See full bio

Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

See full bio

Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Ryzen 7 9700X has 8 cores that total 16 threads, while the 7900X has 12 cores that total 24 threads, giving it the edge in core count.
2. Clock Speed: The Ryzen 9 7900X has a base clock of 4.7GHz, and a boost clock of 5.6GHz, which is higher than the 3.8GHz base and 5.5GHz boost of the 9700X.
3. L3 Cache: The 7900X has a 64-megabyte L3 cache buffer, which is double the size of the 32-megabyte buffer of the Ryzen 7 9700X.
4. TDP: The 7900X’s PL2 TDP is 230 watts, whereas the 9700X consumes under half the power, with a PL2 TDP of around 88 watts.
5. Process Node: The Ryzen 7 9700X has a process size of 4nm, whereas the 7900X has slightly older 5nm processing nodes.

The Ryzen 7 usually tries to be better than the best of the last generation. In the Ryzen 7 9700X vs. Ryzen 9 7900X comparison, we will look at whether AMD achieved this with its Ryzen 9000 series of processors and whether it is worth your money.

Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

Our focus on this website is mostly towards the gaming performance of hardware, which is why we have constructed a powerful test suite of games run on consistent hardware between the processors, the specifications of which are listed below:

Test Bench

• OS – Windows 11 
• RAM – V-Color Manta XPrism RGB DDR5 7200MHz 32GB RAM
• CPU Cooler – Noctua NH-D9L chromax.black
• Graphics Card – GIGABYTE RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• SSD – XPG Gammix S70 Blade 2TB NVMe
• Power Supply – DeepCool PX1000G ATX3.0 PSU

Baldur’s Gate 3

• The Ryzen 7 9700X lost in our test of Baldur’s Gate 3, with an average framerate of 115 FPS; it was around 5% behind the 121 FPS of the Ryzen 9 7900X.
• The 7900X won by around 2% in our readings of the 1% lows as well, with framerate of 87 FPS instead of the slightly lower 85 FPS that the 9700X rendered.

The Last Of Us

• Our test of The Last Of Us showed an average framerate of 178 FPS on the 7900X, around 4.7% higher than the 170 FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X.
• The Zen 4 processor also won in terms of 1% lows, with a framerate of 128 FPS, around 6.6% higher than the 120 FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X.

Cyberpunk 2077

• Night City ran better on the newer chip, with an average framerate of 152 FPS in our testing, which was a substantial 8.6% higher than the 140 FPS of the Ryzen 9 7900X.
• Minimum framerates also favored the Zen 5 processor, which a framerate of 115 FPS instead of the 108 FPS that the Ryzen 9 7900X rendered, constituting a 6.5% difference.

Hogwarts Legacy

• Our testing of Hogwarts Legacy showed a small difference. The 9700X averaged 110 FPS, which was 1.8% slower than the 7900X’s 112 FPS.
• The 1% lows were tied between the two chips, with both processors getting a framerate of 77 FPS in the hard-to-render moments in this game.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

• The 9700X took quite a lead in this game with an average framerate of 167 FPS, beating out the 151 FPS of the 7900X by around 10.5%.
• The 1% lows had a difference of around 5.5%, with the 9700X lowering to around 135 FPS in our testing, whereas the 7900X went down to around 128 FPS.

Spider-Man Remastered

• New York’s favorite super hero swung better on the 7900X with a framerate of 173 FPS, beating out the 9700X’s 153 FPS by around 13%.
• The older chip took a 9% win when it came to the minimum framerates in our test of Spider-Man Remastered, with a framerate of 130 FPS, while the 9700X hung around 119 FPS.

Starfield

• Testing Starfield at 1080p gave a 8.6% advantage to the Zen 4 processor with an average framerate of 114 FPS, instead of the 105 FPS of the newer 9700X. 
• The older chip took the lead in the 1% lows as well, with a framerate of 90 FPS, it beat the 85 FPS of the 9700X by around 6%.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

• Finally, the last test of our suite showed a lead of 18% for the 9700X, with an average framerate of 151 FPS, whereas the 7900X had an average framerate of 128 FPS.
• The difference grew to 30% in our reading of the 1% lows, with a framerate of 116 FPS for the Ryzen 7 9700X, whereas the Ryzen 9 7900X had a framerate of around 89 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

Average FPS

The results from all the games we tested showed a difference of around 0.54%, with the 9700X having a tiny advantage. The processors exchanged punches in the tested games, with the win going to the 9700X a few times and a few times to the 7900X.

1% Lows

The difference in the minimum framerates was a bit larger but still not substantial. We measured a difference of around 1.8%, with the 9700X being in the lead. Once again, the results bounced between one processor and the other in the games that we tested.

The performance of these chips is about equivalent, which leaves the other factors to decide the viability of these chips. 

Power Consumption

The 9700X kept its promise of excellent power consumption, even compared to the already great 7900X. In our tests, we measured the 7900X to take around 26% more power than the 9700X, a remarkable feat considering that both chips perform equivalently.

Temperatures

There was barely any difference in the temperatures of these two processors, with the 7900X being around 0.4% hotter than its rival. Neither processor heated more than was expected, and both maintained a similar and safe temperature range.

Price And Availability

According to our research, the Ryzen 9 7900X and the Ryzen 7 9700X are both equivalently priced, with only a 2.65% difference in price at the time of writing this article. Both chips should be available at any computer store near you.

What We Recommend

Ryzen 9 7900X: After a long series of tests, we found that this chip’s price and performance are identical to those of the Ryzen 7 9700X, with the core count, age, and power consumption being the only differences. The used market might yield this processor to be cheaper than we mentioned.

Ryzen 7 9700X: This processor performed well in our testing, with a performance equivalent to a processor with 50% more cores from a few years ago, all while consuming significantly less power. Overclocking might result in a significant difference in power between the two.

