AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs AMD Ryzen 7 1700 vs AMD Ryzen 5 1600

AMD Ryzen 5 1500X

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is a desktop processor with 4 cores and Hyper Threading (SMT). It is the fastest Ryzen 5 quad-core processor in the beginning of 2017, but the 65-watt TDP is similar to the hexa-core Ryzen 5 1600.

The Ryzen 5 1500X has a base frequency of 3.5 GHz and can reach up to 3.7 GHz via Turbo (up to 2 cores) or 3.9 GHz via XFR (also up to 2 cores).

The processor based on the Zen architecture is not fully convincing in games. AMD blames missing optimizations from the gaming producers.

AMD Ryzen 7 1700

The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 is a fast desktop processor with 8 cores and SMT (16 threads) that was introduced in early 2017. It is based on the new Zen architecture and it is the slowest model at the time of announcement. With 65 Watt it is also less power hungry than the Ryzen 1700X.

The CPU cores clock from 3 base speed up to 3.75 GHz (XFR). The 2-core Turbo is specified at 3.7 GHz and using all 8 cores, the CPU can reach up to 3.2 GHz. The clock rate and TDP rating is the only difference to the faster Ryzen 7 models.

The performance in applications that can make use of all 8 cores is very competitive to high end Intel CPUs at a very good price point. However, non optimized apps like many games can't make full use of the new architecture.

A detailed look at the new Ryzen 7 1800X, 1700X and 1700 can be found in our review.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is a desktop processor with 6 cores and Hyper Threading (SMT = 12 threads). It is the second fastest Ryzen 5 processor in the beginning of 2017, but the 65-watt TDP is much lower compared to the higher-clocked Ryzen 5 1600X.

The Ryzen 5 1600 has a base frequency of 3.2 GHz and can reach up to 3.6 GHz via Turbo (up to 2 cores) or 3.7 GHz via XFR (also up to 2 cores). The maximum clock for all six cores is 3.4 GHz.

The performance is particularly good in applications. The chip can benefit from its six native cores. They are divided into two clusters (3 cores with dedicated L3 cache each), which connected via Infinity Fabric.

The processor based on the Zen architecture is not fully convincing in games. AMD blames missing optimizations from the gaming producers. Intel's powerful Core i7 quad-cores are usually faster in this case.