Product on Review: Ryzen 5 9600X
Manufacturer: AMD
MSRP:
- US: $279
- AUS: TBC
- UK: ~£265 inc.V.A.T.
Introduction
Summer 2024 has already been a season rife with controversy. AI is the watchword for investors but not necessarily consumers, leading to mixed fortunes for the sector as a whole. Intel is under the cosh due not only to failings in their past two Core i9 generations but also perceived lack of communication and transparency to their customers and the media. Pricing continues to be a concern for those seeking to upgrade to or invest in a new PC generation. An inauspicious time perhaps to be launching a new CPU.
After a minor delay to ensure a smooth launch AMD are now finally ready to take the wraps off the first two members of their new Ryzen 9000-series CPUs. The Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X immediately take two of four spots in the product stack and will be joined by the 9900X and 9950X in the very near future, filling out a CPU range that will be eventually paired with 800-series motherboards for a comprehensive refresh of AMD’s consumer lineup.
For the moment however all of the 9000-series CPUs will be supported by AMD's well-established 600-series motherboard lineup. Pricing and featureset makes the B650E models an ideal companion for the 9600X while B650 designs are a more affordable option with patchy support for both PCIe Gen5 graphics/storage and fast USB. When buying, customers should ensure that any newly purchased motherboard has been updated to the latest BIOS (AEGSA 1.1.7.0 or later) or they have access to a 7000-series CPU/BIOS Flashback to update it themselves.
The Ryzen 5 9600X - the CPU we’re reviewing today - has the same 6-core/12-thread layout that formed the mainstay of Ryzen’s mainstream tiers, but will incorporate a new ‘Zen 5’ architecture under the hood that will bring IPC gains and higher power efficiency. The Ryzen 7 9700X meanwhile boasts 8 cores and 16 threads in addition to a frequency bump, potentially making it a better CPU both for productivity and gaming.
Both CPUs compare favourably with the 7000-series when it comes to launch pricing by taking nibbles out of their predecessor’s MSRP. The 9600X will be available for $279 or its regional equivalent and the 9700X a competitive $359; regional pricing is to be confirmed but we do not expect it to deviate greatly from a flat exchange rate conversion plus relevant VAT/sales tax.
Not only will these processors face a stern test from the now more affordable mainstream 7000-series and 7800X3D, they will also be confronted by Intel’s exceptional 13th and 14th Gen mid-tier processors. There will be a competitive SKU from each both in terms of price and performance already well entrenched, but power efficiency and upgrade paths will also serve as key differentiators in what’s sure to be a tough contest.
Speaking of upgrade paths, this processor is aimed squarely at owners of CPUs on the now-ageing AM4 platform who can’t or won’t take the intermediate step of transitioning to the 5800X3D. Intel 11th Gen and earlier platforms are also ripe for an upgrade, with the 9600X being the most affordable entry into the latest AMD platform.
So, with all that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the new processors from AMD.
