AMD Ryzen 7 5800X vs AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is an 8-core desktop processor with Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT), which allows it to process 16 threads simultaneously. With its launch on 08.10.2020, it is the fastest 8-core processor from AMD. The second fastest 8-core processor will be the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT, followed by the more economical AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, also with 8 cores and 16 threads.

The Ryzen 7 5800X clocks with a base clock of 3.8 GHz and reaches up to 4.7 GHz on one core in turbo mode. When all 8 cores are utilized, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, like the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, achieves up to 4.5 GHz.

At first glance, the internal structure of the processor has not changed fundamentally. The CCX structure has changed somewhat compared to Zen2, because now a CCX consists of up to 8-CPU cores. So each individual core can access the complete L3 cache (32 MByte). Furthermore the CCX modules are connected to each other via the same I/O die, which we already know from Zen2. According to AMD, the Infinity-Fabric should now reach clock rates of up to 2Ghz, which in turn allows a RAM clock of 4.000 MHz without performance loss.

Performance

The average 5800X in our database is in the same league as the Core i9-10900K and also the Core i7-12700F, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned.

In games, AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X can convince with its significantly improved IPC and even put Intel in its place. With the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, gamers are well prepared for the future as simultaneous streaming is no problem with the new Ryzen 7 5800X. Semi-professional content creators, who need even more power, can choose a Ryzen 9 5900X or the Ryzen 9 5950X on the shelf.

Power consumption

The Ryzen 7 has a default TDP (also known as the long-term power limit) of 105 W. This applies as long as the CPU runs at stock clock speeds.

Ryzen 7 5800X is built with TSMC's 7 nm process; as rumors have it, the I/O die is manufactured separately on the 12 nm Global Foundries process.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

The Ryzen 9 9950X is a very, very powerful desktop CPU of the Granite Ridge product family that features 16 Zen 5 cores (32 threads), PCIe 5 support and a basic iGPU. The Ryzen was launched in June 2024, with sales slated to start in August.

The 9950X shares some of the specifications with the mighty Zen 4-powered Ryzen 9 7950X, including (but not limited to) the 16 MB L2 cache, the 64 MB L3 cache, the 5.7 GHz top clock speed and the 170 W long-term TDP.

Architecture and Features

Just like Strix Point APUs, Granite Ridge processors make use of the new Zen 5 microarchitecture. However, there are no efficient cores here; all of 9950X's cores are full Zen 5 cores. Furthermore, Granite Ridge is a multi-die design with only the CPU cores produced using a fairly modern 4 nm TSMC process. Strix Point processors are a single-die design, from what we know.

According to AMD, Zen 5 delivers a 16% IPC improvement over Zen 4 thanks to branch prediction improvements and other refinements.

Elsewhere, the 9950X has an impressive 64 MB of L3 cache and 24 direct PCIe 5 lanes (3.93 GB/s throughput per lane) with up to 12 additional PCIe 4 lanes available depending on the motherboard. It supports DDR5 RAM as fast as 5,600 MT/s (up to 8,000 MT/s if overclocked).

The 9950X is unlocked for overclocking. Naturally, the AM5 socket CPU supports Windows 11, 64-bit Windows 10 as well as many Linux distros.

Performance

According to early July leaks, its multi-thread performance is about as good as that of the 24-core Core i9-14900K Intel CPU. We'll definitely update this section once we get our hands on a system powered by the 9950X.

Graphics

The Radeon 610M comes equipped with just 128 unified shaders running at up to 2,200 MHz. Its gaming performance is slated to be extremely low and only just sufficient for pre-2020 games in resolutions such as 1024x768.

Power consumption

The CPU cores are built with TSMC's N4P process for good, as of mid 2024, power efficiency. (Apple is the leader in this regard with the second-generation 3 nm process.)

The Ryzen 9's long-term TDP is 170 W. It'll probably consume up to 250 W when under heavy short-term loads. If overclocked, the power consumption figures will increase significantly.