AMD Ryzen 7 9700X processor review: finding hidden reserves

AMD has recently introduced a new line of Ryzen 9000 series desktop processors. The long-awaited CPUs with Zen 5 architecture were supposed to provide a tangible impetus and further improve the capabilities of the company's processors for desktop PCs. However, the feedback in the first reviews was generally quite restrained - the new models offered only a relatively minor acceleration in typical user tasks. But, as is sometimes the case with AMD solutions, the new products are "revealed" gradually. It happened this time as well.

The next Windows 11 update provides for improvements to the transition prediction system and sometimes significantly affects the capabilities of not only new processors but also predecessors based on Zen 3/Zen 4 architectures. In addition, there are additional tools to improve the performance of Ryzen 9000. So, it's time for a closer look at the Granite Ridge chips. This time, let's take a look at the capabilities of the 8-core Ryzen 7 9700X model as part of a system unit from Artline.

Architectural features of Zen 5

In the case of Ryzen 9000 processors, the main functional changes relate to the CCD chips (CPU Complex Dies) that directly contain the computing cores. It is worth noting that CCDs for the new processors are manufactured at 4 nm according to the improved TSMC N4P process. While TSMC N5 (5 nm) was used for Ryzen 7000 CCDs.

As for the architectural differences, at first glance, there are not many global changes - the general structure of 8-core clusters on one CCD has been preserved, operating frequencies have increased minimally, and the capacity of the L2 and L3 cache buffers has remained unchanged. However, Zen 5 provides a lot of internal optimizations that should improve the performance per cycle (IPC).

If you look at the general list of changes, it is quite substantial and affects almost every stage of the computing pipeline.

The Front-end module received a modernized branch prediction unit with an increase in the L1 BTB buffer and the address stack of return addresses. The L2 ITLB cache has been increased from 512 to 2048 entries. At the same time, it is now possible to request 64 bytes per clock cycle instead of 32 bytes.

A lot of optimizations have been made in the executive unit as well. The capabilities of the scheduler have been improved, and it has six ALUs with three multipliers and branching blocks, as well as four AGUs with an increased number of records.

A significant upgrade of the executive module is the transformation of the floating point unit, which now has a 512-bit channel for processing vector instructions. This should accelerate the execution of AVX-512, VNNI, and other instructions related to the processing of AI algorithms on the CPU. Additional internal optimizations should also improve the overall capabilities of the FPU.

The increased L1 data cache now has a 48 KB 16-way configuration instead of the 32 KB 8-way configuration on Zen 4. The capacity of the second level cache (L2) remained unchanged - 1 MB per core, but its associativity has been doubled and its bandwidth has been increased. The L3 buffer has not changed radically either, with 32 MB of third-level cache per 8-core CCD. At the same time, AMD focuses on reducing latency.

So, the overall list of Zen 5 architectural improvements is quite long. All of them should increase performance per clock cycle and prepare the CPU for conditions that were previously atypical for everyday user tasks - the intensive use of AI algorithms using AVX-512, VNNI, and other vector instructions.

Unfortunately, the Ryzen 9000 desktop processors did not receive a separate NPU (Neural Processing Unit) to accelerate AI computing. The introduction of such a module would require a major redesign of the crystals, which was obviously not part of the developers' original plans.

As we have already mentioned, the internal changes of Zen 5 concern CCD computing clusters. As for the capabilities of the I/O die, AMD is actually using the same chip for the Ryzen 9000 as for its predecessors, the Ryzen 7000. It is manufactured by TSMC according to 6 nm standards. The I/O die includes integrated graphics with RDNA 2 architecture (2CU, 128 compute units), an Infinity Fabric bus controller, DDR5 and PCI-E 5.0 memory controllers (28 lines), USB interface, and auxiliary subsystems.

The only updates here are the nominal support for DDR5-5600 instead of DDR5-5200 in the Ryzen 7000, as well as improved capabilities for using faster memory kits with a 1:2 divider for FCLK (Infinity Fabric Clock) and MCLK (Memory Clock) frequencies.

Ryzen 7 9700X processor

The launch line of AMD Ryzen 9000 processors includes four models: Ryzen 9 9950X, Ryzen 9 9900X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 5 9600X. The basic 6-core chips are attractive in terms of price, but in the context of fairly productive PCs, they usually raise the rhetorical question of rational sufficiency.

