Unlike the Ryzen 7 9700X, which was off to a glacial start when it launched, the new Ryzen 7 9800X3D "Zen 5" processor with 3D V-Cache is flying off the shelves. This is the fastest gaming processor you can buy, and gamers want their best machines in place when the next generation of GPUs make landfall starting January 2025. As of this writing, the 9800X3D is out of stock on Newegg, Amazon, and Micro Center. The chip is, however, available through systems integrators and OEMs, who probably secured their inventory of the chip separately. A quick look over at eBay suggests that the 9800X3D is being scalped—the practice where individuals buy up inventory of the processor at retail prices, and re-sell it at a mark-up. We are seeing prices in the range of $670 to $800. There are probably limits to how high scalpers can price the 9800X3D, because at a high enough price, buyers could simply not be interested in the chip, and simply pick up a much cheaper 7800X3D, or the versatile 7950X3D, or even go Intel with the i9-14900K.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is rumored to launch sooner than expected, with the company targeting at least an announcement within October, with reviews and product availability within Q4 2024. The chip combines the latest "Zen 5" microarchitecture with 3D V-cache technology, and is expected to increase AMD's gaming performance outlook compared to the 7800X3D, which remains the fastest processor for gaming. An alleged screenshot of the processor grinding away at Cinebench surfaced, which reveals that the processor is capable of a 5.20 GHz all-core boost frequency, and comes with an impressive 4.70 GHz base frequency.

To put these clock speeds into perspective, the current Ryzen 7 9700X processor without the 3D V-cache, comes with a 3.80 GHz base and 5.50 GHz maximum boost frequency. This would be the first time that an X3D SKU is coming with a higher base frequency than a regular SKU. For example, the 7800X3D comes with a 4.20 GHz base frequency compared to the 4.50 GHz of the 7700X. Interestingly, the 5.20 GHz all-core boost frequency of the 9800X3D is on par with the all-core boost of the 9700X, which only hits 5.50 GHz boost on lightly threaded workloads. It remains to be seen what TDP and package power tracking (PPT) values AMD gives the 9800X3D, given that it had to retrofit the SKU with a 105 W cTDP mode via firmware, to eke out an up to 10% performance gain over the original specs.

The leaks and rumors surrounding Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake desktop CPU line-up are starting to heat up, with recent rumors tipping the existence of the Core Ultra 9 285K as the top-end chip in the upcoming launch. A new set of Geekbench 6 scores spotted by BenchLeaks on X, however, suggests the Core Ultra 9 285 non-K variant of this CPU might lag its Ryzen 9 counterparts significantly.

The Geekbench 6 test results, which were apparently achieved on an ASUS Prime Z890-P motherboard, reveal performance that falls short of even the current-generation AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, never mind any of the Ryzen 9 variants. The Geekbench 6 multicore score came in at an unimpressive 14,150, while the single-core score was a mere 3,081, falling short of the likes of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, which scored up to 19,381 and 3,624 in multi- and single-core tests, respectively. However, there appears to be more to this story—namely an odd test configuration that could heavily skew the test results, since the "stock" Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores significantly higher in the Geekbench 6 charts than this particular 285 seems to.

With German retailer Mindfactory.de listing the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, European hardware reviewers are beginning to put the chip through its paces on their Socket AM5 test beds still warm from last month's Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" launch coverage. PCGH is among the first such reviewers, and has an interesting set of findings. The biggest question everyone is looking to be answered is "how does it game?" and here PCGH has some good news. The processor is very fast at gaming, and in fact beats the 8-core Ryzen 7 9700X "Zen 5" chip in gaming benchmarks, ending up 6% faster than when averaged across the games in PCGH's test suite. It's also about 9% slower than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which remains the reigning champion.

Being faster than the 9700X also means that the Ryzen 5 7600X3D is faster than every other Ryzen 9000 series processor launched till date, including the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X. The 7600X3D is a whopping 11% faster than the 9950X at gaming. When compared to Intel contemporaries, the 7600X3D ends up about 1% slower than the Core i5-13600K, and 2% slower than the newer i5-14600K. These were the two chips the 7600X3D was sent to beat at gaming, so crowds are drawn to the Ryzen 5 series, and the chip ends up falling a touch short. A lot will depend on whether AMD gives the 7600X3D a wider launch, and what its street price ends up being. Find the complete PCGH review of the Ryzen 5 7600X3D in the source link below.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, announced today the latest BIOS release to include TDP to 105 W option for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X processors, which can boost CPU performance up to 13%.⁠

The September latest BIOS version AGESA 1.2.0.1a provides a new option enabling users to raise the CPU TDP from 65 W to 105 W with just one click for Ryzen 9600X and 9700X on GIGABYTE 600 series motherboards. This new BIOS has been verified to show an approximately 13% multicore performance boost compared to default TDP 65 W by Cinebench R23 test results.

