Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 7900X: Our Test Results

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Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

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.

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Shehryar Khan

[Comparisons Expert]

Shehryar Khan, a seasoned PC hardware expert, brings over three years of extensive experience and a deep passion for the world of technology. With a love for building PCs and a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the latest advancements in components, his expertise shines through his work and dedication towards this field. Currently, Shehryar is rocking a custom loop setup for his built.

Get In Touch: shehryar@tech4gamers.com