Ryzen 9 9900X vs. Ryzen 7 5800XT: high-end or middle-tier, how much do they differ?

With the launch of next-gen Zen 5 processors right around the corner, AMD decided to surprise us by introducing two new Zen 3 processors with higher core and thread counts from their respective “X” variants.  

This led to a lot of us asking the same questions: Wouldn’t the 9000 series CPUs overshadow the AM4 CPUs? How much did the Zen 3 refreshers bridge the gap between the two generations? 

In this article, we’ll explore how these processors differ from each other or, more precisely, how the mid-range Ryzen 7 5800XT fares against the powerhouse Ryzen 9 9900X. If you want to purchase the new 9000 series processors, we’ve compiled a list of retailers on our where-to-buy page to save you time and effort.  

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

Cores

12

Threads

24

Boost clock speed

5.6 GHz

Base clock speed

4.4 GHz

L3 Cache

64 MB

TDP

120 W

Platform

AMD Socket AM5

Shop on Amazon

CHECK PRICE

AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT

Cores

8

Threads

16

Boost clock speed

4.8 GHz

Base clock speed

3.8 GHz

L3 Cache

32 MB

TDP

105W

Platform

AMD Socket AM4

Shop on Amazon

CHECK PRICE

Specifications

To see the hardware difference between the two processors, we’ve listed their specifications below.

These two processors are worlds apart; this glaring difference can be seen in the hardware they pack. The 9900X dominates every category, and the only factor that speaks in favor of the 5800XT is its 105 TDP, which is only 15W less than the 9900X. 

Foundations and cores 

The 9900X has four more cores than the 5800XT, which is already a win, but its 4nm process makes it a completely one-sided massacre. The 5800XT has larger CPU processes, meaning it can’t fit as many transistors as the 9900X can on its core, meaning it’s on the back end when it comes to processing speed, efficiency, and power draw. 

The difference two generations make is huge, and even though the 5800XT is one of the newest additions to the AM4 platform, there isn’t much it can do to compete with the behemoth that is the Ryzen 9 9900X. 

However, this outcome isn’t surprising when you factor in the 16% IPC increment the Zen 5 architecture brings over Zen 4, and the 5800XT is based on Zen 3.  

Clock speed

The clock speed of a processor is how fast it can complete an instruction cycle. This means that when the CPU makes a data fetch call, the data arrives in the memory to be processed, is worked on, and then goes out as the processed outcome. The faster this process occurs per second, the better the processor’s performance. 

The 9900X beats the 5800XT in clock speeds and has a 0.6 and 0.8 GHz lead in base and turbo frequencies. While these numbers may seem like they won’t matter much, when you consider that each core is running at higher speeds, the cumulative outcome is significant, to say the least. 

However, that doesn’t mean the 5800XT is completely a dud. It has decent specifications compared to the 9900X and excellent specs if you compare it to processors like the 5600X, which we’ve reviewed. So, it all depends on perspective, and it should be more than capable of handling various gaming and real-world workloads in a mid-range build.  

Cache and TDP

The 9900X has double the amount of L3 cache than the 5800XT, meaning it can store more data onboard for quicker access and processing, saving valuable resources. So, the processing speed and efficiency of the Zen 5 CPU should be far greater than those of the new AM4 contender. 

As for their TDP, the 5800XT consumes 15W less than the 9900X, but the level of performance you’re getting with the latter CPU makes the extra 15W consumption more than worth it. To put things into perspective, the 9900X beat the 14900K in single-core benchmarks, and that processor has a base and maximum TDP of 125W and 253W, respectively.

Graphic capabilities

Another big difference between these two processors is that the 9900X comes with integrated graphics or an iGPU, while the 5800X doesn’t, meaning you’ll have to pair with a dedicated GPU.

While the integrated graphics aren’t the best, they get the job done for basic tasks like running the Microsoft Office suite and troubleshooting if your GPU dies on you. On the other hand, a dedicated GPU is far more powerful than any iGPU but that is an additional cost you’ll have to pay.  

Potential pricing of the 9900X and 5800XT

There isn’t much time before the prices and availability of these upcoming processors are revealed, but looking at the pricing history of previous releases, we can make an informative guess as to what we can expect. 

