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Key Points:
- The Ryzen 9 5900X delivers power where you need it most, with a higher core count, higher boost clock speeds, and higher capacity L2 and L3 cache.
- When it was released in November 2020, the Ryzen 7 5800X was a clear competitor to the Intel Core i7 series. The only thing better than the Ryzen 7 from AMD was the Ryzen 9.
- If all you are looking to do is play the latest games at max settings, the Ryzen 7 5800X won’t let you down.
In this article, we are checking out two of the best processors from AMD’s new Ryzen lineup: The Ryzen 7 5800X vs Ryzen 9 5900X. With the first Ryzen series CPUs released in 2017, AMD has shown us substantial improvements with each new iteration. If you are shopping around for a new processor for gaming, video editing, or other demanding tasks, the Ryzen 7 5800X and Ryzen 9 5900X are both solid choices.
When comparing two processors at this level, it’s important to understand AMD’s lineup. The Ryzen series processors are broken down based on performance and budget. On the low-end, you have the Ryzen 3 series processors, designed to compete with Intel’s budget offering: The Core i3. The next step up is the Ryzen 5 series CPUs, designed to go up against Intel’s Core i5 series processors. Entering the performance-grade category, we have the Ryzen 7 series processors, going head to head with the Intel Core i7. Finally, the most powerful CPU category is what is known as the enthusiast-grade processors. This is where you will find the AMD Ryzen 9 series, battling it out with the Intel Core i9.
If the Ryzen 9 5900X is on a completely different level than the Ryzen 7 5800X, does that mean it will perform noticeably better for gaming, video editing, or 3D rendering? That’s what we’re going to find out in today’s article. We’re going to check out a full comparison, specs, features, and price, and then decide which one is ultimately best for your uses.
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Ryzen 7 5800X vs Ryzen 9 5900X: Side-By-Side Comparison
Comparing the Ryzen 7 5800X against the Ryzen 9 5900X shows us some major differences in key areas. Have a look at the following table to understand:
| Ryzen 7 5800X | Ryzen 9 5900X | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Cores: | 8 cores | 12 cores |
| Number of Threads: | 16 threads | 24 threads |
| Base Clock Speed: | 3.70GHz | 3.80GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed: | 4.70GHz | 4.80GHz |
| L2 Cache Size: | 4MB | 6MB |
| L3 Cache Size: | 32MB | 64MB |
| Unlocked?: | Yes | Yes |
| TDP Rating: | 105 Watts | 105 Watts |
| Memory Type: | DDR4 | DDR4 |
| PCI Version: | PCI-E 4.0 | PCI-E 4.0 |
| CPU Socket: | AM4 | AM4 |
| CPU Architecture: | 7NM Zen 3 | 7NM Zen 3 |
As you can see from the comparison, both CPUs are very well-equipped to handle a wide variety of demanding tasks. The Ryzen 9 5900X, however, brings a lot of extra powerful hardware to outshine the Ryzen 7 5800X.
Ryzen 7 5800X vs Ryzen 9 5900X: What’s the Difference?
- Supports Windows 10 64-Bit Edition
- 100-plus FPS performance
- 4.7 GHz Max Boost
- Supports PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
When AMD released the Ryzen 7 5800X in November 2020, it was designed as a replacement for the previous generation Ryzen 7 3800X. It was an upgrade to the last version in every way, with higher benchmark ratings all around. The Ryzen 7 5800X was a clear competitor to the Intel Core i7 series. The only thing better than the Ryzen 7 from AMD was the Ryzen 9.
The Ryzen 9 5900X was released on the same date, targeting the higher-end, enthusiast-grade CPU market. Designed to replace the Ryzen 9 3900X, AMD had one processor on a higher tier than the 5900X, and that was the 5950X. Both of AMD’s Ryzen 9 offerings were designed to go head to head with the massively powerful Intel Core i9.
While the Ryzen 7 5800X came with eight cores and 16 threads, the Ryzen 9 5900X came with an impressive 12 cores and 24 threads. The Ryzen 9 5900X also comes packed with a higher capacity L2 and L3 cache, making it ideal for the more demanding user. The higher boost clock speeds offered by the Ryzen 9 5900X also means that it can run circles around the lower-power Ryzen 7 5800X.
