ZEN 5 architecture and Ryzen 9000:
As you may have noticed, we haven’t received the full range of new AMD processors. The brand seems to be offering a phased launch, which is why today we’re only testing the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 7 9700X. Let’s review AMD’s announcements over the last few weeks before getting down to testing.
ZEN 5 architecture:
In June, Dr. Lisa Su unveiled four new processors scheduled for launch on July 31. In the end, this was pushed back to August 7 for the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X. Initially, only the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X will be available. These new Ryzen 9000s benefit from 4 nm etching by TMSC and are based on the new Zen 5 architecture. To be perfectly precise, it’s the CCDs (core compute die) that are etched in 4 nm.
Improved etch finesse means Ryzen 9000s benefit from greater energy efficiency than the previous generation. In fact, this is one of the advantages of this new generation highlighted by AMD.
ZEN 5: 4 processors so far
Although we already know about the four Ryzen 9000 processors, only two will be available for launch on August 7: the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 7 9700X. As far as launch prices are concerned, AMD reports a price of $276 (€308.90) for the 9600X and $359 (€396.90) for the 9700X.
The Ryzen 5 9600X is the equivalent of the current Ryzen 5 7600X. It offers the same number of cores: 6c/12t. However, it uses new-generation ZEN 5 cores. In terms of frequency, this processor will operate with a single-core boost frequency of 5.4 GHz, i.e. 100 MHz more than the 7600X. The other big difference is in TDP, which drops from 105 to 65 watts for the 9600X! We should see an interesting gain in terms of temperature and, above all, power consumption.
The Ryzen 7 9700X features the same 8c/16t as the Ryzen 7700X, as well as a 100 MHz frequency gain over the previous generation. Here too, the TDP drops from 105 to 65 watts. It’s not hard to imagine that this type of TDP would have been chosen for the “future” Ryzen 5 9600 and Ryzen 7 9700.
These new processors feature virtually identical packaging to the previous generation. The colors are slightly darker, and no cooling system is available. For some time now, AMD and Intel have no longer offered a cooling unit in a bundle.
New chipsets coming soon:
These two processors will be tested on a ROG Crosshair X670E GENE motherboard, which of course remains perfectly compatible with its AM5 socket. AMD has already unveiled its new AMD 800 chipset, and a number of manufacturers have also unveiled their first motherboards. These include the AMD X870E, X870, B850 and B840 chipsets.
We should be able to unveil the first motherboards in the coming weeks.
