As a tech enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the latest Ryzen 9 9950X is undoubtedly a powerhouse for those seeking top-tier performance. However, when it comes to deciding whether to upgrade from the Ryzen 9 7950X, I’d advise taking a step back and considering your budget first.
The full rollout of AMD’s “Granite Ridge” Ryzen 9000 series desktop processors has been completed, as the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9900X have now been released. These new chips join the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X that were made available on August 8, 2024.
AMD’s latest Zen 5 CPUs offer performance enhancements and, on occasion, increased efficiency; however, the leap from Zen 4 to Zen 5 may not be as substantial as some anticipated. This raises an intriguing question: is the newly released Ryzen 9 9950X a wiser purchase compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X, which hit the market two years ago?
I examined the basic specifications, costs, and functionality to assist you in choosing the ideal hardware for your upcoming PC upgrade or construction project.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs. Ryzen 9 7950X: Specs
The specifications that make up these chips aren’t too dissimilar. Both chips have 16 cores and 32 threads, a maximum 5.7GHz boost clock, 16MB and 64MB L2 and L3 caches, and a 170W base TDP. The L1 cache is slightly different, with the new Ryzen 9 9950X climbing to 1,280KB compared to 1,024KB. The Zen 5 Ryzen 9 also drops its base clock to 4.3GHz compared to 4.5GHz.
Both chips allow overclocking, work with AM5 socket motherboards, and can handle DDR5 RAM. However, they differ in their core technology: The Ryzen 9 7950X chip, which uses a 5nm manufacturing process, comes from Zen 4 generation, while the upcoming Zen 5 has reduced the process to 4nm.
Here’s a better look at the specs:
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs. Ryzen 9 7950X: Price and availability
The latest AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is now up for grabs at outlets such as Newegg and Best Buy, priced affordably at $649. This is a reduction of $50 compared to the initial price tag of the Ryzen 9 7950X at launch.
The older model Ryzen 9 7950X processor continues to be easily found at major outlets such as Best Buy, Newegg, Amazon, and Walmart. Since its initial release, its price has dropped significantly, with the average selling price now around $518. This is a noticeably lower cost compared to the newer Ryzen 9 9950X.
In this setup, neither chip includes a built-in cooler, so remember to account for an additional cost in your system construction. AMD advises using a liquid cooler with these processors to prevent thermal throttling and optimize performance. Many top-tier coolers suitable for the Ryzen 9 7950X will also work well with the Ryzen 9 9950X.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs. Ryzen 9 7950X: Zen 5 against Zen 4
The improvement from Zen 4 to Zen 5 may not have been as significant as some people anticipated, yet it represents progress nonetheless. According to Windows Central Editor Ben Wilson’s review of the Ryzen 9 9950X, he noted:
As a researcher studying high-performance processors, I can attest that AMD’s latest premium consumer CPU, the Ryzen 9 9950X, outshines its Intel counterpart in terms of raw power. With an eye-watering MSRP of $649, this chip claims the title of the most powerful desktop CPU globally, surpassing other options until we delve into Threadripper territory.
With the Ryzen 9 9950X, you’ll likely experience enhanced single- and multi-core performance. However, as the table shows, the Ryzen 9 7950X is not significantly lagging behind.
Given that the Ryzen 9 9950X doesn’t receive a TDP reduction for improved efficiency, it’s hard to justify an upgrade to this newer chip if you’re already using the Ryzen 9 7950X. In his review of the Ryzen 9 7950X on Windows Central, Rich Edmonds mentioned:
“Blender’s performance is outstanding, making it hard to pause for a cup of tea while Corona renders. These processors excel under heavy workloads, and the advancements AMD has made on the AM5 platform with their latest processors are evident, even during casual use in Windows 11 (or your preferred Linux version). Everything … appears faster.”
For individuals eager to maintain a cutting-edge system and are willing to spend more, the 9950X could offer minor benefits. However, if you currently own the 7950X, you should find satisfaction in your current setup.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs. Ryzen 9 7950X: Which should you buy?
Making the right choice here comes down to budget and what you’re already using in your PC. If you’re coming from, say, a Ryzen 5000X CPU, you’re going to see a rather impressive bump in performance with the Ryzen 9 9950X. On the other hand, if you already have a Ryzen 9 7950X, there’s almost no reason to upgrade to the newer chip.
If your computer is running on an older CPU, consider opting for the Ryzen 9 7950X instead of the 9000 series. This choice could potentially save you between $100 and $150, depending on ongoing promotions.
For individuals who engage in creative work and gaming, these processors are designed to cater to both needs excellently. Those who balance their time between these activities should find satisfaction with the performance delivered. However, dedicated PC gamers seeking a CPU solely for gaming might want to either hold off for the Ryzen 9000 X3D versions or explore the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Priced around $525, it offers superior value compared to the Ryzen 9 9950X.
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2024-08-17 17:09