Even though the Ryzen 9 5900X is one of the most powerful AMD processors, the Ryzen 7 5800X still packs a punch, especially considering the lower price tag. The Ryzen 7 5800X was released with an MSRP of just $449. The Ryzen 9 5900X on the other hand, came in at about $50, with an MSRP of $499.
Ryzen 7 5800X vs Ryzen 9 5900X: What Are the Similarities?
Despite their differences, the Ryzen 7 5800X and Ryzen 9 5900X actually have a lot in common. When comparing the two CPUs, it is easier to see their similarities than their differences. When trying to decide which processor is the better deal, it is important to understand just how similar they really are.
The most notable similarity is that both the Ryzen 7 5800X and the Ryzen 9 5900X share the same socket type. Both CPUs take full advantage of the AM4 socket, so if you already have a Ryzen processor, you won’t need to replace your motherboard. This is great news if you already have a Ryzen CPU, but if you are switching from Intel, you will need to replace your motherboard with one that supports AM4.
Both the Ryzen 7 5800X and Ryzen 9 5900X have an unlocked multiplier, which is excellent news if you are planning to overclock your processor. Both CPUs support the use of eXtended Frequency Range or “FSR” for automated overclocking. If you are looking for a processor that you can push to its absolute limits, either one of these will do the trick just fine.
Another similarity between the Ryzen 7 5800X and the Ryzen 9 5900X is that they both support up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR4 RAM. If you are looking to build a computer with a ton of RAM, then either one of these processors will allow you to do that.
It is commonly accepted that Intel CPUs are more power-hungry than Ryzen processors. With the Ryzen 7 5800X and Ryzen 9 5900X, this is no different. Both processors have a maximum TDP rating of just 105 watts. Compared to comparable Intel CPUs, which can require up to 125 watts, the Ryzen offerings are much more energy efficient.
Unfortunately, AMD does not include a stock cooler with either of these processors. If you go with the Ryzen 7 5800X or the Ryzen 9 5900X you will need to pick up your own aftermarket CPU cooler to keep things running cool.
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Ryzen 7 5800X vs Ryzen 9 5900X: Which One Is Better For Gaming?
The most important factor when trying to determine which processor is better is figuring out which one is better at gaming. Do you really need to push for the Ryzen 9 5900X if the Ryzen 7 5800X is good enough?
To answer that question, we compiled some benchmarks from across the Internet to see if we could find any differences in relative performance scores. We compared single-core performance, with dual, quad, and octa-core to figure out which one is better in each category. As expected, the Ryzen 9 5900X comes out on top in every department:
| Ryzen 7 5800X | Ryzen 9 5900X | |
|---|---|---|
| Memory Latency: | 94.9 points | 95.5 points |
| Single-core: | 170 points | 173 points |
| Dual-core: | 339 points | 332 points |
| Quad-core: | 660 points | 667 points |
| Octa-core: | 1201 points | 1294 points |
When put to the test on some of the most popular games, however, the Ryzen 9 5900X was disappointingly similar to the Ryzen 5800X. Most user benchmarks showed performance differences of between one and five percent across most of the more demanding titles like GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.
The substantially higher octa-core speed ratings show us that the Ryzen 9 5900X really only shows its full potential on activities more demanding than gaming. If you are pushing your CPU to the limit with multithreaded rendering, then you will notice a difference with the Ryzen 9 5900X. For your average gamer, it will be difficult to notice a performance difference between the two processors.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re looking for the best of the best, the Ryzen 9 5900X is the way to go. There is just no comparison if you are doing advanced 4k editing and 3D rendering. The Ryzen 9 5900X delivers power where you need it most, with a higher core count, higher boost clock speeds, and higher capacity L2 and L3 cache. This means the most demanding users will appreciate the raw power that this CPU can offer.
- Supports Windows 10 64-Bit Edition
- 100-plus FPS performance
- 4.7 GHz Max Boost
- Supports PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
The Ryzen 7 5800X still packs some serious power, and for most gamers, it will be a challenge to spot the difference in performance. If all you are looking to do is play the latest games at max settings, the Ryzen 7 5800X won’t let you down. Even on full 1080p settings, the Ryzen 7 5800X exceeds recommended requirements for every game out there. For the price, you get a great bang for your buck and a very solid choice of processor.
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