For the 9900X, we’ll look at the 7900X and 5900X. These CPUs were launched with an MSRP of $549. As for the 5800XT, we only have the 3800XT as a reference, which was launched with a price of $399, and the 5800X, which came with a price tag of $449, dropped to $299 later. 

So, we believe the 9900X should have a similar MSRP of $549 or jump to around $599, while the 5800XT should go for $299. We have to wait for just a couple more days as these CPUs are set to release on July 31st, but we might see their pricing a couple of days sooner.

How have these CPUs changed from the last generation?

The Ryzen 9 9900X is a high-end 9000 series CPU. Taking a look back at previous variants, particularly the 7900X and 5900X, we can see that they were beasts in their respective generations. So, we’ll look at the specifications of these three CPUs to see how much hardware changes between the same generation.

Like we’ve seen with previous comparisons, the cores, threads, and cache remain the same for processors across generations as long as they are in the same family, e.g., Ryzen 9, Ryzen 7, and Ryzen 5. 

As far as the clock speeds are concerned, the 9900X has the same boost frequency as the 7900X, while the 5900X is 0.8 GHz slower. The 9900X has the highest TDP among the three processors, but so is its performance.   

For the 5800XT, we brought the 5800X and 3800XT for comparison, both of which caused controversy in their respective times. The 5800X was deemed overpriced and the 3800XT was a dud at launch as it only brought an increase of 200 MHz. 

The cores, threads, TDP, and cache are the same for all the processors above, but the landscape changes when it comes to clock speeds and architecture. The 5800XT has a 0.1 GHz faster max boost clock, while the 3800XT has a faster base clock speed by a similar margin. The biggest difference is that the 5800XT and 5800X are based on the Zen 3 architecture, while the 3800XT has the aged Zen 2 architecture. 

Alternatives to the 9900X and the 5800XT

There are some processors that you could opt for instead of the 9900X and the 5800XT, and we’ve listed them below. We’ve reviewed some of these alternative options, and you can also check out their in-depth reviews. 

9900X alternatives 

5800XT alternatives

Which one should you go for?

The Ryzen 9 9900X and the Ryzen 7 5800XT are processors on completely different ends of the spectrum so there is no definitive answer for this question. It all boils down to your requirements and budget. 

For example, if your workload consists of handling large amounts of data, training machine learning models, or rendering 3D models, the 9900X should be a surefire way to guarantee seamless operations. On the other hand, if you have a moderate workflow and want a processor capable of complementing high-end GPUs for gaming, the 5800XT shouldn’t disappoint in that regard. 

An important factor while making this decision is what your budget allows for. If you have the funds to move to the AM5 platform, meaning you’ll have to purchase an AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM, the 9900X should power your rig for years to come. However, if you’re operating on a tight budget, the 5800XT should be a worthy CPU to upgrade to while remaining on the AM4 platform.

When I asked our hardware experts, Jack Howarth and Seb Kozlowski’s thoughts on this matter, it turned out we’re all of the same opinion, and this is what they had to say: 

The 9900X is second only to the 9950X and it’s specifications reflect that. The raw power and IPC uplift that the Zen 5 cores hold over Zen 3 is incredibly apparent when you compare both CPUs side by side. If you need a CPU to smash through tough multi-threaded workloads, then the 9900X might be the CPU for you.

On the other hand, if you’re planning to continue being a member of the AM4 club, the 5800XT makes a compelling choice, it sits between the 5800X and the 5900X, and is still a pretty powerful CPU, even if the architecture it’s built on is approaching 4 years old. If your budget doesn’t afford an upgrade to AM5 just yet, this could be a good CPU for you.

Jack Howarth

The 9900X comes in as the second option CPU in the 9000 series. Offering plenty of cores, threads, and even clock rates, an ideal choice for multitasking and some heavy productivity tasks such as rendering and encoding work. Although it comes in at a higher cost with these elevated specs and having a newer more expensive AM5 platform to go on.

Whilst the 5800XT gets to enjoy an older and cheaper AM4 option after its been around for quite some time now. As it prolongs the platform it provides you with potential upgrade if you need a boosting performance without needing a whole new set up. Of course it won’t stack up against the 9900X but could be a better value choice for many people out there.

Seb Kozlowski