AMD Ryzen 5 9600X review: Cheaper and more efficient than ever, Zen 5 tempts with an entry-level gaming CPU

As a seasoned PC builder with decades of tinkering under my belt, I must admit that Intel’s recent woes have left me somewhat apprehensive. The oxidization issue affecting early 2023 Intel Core processors is a red flag for any novice builder, and even us veterans wouldn’t dream of recommending such a risk without extensive manual BIOS tweaking know-how.

Among my preferred processors, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X stood out due to its exceptionally well-balanced blend of cost-effectiveness and performance, despite my opting for a slightly more expensive option, the AMD Ryzen 9 5800X, for my PC setup.

Nevertheless, any successor has a mountain to climb to receive the same praise as its 5000 Series precursor. Ryzen chips have always been a go-to pick for custom builders on a budget, and the -X range targets enthusiast gamers, with the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X opening as the entry-level chip in the new Ryzen 9000 Series.

Is this model suitable to be the latest trend for novice PC gamers aiming to transition into the contemporary era of AM5 motherboards, leveraging all benefits that AMD’s Zen 5 architecture provides, or does it pale in comparison to its slightly more powerful Ryzen 7 9700X sibling and even earlier generation AMD processors? Here are my findings from my testing.

Ryzen 5 9600X: Price, availability, and specs

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X review: Cheaper and more efficient than ever, Zen 5 tempts with an entry-level gaming CPU

Starting on August 8, 2024, AMD will make its Ryzen 5 9600X available for purchase through popular retailers such as Newegg and Best Buy at an MSRP of $279. This is a $20 reduction compared to the cost of the previous-gen Ryzen 5 7600X and the 5600X that preceded it, offering consumers a more affordable option.

1) In terms of power consumption, the beginner-friendly 9600X model by AMD resembles the Ryzen 5 5600X with a base TDP of 65W. However, it briefly escalated to 105W for the 7600X. The base clock speed is set at 3.9GHz, which is higher than its mid-tier counterpart, the Ryzen 7 9700X. Additionally, the maximum turbo clock has experienced a slight increase this generation to reach 5.4GHz.

With both core/thread count and L3 cache count staying constant at 6 cores/12 threads, it opens up an opportunity for AMD to demonstrate enhancements in energy efficiency and performance with its 4nm manufacturing process and Zen 5 architecture within the upcoming Ryzen 9000 Series.

On the Ryzen 9000 chips by AMD, you won’t find a specific Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for local AI processing. However, they have boosted LLM performance overall through an ‘enhanced’ Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (AVX-512) datapath. Meanwhile, the latest Ryzen AI 300 Series mobile chips from AMD are primarily geared towards generative AI in laptops, such as the ASUS Zenbook S 16 (UM5606), which is said to outperform Snapdragon X and leave Intel Meteor Lake in its dust.

For individuals interested in AI tasks or budget-friendly projects, the AMD Ryzen 8000G Series might be a better fit, including the Ryzen 7 8700G which boasts superior integrated graphics compared to the dual-core Radeon chiplet found in the Ryzen 5 9600X (running at 2.2GHz). Regarding memory, DDR5 RAM is essential for AM5 sockets, and the Ryzen 9000 Series offers PCIe 5.0 expansion slots.

Recommended hardware

AMD advises using a tower air cooler for the Ryzen 5 9600X and upcoming AM5 socket motherboards of the X870 and X870E chipsets. These motherboards support overclocked DDR5 memory, capable of speeds exceeding 8000MT/s. AMD previously showcased a sample of G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6400 RAM, and even now, they recommend using an AUTO:1:1 DDR5-6000 EXPO profile to keep the Ryzen performance within its optimal range.

Ryzen 5 9600X: Multi core performance

Testing the Ryzen 5 9600X yields varying results, with its multi-core performance outshining that of some Intel competitors, such as the 13th Gen Core i5-13600K and even the more recent 14th Gen Core i5-14600K in certain burst processing tests like Geekbench 6. Interestingly, this is an energy-efficient 8-core, 16-thread processor managing to surpass a higher wattage Intel chip, the 125W 14c/20t Core i5-13600K. This suggests significant advancements in power efficiency by AMD with Zen 5 architecture.

Improvements from generation to generation on multi-core performance have been relatively small. For instance, the 105W 7600X outperforms the 65W 9600X in certain benchmarks.

However, in sustained stress tests, the Ryzen 5 9600X falls further away from Intel and below AMD’s last-gen chip, the Ryzen 7 7700X. It’s not too unusual, given the higher 105W TDP on the Zen 4 7700X, but you can grab a 7700X for as low as $288 at Amazon, so it’s tough to argue in favor of the 9600X with results like this. Generational multi-core improvements also range from slim numbers to negatives, with 7-Zip’s simulated compression benchmark performing better on the 7000 Series chip.

Despite some less substantial advancements compared to its predecessor and the Ryzen 5 5600X, Zen 5’s 9600X still offers significant improvements in multi-core burst performance. Notably, it’s more power-efficient, following the focus of the Ryzen 9000 Series chips. The 65W 9600X primarily serves as an efficient successor to the entry-level offering from the Ryzen 7000 Series, the power-consuming Ryzen 5 7600X.

From my perspective as a bystander, it appears that individuals who have upgraded to AMD’s Ryzen 7000 Series processors are reaping significant benefits. However, if you’re still using a Ryzen 5 3600X, 5600X, or an equivalent Intel 11th or 12th Gen Core i5, and you’re planning to switch to an AM5 socket motherboard, then the budget-friendly Ryzen 5 9600X might be a sensible choice for you.

Is the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X good for gaming?