In turn, the top-end Ryzen 9 models with 12/16 cores are of interest to users who need increased computing power under multi-threaded loads. And they are willing to pay the appropriate price for such capabilities. But as for Ryzen 7, these 8-core models are usually the very "golden mean" for a balanced powerful system. Their capabilities are usually enough to meet the needs of even the most demanding users, and such CPUs are also optimal for gaming platforms.

So, Ryzen 7 9700X. Looking at the key basic characteristics of the processor, we do not see any significant differences from the performance of its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 7700X. The new chip has a functional combination of 8/16 with 8 computing cores on the Zen 5 architecture with support for SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading) technology, which allows for the simultaneous processing of up to 16 data streams. Unlike Intel, AMD is in no hurry to abandon logical multithreading.

The frequency formula of Ryzen 7 9700X is 3.8/5.5 GHz, while for the corresponding model of the previous generation it is 4.5/5.4 GHz. Therefore, we have +100 MHz to the maximum acceleration when loaded with 1-2 cores, while the base declared value is as much as 700 MHz lower than the Ryzen 7 7700X. What is the reason for this? With the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X, AMD initially focused on improving the efficiency of the processors. While the corresponding models of the previous generation had a thermal package of 105 W, the 6/8-core Granite Ridge received a TDP of 65 W. This is a fundamental point that is not always taken into account when evaluating the capabilities of chips of different generations.

As for other quantitative indicators, there are no changes. Ryzen 7 9700X has 1 MB of L2 cache for each core, and a third-level cache (L3) with a total capacity of 32 MB.

Structurally, the Ryzen 7 9700X uses a single 8-core CCD and an IO Die chip located side by side under a heat-distributing protective cover.

The recommended retail price of Ryzen 7 9700X for the US market is $359. This is $40 lower than the starting price of Ryzen 7 7700X ($399) when the Raphael family of processors was announced in the fall of 2022.

Please note that Ryzen 7 9700X, even in the retail BOX configuration, comes without a standard cooling system. Therefore, you will need to purchase an additional cooler. Given the processor's TDP of 65 W, an inexpensive mid-range air tower is enough for normal operation.

Configuration of the test platform

• Motherboard: ASUS PRIME X670-P WIFI (AMD X670)
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (8/16; 3.8/5.5 GHz; 32 MB L3)
• Cooling: EKWB EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB - White
• Memory.: Kingston FURY Beast EXPO DDR5-6400 32 GB (KF564C32BWEK2-32,  2x16 GB)
• Video card: ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16GB GDDR6X White OC Edition (TUF-RTX4070TIS-O16G-WHITE-GAMING)
• Drive: Kingston KC3000 1024 ГБ (SKC3000S1024G)
• PSU: ASUS Prime 850W Gold (AP-850G, 850 Вт)
• Case: ASUS TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB White

To test the capabilities of the Ryzen 7 9700X processor, we used a system from Artline. The PC is based on the ASUS PRIME X670-P WIFI motherboard. Despite the announcement of models based on AMD 8xx chipsets, Ryzen 9000 processors work with existing Socket AM5 boards without any problems or restrictions. To support Granite Ridge chips, you may only need to update the firmware.

The EKWB EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB liquid cooling system was used to cool the CPU. A fairly powerful three-section SRO is obviously overpowered for the Ryzen 7 9700X's regular mode, but for experiments, such capabilities will not be superfluous.

The PC was also equipped with a dual-channel Kingston FURY Beast DDR5-6400 EXPO White 32GB (2×16GB) RAM. The absence of RGB backlighting here is somewhat tolerable [sarcasm], given the amount of additional illumination on other components of the platform. In general, this is a suitable set with CL32-39-39-80 timings and a guaranteed EXPO profile for the AMD platform.

The overall configuration is perfectly complemented by the ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16GB GDDR6X White OC Edition. A powerful "blonde" from a series of graphics adapters that are now optimal for powerful gaming systems. The performance is almost at the level of RTX 4080, but it is cheaper. Despite the three-fan design, the video card is relatively compact - 305 mm long, or at least it looks that way in a spacious case. However, the 3.25-slot design (as we like this classification of manufacturers) requires a corresponding number of free bays. However, this is not a problem for a full-size board. The overclocked "OC" modification has a slight GPU acceleration, using a frequency formula of 2340/2640 MHz instead of the recommended 2340/2610 MHz.

A Kingston KC3000 1TB drive was used for the operating system and to install a set of test applications. The PC's power appetite was satisfied by an 850W ASUS Prime AP-850G modular power supply with 80 Plus Gold efficiency certification.

