PC enthusiasts looking to upgrade their rigs will be happy to hear news regarding the upcoming AMD Ryzen 9000 Zen 5 desktop CPUs. A Canadian retailer, PC-Canada, has listed the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X alongside their preliminary pricing, offering valuable insights into potential costs elsewhere.

These listings come on the heels of similar leaks from European retailers, painting a clearer picture of what to expect when the Zen 5 lineup hits store shelves later this month. More importantly, the pricing hints at a strategy that could position these new processors as compelling options for budget-conscious builders. According to PC-Canada, here are the prices:

• Ryzen 7 9700X (8 cores) – CAD $516.99, which translates to roughly $380 USD
• Ryzen 5 9600X (6 cores) – CAD $400.99, converting to approximately $295 USD.

Competitive pricing for Ryzen 9000

Intriguingly, these figures fall in line with, or even slightly undercut, the launch MSRP of the current Ryzen 7000 Zen 4 generation. As a reminder, the Ryzen 7 7700X debuted at $399 USD, while the Ryzen 5 7600X launched at $299 USD. Both these Zen 4 chips are currently seeing significant discounts in anticipation of the Zen 5 arrival.

This pricing strategy suggests that AMD might be aiming for a smooth generational transition, offering potentially better performance at similar or marginally higher costs compared to their immediate predecessors. Leaks also indicate that the Ryzen 5 9600X could compete favorably with the Intel Core i5-14600K, which currently sits around the $300 USD mark.Similarly, the Ryzen 7 9700X might deliver performance comparable to the Ryzen 9 7900, currently priced at $369 USD.

Stock and availability preview

Beyond pricing, PC-Canada’s listings offer a glimpse into potential stock availability. The retailer anticipates receiving a significant shipment of Ryzen 7 9700X CPUs (around 1,594 units) by July 16, with an even larger influx expected closer to the official launch date of July 31.

The Ryzen 5 9600X stock appears more limited, with 50 units expected by July 16. While these numbers might seem modest, it’s important to remember that PC-Canada is just one retailer, and a wider stock distribution can be expected across various vendors.

About the Author

Tom Valentine

Tom is a tech writer with a detailed view on ensuring the best buying advice, most useful information, and latest news makes its way into PC Guide's articles.