AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs Ryzen 5 9600X: What's the difference?

In the world of processors, AMD has made quite a name for itself with its Ryzen series. The latest rendition of that series, the Ryzen 9000 series, is quite possibly its most refined iteration so far.

But what are the real differences between the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 5 9600X?

We're here to interpret the data available on the new Ryzen 9000 series to determine the main differences between the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 5 9600X, and whether the price difference between the two is justified. With this new generation of Zen 5 processors, we need to ask whether they will be able to compete with the X3D variants of the previous generation – chips that are considered by many to be the best CPUs on the market.

To understand the real differences between the two CPUs, we must review the technical specifications and learn how your PC is being affected.

Where both processors excel with their performance: One of the main selling points of the Ryzen 9000 series was AMD's ability to bring the new processors in line with higher-end models without a significant increase in power consumption. The company claims that overall efficiency has reduced power consumption by 40%. At just 65W for both models, this is an excellent prospect for those who want a powerful processor without the need for an ultra-powerful PSU or an imposing cooling system.

Even though the reference numbers of the two CPUs only change by two digits, there are still significant differences between them - so avoid typos when choosing your CPU! Although they use the latest Zen 5 architecture and are compatible with the AM5 socket, they are two different CPUs. The Ryzen 7 9700X is the performance winner, with more cores and a higher clock speed. This allows for faster processing and better multi-tasking performance.

• Ryzen 7 9700X price: $359
• Ryzen 7 9600X price: $279

While these changes may seem minor, they have a significant impact on performance. Whether this effect cancels out the price difference will be subjective. The Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X cost $359 and $279 respectively. Although there may be price differences between retailers and countries, it should be consistent, broadly-speaking.

In terms of specifications, the Ryzen 7 9700X unsurprisingly outperforms the Ryzen 5 9600X. However, the reduced processing power of the Ryzen 5 9600X is reflected in the price, which might make it more s potentially superior value proposition, which makes them two interesting processors to compare.

Regardless of which one you go for, remember that neither of them come with a cooler, so make sure to grab an Air Cooler or an AIO, or even build a custom loop if you really want to go overkill on these CPUs. All of which can be found on the CORSAIR webstore.