Absolutely! If you’re working with a tight budget, the Ryzen 5 9600X could be your go-to choice for a gaming CPU, closely following my earlier top pick – the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Although it doesn’t have the gamer-focused 3D V-Cache like AMD’s X3D Series CPUs, and there’s speculation about an upcoming Ryzen 9000X3D Series, the entry-level 9600X is more than capable of handling modern PC gaming. For those aiming to assemble a budget-friendly yet contemporary gaming setup, the Ryzen 5 9600X offers an affordable starting point with exceptional power efficiency.

Ryzen 5 9600X: Single core performance

In single-core testing, AMD’s Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X perform exceptionally well compared to other 65W chips. The 9600X consistently outperforms its competitor, the Intel 14th Gen Core i5-14600K, in most tests, falling behind only the i7-14700K in CPU-Z’s benchmark. This is noteworthy because the Ryzen 9000 Series processors are competing against Intel’s more powerful 125W Core i5 and i7 chips, which have larger physical core counts. Therefore, they are theoretically dividing a higher wattage among their cores compared to Intel.

AMD’s 65W Ryzen 9600X beats Intel’s 125W Core i5-14600K single-core performance in every benchmark.

The real-world benefits of single-core performance are tricky to quantify for the average PC user, but many modern game engines still thrive on single-thread processing. Since the 9600X is so close to the 7800X3D in multi-core performance and actually better in single-core tests, it becomes a tempting new option as an entry-level Zen 5 gaming CPU. While I start to sound like a broken record, this is another testament to AMD’s triumphs in higher performance at a much lower wattage than the competition and sets a new standard for single-core scores.

Ryzen 5 9600X: The competition

As a tech enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the ongoing instability issues Intel is facing with their 13th and 14th Gen Core desktop chips. This turmoil seems to stem from a microcode (firmware) bug that’s causing permanent degradation in affected processors. Now, here’s the tricky part: if you’re not comfortable diving into manual BIOS tweaks and firmware updates to mitigate potential issues, I wouldn’t advise anyone to splurge on the 13th Gen Core i5-13600K, priced at approximately $234. It’s a powerful chip, but the risk might outweigh the benefits for many users.

If you purchase a 13th Gen Intel Core processor manufactured early in 2023, there’s a chance you could encounter performance issues due to an oxidation problem that has been identified around this time. Intel is providing extended warranties and RMA support for those affected, but the potential risk may not be worth it for many (likely novice) PC builders focusing on entry-level processors.

As a tech enthusiast, I wouldn’t advise anyone but the most confident tinkerers to consider Intel’s 13th or 14th Generation processors at this time. These CPUs require a fair bit of manual BIOS tweaking and firmware updates, which could potentially lead to issues if you’re not comfortable navigating that territory.

Inside AMD itself, the invitation for contestants is issued. If you’re a creator aiming to achieve peak multi-core performance on an AM5 platform, the Ryzen 7 7700X is priced at just $288 at this moment, only slightly higher than the 9600X’s original price tag. However, for gaming enthusiasts, it might be wise to hold off until the anticipated -X3D versions of AMD’s Ryzen 9000 Series arrive. These will offer an upgraded version of 3D V-Cache technology.

Generally speaking, if your computer already has an AMD 7000 Series processor or an Intel 13th Generation equivalent, upgrading to the Ryzen 5 9600X may not significantly improve performance, or it might even be a less favorable choice. Conversely, if your system is still using a Ryzen 3000 to 5000 series processor or an Intel 12th Generation and earlier, the Ryzen 5 9600X could be an excellent starting point for transitioning to AMD’s Zen 5 platform, as you would need a new AM5 socket motherboard regardless.

Ryzen 5 9600X: Should you buy?

You should buy this if …

✅ You’re upgrading from much older hardware

For those who already have a Ryzen 7000 Series processor, the improvements in multi-core performance between generations are relatively minor. However, individuals using older processors compatible with AM4 sockets will find the budget-friendly and adaptable AM5 entry-level option to be quite beneficial.

✅ You’ll benefit from single-core performance gains

AMD delivers remarkable enhancements in single-core Instructions Per Cycle (IPC), which is particularly beneficial for users who heavily rely on software or games that are not optimized for multiple cores or mainly focus on a single core’s performance.

You should avoid this if …

❌ You’re an all-out hardcore PC gamer

Opting for the current generation Ryzen 7 7800X3D might seem appealing due to its cost-effectiveness compared to its predecessor. However, considering a potential 9000X3D release later this year, it’s wise to wait if you’re aiming for high-end gaming and have the budget to accommodate any price increase that may come with it.

❌ You’re already on the AM5 socket

It’s quite rare to notice substantial performance improvements with the 9600X processor if you’re currently using a Ryzen 7000 or 8000G Series processor. This upgrade is more of a small enhancement rather than a significant jump in performance.

In simpler terms, the basic chip in each processor series isn’t typically designed to surpass its predecessors significantly. However, AMD’s Ryzen 5 9600X stands out with exceptional single-core performance. It often surpasses or matches every Intel Core i5 and Core i7 chip of comparable class. Plus, it consumes less power (lower TDP) and comes at a lower cost (more affordable MSRP). Yet, it may not convince those who have already upgraded to AMD’s Ryzen 7000 Series or Intel’s 12th, 13th, or 14th Gen Core desktop processors.

The 9600X serves as an ideal starting point for motherboards compatible with the AM5 socket and AMD’s Zen 5 architecture. It provides the option to upgrade either to a high-end Ryzen 9 9950X for creators or anticipate the upcoming gaming chips in the 9000X3D series. If you’re currently using older AM4 or LGA1200 hardware, the 9600X offers exceptional value for performance per watt on a budget, particularly if your preferred software and games perform better with single-core processing.

2024-08-07 16:11