AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs Ryzen 9 5900XT – Specifications and use case compared
Table of Contents
The wait is over. The Ryzen 9000 series processors have launched, while the accompanying AM4 processors were released on the original date. So, now we finally have our hands on the Ryzen 7 9700X, which you can purchase on Amazon, as well as the 5900XT. On top of that, we’ve deep-dived into the nitty-gritty details to experience how much more powerful the Zen 5 mid-range CPU is than its previous counterpart.
There are two vastly different CPUs at play here. One would not exist without the other, but it appears it exists to dominate, given the power that Zen 5 holds over Zen 3. But which is best for you? We have a showdown between AM5 and AM4, the new vs. the still new but old. How will these two CPUs stack up against each other?
If news of AMD confirming the release date has got you hyped up, you can check out our where-to-buy pages for both the 9700X and the 5900XT, there you shall find the retailers that we expect to be accepting pre-orders. So keep an eye out for that.
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AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
Cores
8
Threads
16
Boost clock speed
5.5 GHz
Base clock speed
3.8 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB
TDP
65 W
Platform
AMD Socket AM5
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CHECK PRICEAMD Ryzen 9 5900XT
Cores
16
Threads
32
Boost clock speed
4.8 GHz
Base clock speed
3.3 GHz
L3 Cache
64 MB
TDP
105W
Platform
AMD Socket AM4
Shop on Amazon
CHECK PRICESpecifications
Both on paper and in practice, these CPUs are incredibly different, and it may look like the old timer 5900XT (I have to clarify because it’s not really an old timer) has the upper hand with the increased core and thread count, but all is not what it seems. The cores in the 9700X are way more powerful and valuable to the user if you’re going for raw power!
Specification | Ryzen 7 9700X | Ryzen 9 5900XT |
---|---|---|
Cores | 8 | 16 |
Threads | 16 | 32 |
Base Clock | 3.8GHz | 3.3GHz |
Boost Clock | up to 5.5GHz | up to 4.8GHz |
L3 Cache | 32MB (shared) | 64MB (shared) |
TDP | 65W | 105W |
PPT | 88W | 142W |
Socket | AM5 | AM4 |
Core architecture | Zen 5 | Zen 3 |
As you can see, there is quite a difference between these CPU specifications, and you might think that the 5900XT has the edge here, but that’s not really the case.
Cores and threads
The cores in the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 9 5900XT are vastly different, the former being based on the brand new Zen 5 architecture, and the latter being Zen 3. The reason these are so different is the fact that they have a different manufacturing process size, (4nm vs 7nm).
In essence, this means that the transistors are smaller in the 9000 series CPU, so there are more present, making the cores more powerful as they can complete a larger amount of computations at the same time. The single-core performance will be much better than the 5900XT, we know this because the 7700X scored higher in multi-core benchmarks than the 5900X, so we’re sure the 9700X will be able to outperform this chip too.
The uplift in IPC (instructions per clock) is something to consider too, the increase was 14% from Zen 3 to Zen 4 and a further 16% from Zen 4 to Zen 5. All of this is a result of increasing the number of transistors on the CPU die.
Clock speed
This is where IPC comes into play because clock speed plays a big factor in the uptick of performance the way IPC is concerned. On paper, the 9700X has a massive 0.7GHz lead over the 5900XT boost speeds (the speeds the processor will boost to if thermal conditions are met), which means the CPU cores will be slamming through the CPU instruction cycle much faster.
Not only are the cores cycling faster, but the cores themselves pack more power thanks to the IPC increase we talked about earlier. The cores in the 9700X have more transistors, meaning a higher capacity to compute, the cores are also cycling many more times a second, so it’s a double-pronged attack on the cores of the 5900XT.
We understand that this might be hard to visualize, so I drew you something to help:
There are more units capable of computing being activated more times per second in the 9700X. Bob Ross would be proud of my Illustration, at least that’s what I tell myself. (drawing not to scale).
Cache
The cache in these two CPUs is vastly different, AMD has already given up the goods in this regard, as they have confirmed that the 9700X is actually faster than the 5800X3D in some gaming workloads. This, I don’t feel would have been possible without a tweak of the old cache.
There is indeed more cache present in the 5900XT, but that’s because there are more cores to serve, double the cores in fact. Cache is important because it’s where the CPU stores all of its instructions, either pending or half complete. This is because going to the system memory every time is far too slow to keep up with today’s demands.
TDP and PPT
These metrics, TDP and PPT are slightly different things, If you’re looking for efficiency and power, then hands down the 9700X wins this one. TDP is the maximum thermal energy in Watts your CPU produces under normal operating conditions. PPT is the package power, this is the maximum amount of power the motherboard will let through its voltage rails into the CPU, this is a hard limit, you will not exceed this.
5900XT and 9700X’s price
The Ryzen 9 5900XT was released at $349, which we’ve yet to decide whether is justified for an AM4 refresher CPU or not. We were expecting it to be released with a price tag of $300; we’re not that far off, but the $49 does make a difference. As for the Ryzen 7 9700X, AMD waited until the last minute before release to actually mention these. As the Ryzen 9000 pricing confirmed, it is to come out at $359.