Motherboard manufacturers are beginning to roll out UEFI firmware updates that not just patch the Sinkclose critical vulnerability, but enable an experimental "105 W TDP mode" option as part of the processor's custom BIOS settings (CBS). The mode elevates the power limits of the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X "Zen 5" desktop processors, with up to 13%" performance gains being reported by the motherboard vendors themselves. By default, your motherboard will run these processors at their original 65 W TDP, and you're supposed to manually enable the setting in the UEFI firmware setup program. It could either be found in the overclocking/tuning page, or the AMD CBS section.

To remove the last bit of hesitation among users go turn this setting on, AMD is working to extend its processor warranty to cover the 105 W TDP mode, reports Wccftech editor Hassan Mujtaba. Currently, the setting is being shipped with AM5 AGESA version 1.2.0.1, which includes the Sinkclose vulnerability patch, but will "officially" release it with AM5 AGESA 1.2.0.2, along with warranty coverage. Mujtaba reports that firmware updated with AGESA 1.2.0.2 are expected to begin rolling out in late-September.

MSI is excited to announce the upcoming release of the AMD AGESA BIOS PI 1.2.0.1 update, designed to enhance power delivery performance for the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X processors on our 600 Series motherboards. This new BIOS will include an option that allows users to increase the original CPU TDP to 105 W on these two Ryzen processors, providing an extra boost in performance.

With this new feature allowing the TDP of the new Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X processors to be increased to 105 W, as seen with the picture below, performance actually gain at approximately of 13% compared to the original 65 W TDP.

Cooler Master, a leading provider of PC components, gaming peripherals, and tech lifestyle solutions, today announced its collaboration with AMD to integrate their recently announced AMD's Ryzen 9000 Series, into a select range of Cooler Master PC Systems. Cooler Master is leveraging AMD's cutting-edge technology to deliver unparalleled performance in their latest products, including the Sneaker X, Ncore 1 Pro, and MasterBox 6 Pro. The collaboration underscores Cooler Master's commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in gaming and professional computing.

The inclusion of AMD's CPUs within Cooler Master products will not only elevate gaming and professional experiences but also highlight the symbiotic relationship between powerful processing and efficient cooling. This is a testament to Cooler Master's relentless pursuit of excellence in thermal management, ensuring that each system operates at peak efficiency.

Recent reports suggest that AMD's Zen 5 desktop processors may soon receive a significant power upgrade. The upcoming AGESA 1.2.0.1A Patch A is rumored to increase the default power limits (TDP) from 65 W to 105 W for certain models, specifically the 8-core Ryzen 7 9700X and the 6-core Ryzen 5 9600X. This development comes as a surprise given that the first reviews of the Ryzen 9000 series were published just last week, with lower power consumption praised as a major advantage over previous generations. The potential TDP increase, while not as high as the 120 W initially rumored for the 9700X, still represents a substantial boost in power allocation.

The rationale behind this significant TDP increase appears to be addressing the lower than expected performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X compared to their predecessors. Initial testing showed that both CPUs performed similarly to earlier models, especially in gaming scenarios, with notable improvements only visible when using Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO). Even at 65 W, the Ryzen 7 9700X struggled to outpace the 7800X3D in gaming performance, highlighting the need for improved power delivery.

German PC components online retailer Mindfactory is no Amazon, but is meticulously transparent with its sales data to the public, which allows us to gauge consumer interest in products, at least in the European context. AMD last week launched its Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X Socket AM5 desktop processors powered by the latest "Zen 5" microarchitecture, which were met with mixed reviews, with the tech press remarking on very little IPC gain over the previous "Zen 4" generation, which is salvaged somewhat with their better energy efficiency. It's been 5 days since market availability for these two chips, and they aren't exactly flying off the shelves over at Mindfactory.

Remember what we said about Mindfactory being transparent with its sales numbers? The retailer even puts out a counter of how many units of a product it sold, and how many page views a product's store page got. As of this writing (13/8, 15:00 UTC), Mindfactory sold just between 20-30 Ryzen 5 9600X processors, with just under 600 page views for the product. The Ryzen 7 9700X is very slightly better, but not by much—just 30-40 pieces sold, and under 1,200 page views. To give you some context, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which has been out since April 2023, sold close to 68,000 units on this store. HardwareTimes reports that the 9700X is #39 most popular processor on Amazon in August 2024, and #45 on Newegg. We guess what's happening here is a combination of consumers waiting to see how the 9900X and 9700X perform, what the 9000X3D series and Intel's next-generation bring to the table, and favoring previous-gen incumbents such as the 7800X3D, i9-14900K, etc., which have had price cuts over the past several months.

