Following the launch final week of its first two Zen 5 CPUs, the 9700X and 9600X, AMD has right this moment launched the 2 prime tier chips in its new processor lineup, the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9900X. These highly effective new chips pack spectacular general efficiency, with extremely low working temperatures, however aren’t the only option for many avid gamers proper now.
Whereas these new chips are worthy of a spot on our greatest gaming CPU information in some methods, the quick model is that it’ll be since you need nice general efficiency fairly than the best possible gaming efficiency and worth proper now. For that, you’ll wish to be turning to a different of AMD‘s CPUs.
The specs and value of the 2 new chips are proven within the desk under, with the 9950X being a 16-core half identical to the 7950X (and 7950X3D) that preceded it. Likewise, the 9900X is a 12-core chip identical to the older 7900X. The 2 new chips – that match into the identical AM5 motherboards as present 7000 collection CPUs – are being launched at a value of $649 for the 9900X and $499 for the 9700X, making them considerably costlier than the present costs for AMD’s equal 7000 collection CPUs.
Title
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
Cores
16
12
8
6
Threads
32
24
16
12
Base frequency
4.3GHz
4.4GHz
3.8GHz
3.9GHz
Turbo frequency
5.7GHz
5.6GHz
5.5GHz
5.4GHz
L2 cache
13MB
12MB
8MB
6MB
L3 cache
64MB
64MB
32MB
32MB
TDP
170W
120W
65W
65W
MSRP
$649
$499
$359
$279
So to their efficiency and, sure, the quick model is that for those who’re on the lookout for peak gaming efficiency from a CPU proper now, the 7800X3D continues to be our best choice because it’s both the quickest or trails solely to the 7950X3D, in response to assessments of the brand new 9000 collection chips by web site’s resembling club386 and Anandtech.
The margins for gaming efficiency are small, with a median of beneath 4% separating the older chips from the brand new ones throughout a variety of gaming assessments, and even then the broader variations are solely when working at 1080p with body charges of effectively over 200fps. At increased resolutions, the distinction is usually far lower than 1%.
In the meantime, on the subject of productiveness, AMD’s new chips blow the water out of each present AMD and Intel chip, topping the charts within the overwhelming majority of assessments. This features a new report rating in Cinebench 2024 for a consumer-grade CPU, with club386 recording scores of 139 within the single thread take a look at and a pair of,308 within the multi-thread take a look at for the 9950X. In Anandtech’s Blender take a look at runs the 9950X additionally topped the charts with the 9900X solely trailing AMD’s personal 7950X and 7950X3D.
In the meantime, energy consumption is respectable for these two new chips, although it isn’t fairly so stunningly low because the 9700X and 9600X fashions. Whereas these two chips consumed beneath 190W at full load, the 9900X hit 278W and the 9950X ballooned to 329W. These figures are decrease than the likes of the 14900K (370W) and 7900X (339W) however are quite a bit increased than the 7950X3D (241W).
As a substitute, it’s the temperature of those chips that’s so astonishing. The 9900X hit simply 74.4°C and the 9700X simply 68.3°C beneath full load. That compares to 87.2°C for the 7950X and over 90°C for the 14900K, once more in response to club386’s figures.
This all provides as much as the 9900X and 9700X being glorious selections for those who’re after a CPU that’s simply broadly very quick, fairly than simply quick at gaming. Nevertheless, the worth of those chips is excessive proper now, with AMD’s older 7000 collection CPUs having been steadily discounted since their launch and now providing a lot better worth general.
As a substitute, on the subject of gaming CPU choices, it would possible be when X3D variants of those 9000 collection CPUs land that we’ll actually see a significant enhance in gaming efficiency. For now, although, the gaming efficiency, normal productiveness efficiency, low energy consumption, and nice worth of the 7800X3D (on the present value of $365) make it our go-to selection.
For extra of a significant gaming efficiency improve, take a look at our greatest graphics card information, which incorporates the GPUs that may actually unlock large positive factors in your body price.