Which Zen 5 CPU is the best?

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  • The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU.

    AMD Ryzen 7 9700X

    AMD's brand new Ryzen 7 9700X is not only better than its predecessor, it's also more powerful and uses less power. 8 cores and 16 threads ensure all your favorite games run as the developers intended, and a boost speed of 5.5 GHz makes even heavier loads a breeze.

  • AMD Ryzen 9 9900

    AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

    AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X is a strong contender for creative systems and gaming rigs. 12 physical cores make it a powerful processor, and the low 120W TDP ensures you don't need the most expensive CPU coolers to prevent meltdowns.


In 2024, the Ryzen 9000 series of processors was launched, based on AMD's Zen 5 architecture. As the successor to the Ryzen 7000 series, this latest family of chips boasts improved efficiency and performance thanks to architectural changes and a shortening of the manufacturing process at TSMC. AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 9 9900X are very different processors. The Ryzen 7 is the mid-range chip with 8 cores and moderate performance, while the Ryzen 9 9900X is aimed at enthusiasts and creatives thanks to its impressive 12-core layout. I'll walk you through all the similarities, differences, and performance numbers to help you choose the right chip for the job.




Price, specifications and availability

NZXT N7 B650E with Ryzen 9 9900X installed

AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 9 9900X aren't too far apart in price and specs. The 9700X has 8 physical cores and 16 threads and will reach up to 5.5GHz if the CPU cooler and other parts of the system allow it. The 9900X has 12 cores and 24 threads, making it the more powerful CPU on paper, especially in multi-core applications. With a slightly higher boost speed of 5.6GHz, you'll also get slightly improved single-core scores. Price-wise, the 9700X is more affordable at $359 and the 9900X costs $449, which isn't much for such a powerful processor.


  • AMD Ryzen 7 9700X AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
    Socket AM5 AM5
    Cores 8 12
    Topics 16 24
    Base clock frequency 3.8GHz 4.4GHz
    Increase clock frequency 5.5GHz 5.6GHz
    PCIe 5.0 5.0
    Cache Total size: 40 MB Datasheet
    RAM support DDR5-6000 DDR5-5600
    graphic AMD Radeon graphics (2 cores) AMD Radeon graphics (2 cores)
    architecture Zen5 Zen5
    Proceedings TSMC 4nm, 6nm TSMC 4nm, 6nm
    TDP 65W 120 watts

Although the 9900X is numerically better than the 9700X, actual in-game performance is slightly different because games use fewer cores than most processors. All Ryzen 9000 series processors use the same AM5 socket, which is also true of the previous 7000 series. The processors can be used interchangeably, allowing for a clear upgrade path from the previous generation. AMD has confirmed plans to support the AM5 socket until 2027, which should allow for additional upgrades for both of these processors.


As with all other AM5 CPUs, PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM support is available regardless of which chip you buy. AMD graphics are available for display on a connected screen without a separate GPU, but you'll need to use one for gaming. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X requires less power and has a TDP of just 65W. Under full load, it only draws around 88W. The 9900X has a TDP of 120W with a maximum power draw of 162W. If you only want to play games with a mid-range GPU, the Ryzen 7 might be a better choice, although the 9900X offers more headroom for multi-core applications.

An illustration image highlighting the best CPUs for gaming currently on the market

Related

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Thermals and performance

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X in front of the Ryzen 7 box

A performance comparison of these two processors yields the expected results when reading through the spec sheets. The 9700X falls slightly behind the 9900X in almost every test, due to the lower number of cores and threads and less cache. The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X has more cores and a higher clock speed without overclocking. The 9700X is not far behind in single-core applications, but as more cores are required for more intensive workloads, the Ryzen 7 reaches its limits, while the Ryzen 9 can handle the heavier tasks better.


Compared to Intel's best, both AMD processors use significantly less power, with the 9700X drawing just 88 watts. The 9900X isn't bad, with a maximum power draw of 162 watts. Both chips performed well in our synthetic test benchmarks, as well as in light to heavy gaming.


Since most PC titles don't utilize all available CPU cores, the GPU often remains the main bottleneck. This means it's largely a neck-and-neck race between the two chips. The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X does manage to get slightly better frame rates, but it doesn't add up to much. It's only when you're doing 4K gaming with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 that the 9900X makes more sense with its firepower to ensure you don't hinder the mighty Nvidia flagship in any way.

Which CPU is right for you?

AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X is the mid-range 9000-series CPU with plenty of power at a more reasonable price. Should the 9-series be a bit too expensive, I'd consider the 9700X, if not an older generation AM5 chip. With 8 cores, you won't find any shortcomings unless you're running the most demanding software, and I'm talking 4K video rendering. It will still hold up, but you'll have to put up with slightly longer wait times, as I found during our testing. For single-core applications where performance per core is more important, there's not much difference between them. For most people, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is the chip to buy. It's great for gaming, general computing, and creative use.


The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU.

Cheaper

AMD Ryzen 7 9700X

AMD's brand new Ryzen 7 9700X is not only better than its predecessor, it's also more powerful and uses less power. 8 cores and 16 threads ensure all your favorite games run as the developers intended, and a boost speed of 5.5 GHz makes even heavier loads a breeze.

The best processor in this comparison is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X. It has a higher default boost clock speed, more cores, more threads, more cache, and more of everything. The Ryzen 9 9950X may be the best Ryzen 9000 processor, but it's still a solid powerhouse. 12 cores make it easy to handle even more demanding tasks like video rendering. I use this exact processor in my main system, which also happens to be my Linux gaming rig. It's fantastic, especially when paired with an AMD Radeon GPU for Smart Access Memory.

AMD Ryzen 9 9900

Best performance

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X is a strong contender for creative systems and gaming rigs. 12 physical cores make it a powerful processor, and the low 120W TDP ensures you don't need the most expensive CPU coolers to prevent meltdowns.

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