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We’re looking at Ryzen 9 7900 vs Ryzen 9 7900x to help you decide the best CPU to go for.
AMD has announced their new 7000 CPUs, serving up new CPUs promising brilliant efficiency without sacrificing on the performance front. But how does the 7900 compare to 7900x?
We’re already seeing a lot of buzz around the Ryzen 9 7900 so if you want to get ahead of the crowd, start looking at where to buy the CPU from our selection of popular retailers.
You might be here because you’ve recently secured one of AMD’s RX 7900 XT or XTX, the Ryzen 7000 series is sure to compliment your PC set up. With this in mind, consider our selection of best CPUs for RX 7900 XTX & XT if you’re looking for the latest and greatest.
Ryzen 9 7900 vs Ryzen 9 7900x specs
Below you’ll find a total breakdown of the all-important CPU specs.
| Specs | Ryzen 9 7900 | Ryzen 9 7900x |
| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 4 |
| Core Count | 12 | 12 |
| Thread Count | 24 | 24 |
| Base Speed | 3.7GHz | 4.7Hz |
| Boost Speed | 5.4GHz | 5.6GHz |
| Cache | 64MB | 64MB |
| TDP | 65W | 170W |
At first glance, these CPUs are remarkably similar until you notice the Ryzen 9 7900’s ridiculously low TDP. We’re particularly impressed by this considering it does not massively differ from the 7900X. It’s worth noting that the real TDP is potentially roughly 50-60W higher when boosting, though even then the 7900 clearly comes out as the most power efficient option.
Read More: Best CPU for RTX 4070 Ti
The 7900’s lower boost clock and TDP than the 7900X suggests its the preferable choice in smaller form factor PCs, where there’s limited space for fans and additional cooling solutions.
But what about performance?
We’ll have to wait for the independent reviews, but in terms of the base and boost speed specs, the 7900X reaches a higher boost speed, meaning its the faster card. In other words, there’s no denying that the 7900x is the more powerful card. This is potentially a trade-off considering the higher consumption, though we can only decide whether the extra boost clock is worth it once we’ve seen how well the 7900 performs.
Both cards support PCI Express 5.0 which is twice the speed of PCIe 4.0 which is great if you’re looking for a CPU to boost the performance of your new RTX 4080. If you’d like to know more about the difference between PCIe 4.0 vs PCIe 5.0, we’ve got you covered.
Read More: Where to buy Ryzen 7 7700 – expected retailers
Ryzen 9 7900 vs Ryzen 9 7900x – price
As reflected in the specs, the Ryzen 9 7900x is the more powerful CPU, which is reflected in the price.
The MSRP for the Ryzen 7900 is $429. This is significantly lower than the 7900 X which is costing $549 at launch due to its higher performance.
Read Now: Where to buy Ryzen 7 7700 – expected retailers
AMD has been known to cut the prices of the Ryzen 7000 X CPUs, so there is a chance we could see a similar slash for non-X CPUs. However, AMD could use this launch as an opportunity to increase the price the prices of their X-series CPUs. Time will tell.
Ryzen 9 7900 vs Ryzen 9 7900x – final word
Ultimately, the 7900 is much cheaper than the 7900X, helping to keep the overall cost low if you’re upgrading to AM5. The lower cost is also reflective in the running costs thanks to the 7900’s lower TDP.
If you’re PC case is already equipped with adequate cooling solutions, the 7900X is an easier choice as you won’t have to spend more upgrading your set-up with cooling solutions. It’s also an ideal alternative for those with a generous budget but find the Ryzen 7950X cost a little too high.
In other words, we’re looking at the usual trade-off between price and performance. Specifically for digital content creators or serious gamers, we’d definitely recommend the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ryzen 9 7900X good for gaming?
If we’re looking at specs alone the 7900X impresses with a high boost clock of 5.6Ghz, meaning you can expect this CPU to deliver an stunning gaming performance
Is Ryzen 7900X worth it?
The 7900X is undoubtedly one of the best CPUs you can buy today. If you’re a keen gamer, content creator or PC enthusiast, the 7900X is probably worth it.
