I. Introduction
At present, if you choose to build a system with an AMD Ryzen 9000 series processor, without a doubt, the most cost-effective model is the Ryzen 5 9600X.
However, some people may have obsessive tendencies and feel that a six-core processor might be a bit underwhelming in terms of performance, which leaves them uneasy. They might be undecided between the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X. If buying a complete system, there is roughly a 1000 yuan price difference between the two, which isn’t too much but also not insignificant, leading to a dilemma.
This article will compare the gaming performance of the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X to evaluate the actual performance difference between the two, for reference by those interested.
II. Parameter Comparison
The Ryzen 5 9600X was released on August 8th and uses TSMC’s 4nm FinFET process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, a Level 1 cache of 480KB, a Level 2 cache of 6MB, and a Level 3 cache of 32MB. The base clock is 3.9GHz, and the boost clock is 5.4GHz. Its TDP is 65W, and the suggested retail price is $279.
The Ryzen 7 9700X was released on August 8, 2024, and also uses TSMC’s 4nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, a Level 2 cache of 8MB, and a Level 3 cache of 32MB. The base clock is 3.8GHz, and the boost clock is 5.5GHz. Its TDP is 65W, and the suggested retail price is $359.
III. Test Platform Configuration
The main configuration is as follows: the processors used are the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X, the motherboard is the MSI MPG X670E CARBON, the memory is 32GB DDR5 6000MHz, the graphics card is a GeForce RTX 4090, the storage consists of two Samsung 970 EVO 1TB drives, and the operating system is Windows 11.
IV. Gaming Tests between Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X
The following tests cover seven games, all tested at 1080P maximum settings. In the following series of images, the left side represents the Ryzen 5 9600X platform, and the right side represents the Ryzen 7 9700X platform.
First Game: Ghostwire: Tokyo
Ryzen 5 9600X platform
- Average FPS: 188
- Minimum FPS: 99
- Frame time: 5.2ms
- CPU usage: 34%
- CPU Power consumption: 73W
- CPU Temperature: 53°C
- Memory usage: 9.7GB
- GPU usage: 84%
- VRAM usage: 5.8GB
- GPU Power consumption: 244W
- GPU Temperature: 48°C
Ryzen 7 9700X platform
- Average FPS: 195
- Minimum FPS: 120
- Frame time: 5.0ms
- CPU usage: 24%
- CPU Power consumption: 80W
- CPU Temperature: 53°C
- Memory usage: 10.5GB
- GPU usage: 92%
- VRAM usage: 6.1GB
- GPU Power consumption: 247W
- GPU Temperature: 48°C
In this game, the Ryzen 7 9700X platform has 10% lower CPU usage than the Ryzen 5 9600X platform, with 0.8GB higher memory usage, 8% higher GPU usage, and 0.2GB more VRAM usage. The average FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X platform is 8 FPS higher (about 4.3%), with a minimum FPS advantage of 11 FPS. Frame times are nearly identical, with power consumption being 7W higher and temperatures equal.
Second Game: Cyberpunk 2077
Ryzen 5 9600X platform
- Average FPS: 95
- Minimum FPS: 66
- Frame time: 11.7ms
- CPU usage: 81%
- CPU Power consumption: 94W
- CPU Temperature: 62°C
- Memory usage: 10.5GB
- GPU usage: 65%
- VRAM usage: 8.3GB
- GPU Power consumption: 205W
- GPU Temperature: 45°C
Ryzen 7 9700X platform
- Average FPS: 114
- Minimum FPS: 77
- Frame time: 8.7ms
- CPU usage: 75%
- CPU Power consumption: 110W
- CPU Temperature: 66°C
- Memory usage: 10.3GB
- GPU usage: 77%
- VRAM usage: 7.7GB
- GPU Power consumption: 234W
- GPU Temperature: 48°C
In this game, the Ryzen 7 9700X platform has 6% lower CPU usage than the Ryzen 5 9600X platform, with 0.2GB lower memory usage, 12% higher GPU usage, and 0.6GB lower VRAM usage. The average FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X platform is 19 FPS higher (about 20%), with a minimum FPS advantage of 11 FPS. The frame time is 3ms lower, with a noticeable advantage. Power consumption is 16W higher, and the temperature is 4°C higher.
Third Game: Forza Horizon 5
Ryzen 5 9600X platform
- Average FPS: 261
- Minimum FPS: 187
- Frame time: 4.1ms
- CPU usage: 57%
- CPU Power consumption: 87W
- CPU Temperature: 60°C
- Memory usage: 11.3GB
- GPU usage: 89%
- VRAM usage: 6.8GB
- GPU Power consumption: 192W
- GPU Temperature: 47°C
Ryzen 7 9700X platform
- Average FPS: 259
- Minimum FPS: 193
- Frame time: 3.8ms
- CPU usage: 47%
- CPU Power consumption: 94W
- CPU Temperature: 60°C
- Memory usage: 11.5GB
- GPU usage: 95%
- VRAM usage: 6.8GB
- GPU Power consumption: 213W
- GPU Temperature: 46°C
In this game, the Ryzen 7 9700X platform has 10% lower CPU usage than the Ryzen 5 9600X platform, with 0.2GB higher memory usage, 6% higher GPU usage, and equal VRAM usage. The average FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X platform is 2 FPS lower, with a minimum FPS advantage of 6 FPS. Frame times are nearly identical, and overall performance is a draw. Power consumption is 7W higher, with temperatures remaining the same.
