AMD Ryzen 9 7900X Review

So lots to go through, and there are a few things that I think need mentioning. The first comes down to me originally being quite reserved about the 7000 series of processors as a whole and more importantly, having a new platform. Purely because the last time AMD had a new platform, it all went horribly wrong, mainly when it comes to memory compatibility and while we didn’t use the G.Skill EXPO enabled kit that AMD sent out to us, our Corsair DDR5 kit had no issues whatsoever, and for the first time in I don’t know how long, we didn’t have any BIOS updates. Typically, with a new platform, we find ourselves with mass amounts of BIOS updates, sometimes even one day before the launch. So, I guess it’s safe to say that AMD have learnt a lot from the past and have meticulously worked on giving not only consumers, but us reviewers, a better experience from the get-go and I’m thankful for that.

With a new platform, it also allowed us to implement some changes that we wanted to do, and we’ll also be looking at a wider scope of games in the near future to get a better idea as to how the 7900X and the other chips in the range perform in a wider spectrum of titles.

How Much Does It Cost?

So, the 7900X. It’s coming in at $549 in the US and £579.99 in the UK, which if we’re honest, is out of reach for the majority of consumers, but that’s ok, because the 5900X was too when that launched at the same price, but as time went on, that came down in value and is now a somewhat, semi-affordable processor for those who can harness the power of it.

What is interesting is that the 7900X is now priced, at least in the US, the same as the 5950X, but I think it’s safe to assume that the 5950X and the whole of the 5000 series, will start dropping in price, which does give them an opportunity to create a bigger gap when looking at the value for money aspect, but that goes with anything new. The newer product will cost more money, and will generally be more powerful, but that’s not to say that it offers the best value for money, and that’s true for CPUs, GPUs, and pretty much any major component of a PC.

Overview

Now with the 7900X, we showed a lot of gaming tests, but also showcased its potential when it comes to workload and I think it’s safe to say that AMD have done a great job to increase performance over the generation before, and for the most part, we saw the 7900X either ahead of the 5950X or at similar levels, and I’m ok with that, because we have a 7950X coming into our offices soon and that should offer up performance above and beyond that.

I think one key thing to take away is that the 7900X in our productivity tests and in gaming fought tooth and nail with the Intel i9 12900K and comes in cheaper too, so it does offer superior value for money compared to Intel, and that’s great, for now. I say for now, because we all know Intel’s 13th generation range of processors are coming, so it’s going to be an interesting one to see how long AMD hold onto the title of having the superior product because it may only be for a few weeks. I guess time will tell.

Should I Buy One?

Right now, I think with any new product, and especially one that’s classed as high-end, like the 7900X is, there will be two types of people. The ones who potentially need a product like this, for work-related tasks and what not, and those who just want the very best, bleeding-edge product and performance where money is no object. You have to remember, you’re not just buying a new processor, but a new motherboard, new memory and when you’re spending that much, you’ll probably safe to say that you may as well just buy a whole new PC, especially with new GPUs on the horizon too.

Whatever you choose to do, even though we’ve only looked at the 7900X today, I think if its performance is anything to go by, you’d expect the rest of the range to offer similar gains, so there really should be something for everyone, no matter your needs, wants or budget, but if you are looking at the high-end, AMD really have something good with the Ryzen 9 7900X, and as I always say, it’s nice to see competition, especially now that the playing field is fairer than it’s ever been.

Let’s not beat around the bush. The 12900K is a great processor, but the 7900X is better, but not at everything and that’s ok. For me, it’s a simple choice if you are looking for value for money without going crazy, but also getting the balance of having the latest technology at the same time and if that sounds like you, then the 7900X is a clear winner in my books and if previous generation Ryzen products are anything to go by, then it’s only going to get better over time.