Now that we’ve gone through all the nitty-gritty details of the Ryzen 7 9700X vs Ryzen 9 7900X comparison, it is clear that the 7900X might be great for people who can find it for a bargain, while the 9700X might have some hidden potential that can propel it higher.

See full bio

Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

See full bio

Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Image

Codename

Zen 4 (Raphael)

Zen 5 (Granite Ridge)

Integrated GPU

Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 7000)

Radeon Graphics

Fabrication Process

5 nm

AM5

Socket

AM5

2200 MHz

Shading Units

128

192 GB

PCI Express Lanes

28

28

Best Motherboards

BEST Motherboards For Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best RAM

Best RAM For Ryzen 9 7900X3D

-

Amazon Link

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Image

Codename

Zen 4 (Raphael)

Integrated GPU

Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 7000)

Fabrication Process

5 nm

Socket

AM5

Shading Units

128

PCI Express Lanes

28

Best Motherboards

BEST Motherboards For Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Best CPU Coolers

Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Best RAM

Best RAM For Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Amazon Link

Buy on Amazon

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Image

Codename

Zen 5 (Granite Ridge)

Integrated GPU

Radeon Graphics

Fabrication Process

AM5

Socket

2200 MHz

Shading Units

192 GB

PCI Express Lanes

28

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best RAM

-

Amazon Link

Buy on Amazon

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, a substantial difference from the 12 cores and 24 threads of the 7900X.
2. Clock Speed: The 9950X’s base clock is slightly lower at 4.3GHz than that of the 7900X3D, at 4.4GHz. The newer processor’s boost clock is slightly higher at 5.7GHz compared to the 7900X3D’s 5.6GHz.
3. Process Node: The 9950X uses a more modern 4nm processing node from TSMC, whereas the 7900X3D uses slightly older 5nm processing nodes.
4. TDP: The 9950X’s maximum TDP is 230 watts, whereas the 7900X3D’s PL2 TDP is around 162 watts.
5. L3 Cache: The 7900X3D specializes in its L3 cache, which has a buffer of 128 megabytes instead of the 64 megabytes of the 9950X.

All eyes are on AMD’s new Ryzen 9000 series, but the X3D processors, like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, have consistently led in gaming performance. We will compare the two in the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7900X3D comparison!

Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

Gaming has been the best indication of how processors will handle the heaviest tasks in any workload, so we won’t keep you for long before discussing the gaming benchmarks of the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7900X3D. However, please take a moment to evaluate the test bench we used for these tests.

Test Bench

• OS – Windows 11 
• RAM – V-Color Manta XPrism RGB DDR5 7200MHz 32GB RAM
• CPU Cooler – Thermaltake UX200
• Graphics Card – MSI GeForce RTX 3090
• SSD – CORSAIR MP700 PRO 2TB
• Power Supply – be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W 

Baldur’s Gate 3

• The 7900X3D came swinging with our test of Baldur’s Gate 3 with an average framerate of 135 FPS, while the 9950X was around 9.7% behind with an average of 123 FPS.
• 1% lows were also higher on the 7900X3D at around 93 FPS, leading by around 5.6% compared to the 9950X’s 88 FPS.

The Last Of Us

• The newer chip took the lead in our test of The Last Of Us with an average framerate of 182 FPS, which was 1.6% higher than the 179 FPS of the 7900X3D.
• The last generation punched back with a 4% advantage in the 1% lows with a framerate of 130 FPS, while the 9950X hovered closer to 125 FPS in hard-to-render scenes.

Cyberpunk 2077

• Testing Cyberpunk 2077 showed us an average framerate of 150 FPS on the 9950X, which was 2% higher than the 147 FPS we witnessed with the 7900X3D.
• The minimums were still better on the 7900X3D, with a framerate of 120 FPS instead of the 9950X’s 113 FPS. The Zen 4 processor led by around 6.2%.

Hogwarts Legacy

• The 3D V-cache processor had better average framerates, around 130 FPS, while the 9950X was over 9% slower, with an average of 119 FPS.
• The 1% lows stood around 12% apart, with the 7900X3D having the advantage with a framerate of 91 FPS instead of the 9950X’s 81 FPS.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

• In our tests of this game, the delta was close to 11%, with an average framerate of 168 FPS on the 9950X and closer to 186 FPS on the 7900X3D.
• Miraculously, the minimum framerates were higher on the 9950X at around 141 FPS, whereas the Ryzen 9 7900X3D had a framerate of around 133 FPS.

Spider-Man Remastered

• Swinging through New York with the 7900X3D gave us an average framerate of around 188 FPS, while the 9950X had an average framerate of around 187 FPS.
• The 9950X had 1% lows of around 142 FPS on the 9950X, whereas the 7900X3D had a framerate closer to 137 FPS.

Starfield

• Our test of Starfield had an average framerate of 114 FPS on the 7900X3D, while the 9950X rendered out 111 FPS on average, leading to a 2.7% difference.
• The 7900X3D was 7% faster when it came to the 1% lows of this game, with a minimum framerate of around 91 FPS, while the 9950X had a framerate of 85 FPS.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

• To round out our testing, the 9950X took a 9% lead in average framerates in A Plague Tale: Requiem, with a framerate of 144 FPS. The 7900X3D had a framerate of 132 FPS, in contrast.
• Finally, the difference in the minimum framerates was teetering on 11%, with the 9950X hanging out around 102 FPS, whereas the 7900X3D had a framerate of 92 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

Average FPS

The results of the eight games we tested showed that the Ryzen 9 7900X3D was around 2.28% faster than the Ryzen 9 9950X. Bear in mind that this difference is the median of all the differences across our testing, and game-to-game tests usually favoured the 7900X3D.

1% Lows

The average difference in the 1% lows across the games we tested was 1.4%, with the 7900X3D in the lead. Once again, the results were more favourable to the 7900X3D in specific games; only a few wins of the 9950X have skewed the results to seem small.

Going into this comparison, we were expecting that the 7900X3D would lead in terms of raw performance, and that is exactly what we saw. In this category, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D takes the lead over the Ryzen 9 9950X.

