen 5 3500X

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i7-3960X

10%

Ryzen 5 3500X

34%

Ryzen 5 3500X ranks 24 points higher.

Coreshelp

Threadshelp

Core i7-3960X has 6 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i7-3960X

15 MB

Ryzen 5 3500X

32 MB

Ryzen 5 3500X has 17 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i7-3960X

3.3 GHz

Ryzen 5 3500X

3.6 GHz

Ryzen 5 3500X has a 9% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i7-3960X

3.9 GHz

Ryzen 5 3500X

4.1 GHz

Ryzen 5 3500X boosts 5% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i7-3960X

130W

Ryzen 5 3500X

65W

Ryzen 5 3500X draws 65W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i7-3960X

$300.00

Ryzen 5 3500X

$100.00

Ryzen 5 3500X is $200.00 cheaper.

Core i7-3960XRyzen 5 3500X

LGA2011

Sockethelp

AM4

Sandy Bridge-E

Codenamehelp

Matisse

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

No Integrated Graphics

Integrated GPUhelp

No Integrated Graphics

1600 MHz (DDR3)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4)

Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i7-3960X or Ryzen 5 3500X?expand_more

The Ryzen 5 3500X. It's 240% faster than the Core i7-3960X on average across 100+ games, scoring 34/100 vs 10/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Ryzen 5 3500X than Core i7-3960X?expand_more

240% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i7-3960X or Ryzen 5 3500X?expand_more

The Ryzen 5 3500X is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Ryzen 5 3500X worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 34/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i7-3960X and Ryzen 5 3500X?expand_more

Performance: Core i7-3960X scores 10/100, Ryzen 5 3500X scores 34/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i7-3960X or Ryzen 5 3500X bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i7-3960X or Ryzen 5 3500X?expand_more

The Ryzen 5 3500X is the stronger pick at 34/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.