MSI is excited to announce the launch of the latest AMD Ryzen 9000 Series processors, set to debut on the AM5 platform. Powered by advanced 4 nm CPU process technology, the Ryzen 9000 Series promises to revolutionize the computing landscape with unmatched performance, efficiency, and versatility for gamers and content creators. At launch, August 8th, AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 5 9600X are available while the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9900X will launch on August 15th. These processors will feature up to 16 cores and 32 threads, with a theoretical maximum boost clock speed of 5.7 GHz, 64 MB of L3 cache, and a maximum TDP of 170 W.

AMD Ryzen 9000 Series will also support PCIe 5.0 for the GPU and M.2 while enhancing DDR5 memory speed. Notably, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X offers approximately 12% better overall performance than the first-gen AMD 3D V-cache CPU. All these processors are compatible with the AM5 socket, and existing AMD 600 Series motherboards and Ryzen 9000 Series processors can seamlessly integrate by updating to the latest BIOS, available on MSI's product support page.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, IPC solutions, and storage devices, today is excited to announce a brand-new BIOS update for its AMD AM5 motherboards, designed to support AMD's latest Ryzen 9000 series processors, including Ryzen 9 9950X, Ryzen 9 9900X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 5 9600X. Incorporating the latest AMD AGESA 1.2.0.0.a Patch A BIOS update on BIOSTAR official website, BIOSTAR AM5 series motherboards consisting of X870E, X670E, B650E, B650, A620, and A620A are now primed and ready to unleash the full potential of AMD's ZEN 5 processors with superior stability.

AMD's latest Ryzen 9000 series processors, built on the groundbreaking Zen 5 architecture, represent a significant leap forward in computing performance and efficiency. These processors offer up to 16 cores and 32 threads, with clock speeds reaching up to 5.7 GHz. Featuring enhanced IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) performance and advanced Ryzen AI capabilities, the Ryzen 9000 series is engineered to handle intensive gaming, content creation, and professional workloads with ease. The new architecture also introduces improved power efficiency, ensuring cooler operation and lower energy consumption. With these cutting-edge processors, users can experience unprecedented levels of speed, responsiveness, and overall computing power.

AMD, with a post on X confirmed the pricing and availability of its new Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" desktop processor models. These were supposed to launch on July 31, but faced a delay, and are now facing a staggered launch. The 8-core Ryzen 7 9700X and 6-core Ryzen 5 9600X will be available from tomorrow, August 8, 2024. The flagship 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X and 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X follow a week later, on August 15. The company also confirmed pricing of the four chips in USD SEP. The Ryzen 9 9950X is confirmed with a $650 price, followed by the Ryzen 9 9900X at $500, the Ryzen 7 9700X at $360, and the Ryzen 5 9600X at $280. These are slightly cheaper than their predecessors, with the 7950X, 7900X, 7700X, and 7600X, launching at $700, $550, $400, and $300, respectively.

Official Ryzen 9000-series pricing has leaked just ahead of the launch, courtesy of Newegg and BestBuy in the US. Serial leaker @momomo_us over at X/Twitter managed to snap screenshots of the pricing before it was removed by the retailers. This might've been because of a mixup, since the Ryzen 9000-series was supposed to launch today, before being pushed back to the 8th and 14th of August respectively, depending on the SKU. Admittedly the pricing might still change, but it's highly likely that the leaked pricing is AMD's MSRP for the four new CPUs, as both of the retailers have listed identical pricing for the four SKUs.

The good news for prospective buyers of the new CPUs is that AMD has lowered the pricing across the board compared to the launch pricing for the Ryzen 7000-series, especially at the higher-end. The Ryzen 5 9600X should have an MSRP of US$279, followed by US$359 for the Ryzen 7 9700X. That's US$20 and US$40 lower than their Ryzen 7000-series counterparts respectively. The Ryzen 9 9900X should retail for US$449, followed by US$599 for the Ryzen 9 9950, both US$100 less than their Ryzen 7000-series counterparts. This could in part be due to the expected X3D parts coming at a later point in time and AMD now knowing it has to offer the non X3D SKUs for a more competitive price point.

AMD Ryzen 9000 series "Granite Ridge" desktop processors were supposed to start selling on July 31, 2024, but the launch has since been delayed. Since then, social media has been abuzz with theory crafting behind what could be the cause of the delay. AMD's announcement of the delay mentions: "During final checks, we found the initial production units that were shipped to our channel partners did not meet our full quality expectations," causing some to speculate if there are design flaws such as the ones affecting Intel's 13th Gen and 14th Gen Core desktop processors. A picture doing rounds on social media has a more goofy explanation: there is a glaring typo on the product label printed on the integrated heatspreader (IHS) of the processors.