Power Consumption

AMD has spent countless dollars shrinking the processing nodes to make the Ryzen 9000 series more efficient, but the 3D V-cache is so much better at making these chips more power efficient. During our testing, we saw a 76% reduction in power going from the 9950X to the 7900X3D.

Temp

In addition to its higher power consumption, the 9950X also ran slightly hotter, by only about 2.7%. This temperature difference is more or less benign, with no actual difference in the power performance of these processors. Temperatures should not weigh heavily in your decision.

Price 

According to our research, the current price of the Ryzen 9 7900X3D is around 32.55% or around 150 dollars lower than that of the 9950X. This difference is remarkable, especially given the performance difference. 

What We Recommend

Ryzen 9 9950X: Our testing showed that the Ryzen 9 9950X had worse performance in games, much worse power consumption, slightly higher thermals, and a considerable price hike. All these reasons put together make it really hard to sell.

Ryzen 9 7900X3D: We found the 7900X3D to be quite a favourable little chip. It performs slightly better than the Ryzen 9 9950X, costing a significant chunk less. This, coupled with its excellent power efficiency, makes it one of the best processors in the gaming market.

In all our tests, a 3D V-cache chip from AMD has rarely been beaten in all aspects, and this is no exception. In our testing of the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7900X3D, the latter takes the recommendation.

See full bio

Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

See full bio

Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Image

Former Codename

Raphael

Granite Ridge

No of Cores

16

16

No. of Threads

32

32

Base Clock

4.5 GHz

4.3 GHz

Max. Boost Clock

Up to 5.7 GHz

Up to 5.7 GHz

CPU Memory Support

DDR5 (Up to 5200 MT/s)

DDR5 (Up to 5600 MT/s)

Max Operating Temperature

100°C

95°C

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 7950X

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best Coolers for Ryzen 9 7950X

Best Coolers for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best RAM

Best RAM for Ryzen 9 7950X

Best RAM for Ryzen 9 9950X

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X

Image

Former Codename

Raphael

No of Cores

16

No. of Threads

32

Base Clock

4.5 GHz

Max. Boost Clock

Up to 5.7 GHz

CPU Memory Support

DDR5 (Up to 5200 MT/s)

Max Operating Temperature

100°C

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 7950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best Coolers for Ryzen 9 7950X

Best RAM

Best RAM for Ryzen 9 7950X

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Image

Former Codename

Granite Ridge

No of Cores

16

No. of Threads

32

Base Clock

4.3 GHz

Max. Boost Clock

Up to 5.7 GHz

CPU Memory Support

DDR5 (Up to 5600 MT/s)

Max Operating Temperature

95°C

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best Coolers for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best RAM

Best RAM for Ryzen 9 9950X

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Architectural Difference

• Architecture: The Ryzen 9 9950X offers a superior performance boost, powered by the state-of-the-art AMD Zen 5 architecture, while the Ryzen 9 7950X utilizes the AMD Zen 4 architecture.
• Process Node: AMD employs TSMC’s advanced 4nm FinFET technology for Ryzen 9 9950X’s cores, whereas the Ryzen 9 7950X uses the 5nm FinFET process for its processor cores.
• CPU Socket: The Ryzen 9 9950X and Ryzen 9 7950X are identical in terms of socket compatibility. Both require the same AMD AM5 Socket, which has 1718 pins for connection with the motherboard.
• Clock Speed: The Ryzen 9 7950X has a slightly higher base clock speed than the Ryzen 9 9950X, at 0.2 GHz or 4.7%. However, both processors have the same maximum boost clock of 5.7 GHz.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD offers the same Radeon integrated graphics with both of these processors. Their iGPUs have 2 graphics cores and a max graphics frequency of 2200 MHz.

Today, we embark on an exhaustive comparison and analysis of two premium AMD processors, one from the latest generation (R9 9950X) and the other from the previous (R9 7950X). We will rigorously evaluate the performance of Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7950X, particularly in gaming, and review complex details to help you make an informed decision.

Gaming Benchmarks

After a deep dive into these CPUs’ technical specs and design architecture, it’s time to pit them against each other in a gaming showdown. We’ll see which Ryzen 9 processor reigns supreme at 1080p. To ensure a fair and accurate comparison, we tested these CPUs on a system equipped with the following components:

Test Bench

• OS: Windows 11
• GPU: Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• Motherboard: ASRock B650E PG-ITX WIFI Motherboard
• RAM: Kingston Fury Renegade RGB DDR5 32GB 7200MHz
• SSD: XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 2TB NVMe SSD
• PSU: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
• CPU Cooler: MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360 CPU Liquid Cooler

A Plague Tale: Requiem

• We started our benchmarks with A Plague Tale: Requiem, where the Ryzen 9 9950X offers 3.47% better average performance at 144 FPS than the Ryzen 9 7950X at 139 FPS.
• In the lowest 1% performance, the Ryzen 9 9950X achieved 105 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 7950X hit 100 FPS, a 4.76% lead.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

• The Ryzen 9 9950X showcased a commendable performance of 168 FPS in Assetto Corsa Competizione, surpassing the Ryzen 9 7950X by approximately 10.7% on average.
• Looking at the low 1% performance, the Ryzen 9 7950X managed 126 FPS, whereas the Ryzen 9 9950X reached 142 FPS, gaining an 8.4% advantage.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

• During Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered tests, we noted a 7.69% average performance increase with the Ryzen 9 9950X over the Ryzen 9 7950X.
• At the 1% low point, the Ryzen 9 7950X reached 132 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9950X surpassed it at 143 FPS, holding a 7.7% edge.

Hogwarts Legacy

• Our Hogwarts Legacy benchmarks reveal that the Ryzen 9 9950X outpaces the Ryzen 9 7950X by an average of 5%, delivering an average of 118 FPS compared to 112 FPS.
• At the 1% low, the Ryzen  7950X managed 73 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9950X achieved 80 FPS, reflecting an 8.8% improvement.