The platform was assembled in the ASUS TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB White case. A full-size tower with a transparent side panel, excellent overall airflow, and the ability to use motherboards with connectors on the back of the PCB. We didn't need the latter option this time, but it's another example of how such compatibility doesn't require any extra effort from manufacturers.

In general, the case has a rather laconic, strict design with right angles. To cool the internal space, the case is initially equipped with four 140mm fans with ARGB backlighting. Three of them are mounted on the front panel, and another one is on the rear wall. The removable top panel allows you to fix three more 120/140 mm fans, or install a SRO radiator block up to 360 mm long (in our case).

Adapters for power cables with ARGB-backlighting add aesthetic completeness to the system. Artline engineers used Qube extension cords for additional illumination of the 24-pin ATX cable and an adapter from a pair of 8-pin to 12+4 to power the video card. You can't forbid a system to be brightly decorated, and these elements really catch the eye and fit in well with the overall visual composition.

Those who like additional illumination of the interior space will surely approve of this initiative of the platform developers.

Accelerators: Windows 11 patch and 105W TDP

You can't just start analyzing the Ryzen 7 9700X benchmarking results. The evaluation requires a preliminary clarification of the conditions and features of the tests. As we noted, Microsoft has prepared an additional patch that optimizes the Ryzen transition prediction mechanism, which in turn can significantly improve performance, not only for new chips based on the Zen 5 architecture, but also for previous generations of Zen 4/Zen 3 models.

Initially, the patch (KB5041587) became available for Windows 11 24H2, but later it was included in the cumulative update of the mass version of Windows 11 23H2. Therefore, during the tests, we used the operating system with the optimizations of the prediction mechanism.

Even before the official launch of the Ryzen 9000, there was some speculation that developers might increase the thermal package of the Ryzen 7 9700X from 65W to 105W. It was even predicted that such a step could allow the new 8-core CPU to lead the list of the fastest gaming processors, displacing Ryzen 7 7800X3D from this position. It is currently not known for certain whether AMD has actually considered this option, but the final decision is indicated in the final specifications of the processor. The company focused on energy efficiency. The increase in TDP would not lead to a significant acceleration in games, but 65 watts for an 8-core processor is an interesting feature of the model that could potentially attract thrifty buyers who value economical PC components.

However, after the first reviews were somewhat disappointed with the relatively small overall performance increase, the topic of increasing TDP to further accelerate the newer Ryzen 9000s received a new impetus. Still, a considerable number of desktop owners are ready to increase CPU power consumption by 40-50 watts for the sake of additional processing power.

The issue has been actively supported by motherboard manufacturers, who have even prepared updated firmware versions to simplify the process of switching between 65W and 105W modes as much as possible. It seems that AMD will not actively object to this possibility either. Rumor has it that the developers are already preparing to update the warranty terms for Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X at 105W TDP.

New BIOS versions with power profile selection are usually based on AM5 AGESA 1.2.0.1 microcode, which also includes a patch to protect against the Sinkclose vulnerability. However, this option will be officially introduced with the release of AM5 AGESA 1.2.0.2, which should be available by the end of September. By that time, AMD is expected to announce its position on such manipulations with TDP and the extension of the manufacturer's warranty to work in this mode.

ASUS is still considering the feasibility of offering the ability to quickly switch between 65W and 105W modes, although AMD's official position and competitors' activity in this direction will probably soon make itself felt and developers will offer their own version of the "magic button".

At the time of writing, the ASUS PRIME X670-P WIFI board was offered with the AM5 AGESA 1.2.0.0a Patch A BIOS version dated 07.08.2024. However, the mechanism for increasing TDP from the basic 65 W to 105 W has already been implemented here, which will require the capabilities of Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO). Of course, instead of one click in the BIOS menu, you will have to make as many as five, but the result will be identical.

To change the profile, select the Precision Boost Overdrive option in the detailed settings section of Ai Tweaker. In the corresponding context menu, select AMD Eco Mode. After confirmation, an additional option with the same name appears next to it - "AMD Eco Mode". We change it from the basic Auto to the proposed "cTDP 105W". Saving the adjustment, we get an increase in the energy limit. This will allow the processor to automatically adjust the operating frequencies, if necessary, to maximize acceleration while remaining within the allotted TDP.

Ryzen 7 9700X performance

So, when testing the capabilities of the Ryzen 7 9700X, we used two modes - the standard mode with a TDP of 65 W, and a mode with an increased TDP of up to 105 W. In this way, we will evaluate how the expansion of the thermal package affects the performance of the processor, and under what conditions the changes will be most noticeable.

