Ryzen 7 7700 vs Ryzen 7 7700X – which CPU should you go for?

We’re putting Ryzen 7 7700 vs Ryzen 7 7700X to see which AMD processor comes out on top.

One of the most notable announcements at CES 2023 was a new range of CPUs from Ryzen, nicknamed the ‘Non-X’ range. Today we’ll be looking at how one of these cards, the Ryzen 7 7700, shapes up against the Ryzen 7 7700X.

Both are great choices, and as with many comparisons, it’s not really a case of which one is better – but more about which one is best for you.

There are some differences between the two that are worth noting, so let’s take a closer look shall we?

Ryzen 7 7700 vs Ryzen 7 7700x specs

Specs	Ryzen 7 7700	Ryzen 7 7700x
Architecture	Zen 4	Zen 4
Core Count	8	8
Thread Count	16	16
Base Speed	3.8GHz	4.5GHz
Boost Speed	5.3GHz	5.4GHz
Cache	32MB	32MB
TDP	65W	105W

First of all, we’ll break down what is similar before going over those crucial differences. As you can see from the table, for a lot of the key specs there isn’t anything between the two cards. In terms of cache size as well as both thread and core count there isn’t any difference at all.

On top of this, both cards make use of the new Zen 4 micro-architecture which boasts an IPC around 13% higher than the previous generation. What does this mean? Well IPC refers to how many instructions a CPU can issue per cycle. This is different from clock speed, which tells you how many cycles a CPU can complete in a second.

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However, while this difference in clock speed is significant, the difference between levels of power consumption is quite a bit bigger.

With a TDP of 65W compared to 105W, the Ryzen 7 7700 draws close to half as much power. This has loads of benefits, not only will the cost of running your computer decrease, but you won’t have to potentially buy a new PSU, or even a case to house your new CPU.

Ryzen 7 7700 vs Ryzen 7 7700X Price

As you would expect the more powerful Ryzen 7 7700X comes with a higher price tag, specifically an MSRP of $389. If you pair this with the higher running costs this CPU will incur, thanks to its higher power consumption, it’s easy to see why the whole ‘non-X’ range is considered the budget friendly way to get your hands on AM5.

The Ryzen 7 7700 has an MSRP of $329, $60 lower than its X equivalent. However, it should be noted that this is just the price on its release day. It’s feasible we will see a significant price drop for this card, as we did with the entire Ryzen 7000X range around 2 months after their release.

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Ryzen 7 7700 vs Ryzen 7 7700X – final word

As is common in the world of tech, it comes down to price versus performance. If you are trying to decide between these two cards and have a powerful GPU, PSU and a case to house them all, the Ryzen 7 7700X will offer you a higher level of performance.

Though with that said, just how much higher this performance will be is not yet known. Due to its very recent release, we do not yet have performance reviews or benchmarks for the Ryzen 7 7700, though these should be coming soon. Furthermore, we can make informed predictions thanks to the specs we know that it has.

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Overall the Ryzen 7 7700 has a clock speed higher than you would imagine for a 65W TDP CPU making it one of the most efficient CPUs currently available. With this in mind, it is likely it will offer a higher performance per dollar, though just how much higher remains to be seen.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ryzen 7 7700X good for gaming?

The Ryzen 7 7700X is excellent for gaming, boasting high clock speeds and making the most of AMD’s new Zen 4 mico-architecture to increase performance in demanding games.

Is Ryzen 7 7700X worth it?

The Ryzen 7 7700X is worth it for those wanting to play the most demanding games at the highest frame rates, and who have the other components necessary to do so. Without a suitably powerful GPU and PSU, you won’t be able to make the most of your Ryzen 7 7700X.