The Last of Us Part I

• Benchmarking The Last of Us Part I reveals that the Ryzen 9 9950X delivers 3.22% or 6 FPS, a better average performance than the Ryzen 9 7950X.
• At the lowest 1% performance, the Ryzen  7950X hit 124 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9950X led with 136 FPS, an 8.8% edge.

Starfield

• While playing Starfield, we noted that the Ryzen 9 9950X averaged 121 FPS, providing a 7.2% gain over the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 113 FPS.
• The Ryzen 9 7950X’s 1% low framerate was 85 FPS, whereas the Ryzen 9 9950X surpassed it with 89 FPS, a 5.6% increase.

Watch Dogs Legion

• Assessing CPU performance in Watch Dogs Legion: Wild Hunt, the Ryzen 9 9950X reaches 156 FPS, offering only 1 FPS or 0.64% advantage over the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 155 FPS.
• For 1% low performance, the Ryzen 9 7950X achieved 114 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9950X pushed ahead with 117 FPS, showing a 2.56% improvement.

Cyberpunk 2077

• Our Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark findings show a 2.64% average performance boost for the Ryzen 9 9950X compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X.
• During this gameplay, the Ryzen 9 9950X hit 114 FPS at the 1% low, while the Ryzen 9 7950X led with 115 FPS, a 0.86% improvement.

Overall Gaming Performance

According to our performance analysis of the Ryzen 9 9950X Vs Ryzen 9 7950X, the Ryzen 9 7950X achieved a respectable average of 146.2 FPS. However, the Ryzen 9 9950X outperforms it, with a 5.06% higher average of 154.0 FPS. Additionally, the Ryzen 9 9950X showed a 6.2% improvement in the 1% low, providing smoother gameplay and lower stumbling by managing an average of 115.8 FPS.

Editor`s Note

In pursuit of a cost-effective yet high-performance solution, I find the Ryzen 9 7950X to be the superior choice, particularly due to its recent price reduction. Its compatibility with AM4 cooling solutions further enhances its value by reducing overall system expenses. See how it stacks up against the Intel Core i9-13900K, which costs about the same.

– Uzair Qureshi

Power Efficiency

When we performed a power efficiency analysis, the Ryzen 9 9950X provided a significant 9.19% improvement in power efficiency, running at 190.6 watts versus the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 209.9 watts during 1080p gaming. In our gaming sessions, the Ryzen 9 9950X achieved an average of 0.86 FPS per watt, a 19.76% better efficiency than the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 0.69 FPS per watt.

Thermal Efficiency

If we see the gaming temperature value from our benchmarks for the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7950X, the Ryzen 9 9950X averaged 70.2°C during 1080p gaming, while the Ryzen 9 7950X reached 62.4°C. Thus, the Ryzen 9 7950X offers better thermal efficiency, outperforming the Ryzen 9 9950X by 11.11%.

Price And Value

The price of the Ryzen 9 7950X has seen a notable decline of approximately 28.6% from its initial MSRP. In contrast, while the Ryzen 9 9950X has also experienced a price reduction, it remains closer to its original launch price. Regarding value, the Ryzen 9 7950X offers about 15.3% better performance per dollar.

What We Recommend?

Ryzen 9 9950X: The Ryzen 9 9950X’s innovative architecture provides a 5.06% performance advantage and about 9.2% reduction in power consumption, enhancing the gaming experience.

Ryzen 9 7950X: The Ryzen 9 7950X is a good processor for 1080p and 1440p gaming resolutions. Considering its cost, this processor provides relatively higher performance per dollar than the Ryzen 9 9950X. It is also 11.1% more thermally efficient. 

We support the Ryzen 9 9950X for an unparalleled gaming experience across all resolutions, delivering exceptional performance. For those mindful of budget constraints, the Ryzen 9 7950X presents a compelling alternative, offering enhanced thermal efficiency without compromising quality.

More From Ryzen 9 7950X:

• Ryzen 9 7950X Vs Ryzen 9 7900X
• Ryzen 9 7950X Vs Ryzen 9 5950X
• Core i9-14900k Vs Ryzen 9 7950X

See full bio

Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

See full bio

Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Processor

Ryzen 9 7900X

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Image

Codename

Zen 4 (Raphael)

Zen 5 (Granite Ridge)

Integrated GPU

Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 7000)

Radeon Graphics

Fabrication Process

5 nm

AM5

Socket

AM5

2200 MHz

Shading Units

128

192 GB

PCI Express Lanes

28

28

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 7900X

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 7900X

Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best RAM

Best RAM For Ryzen 9 7900X

-

Amazon Link

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Processor

Ryzen 9 7900X

Image

Codename

Zen 4 (Raphael)

Integrated GPU

Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 7000)

Fabrication Process

5 nm

Socket

AM5

Shading Units

128

PCI Express Lanes

28

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 7900X

Best CPU Coolers

Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 7900X

Best RAM

Best RAM For Ryzen 9 7900X

Amazon Link

Buy on Amazon

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Image

Codename

Zen 5 (Granite Ridge)

Integrated GPU

Radeon Graphics

Fabrication Process

AM5

Socket

2200 MHz

Shading Units

192 GB

PCI Express Lanes

28

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best RAM

-

Amazon Link

Buy on Amazon

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Ryzen 9 7900X has an impressive 12 cores and 24 threads, while the 9950X ups it by having 16 cores and 32 threads.
2. Clock Speed: The 9950X’s base frequency is around 4.3GHz, but it can boost up to 5.7GHz. The 7900X’s base frequency is higher at 4.7GHz, with a boost up to 5.6GHz.
3. Process Node: The newer chip uses 4nm processing nodes for maximum power efficiency, whereas the older ones use a slightly less advanced 5nm process.
4. TDP: Both processors have the same PL1 TDP of 170 watts, with matching PL2 TDPs of 230 watts.
5. Memory: The Ryzen 9 9950X has a max memory capacity of 256 gigs with DDR5-5600MHz, whereas the 7900X is limited to 128 gigs with DDR5-5200MHz memory.