Fourth Game: The Witcher 3
Ryzen 5 9600X platform
- Average FPS: 81
- Minimum FPS: 53
- Frame time: 12.3ms
- CPU usage: 55%
- CPU Power consumption: 82W
- CPU Temperature: 60°C
- Memory usage: 13.1GB
- GPU usage: 69%
- VRAM usage: 7.6GB
- GPU Power consumption: 223W
- GPU Temperature: 46°C
Ryzen 7 9700X platform
- Average FPS: 93
- Minimum FPS: 75
- Frame time: 10.9ms
- CPU usage: 48%
- CPU Power consumption: 91W
- CPU Temperature: 59°C
- Memory usage: 12.6GB
- GPU usage: 78%
- VRAM usage: 7.3GB
- GPU Power consumption: 243W
- GPU Temperature: 46°C
In this game, the Ryzen 7 9700X platform has 7% lower CPU usage than the Ryzen 5 9600X platform, with 0.5GB lower memory usage, 9% higher GPU usage, and 0.3GB lower VRAM usage. The average FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X platform is 12 FPS higher (about 14.8%), with a minimum FPS advantage of 22 FPS. Frame times are 1ms lower, with power consumption being 9W higher and temperatures nearly identical.
Fifth Game: Stalker 2
Ryzen 5 9600X platform
- Average FPS: 70
- Minimum FPS: 32
- Frame time: 14.5ms
- CPU usage: 65%
- CPU Power consumption: 90W
- CPU Temperature: 61°C
- Memory usage: 16.3GB
- GPU usage: 58%
- VRAM usage: 7.7GB
- GPU Power consumption: 165W
- GPU Temperature: 42°C
Ryzen 7 9700X platform
- Average FPS: 72
- Minimum FPS: 35
- Frame time: 17.5ms
- CPU usage: 54%
- CPU Power consumption: 100W
- CPU Temperature: 63°C
- Memory usage: 18.1GB
- GPU usage: 65%
- VRAM usage: 7.8GB
- GPU Power consumption: 177W
- GPU Temperature: 44°C
In this game, the Ryzen 7 9700X platform has 11% lower CPU usage than the Ryzen 5 9600X platform, with 1.8GB higher memory usage, 7% higher GPU usage, and nearly equal VRAM usage. The average FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X platform is 2 FPS higher, with a minimum FPS advantage of 3 FPS. Frame time is 3ms higher, making overall performance a draw. Power consumption is 10W higher, with temperatures being 2°C higher.
Sixth Game: Hogwarts Legacy
Ryzen 5 9600X platform
- Average FPS: 72
- Minimum FPS: 55
- Frame time: 13.7ms
- CPU usage: 40%
- CPU Power consumption: 74W
- CPU Temperature: 54°C
- Memory usage: 20.4GB
- GPU usage: 52%
- VRAM usage: 10.4GB
- GPU Power consumption: 200W
- GPU Temperature: 46°C
Ryzen 7 9700X platform
- Average FPS: 76
- Minimum FPS: 63
- Frame time: 13.8ms
- CPU usage: 30%
- CPU Power consumption: 82W
- CPU Temperature: 55°C
- Memory usage: 20.3GB
- GPU usage: 53%
- VRAM usage: 10.3GB
- GPU Power consumption: 199W
- GPU Temperature: 46°C
In this game, the Ryzen 7 9700X platform has 10% lower CPU usage than the Ryzen 5 9600X platform, with nearly identical memory usage, GPU usage, and VRAM usage. The average FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X platform is 4 FPS higher, with a minimum FPS advantage of 8 FPS. Frame times are nearly identical, with power consumption being 8W higher and temperatures remaining the same.
Seventh Game: Starfield
Ryzen 5 9600X platform
- Average FPS: 97
- Minimum FPS: 80
- Frame time: 10.9ms
- CPU usage: 74%
- CPU Power consumption: 99W
- CPU Temperature: 64°C
- Memory usage: 12.1GB
- GPU usage: 60%
- VRAM usage: 6.2GB
- GPU Power consumption: 198W
- GPU Temperature: 43°C
Ryzen 7 9700X platform
- Average FPS: 115
- Minimum FPS: 97
- Frame time: 7.6ms
- CPU usage: 75%
- CPU Power consumption: 116W
- CPU Temperature: 70°C
- Memory usage: 13.1GB
- GPU usage: 71%
- VRAM usage: 6.3GB
- GPU Power consumption: 216W
- GPU Temperature: 46°C
In this game, CPU usage is nearly identical between the two platforms, but the Ryzen 7 9700X platform has 1GB higher memory usage, 11% higher GPU usage, and nearly identical VRAM usage. The average FPS of the Ryzen 7 9700X platform is 18 FPS higher (about 18.6%), with a minimum FPS advantage of 17 FPS. Frame times are about 3ms lower, and overall performance shows a noticeable advantage for the Ryzen 7 9700X. Power consumption is 17W higher, with temperatures being 6°C higher.
V. Conclusion
Overall, if we only look at the final gaming performance, the difference between the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X is not significant. The maximum difference in average FPS is no more than 20 FPS, and the performance is acceptable.
However, when closely comparing the hardware resource usage between the two platforms, it becomes evident that, although the single-core performance of these two processors is largely equivalent (as shown in the previous graphs), the Ryzen 7 9700X achieves higher GPU performance with generally lower CPU usage compared to the Ryzen 5 9600X. This results in a more effortless overall experience, offering a significant advantage in terms of performance balance.
In conclusion, the final recommendation of this article is as follows: if you have modest performance requirements and prioritize cost-effectiveness, then the Ryzen 5 9600X is the better choice. However, if you have higher performance demands and need to balance productivity as well, the Ryzen 7 9700X is the better option, offering superior overall performance.
Personally, I recommend prioritizing the Ryzen 7 9700X, considering future needs over the next few years. The price difference is worth bearing for the added value it offers.
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