AMD Ryzen 9 7950X evaluate

Unbelievably, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X prices effectively over $100 lower than it did on the time of launch just a few months in the past, dropping from $699 to a way more palatable value of round $579. This brings it in step with the Intel Core i9 13900K, so each CPUs are prepared for the large flagship showdown.

This actually is the battle for one of the best gaming CPU title, with these processors providing the perfect that AMD and Intel can at the moment supply. Whereas CPUs with an enormous variety of cores aren’t for everybody, and also you very not often want greater than six for gaming, these multi-core monsters are perfect for video encoding, streaming, rendering, and all types of duties that may take full benefit of plenty of CPU cores.

Ryzen 9 7950X specs

These are the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X specs:

The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X nonetheless has the identical 16 cores (and 32 threads through SMT) because the earlier Ryzen 9 5950X, and it’s equally primarily based on two core advanced dies (CCDs) with eight cores every. It additionally has a a lot increased TDP of 170W, in comparison with 105W for the Ryzen 9 5950X.

Overclocking the latter supplied big features in multi-threaded efficiency, so it seems as if AMD has elevated the ability obtainable to it with a view to clock up the increase frequencies.

Certainly, the Ryzen 9 7950X has an enormous 5.7GHz peak increase frequency, in comparison with 4.9GHz for the older CPU. Even when each CPUs processed the identical variety of directions per clock (IPC) at inventory pace, that increase would supply a large soar in efficiency, however AMD can be claiming a 13% uplift in IPC too.

Below the hood is an L2 cache that has doubled in dimension to 16MB (1MB per core), which ought to reduce latency, whereas boosting efficiency. You now get built-in Radeon RDNA2 graphics contained in the chips too, though it’s solely highly effective sufficient to drive shows moderately than video games in line with AMD.

These quoted clock speeds aren’t simply theoretical both. We noticed peak all-core increase frequencies of as much as 5.2GHz throughout testing, which is a big enhance over its predecessor’s all-core clock boosts, with the single-core increase typically hitting 5.7GHz. What’s extra, when you’re involved about warmth and energy draw, AMD has launched a characteristic referred to as Eco Mode. This lets you drop the thermal design energy (TDP) from the usual 170W to both 105W and even 65W.

That’s simply as effectively, because the Ryzen 9 7950X is a moderately toasty CPU out of the field. Its core temperature frequently rose to 90°C in multi-threaded workloads, even with our customized water-cooling loop hooked as much as it, which implies a guide overclock is greatest prevented. Nonetheless, this temperature fell dramatically when utilizing Eco Mode, largely as a consequence of boosting frequencies being curtailed, falling to a 4.7-4.9GHz all-core increase at 105W and three.6-3.8GHz at 65W.

Ryzen 9 7950X benchmarks

Even when it was simply operating at 65W, the Ryzen 9 7950X’s Cinebench multi-threaded rating of 29,821 was nonetheless quicker than that of the Intel Core i9 12900KS and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, and with dramatically decrease temperatures too.

On the 105W profile, the 7950X scored 31,165, which continues to be removed from matching the monstrous 38,422 achieved by the CPU at inventory pace, however sadly the latter consequence can be overwhelmed by the Core i9 13900K, which managed to high 40,000 factors. There’s not a lot in it right here, although – the 7950X continues to be very highly effective, regardless of ostensibly having eight fewer cores than the 13900K.

It was an in depth battle in our personal RealBench exams too, with the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X rising victorious with an total system rating of 495,461 in comparison with 486,267 for the Core i9 13900K. Particularly, the single-threaded energy of AMD’s Zen 4 structure was demonstrated in our GIMP picture enhancing benchmark, the place 4 of AMD’s newest CPUs beat the Core i9 13900K.

The Intel chip had the sting in our closely multi-threaded Handbrake video encoding benchmark, however the distinction was minuscule. Once more, there’s so little in it you can simply suggest both the 13900K or the 7950X for closely multi-threaded workloads.

The Core i9-13900K additionally beat the Ryzen 9 7950X in our sport exams too, nevertheless, and the top-end AMD CPU failed to supply a lot of a profit over cheaper Ryzen 7000-series processors in video games both. The Ryzen 9 7950X was additionally noticeably slower than the Ryzen 7 7700X in Watch Canines: Legion.

Ryzen 9 7950X energy draw

The place the Ryzen 9 7950X actually has the higher hand over the Core i9 13900K, nevertheless, is in terms of energy draw. Its peak draw of 376W for the entire take a look at system was far decrease than the 546W for the Intel CPU at load. By way of efficiency per Watt, the Ryzen 9 7950X is the clear winner right here, particularly when the efficiency distinction between the 2 CPUs is so small.

Ryzen 9 7950X value

Due to latest competitors from Intel, the Ryzen 9 7950X value has dropped dramatically within the few weeks because it first launched. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950 value is $579, making it costly, however the value isn’t unreasonable for the massive quantity of multi-threaded energy on supply.

Nonetheless, keep in mind that there are different prices to issue into your finances when you select this CPU. You’ll want a brand new Socket AM5 motherboard for a begin, however you’ll additionally want DDR5 reminiscence. That is an space the place Intel has the higher hand, as its newest thirteenth gen CPUs can use older DDR4 reminiscence in addition to DDR5. That is unlikely to be a giant issue for you when you’re contemplating spending this a lot cash on a CPU, although.

Ryzen 9 7950X conclusion

There’s little question that the Ryzen 9 7950X now sits at a much more aggressive price ticket and provides some actual competitors to the Core i9 13900K. The 2 chips commerce blows in content material creation software program, whereas the Intel CPU is barely faster in video games. There’s truthfully not a lot to decide on between the 2 CPUs in terms of efficiency.

Energy consumption is considerably decrease on the AMD chip, although, plus it has the benefit of low-power Eco modes that cut back energy additional and supply incredible efficiency per watt.

After all, this costly 16-core beast continues to be a CPU most of us can solely dream of proudly owning. Nonetheless, when you want a CPU for content material creation first, with a smattering of informal gaming on the facet, and also you additionally prioritize energy effectivity, the Ryzen 9 7950X is a shocking instance of the Zen 4 structure’s capabilities. 

Alternate options

Intel Core i9 14900K

Now that Intel’s 14th gen CPU lineup is with us, one of the best competitor for all-out multi-threaded energy is Intel’s newest Core i9 14900K. It has eight P-Cores and 16 E-Cores, supplying you with an enormous complete of 24 Raptor Lake cores, as with the Core i9 13900K. Nonetheless, Intel has elevated the clock pace proper as much as 6GHz.

This an awesomely highly effective CPU, however keep in mind that you simply’ll want an honest PSU and CPU cooler to maintain it in verify. We suggest a 1,000W energy provide when you’re additionally utilizing a high-end CPU, and a 360mm AIO cooler. Learn our full Intel Core i9 14900K evaluate for extra info.

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D

If you wish to have your cake and eat it, AMD’s newest Ryzen 9 7950X3D additionally offers you 16 cores, similar to the 7950X, however then provides an enormous stack of L3 cache. Not solely is it nice for multi-threaded work, but it surely’s additionally a killer gaming CPU. That stack of 3D v-cache reduces the necessity for the CPU to web page to system reminiscence, decreasing latency, and rushing up body charges. It’s not low cost, although.

This put up initially appeared on Customized PC, which has been reviewing PC {hardware} for over 20 years and is now a part of PCGamesN. Be a part of our 500k-member Fb group to debate this evaluate.