The disappointing launch of Ryzen’s 9000 series of processors has caused many fans to be mad about their performance. Today, we will be testing the performance of the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7900X to see if AMD has pulled an Nvidia by making the new generation worse.

Gaming Benchmarks

Before we jump into the wonderful and exciting world of gaming benchmarks for the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7900X, it is important to mention that we used the same test bench for both these processors, with the specifications listed below:

Test Bench

• OS – Windows 11 
• RAM – V-Color Manta XPrism RGB DDR5 7200MHz 32GB RAM
• CPU Cooler – Noctua NH-D9L chromax.black
• Graphics Card – GIGABYTE RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• SSD – XPG Gammix S70 Blade 2TB NVMe
• Power Supply – DeepCool PX1000G ATX3.0 PSU

Baldur’s Gate 3

• In our testing of Baldur’s Gate 3, the 9950X had an advantage of 1.6% over the 7900X, with the newer chip averaging 123 FPS, while the 7900X averaged 121 FPS.
• In our measurement of the lows, there was only a single frame of difference between the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7900X, with the 9950X getting 88 FPS, whereas the 7900X got 87 FPS.

The Last Of Us

• In our test of The Last of Us, we measured averages of 182 FPS on the 9950X, with the 7900X being around 2% behind with an average of 178 FPS.
• We were disappointed when we discovered that the 9950X had lows of 125 FPS, while the 7900X was 2.4% ahead with 128 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

• This game gave the 9950X a sizeable lead of 7% to the 9950X, with an average framerate of 150 FPS, whereas the 7900X stuck closer to an average of 140 FPS.
• The 1% lows were also a 4.6% win for the 9950X, with the chip getting minimums of around 113 FPS, while the 7900X was hot on its trail with lows of around 108 FPS.

Hogwarts Legacy

• The difference simmered to 6% in Hogwarts Legacy, with the 9950X getting 119 FPS in our testing, whereas the older 7900X got an average framerate of around 112 FPS.
• We marked a 5% difference with the 1% lows of these chips. The 9950X got a minimum of 81 FPS, whereas the Ryzen 9 7900X held around 77 FPS.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

• Thankfully, the 9950X was 11% ahead in this game, getting an average framerate of around 168 FPS in our testing, while the 7900X had an average framerate of around 151 FPS.
• 1% lows were around 10% higher on the 9950X at around 141 FPS, whereas the 7900X trailed behind with lows closer to 128 FPS.

Spider-Man Remastered

• The 9950X kept pulling through. The 9950X had a lead of around 8% in this game, averaging 187 FPS, while the 7900X had an average framerate of 173 FPS.
• The 9950X’s low framerate in Spider-Man Remastered was 142 FPS, around 9% higher than the 130 FPS that the 7900X could muster.

Starfield

• With our test of Starfield, the 9950X’s winnings slowed down a bit. The 9950X had an average framerate of 111 FPS, around 5.7% ahead of the 7900X’s 105 FPS.
• The 1% lows were not much different, with the 9950X going down to 85 FPS in the hard-to-render scenes, while the 7900X held at around 84 FPS in those challenges.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

• Finally, the 9950X took the lead one last time in our test of this game, with an average framerate of 144 FPS, around 12.5% higher than the 128 FPS of the Ryzen 9 7900X.
• 1% lows stood even further apart, with the 9950X holding on to 102 FPS in hard-to-render scenes, whereas the 7900X stuck closer to 89 FPS, constituting a 14.6% difference.

Overall Gaming Performance

Average Framerate

Even though it was a rocky start, the 9950X pulled through in our testing, with an average advantage of around 6.85% in the eight games we tested. This difference was not noticeable at such high framerates, but the extra headroom is always nice.

1% Lows

The minimum framerates had a smaller lead, with an average advantage of 5.5% for the 9950X. Surprisingly, one game had the 9950X performing worse than the 7900X in 1% lows, but the chip pulled ahead in the end.

Overall, based on these results, we are very happy with the 9950X’s performance. Of course, performance is not the only metric on which to judge a processor. We will discuss the other metrics below.

Power Consumption

Our testing showed that the Ryzen 9 9950X took around 8.7% more power than the 7900X. This is understandable, considering the small difference in process size compared with the higher tier of the 9950X compared to its rival.

Temperatures

The Ryzen 9 7900X ran around 1.1% cooler than the 9950X, a difference that can easily be disregarded. This means that overclocking these CPUs should reveal similar thermal limits, which indicates the performance delta should remain similar at higher power levels.

Price

Our research shows that the Ryzen 9 7900X can be had for a bargain when compared to the 9950X. As of the 5th of September, 2024, the price of the 9950X is around 87% higher than the Ryzen 9 7900X. The price of this processor in a used condition is even lower than the one mentioned.

What We Recommend

Ryzen 9 7900X: Though this processor was up to 12.5% worse in our game testing, the overall deal this chip gives is very hard to argue with. The price of the 7900X has fallen so much over the months since it was released, giving it an excellent price-to-performance ratio.

Ryzen 9 9950X: This is the best of the best from AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series of processors, and it does as it promised. The performance is around 7% higher on average while having minimal difference in power consumption. The price, however, makes this processor a hard sell.

Now that we’ve thoroughly discussed the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7900X, a general recommendation is due. In our opinion, getting the 7900X is much better for the average consumer, for its accessible price. However, if you want the latest and greatest, get the 9950X.

