Overlooked Ryzen 7 9700X much more tempting in cut-price Amazon deal
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The Ryzen 7 9700X is often overlooked in the 9000 series – we actually skipped it in our best CPUs for the RTX 5070 – but it offers great gains over the 7700X and is beefier than the entry-level 9600X. Maybe it needs some understanding – or a better, lower, price.
Luckily, the second of those is forthcoming, and as the 9000 series has seen some discounts, the 9700X has followed suit. A new Amazon deal sees the CPU shed $50 from its list price, dropping it by 14% to $309. That’s the lowest it’s been apart from a huge discount in December, and it makes it a much healthier proposition.
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X 8-Core, 16-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Why we love the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
Perhaps it is a sort of nostalgia that makes us fond of 8-core 16-thread parts (hello 5800X CPUs). But as our 9700X review shows. it offers good uplifts on the 7700X while dropping 40W in terms of TDP. In other words, it’s a solid and power-efficient CPU for mid-range systems. Here are the key specs:
- Socket AM5 – The 9000 series runs on the same socket as the 7000 series, making the 9700X a solid upgrade from the 7000 series while allowing for future upgrades.
- Performance: The 9700X is far enough beyond the 7700X to offer a solid step up. We did previously consider this CPU as too close to the 7800X3D in price, but that’s no longer the case and the deal price benefits the 9700X.
- Architecture: An 8C 16T (8-Core, 16-Thread) Processor utilizing Zen 5 cores, both speed and power efficiency are central to the 9700X. It excels in the latter, while delivering uplift thanks to generation improvements.
- Overclocking: The CPU has a 5.5 GHz max boost clock. Its ‘X' denomination means it can be overclocked, but you will need to consider the impact on heat and power and purchase a sufficient cooler.
- Cooler Not Included: The 9700X is very power-efficient and cooling is unlikely to be a problem. You will need to purchase a cooler as one isn’t included, and if you want to overclock consideration of cooling is key.
Who is this AMD Ryzen 7 9700X deal for?
The Ryzen 7 9700X is destined for mid-range systems, making this deal perfect whether you’re building from scratch or replacing a 7000 series part. Although not the most powerful CPU in the 9000 series, pairing this processor with GPUs like the 4070 Super/Ti Super or 5070/Ti would deliver a very capable system indeed.
Furthermore, this deal is for anyone who wants to leave a bit of wiggle room for future upgrades on the Socket AM5 platform. Installing this CPU means leaving the door open to Ryzen 9 CPUs and even future releases by AMD.
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