Zen 5 has finally arrived, bringing a range of improvements that have AMD enthusiasts eager to see what’s next. With a staggered launch, AMD has introduced the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X, while those interested in the Ryzen 9 9900X and 9950X will need to wait a little longer. Now that we have the Ryzen 7 9700X in hand, we can compare it to the previous generation Zen 4 and the latest offerings from Intel. As this is the chip many will consider for their new gaming rig, we’ll explore what makes it so exciting and whether it justifies its $359 price tag.
Built on the AM5 platform, the Zen 5-based Ryzen 9700X offers an uptick in performance that is ready for a range of workloads, including gaming, productivity, and content creation. The chip boasts 8 cores/16 threads and 40MB of cache, with a max boost clock of 5.5 GHz, all running at a TDP of only 65W.
Even before jumping into testing, it is worth noting that even though it is only a modest improvement in speed compared to the Ryzen 7 7700X, AMD has some work to increase the efficiency of the Ryzen 9000 range to allow a more energy-efficient machine overall, all while bringing improvements to what the CPU can allow. We also see the Zen 5 range moving from the TSMC 5nm process down to a 4nm process, increasing the performance per watt across the range.
“The AM5 platform also allows for a host of improvements when it comes to overclocking, with new features aimed to take advantage of these new capabilities.”
Beyond the efficiency and improved boost clock speeds, the AM5 platform also allows for a host of improvements when it comes to overclocking, with new features aimed to take advantage of these new features. It will now be possible to overclock memory on the fly, with the option to change the memory profile from within the Ryzen Overclock app. This makes it now possible to jump from a stable profile while working to a more performative but less stable one when you want to get the best experience possible while gaming.
Like the rest of the Zen 5 range, the Ryzen 7 9700X also supports EXPO DDR5-8000 profiles, compared to EXPO DDR5-6000 on Zen 4, and JEDEC support for DDR5-5600 memory, providing a notable boost in performance beyond what the CPUs bring through their new clock speeds and on-chip increases. But that is before we even dive into chip overclocking, which gives even more potential to push your CPU farther to squeeze every frame possible from gaming or other intensive applications.
Oh, did we mention Zen 5 also sees some improvements with AI? While not as focused on AI as the Ryzen AI range of laptop chips, Zen 5 does help see some improvements with the new AVX512/VINNI acceleration support compared to the same models running on Intel’s 14th-gen chips. While not massive, this offers up to a 17 percent improvement in Lama and a 20 percent improvement in Mistral when looking at the tokens per second the CPU can manage.
“The Ryzen 7 9700X also supports EXPO DDR5-8000 profiles, providing a notable boost in performance beyond what the CPUs bring through their new clock speeds.”
There are other areas where AVX512 can see improvements, with emulation with the PS3 emulation already seeing the fruits of what things will bring to the table. Again, it may take time to see how useful this will be for the end user, but with more uses popping up every day, it seems it is a valuable asset to see added to the Zen 5 platform.
With that covered, let’s dive into our test system and examine its performance across a range of benchmarks. We designed our test bench to reflect scenarios that most gamers and content creators would encounter. It’s important to note that, as we did not have access to the new AMD 800 series boards at the time of review, we were unable to test the new chipset features. However, we plan to explore these boards once they become available.
Our build features a GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Master motherboard and 32 GB DDR5-6400 EXPO memory supplied by AMD, a Lexar PCI-E Gen4 2TB m.2 SSD, with a 1000Watt GIGABYTE PSU, in a be Quiet! Dark Base Pro 901 PC Case, paired with an AMD Radeon 7900 XTX. To ensure optimal performance, the test system runs the latest Windows 11 update with up-to-date drivers and software from AMD where needed.
Starting things off with our synthetic benchmarks, we are seeing a modest improvement compared to the Ryzen 7 7700X and the Ryzen 7 9700X. The latter scored 848.7 in single-threaded performance and 8155 in multi-threaded workloads, a slight uptick compared to the 749 and 7941 seen on the 7700X, all while keeping the total TDP at 65W.
When looking at Cinebench R23, the story is similar, with the showing scores of 20908 and 2198, only slightly up compared to the 7700X, with its 20890 and 1989, respectively. While modest overall improvements, the story is the efficiency AMD has brought with Zen 5. Even before touching on gaming or creativity, the thermal performance and power draw see a noticeable improvement, giving slightly better performance while drawing significantly less power. This also means more room to overclock and push the chips farther should you want the most performant system possible.