See full bio

Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

See full bio

Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Core i5-14600K has 14 cores, which are a mixture of high and low-power cores that total up to 20 threads. The Ryzen 7 9700X has 8 cores and 16 threads.
2. Clock Speed: The 14600K has a base frequency of 3.5GHz, whereas the boost clock lies around 5.3GHz. The 9700X, however, has a base clock of 3.8GHz and a boost of 5.5GHz.
3. Process Node: AMD has started to use a 4nm process node for their new processors, which promises to be more power efficient than the 10nm nodes used in the 14600K.
4. TDP: The 14600K is rated for a PL2 TDP of 181 watts, while the 9700X is rated to draw in 88 watts of power, a very impressive difference.
5. Memory: The Core i5-14600K has support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the 9700X only supports the more modern DDR5 variant.

Most fans find the Ryzen 9000 series of processors’ performance disappointing, so we decided to softball AMD. Today, we will pit the Ryzen 7 9700X against the Core i5-14600K to see if Ryzen can meet one of the basic requirements: being better than the lower tier.

Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

To check the performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X vs Core i5-14600K, we decided gaming would be the best choice for the use case of most people. To measure it, we used a tailored test bench, the specifications of which are listed below:

Test Bench

• OS – Windows 11 
• RAM – V-Color Manta XPrism RGB DDR5 7200MHz 32GB RAM
• CPU Cooler – Noctua NH-D9L chromax.black
• Graphics Card – GIGABYTE RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• SSD – XPG Gammix S70 Blade 2TB NVMe
• Power Supply – DeepCool PX1000G ATX3.0 PSU

Baldur’s Gate 3

• Disappointingly, our test of Baldur’s Gate 3 had a 6% performance advantage for the 14600K, with an average of 122 FPS, while the 9700X trailed behind with 115 FPS.
• The minimum framerates were much better, showing a 5% performance advantage for the AMD chip with lows of 85 FPS, while the 14600K was a tad behind with 81 FPS.

The Last Of Us 

• The slight underperformance also reared its ugly head in our test of The Last Of Us, with the 9700X getting a framerate of 170 FPS, around 3% slower than the 175 FPS of the 14700K.
• The Ryzen did not meet the minimums this time, with the 14600K leading by around 4%, with lows of 125 FPS instead of the 9700X’s 120 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

• The average framerate for the 9700X was 152 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, while the 14600K kept leading by around 5% at 160 FPS—another loss for the Ryzen.
• The minimums told a similar tale, with the 14600K hovering around 120 FPS, 4%, while the 9700X was dipping down to 115 FPS at times.

Hogwarts Legacy

• Not even the magic of Hogwarts Legacy could save the 9700X. With average framerates of 110 FPS in our tests, it trailed by around 12% to the 123 FPS of the 14600K.
• The 14600K plateaued at around 79 FPS in our testing, 2.6% higher than the 77 FPS of the 9600X, a relatively small difference, but all these losses are stacking up.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

• When we tested this game, we saw a difference of around 5.6%, with the 9700X hovering around 167 FPS, whereas the 14600K stuck closer to 158 FPS. AMD’s first win in averages.
• The minimum framerates were disappointing, with the 9700X getting lows of around 135 FPS, while the 14600K was 2% ahead with lows 138 FPS.

Spider-Man Remastered

• The 9700X had an average framerate of 153 FPS in this well-optimized PS port, but the 14600K was 8.5% faster with an average framerate of 166 FPS.
• Minimums were slightly better on the Ryzen, with the chip getting the performance to around 119 FPS, while the 14600K was around 1.7% faster with lows of 117 FPS.

Homeworld 3

• Amazingly, the 9700X took the lead in our testing of this game by around 8.6%, with an average framerate of 75 FPS, while the 14600K had an average of 69 FPS.
• The 1% lows were also better on the Ryzen, with a framerate of 34 FPS, while the 14600K had a laughable framerate of 19 FPS in the hard-to-render scenes.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

• The 9700X ended our testing with an average framerate of 151 FPS in A Plague Tale: Requiem, which was around 4% faster than the 145 FPS average of the 14600K.
• The 1% lows were around 116 FPS on the 9700X, which comes out to a lead of around 7.4% over the 14600K, which had minimums of 108 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

Average Framerate

In our testing, the 14600 K had a 2.4% lead, with most games running slightly better on the Intel chip. AMD’s 9600X struggled to keep up, even though it is a higher performance tier than the Core i5-14600K.

1% Lows

The minimum framerates of these chips showed a 1.8% lead for the Core i5-14600K. This means the Ryzen 7 9700X let us down in both aspects, averages and 1% lows.

Though the overall difference looks pretty minute, the game-to-game performance shows a different picture. The 14600K pulled away with small wins in most games, while the Ryzen took a much lower number of victories too. 

Power

Astoundingly, the Ryzen 7 9700X showed a 31% reduction in power compared to the 14600K. This is a welcome advantage, but we can’t help but think that AMD could improve the performance to give a slightly higher yet still impressive reading on power consumption.

Temperature

The Ryzen’s temperatures were around 7.3% lower than those of the Intel processor, most likely a result of its much lower power consumption. That said, the temperatures of the 14600K are certainly nothing to fret over, meaning both processors can be pushed to a similar limit.

Price

As of early September 2024, the difference in price between the Core i5-14600K and the Ryzen 7 9700X is around 19.15%, with the Ryzen being more expensive. This was expected going into this comparison, but the slightly lower performance makes this out to be a problem.

What We Recommend

Core i5-14600K: This processor’s lower price, coupled with its higher performance, makes it the leader in the two most important aspects of a CPU. Yes, its power consumption is way worse, and the temperatures are also higher, but that does not matter as much to most people.

Ryzen 7 9700X: It seems like AMD saw Intel’s weakness with their old processing nodes and made them look bad for this one flaw, disregarding the rest of the processor. Performance should be much higher for this chip, especially when compared to its price competitors.

The Ryzen 9000 series is a weird family, with low power consumption matched with low performance. If you have a particular limitation with your power consumption, you should get the 9700X, but for most people, the better choice is the Core i5-14600K. 