For clarity in certain computing projects, we have also added Ryzen 7 7700X averages to the charts, which are largely independent of the capabilities of other platform components. This data is obtained from open sources, so it can be used for guidance only.

The very first benchmarks show that Ryzen 7 9700X, even in 65W TDP mode, has a significant (5-15%) advantage over its predecessor in single-threaded tasks. When loaded with 1-2 cores, they accelerate up to 5500 MHz, which is 100 MHz faster than the 7700X. The contribution of the new architecture is significant here.

But as for the maximum simultaneous load on all computing units, Ryzen 7 9700X in basic mode does not look so convincing. In some places, we get even slightly lower performance than the previous generation chip.

To find out why, let's use HWinfo64 to monitor system parameters. As it turned out, during an intensive multi-threaded load, the cores of the Ryzen 7 9700X processor operate at 4350 MHz. These are the consequences of the 65W thermal package limit. Ryzen 7 7700X (105 W) under similar conditions accelerates to ~5000-5050 MHz, i.e. its operating frequency is ~700 MHz higher. Such a frequency advantage obviously makes it possible to compensate for the architectural imperfection of Zen 4 in cases with multi-threaded workloads. Although brute force does not always work, as you can see, in the 3DMark Time Spy and Geekbench 6 gaming subtests, the Ryzen 7 9700X processor has an advantage even in multi-threaded modes.

According to the results of numerous reviews using a large list of test applications, in basic mode, the Ryzen 7 9700X has an average advantage over the Ryzen 7 7700X of 3-5%. It may not seem like much, but let's remember the difference in the thermal packages of these models - 65 W vs. 105 W. Even with equal performance, the energy efficiency of the Zen 5 model is ~40% better.

Now let's recall our manipulations in the BIOS and evaluate how the performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X will change if we "unleash" it, also setting the TDP to 105W.

First, we check the operating frequencies under high load. Rendering the scene in Cinebench R23 makes the chip accelerate all cores to 5100 MHz. That is, compared to the base mode (TDP 65 W), we have an additional +750 MHz. In fact, the same frequency performance under load is relevant for Ryzen 7 7700X.

This acceleration results in an average 10-13% increase in Ryzen 7 9700X performance under multi-threaded workloads. These are already significant figures that also allow you to confidently outperform your predecessor, increasing the gap to ~15%.

However, it is worth emphasizing once again that the Ryzen 7 7700X figures shown in the charts are averages of typical values obtained from open sources. Because of this, the comparison of results can only be an estimate.

It should also be noted that given the numerous architectural changes in Zen 5, the difference between the performance of the new chips and those on Zen 4 can vary significantly and largely depends on the specific task/application.

Performance in games

How will Ryzen 7 9700X perform in games? There are no surprises here. The new 8-core demonstrates excellent results, but in general, the indicators are at the same level as in the case of its predecessor.

Performance in modes with different resolutions is shown in the diagrams. The only thing here is that the new Black Myth: Wukong reminds us of the almost mandatory need to use DLSS and Frame Generation. Well, in 4K, even with a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB, such a picture scaling will not hurt when you are frolicking in Knight City with Cyberpunk 2077 or playing Metro Exodus EE, which is exclusively RT-dependent.

[caption id="attachment_239986" align="aligncenter" width="832"] Ryzen 7 9700X (105 Вт)[/caption]

Change the TDP of the processor to 105 W and repeat the tests in Full HD mode. As they say, find the differences. To make it easier, we've even highlighted the average fps in a different color. It's not an easy task. Indeed, even in 1920×1080 resolution, there is virtually no difference, or it is within the measurement error.

The assumption that the Ryzen 7 9700X with a TDP of 105 W would be able to outperform the Ryzen 7 7800X3D in games turned out to be wrong. Here, the chip with an additional L3 buffer can only be threatened by the successor to Ryzen 9000X3D with 3D V-Cache.

Overclocking

Contrary to some expectations, the production of CCDs according to the norms of the 4-nm process did not significantly affect the overall frequency potential of the Ryzen 9000. A sampling of the numerous Ryzen 7 9700X benchmark results shows that the processor usually remains stable when the operating frequency is increased to 5300-5400 MHz under load on all computing cores. This is on average only 100-200 MHz higher than what you can usually get on the Ryzen 7 7700X with 5-nm CCD crystals.

