The Ryzen 7 9700X price keeps getting better, now below $300
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But for a brief, dramatic, drop in December, AMD’s Ryzen 7 9700X has maintained a $300+ price since its release. That’s no longer the case though, because the CPU continues to roll down the hill of cost, making it better and better value if you’re looking for a 9000 series part.
For example, we recently covered the 9700X when it was down to $309. But you can now knock 20 bucks off that and put it towards another component. That’s because we’ve spotted it down in price again – to $289 on Amazon, a 19% discount from its $359 list price.
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X 8-Core, 16-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Why we like the Ryzen 7 9700X
While power efficiency is key to the 9000 series (potentially holding these CPUs back a little), lower power usage is helpful when energy costs are up. Beyond that, the 9700X is a strong single-core performer, thanks to its Zen 5 cores, delivering a decent generational uplift on the 7700X.
- Socket AM5 – The Ryzen 7 9700X is a good option if you want value while still opting for Socket AM5, with a good amount of options for future 9000 series upgrades if you find you want more power.
- Performance: The 9700X’s performance outdoes its 7700X predecessor, while its value continues to improve. One obvious alternative, the Ryzen 7 7800 X3D continues to float around the $400 mark, which is now well over $100 more than this CPU.
- Architecture: An 8C 16T (8-Core, 16-Thread) Processor utilizing Zen 5 cores, power efficiency is key, and low power usage is a plus point.
- Overclocking: The CPU has a 5.5 GHz max boost clock. Its ‘X’ denomination means it can be overclocked, but you should consider the impact on heat and increased power usage that can have.
- Cooler Not Included: The 9700X is very power-efficient and cooling is unlikely to be a problem. However, no cooler is included, and if you want to overclock consideration of cooling is key.
Who is this AMD Ryzen 7 9700X deal for?
Unlike a couple of AMD GPUs with the numbers 9, 0, 7, and 0, the Ryzen 7 9700X can often be found on the good side of its MSRP. Plus its impressive value makes it a strong choice if you are deciding between a Ryzen 7 7700X or moving to the 9000 series. At this point, the 9700X is just $19 above the 7700X as listed on Amazon, which makes the newer CPU the obvious choice.
This is an ideal CPU for mid-range productivity, content creation, and gaming systems. As proof, the best GPUs for the Ryzen 9700X make 4K gaming accessible, making this processor a good fulcrum of balance between affordability and performance. If you want to read more about the CPU itself, check out our Ryzen 7 9700X review – but bear in mind the price is now better.
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