Ryzen 9 9900X Vs Ryzen 9 7950X – We Tested Both

See full bio

Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

See full bio

Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Difference

• Architecture: The Ryzen 9 9900X is built on AMD’s advanced Zen 5 architecture, representing a peak in tech innovation, whereas the Ryzen 9 7950X is based on the earlier Zen 4 design.
• CPU Socket: Regarding the connection socket, the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 7950X both utilize AMD’s AM5 CPU socket, also known as LGA1718, which features 1718 pins for motherboard connectivity.
• Process Node: The Ryzen 9 9900X features cores built with TSMC’s advanced 4nm FinFET manufacturing, whereas the Ryzen 9 7950X utilizes 5nm FinFET technology for its CPU cores.
• Clock Speed: The Ryzen 9 7950X offers a 2.3% headway in core CPU tasks, featuring a 0.1GHz faster base clock and a 1.8% higher boost clock, beating the Ryzen 9 9900X in demanding workloads.
• TDP: As the highest-tier processor, the Ryzen 9 7950X features a TDP of 170W, which is 41.7% higher than the Ryzen 9 9900X’s TDP of 120W.

The Ryzen 9 7950X is AMD’s flagship processor, boasting cutting-edge specifications from the Ryzen 7000 series. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 9900X is a top-tier CPU of the Ryzen 9000 series, which currently has not good reviews despite its architecture upgrade. Let us proceed with our Ryzen 9 9900X vs Ryzen 9 7950X rivalry to assess the CPUs’ capability and efficiency.

Gaming Benchmarks

In terms of specifications and architecture, the Ryzen 9 7950X excels with superior clock speeds, while the Ryzen 9 9900X boasts up-to-date Zen 5 architecture that should improve its overall performance. To gauge the performance disparity accurately, let us compare Ryzen 9 9900X vs Ryzen 9 7950X across our benchmarked games.

Test Bench

• OS: Windows 11
• GPU: Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• Motherboard: MSI B650M Project Zero Motherboard
• RAM: Kingston Fury Renegade RGB DDR5 32GB 7200MHz
• SSD: Teamgroup T-Force Z540 2TB Gen5 NVMe SSD
• PSU: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
• CPU Cooler: Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• In our first gaming session of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the Ryzen 9 9900X produced an average of 107 FPS, about 15.15% better than the Ryzen 9 7950X’s average of 93 FPS.
• Evaluating the low 1% performance, the Ryzen 9 9900X offered a beautiful 83 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 7950X lagged with its 73 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

• In our Cyberpunk 2077 test, the Ryzen 9 9900X averaged 103 FPS, outperforming the Ryzen 9 7950X by 15.15% with its 91 FPS.
• With a 1% low frame rate of 72 FPS during this gameplay, the Ryzen 9 9900X outshined the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 66 FPS.

God of War

• While playing God of War, Ryzen 9 9900X delivered an average of 121 FPS at 1080p, 15.15% higher than Ryzen 9 7950X’s 108 FPS.
• In the 1% low performance, the Ryzen 9 9900X reached 102 FPS, leaving the Ryzen 9 7950X behind at 80 FPS.

Horizon Zero Dawn

• By providing 149 FPS on average, the Ryzen 9 9900X beat the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 140 FPS by 15.15% in Horizon Zero Dawn.
• The Ryzen 9 9900X achieved an impressive 116 FPS at the 1% low threshold, decisively outperforming the Ryzen 9 7950X, which delivered a more modest 100 FPS.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• The Ryzen 9 9900X scored 131 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, surpassing the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 123 FPS by 15.15%.
• Regarding the worst 1% performance, the Ryzen 9 9900X eclipsed the 7950X by a narrow margin in this game, delivering 89 FPS, surpassing the latter’s 85 FPS.

Watch Dogs Legion

• In our last Watch Dogs Legion gameplay, the Ryzen 9 9900X hit an average of 115 FPS, a 15.15% improvement over the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 105 FPS.
• During the low 1% performance times, the Ryzen 9 9900X accomplished a shining 99 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 7950X executed 76 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

Our benchmarks reveal that while the Ryzen 9 7950X maintained an impressive 110.0 FPS on average, the Ryzen 9 9900X surpassed it with a 10.0% greater average of 121.0 FPS. Moreover, the Ryzen 9 9900X demonstrated a 16.9% boost in 1% lows, offering smoother gameplay with fewer stutters by driving 93.5 FPS compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 80.0 FPS.

Editor`s Note

The Ryzen 9 9900X provides better gaming performance and efficiency. However, the Ryzen 9 7950X offers the benefit of more cores and threads, which enhances performance in applications that demand substantial parallel processing capabilities. Check how the Ryzen 9 7950X competes with the Intel Core i9-14900K, both having 16 cores and 32 threads.

– Uzair Qureshi

Power Efficiency

In our power efficiency examination, the Ryzen 9 9900X verified a substantial 64.2% lower power draw, running at 124.7 watts versus the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 204.6 watts. In our 1080p gaming sessions, the Ryzen 9 9900X achieved an average of 0.97 FPS per watt, around 80.0% better efficiency than the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 0.54 FPS per watt.

Thermal Efficiency

While assessing the thermal efficiency of the Ryzen 9 9900X vs Ryzen 9 7950X, we noted that the Ryzen 9 9900X maintained an average gaming temperature of 77.2°C at 1080p, whereas the Ryzen 9 7950X ran cooler at 64.0°C. This shows that, when speaking of thermal performance, the Ryzen 9 7950X leads the Ryzen 9 9900X by 20.6%.

Price And Value

The launch price of the Ryzen 9 7950X is about 40% higher than that of the Ryzen 9 9900X. However, the 7950X has seen a significant price drop due to its age and the arrival of the Ryzen 9000 series. In terms of availability, both processors remain readily accessible in the market.

What We Recommend?

Ryzen 9 9900X: The Ryzen 9 9900X leverages avant-grade Zen 5 architecture, offering better gaming performance while remaining remarkably cost-effective and power-efficient, thus offering great value. However, its performance could have been better, being the latest Ryzen 9 CPU.

Ryzen 9 7950X: The Ryzen 9 7950X is AMD’s top previous-generation processor, featuring exceptional boost clock speeds for high-performance computing and gaming. Nonetheless, Intel offers better value latest processors within the same budget at its current price.

We recommend the Ryzen 9 9900X because this processor delivers remarkable performance relative to its energy consumption and cost, offering an exceptional balance of efficiency and value. Yet, you can opt for Intel’s latest i7 processor for top productivity and gaming performance at an even lower cost.

More From Ryzen 9 9900X:

• Ryzen 9 9900X Vs Core i7-14700K

More From Ryzen 9 7950X:

• Ryzen 9 7950X Vs Ryzen 9 7900X
• Core i9-13900K Vs Ryzen 9 7950X
• Ryzen 9 7950X Vs Ryzen 9 5950X

Uzair Qureshi

[Comparisons Specialist]

I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Get In Touch: uzair@old.tech4gamers.com