Jumping over to gaming, we have some interesting results that give a general glimpse at what the Ryzen 7 9700X is capable of. Out of the gate, paired with the 7900 XTX, Cyberpunk 2077 on high with frame generation off saw a relatively solid 197.89 FPS, giving it a modest boost compared to the last generation and even the Ryzen 7 8700G. It also came close to the scores we saw on the Ryzen 9 7900X, a much more powerful CPU. This is all done without any overclocking and running at a relatively low 65W TDP.
Looking at Ashes of The Singularity: Escalation, things are a little less impressive, with only a slight increase over the last generation, although it matched the Intel Core i9-13900K and beat out the 56.4, all while only sipping power as it ran through the benchmarks. With the relatively small differences between the different CPUs on this test, much of the difference is within the margin for error, but it manages to be a good baseline to look at what the Ryzen 7 9700X is capable of.
The Hitman 3 Dartmoor benchmark provides solid numbers, making this setup a strong choice for a gaming rig. When paired with the 7900 XTX, it achieves an average of 197.89 FPS. Notably, it outperforms the 14600K and is only about 12 percent behind our tests on the 14900K. This makes it a more affordable and power-efficient option with a solid foundation for building a gaming PC. With this level of performance, you’ll avoid major throttling, and investing in a better GPU could further enhance overall gaming performance.
Our Civilization VI AI benchmark was one of the more disappointing tests. Surprisingly, it performed worse than last-generation chips and even lagged behind the 9600X in the same test. Despite running the test multiple times, there was no improvement, making this the one outlier in an otherwise solid set of benchmarks. While the result isn’t terrible—averaging 7.12 seconds per turn—it still falls short of the Intel i5-14600K by over a second, which is concerning for a new CPU.
With our gaming tests out of the way, it was time to jump into some content creation and productivity, and things looked solid across the board with the Ryzen 9700X CPU. In software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, we saw solid performance and rendering times, with the software running incredibly well when paired with the Zen 5 CPU. Even applications like Adobe Photoshop showed solid performance overall, with the system delivering a very powerful and efficient machine that can take on a range of content creation tasks.
It’s also worth noting that the 9700X CPU includes built-in Radeon graphics, enabling it to handle AV1 encoding and reduce the GPU’s workload in rendering and production tasks. While its graphical performance is limited—making it unsuitable for gaming or intensive editing—this feature provides a way to test your system without a GPU. Additionally, the ability to offload some of the heavy lifting can free up more power for tasks that content creators often need, especially when doing tasks such as streaming and rendering.
“The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X CPU emerges as a solid upgrade for those moving from AM4 and looking to build a new gaming rig.”
With our major tests complete, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X CPU emerges as a solid upgrade for those moving from AM4 and looking to build a new gaming rig. There are plenty of reasons to consider the switch to Zen 5, especially for gaming or content creation, and at a price of $359, it offers a compelling amount of power for the investment.
The real strength of Zen 5 lies in its performance combined with efficiency, making it a great choice for those seeking a dependable gaming experience. With a 65W TDP and the potential for overclocking, the Ryzen 7 9700X CPU provides room to grow with your system. It also offers more power for most tasks compared to what’s currently available from Intel, all while running cooler and requiring less power.
However, it might be a harder sell for those already using a Ryzen 7 7700X, as the performance difference is minimal unless you factor in overclocking—which, despite AMD making it easier, can still be intimidating for the average PC buyer.
AMD made a smart move with this CPU by prioritizing efficiency over sheer horsepower. The Ryzen 7 9700X is a great option for those looking to keep operating costs down without sacrificing performance. It’s a natural evolution from the 7000 and 8000 series chips, and it makes sense in today’s tech landscape. If you’re considering an upgrade from your current AM4 CPU, the 9700X is a fantastic choice that delivers all the power you need.
The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a commendable addition to the Zen 5 lineup. It offers a strong balance of performance and efficiency that makes it a worthwhile upgrade for users on older platforms like AM4. Priced at $359, it provides an attractive combination of power, future-proofing with its overclocking potential, and energy efficiency that will appeal to gamers and content creators alike.
While the performance gains over the Ryzen 7 7700X are modest, the improved efficiency and new features like built-in Radeon graphics and AV1 encoding support make the 9700X CPU stand out. It may not be a must-have for those already on the Ryzen 7000 series unless overclocking is a priority, but for those looking to build a new system or upgrade from older hardware, the Ryzen 7 9700X offers a compelling blend of value, power, and forward-looking technology.
AMD has successfully delivered a CPU that aligns well with the current needs of gamers and content creators, providing a solid foundation for any high-performance PC build. The Ryzen 7 9700X CPU not only meets but exceeds expectations in key areas, making it a top contender in its price range and a smart choice for those seeking a reliable and efficient processor for their next system.