Using express overclocking methods, we can only supplement the available statistics. We managed to overclock the test instance of the processor to 5300 MHz for all cores. In the case of the Ryzen 7 9700X in normal mode with a TDP of 65W, this is a pretty significant acceleration. In fact, we get an additional 1000 MHz or +23%. Compared to the 105W cTDP profile, in which all CPU cores can operate at ~5100 MHz, the additional increase in operating frequency is not so striking. However, a small increase in performance was recorded in this case as well.

After additional overclocking with a multiplier, you should expect a corresponding increase in power consumption. During the overclocking experiments, we did not increase the voltage additionally, relying on the automatic algorithms of the motherboard.

HWInfo64 monitoring shows that with an increase in frequency to 5300 MHz, the supply voltage on the computing cores was up to 1.22 V. At the same time, the power consumption of the overclocked Ryzen 7 9700X under a multi-threaded load increased to ~142 W.

Power consumption

Despite the declared TDP, the actual power consumption of AMD processors under a multi-threaded load is close to the PPT (Package Power Tracking) indicator, which indicates the maximum power on the socket.

During practical experiments with a prolonged maximum load, the Ryzen 7 9700X processor consumed up to 88 watts of power in normal mode. In general, this is an excellent indicator, given the performance of an 8-core chip.

After switching to the "TDP 105 W" mode, the energy appetite of the new processor increased as expected. The CPU power consumption during scene rendering in Cinebench R23 was at the level of 140-142 W. The predecessor Ryzen 7 7700X has approximately the same performance in its normal mode (TDP 105 W).

Considering that the Ryzen 7 9700X, even at 65W TDP, is mostly ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700X, we can talk about a significant improvement in energy efficiency (performance per watt) of Zen 5 processors with CCDs manufactured according to 4nm (TSMC N4P) technology.

If you use the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 7 7700X models in modes with identical power consumption, the performance advantage of the new product becomes much more noticeable and the claimed "~16% IPC increase" is already being filled with practical content.

In games, the load on 8-core 16-threaded processors is far from maximum, so power consumption during virtual battles is more modest. For example, in Cyberpunk 2077, which is quite eager for processor resources, the Ryzen 7 9700X chip required about 45-50 watts in normal mode. Using the "TDP 105 W" profile, the actual CPU consumption in the game increased by ~10 W to 55-60 W.

During the gaming sessions, we also determined the overall average PC power consumption for each individual project. When using the Ryzen 7 9700X base mode with a TDP of 65W, the figures ranged from 360-450W. In this case, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB graphics card accounts for about 300 watts.

After increasing the TDP of the processor from 65 W to 105 W, the actual power consumption of the entire system either remained at the same level or changed by only 10-15 W. The load on the 8-core 16-thread CPU in games is far from maximum, so the chip does not have to accelerate all computing cores at the same time.

So, in games, switching to the "TDP 105 W" mode, although it does not increase the number of fps, it also practically does not increase the overall power consumption of the PC. And that's all we need to thank you for.

Price

Pricing is generally a rather sensitive issue for Ryzen 9000 processors. As we noted, the Ryzen 7 9700X is priced at $359 for US retailers. Yes, this figure is indeed lower than that for the predecessor Ryzen 7 7700X ($399), but it still does not fully take into account the current situation on the processor market.

In Ukraine, Ryzen 7 9700X is officially available for ~18,500 UAH (~$450). At the same time, the Ryzen 7 7700X can be purchased for ~13,500 UAH (~$320), and the slightly less powerful 8-core Ryzen 7 7700 model with a cooler can be purchased for even ~12,000 UAH (~$290).

It would be appropriate to mention the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which is obviously inferior to the Ryzen 7 9700X in multithreaded tasks, but remains invincible in games. This model, even after a very significant price increase over the past month, is now also offered for ~18,500 UAH.

If computing power is a priority, then the 12-core Ryzen 9 7900/7900X, or even the Ryzen 9 7900X3D version with an increased L3 buffer, will be more affordable.

Don't discount the Core i7-14700K (~17,500 UAH; $420), which has significantly higher power consumption but also higher performance.

So, it seems obvious that the Ryzen 9000 starting price tags will be "optimized" over time. It is not surprising that only a month after the official launch of sales, Granite Ridge processors are already available at additional discounts on certain Western sites, at prices below the recommended ones. AMD usually skillfully uses the "price argument" to offer a good price/performance ratio. Therefore, we expect a corresponding adjustment for the new CPUs.