See full bio

Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

See full bio

Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Core i7-14700K has a total of 20 cores, with a mixture of performance and efficiency cores, that up to 28 threads. In contrast, the 9600X has 6 cores and 12 threads.
2. Clock Speed: The 14700K has a base frequency of 3.4GHz on its performance cores, while it can boost all the way to 5.6GHz. The 9600X has a higher base of 3.9GHz, with a boost to 5.4GHz.
3. Process Node: Intel has stuck with their 10nm processing nodes of the 14700K, while AMD uses much more recent and efficient 4nm nodes for the 9600X.
4. TDP: The Intel chip has a higher PL1 TDP of 125 watts, whereas the efficiency of the 9600X allows it to have a much lower TDP of only 65 watts.
5. L3 Cache: AMD used to have an ace up of its sleeves with its L3 cache, but the 9600X has only 32 megabytes of cache, while the 14700K has a similar 33 megabytes.

The new Ryzen 9000 lineup from AMD has lofty expectations from PC hardware enthusiasts, so much so that some of us think they can run circles around Intel. Will this be the case, or will Intel triumph once more? Keep reading the Ryzen 5 9600X vs Core i7-14700K to find out!

Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

No better way to see how these chips compare than pinning them against one another in gaming benchmarks. To get the performance of these chips, we have used a controlled test bench, the specifications of which are listed below:

Test Bench

• OS – Windows 11 
• RAM – V-Color Manta XPrism RGB DDR5 7200MHz 32GB RAM
• CPU Cooler – Noctua NH-D9L chromax.black
• Graphics Card – GIGABYTE RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• SSD – XPG Gammix S70 Blade 2TB NVMe
• Power Supply – DeepCool PX1000G ATX3.0 PSU

Baldur’s Gate 3

• This game disappointed us, with the 9600X getting an average framerate of 111 FPS, which was around 17% behind the 14700K’s framerate of 130 FPS on average.
• The minimum framerates in Baldur’s gate 3 showed a difference of 10%, with the 14700K being in the advantage, with a framerate of 88 FPS compared to the 80 FPS of the 9600X.

The Last Of Us 

• The Last Of Us also came as a disappointment, with the 9600X getting an average of 162 FPS, around 13% behind the 183 FPS of the 14700K.
• The minimum framerates stood around 14% apart in our testing, with the 9600X getting a framerate of around 111 FPS, while the 14700K stood around 127 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

• The streak of lukewarm performance for the Ryzen continued in our test of Cyberpunk, with an average framerate of 136 FPS, around 19% lower than the 162 FPS of the 14700K.
• The 1% lows also showed a disparity of around 19%, with the 9600X hovering around 102 FPS in tough-to-render scenes, while the 14700K held onto 127 FPS.

Hogwarts Legacy

• There was a performance difference of around 22.5% in our test of Hogwarts Legacy, with the 9600X getting an average of around 102 FPS, while the 14700K held around 125 FPS.
• The minimum framerates tanked in this game for the Ryzen, with 1% lows of 60 FPS, while the 14700K was much smoother, being 36% ahead with lows of 82 FPS.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

• Our racing sim of choice surprisingly ended in a tie between our two processors, with the 9600X and 14700K both getting an average framerate of 166 FPS.
• The minimum framerates had a difference of 9%, with the 14700K being in the lead, with a framerate of 145 FPS, while the 9600X had a framerate of around 133 FPS.

Spider-Man Remastered

• Slinging through New York gave us an average framerate of 149 FPS on the Ryzen, while the 14700K was about 20% ahead with an average framerate of 180 FPS.
• The difference in the 1% lows came down to around 7.7%, with the 9600X hovering around 116 FPS, whereas the 14700K plateaued around 125 FPS.

Homeworld 3

• Our test of Homeworld 3 also resulted in a tie, with both of our processors getting an average framerate of around 72 FPS.
• The minimum framerates were absolutely horrible on both processors, with the 9600X hovering around 29 FPS, 45% ahead of the 20 FPS of the 14700K.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

• The last game of our testing gave the 9600X its first win, with an average framerate of 149 FPS, a measly 1.4% ahead of the 14700K’s average of 147 FPS.
• The 1% lows were also barely better on the 9600X, with a framerate of 112 FPS, only 1.8% ahead of the 110 FPS of the 14700K.

Overall Gaming Performance

Average Framerate

The 9600X thoroughly disappointed us in these gaming tests, with an overall average over eight games being around 15 frames behind the 14700K, which computes a difference of around 11%.

1% Lows

The difference in the 1% lows amounted to around 10 frames in our testing, which comes out to around 10%, with the 14700K being in the clear advantage. 

Regarding game-to-game performance, only a few games had the 9600X close to the 14700K, with most running substantially better on the Intel processor. The Core i7-14700K easily wins in terms of performance, but let’s look at the performance in other aspects.

Power Consumption

After the thorough disappointment in performance because of the 9600X, it was refreshing to see that it held its weight regarding power efficiency. In our tests, we measured the Ryzen to be around 23.4% less power-hungry on average, an impressive difference.

Temperatures

As you can see from the chart above, the temperatures are nothing to be concerned about with either of these chips. Yes, the Core i7-14700K ran around 6% warmer than the Ryzen 5 9600X, but its temperatures are still completely acceptable and no cause for concern.

Price And Availability

Our disappointment with the Ryzen 5 9600X lessened quite a bit when we looked at the price of these processors. Currently, the Ryzen is around 28% cheaper than the Intel processor. These prices are prone to change in the future, so do your due diligence before buying either CPU.

What We Recommend

Core i7-14700K: This processor offers superior performance but comes with higher power consumption, cost, and slightly warmer temperatures. Still, isn’t performance the main deciding factor for most people buying a processor, especially for gaming?

Ryzen 5 9600X: While it lags in performance compared to the 14700K, the Ryzen 5 9600X is cheaper, more power-efficient, and offers better warranties due to its newer release. These aspects make it better suited for a more budget restrained build.

The 14700K is ideal for those prioritizing performance, but the 9600X is a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers. We lean towards the 14700K for its added power.

