AMD Ryzen 9000: Zen 5 CPUs at the Same Price as Their Zen 4 Predecessors

In the ever-evolving landscape of PC gaming and technology, AMD has been a driving force, consistently pushing the boundaries of performance and innovation. Now, as we eagerly await the next generation of processors, the rumor mill is buzzing with exciting news about the upcoming Ryzen 9000 series.

The Zen 5 Leap

Zen 5, codenamed Granite Ridge, promises to be a game-changer. Let’s delve into the details and explore why these CPUs are generating so much excitement.

1. Pricing Parity

The latest whispers suggest that AMD won’t be playing the price hike game with the Ryzen 9000 series. Instead, they’re keeping things consistent. The Zen 5 desktop CPUs are rumored to cost the same as their Zen 4 counterparts, the Ryzen 7000 SKUs. This means that enthusiasts can expect a seamless transition without breaking the bank.

2. The Lineup

Let’s take a closer look at what the Ryzen 9000 series might offer:

• Ryzen 9 9950X: A beastly 16-core, 32-thread processor, boasting clock speeds of up to 5.7 GHz. With 64 MB of L3 cache and 16 MB of L2 cache, this chip is ready to tackle any task. Integrated graphics come in the form of 2 x RDNA 2 CUs, and it supports DDR5-5600 memory. All this power comes at a 120W TDP, and the rumored price is $699 USD.

• Ryzen 9 9900X: A 12-core, 24-thread CPU with clock speeds reaching up to 5.6 GHz. It shares the same cache configuration as its big sibling. Again, 2 x RDNA 2 CUs handle integrated graphics, and DDR5-5600 memory support is in the mix. The TDP remains at 120W, and the expected price is $549 USD.

• Ryzen 7 9700X: An 8-core, 16-thread workhorse, clocked up to 5.5 GHz. It features 32 MB of L3 cache and 8 MB of L2 cache. The integrated graphics solution includes 2 x RDNA 2 CUs, and DDR5-5600 memory compatibility is a given. With a 65W TDP, this CPU is expected to retail for $399 USD.

• Ryzen 5 9600X: A 6-core, 12-thread option, reaching clock speeds of up to 5.4 GHz. It offers 32 MB of L3 cache and 6 MB of L2 cache. The same 2 x RDNA 2 CUs handle graphics, and DDR5-5600 memory support keeps things snappy. At a 65W TDP, this chip could be yours for $299 USD.

3. Dominance on the Horizon

With the Ryzen 7000 series already proving highly competitive against Intel’s 14th Gen CPUs, the Ryzen 9000 lineup’s pricing strategy is a strategic move. By maintaining the same MSRPs while delivering significant performance improvements in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, AMD is poised to dominate the desktop DIY space.