New Ryzen 9 7950X deal makes the top CPU a great pairing for the RX 9070 XT
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AMD PC builds just got even more interesting: With today’s RX 9070 XT release (and the 5070 being somewhat outshone), opting for a Team Red GPU makes a lot of sense. And if you want a CPU to pair with it why not choose the Ryzen 9 7950X?
The 7950X isn’t one of the latest AMD options, but it offers a lot of performance, allows for future upgrades, and is currently down to $470 – a 33% drop from its list price of $699. It’s a hugely capable option for enthusiasts and gamers, and would absolutely allow the 9070XT to stretch its legs.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Why we love the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
The joy of AMD’s Socket AM5 is the options available. More than two years after its release, the 7950X can instantly provide a massive upgrade on lower-spec options. It’s also a formidable and efficient CPU to put at the core of a new build. Either way, with Socket AM5 there are also upgrade options beyond it for the future.
- 12 Cores, 24 threads – The 7950X features a 16C 32T (16-core, 32-thread) architecture, and is an excellent choice for multi-threaded and multitasking performance. It’s also strong in content creation and gaming (the 7950X3D takes the gaming crown, but is more expensive).
- 5.7 GHz Max Boost – Strong raw performance, enough to keep up with the best graphics cards around; including the RX 9070X. The 7950X has excellent efficiency and can be overclocked if more power is desired.
- Socket AM5 – AMD's latest socket supports DDR5 RAM, PCIe 5.0, and two families of CPUs. Picking the 7950X opens the door to future upgrades to the 9000 series CPUs.
- Power-efficient – A power-efficient CPU with a TDP of 170W.
Who is this Ryzen 9 7950 X deal for?
At the top of the Ryzen 7000 series are the 7950X and the 7950X3D. The latter has added 3D V-Cache which gives it the edge in gaming, but the 7950X is great for gaming too… as well as productivity, and all-around system performance. Essentially this deal is for anyone wanting a powerful CPU for a great price, as the 7950X will not let you down.
If you’re looking to upgrade or overhaul an existing Socket AM5 system, this CPU can provide a stepping stone towards future 9000 series processors. It can also keep up with the best graphics cards available, be that the RX 9070 XT or another AMD or Nvidia option.
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