That makes the two surprisingly close in pricing, with the 9700X coming out at $10 more. For that price, it makes it a much more sensible choice for buying new.
Graphical capabilities
Only the 9700X has any sort of graphical capabilities, as the 2 CU iGPUs debuted in the Ryzen 7000 series, and may well have become the norm for AMD. With that being said, the iGPU inside the 9000 series has gotten an update, being RDNA 3-based and coming in with a clock range of 400 – 2,200MHz.
The Ryzen 7000 series iGPU was very powerful for just 2 CUs, (Compute Units) WePC revealed in a test that it could handle CS:GO at 130FPS, so this RDNA 3-based iGPU will be more than capable of running your day-to-day. Especially if you don’t have a GPU and are saving up for one.
Again, the 5900XT has no graphical capabilities.
How do these CPUs compare generationally?
Image Credit: AMD
We’ve gone over how these CPUs differ in the IPC and Zen sense, but how else are these CPUs different? and how will that affect you? Well, the 9700X belongs to the AM5 socket, and the 5900XT the AM4, which has been in use for around 9 years by this point. AMD told us in an interview that there are no plans to get rid of AM4 just yet.
So, what this comparison also boils down to is AM5 vs AM4. There are advantages to either side but technologically AM5 has to take the cake. You get access to the latest PCIe Gen 5 capabilities, USB 4, Wifi 7 (on the X870 motherboards), and more. AM4-wise, the technology is dated, you may just be locking yourself into a dated system that might well only be supported for another year or so. At least with AM5, you know that support will last until at least 2025.
Alternatives to the 9700X and the 5900XT
There are a few options for you to go for if Team Red isn’t tickling your fancy, We know that benchmark leaks suggest that the 14900K could be on par with the 9950X in terms of Multi-core performance, so it might well blow the 9700X out of the water. With that being said, if you’re still on the AM4 platform and want a new gaming CPU, look no further than the 5800X3D, its strong gaming performance has let it compete with CPU generations ahead of it.
-
Intel Core i9-14900K
- Cores: 24 (8P-16E)
- Threads: 32
- Boost clock speed : P-Core 5.8GHz / E-Core 4.4GHz
- Base clock speed: P-Core 3.2GHz / E-Core 2.4GHz
- L3 Cache: 36 MB
- TDP: 253W
-
Intel Core i5-13600K
- Cores: 14 (6P-8E)
- Threads: 20
- Boost speed : P-Core 5.1GHz / E-Core 3.5GHz
- Base speed: P-Core 3.5GHz / E-Core 2.6GHz
- L3 Cache: 24MB
- TDP: 181W
-
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Boost speed : Up to 4.5 GHz
- Base speed: 3.4 GHz
- L3 Cache: 96 MB
- TDP: 105W
-
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
- Cores: 12
- Threads : 24
- Boost clock speed: 5.6 GHz
- Base clock speed: 4.7 GHz
- L3 Cache: 64 MB
- TDP: 170 W
Which CPU is best for you?
The Ryzen 7 9700X is a clear winner in terms of power, efficiency, longevity, and well, everything. It might even be less expensive depending on what AMD decides to do with its pricing of the 5900XT. This CPU is designed to be around about the middle of the pack when it comes to the 9000 series, not entry-level, but not top dog either. Its 8 cores allow for seamless multi-threading performance, so long as you’re not a data scientist at NASA, this CPU will serve you well.
On the other hand, we have the 5900XT, whose release has surprised us all. This CPU is a very good sell for those looking to upgrade from the 3000 series if the price reflects the current market. Although the longevity of AM4 is in question as it edges closer to serving it’s 9th year as a platform.
In terms of raw power and technological availability, it’s the 9700X that wins for us, but if someone would want to save some money by sticking with the AM4 hardware they likely already have, we can see why the 5900XT would be appealing.
To get you a better opinion, I asked fellow PC Guide experts, Sebastian and Ussamah, Here’s what they had to say on the subject:
The decisive factor in the fight between the mid-range Ryzen 7 9700X and the latest AM4 processor, Ryzen 9 5900XT, will be their architecture. While the 5900XT might be a pleasant addition for people on the AM4 platform, it still uses the 7nm CPU process technology, whereas the 9700X has the 4nm process technology backing it.
So, just by that, we know that the 9700X would outperform the 5900XT. However, shifting to the AM5 platform can burn a hole in your pocket, and that is where the 5900XT has an opportunity to take the lead because it could serve as an excellent upgrade if you're upgrading from, let's say, a 5600X.
Ussamah Mehmood
The 9700X and 5900XT are vastly different CPU options to go for. As although the Ryzen 7 might be a lower tier in name, the generation advantage is a lot greater, with great advancements and performance you can utilize. However, it comes with a much higher platform cost being on AM5 now. So the 5900XT comes in as a top upgrade choice for those on AM4, giving you another way to extend your build or build out a cheaper PC as it’s likely going to cost a lot less being a much older choice.
Sebastian Kozlowski