See full bio

Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

See full bio

Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Ryzen 7 7700X has 8 cores and 16 threads, whereas the Ryzen 5 9600X has 6 cores and 12 threads.
2. Clock Speed: The older 7700X has a base clock of 4.5 GHz, while the 9600X has a base frequency of 3.9 GHz. Both processors’ boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz.
3. Process Node: The 7700X uses a 5nm process node for its compute hardware, whereas the 9600X uses 4nm process nodes, which are slightly more efficient.
4. TDP: The older chip has a PL1 TDP of 105 watts, whereas the newer chip has a PL1 TDP of only 65 watts, which we will test later.
5. Memory Configuration: The 7700X supports up to 128 gigs of DDR5 5200MHz memory, whereas the 9600X increases the capacity to 192 gigs and the speed to 5600MHz.

If you’re into tech, you’ve had to make a decision about whether to buy a new midrange or an old flagship at one point or another. With AMD’s new Ryzen 9000 update, this decision might be as hard as ever, but the Ryzen 5 9600X vs. Ryzen 7 7700X will guide you as best we can!

Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

Because of the same platform of the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 7 7700X, it was quite easy to switch between the test benches of both chips. We made sure to use the highest-end hardware, so the CPU could be the only bottleneck. You can check out the specs of the test bench below:

Test Bench

• OS – Windows 11 
• RAM – G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32GB DDR5-6600
• CPU Cooler – Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360mm
• Graphics Card – GIGABYTE RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• SSD – XPG Gammix S50 Lite
• Power Supply – be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W 

Baldur’s Gate 3

• Starting with Baldur’s Gate 3, we saw a performance difference of only 1.8%, with the 9600X getting an average framerate of 111 FPS while the 7700X stood close to 113 FPS.
• The 1% lows also had a small difference, with the Ryzen 7700X getting lows of 83 FPS, whereas the 9600X was around 3.75% lower with lows of 80 FPS.

The Last Of Us

• The was a bigger discrepancy in The Last Of Us, with the 9600X getting an average framerate of 162 FPS, while the 7700X was 7.4% faster with an average of 174 FPS.
• We noticed a rather large 15% difference in the 1% lows of our two CPUs, with the 9600X getting lows of 111 FPS while the 7700X had lows of around 128 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

• The 7700X also took the cake in Cyberpunk, with a recorded difference of 9.5% and an average of 149 FPS, while the 9600X hung around with an average of 136 FPS.
• The minimum framerates stood 12% apart, with the 7700X getting a minimum framerate of around 114 FPS, whereas the 9600X had lows of 102 FPS.

Hogwarts Legacy

• Flying around Hogwarts with the 9600X gave us an average framerate of 102 FPS, whereas the 7700X had an average framerate of 111 FPS, constituting a difference of 9%.
• The minimum framerates of the 7700X were around 80 FPS in our tests, while the 9600X was an astounding 33% behind with lows of 60 FPS.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

• Our test of this racing game gave the 9600X its first win with an average framerate of 166 FPS, whereas the 7700X was 17% behind with an average framerate of 142 FPS.
• The 9600X’s minimum framerate was around 133 FPS, 9% ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700X’s 122 FPS.

Spider-Man Remastered

• In our Spider-Man test, there was a 2% difference in the performance of these chips, with the 9600X getting an average of 149 FPS while the 7700X had an average of 146 FPS.
• The 1% lows were identical, with the 9600X getting a minimum framerate of 116 FPS.

Homeworld 3

• In this new game in our suite, the 9600X got an average framerate of 72 FPS, breaking its winning streak, while the 7700X had an average framerate of 73 FPS.
• The 9600X had 1% lows of 29 FPS, which was only a frame lower than the 30 FPS supplied by the 7700X in our testing of Homeworld 3.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

• Finally, the last game of our testing gave our Ryzen 5 9600X a win with an average framerate of 149 FPS, 2.7% higher than the 145 FPS supplied by the Ryzen 7 7700X.
• The minimum framerates were once again equivalent on both CPUs, with the 9600X and 7700X plateauing at around 112 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance 

Average FPS

On average, the performance of the Ryzen 5 9600X vs Ryzen 7 7700X was quite comparable. Taking the median of all the average framerates from these two CPUs, we only measured a performance difference of 0.57%, which is certainly something to overlook.

1% Lows

The minimum framerates showed a greater difference between these two chips, with the 9600X being around 5.65% behind its rival. There is still nothing to be concerned about, but this difference can balloon in the future.

If we zoom in, we can see that some games ran substantially better on the 9600X while others excelled on the 7700X. Zooming out shows that these chips perform comparably, so performance is more or less a toss-up between the two.

Power Consumption

In the eight games we tested, the Ryzen 7 7700X’s power consumption was, on average, around 9% higher than that of the Ryzen 5 9600X. We expected a bigger difference, but any improvement is welcome.

Temperatures

In our testing, the 7700X was around 4% warmer than the Ryzen 5 9600X, which is very minute. The difference between the two processors was only a few degrees, which will probably never be something that will be a cause of concern.

Price And Availability

The price of these chips is barely different, making this comparison head-to-head. The 7700X is a few dollars cheaper than the 9600X, but we’re sure you can find it for even less if you look around on the used market.

What We Recommend

Ryzen 7 7700X: The Ryzen 7 has almost identical performance to the 9600X, if not a bit better. It uses the same platform and is every bit as capable. The only drawback is the slightly higher power consumption, which shouldn’t be a problem for most people.

Ryzen 5 9600X: This chip is a disappointing upgrade to the 7700X, but it matches its performance for a lower price at launch. The lower core count can be a problem in some workflows, but the higher performance per core can make up for it.

Ultimately, the comparison of the Ryzen 5 9600X vs Ryzen 7 7700X is a bit of a toss-up, with most aspects being very similar, including price. If you find both for a similar price, we recommend using the 9600X solely because it is newer.