Apparently, some of the first batches of Ryzen 9000 processors see the brand extensions mislabeled. Ryzen 7 9700X is printed as "Ryzen 9 9700X." This error in the brand extension may have been easily "patched" if it was on the retail packaging (the box), where hardware manufacturers tend to fix typos by simply pasting stickers on them. You can't do this with the IHS, which is a key component of the processor's cooling mechanism. Also, since times immemorial, chip labels (information printed on the chip) have served as crucial last resorts for accuracy of information such as the chip's exact model number, steppings or revisions (if any), and production serial numbers, besides the chip's national origin, which determines the applicable import tariffs. A typo here could prove problematic. We're not entirely sure how AMD is fixing these errors with mere 1-2 week delays. It's likely that they're recalling the affected batch and simply replacing inventory in the channel with "good" batches. The recalled chips will simply have their IHS reprinted.

AMD is about give the new "Zen 5" microarchitecture a near-simultaneous launch across both its client segments—desktop and mobile. The desktop front is held by the Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" Socket AM5 processors; while Ryzen AI 300 "Strix Point" powers the company's crucial effort to capture Microsoft Copilot+ AI PC market share. We recently did a technical deep-dive on the two. HardwareLuxx.de scored two important bits of specs for both processors in its Q&A interaction with AMD—die sizes and transistor counts.

To begin with, "Strix Point" is a monolithic silicon, which is confirmed to be built on the TSMC N4P foundry node (4 nm). This is a slight upgrade over the N4 node that the company built its previous generation "Phoenix" and "Hawk Point" processors on. The "Strix Point" silicon measures 232.5 mm² in area, which is significantly larger than the 178 mm² of "Hawk Point" and "Phoenix." The added die area comes from there being 12 CPU cores instead of 8, and 16 iGPU compute units instead of 12; and a larger NPU. There are many other factors, such as the larger 24 MB CPU L3 cache; and the sizes of the "Zen 5" and "Zen 5c" cores themselves.

As AMD prepares to roll out its next-generation Ryzen 9000 series of CPUs based on Zen 5 architecture, we are starting to see some systems being tested by third-party OEMs and system integrators. Today, we have Geekbench 6 scores of the Ryzen 9 9900X CPU, and the 12-core, 24-thread processor that has demonstrated impressive performance gains. Boasting a base clock of 4.4 GHz and a boost clock of up to 5.6 GHz, the CPU features only 120 W TDP, a significant reduction from the previous 170 W of the previous generation. In Geekbench 6 tests, the Ryzen 9 9900X achieved a single-core score of 3,401 and a multicore score of 19,756.

These results place it ahead of Intel's current flagship Core i9-14900KS, which scored 3,189 points in single-core performance. Regarding multicore tasks, the i9-14900K scored 21,890 points, still higher than AMD's upcoming 12-core SKU. The benchmark of AMD's CPU was conducted on an ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Gene motherboard with 32 GB of DDR5 memory. As anticipation builds for the official release, these early benchmarks suggest that AMD will deliver a compelling product that balances high performance with improved energy efficiency. The top tier models will still carry a 170 W TDP, while some high-end and middle-end SKUs get a TDP reduction like the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X dial down to 65 W, decreased from 105 W in their previous iterations.

As we're getting close to the launch of AMD's 9000-series Ryzen processors, local retailers have already started to put the new CPUs up for pre-order and this gives us a first glimpse into the pricing we can expect. The first company to do so in Europe is Slovenian retailer Funtech, which has put up all four SKUs on its site. For those not familiar with European pricing, Slovenia has a VAT or sales tax rate of 22 percent, which obviously makes the pricing higher than in the US and some other countries. As Funtech also sells AMD's current CPUs, we can also get an idea of how much more the new CPUs will cost, at least compared to what the online retailer sells the equivalent 7000-series models for.

Starting from the bottom, the Ryzen 5 9600X goes for €310 (US$332) and the shop has the Ryzen 7 7600X up for sale at €212. The Ryzen 7 9700X goes for €400 (US$429), whereas the Ryzen 7 7700X is sold for €305. The Ryzen 9 9900X is listed at €500 (US$536) with the Ryzen 9 7900X at €392. Finally the Ryzen 9 9950X is listed at €660 (US$707), compared to €510 for the Ryzen 9 7950X. This is in line with earlier leaked pricing from the Philippines and with the VAT removed, we end up close to proposed MSRP pricing by various leakers over the past couple of months, or even somewhat lower. If anything, it doesn't look like AMD is going to increase the MSRP over the 7000-series of Ryzen processors.