AMD to Potentially Increase TDP for Ryzen 7 9700X to Outperform 7800X3D

AMD is reportedly considering raising the thermal design power (TDP) of the upcoming Ryzen 7 9700X Zen 5 CPU from 65W to 120W. This change aims to enhance the chip’s performance, potentially surpassing the current gaming champion, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The increased TDP could boost clock speeds, giving the 9700X a performance edge.

Current Gaming Champion

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, with its extra L3 cache, currently leads as the best gaming CPU. AMD had projected that this chip would retain its top position until a 9700X X3D version arrives. However, recent concerns suggest AMD fears this might affect the sales of their new 9000-series CPUs.

According to WCCFTech, AMD has discussed this possible spec change with its partners, though details remain scarce. The 9700X, an eight-core, 16-thread CPU, sits between the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X and the six-core Ryzen 5 9600X in AMD’s Zen 5 lineup. It is already set to operate at a base clock speed of 3.8GHz, boosting up to 5.5GHz.

Clock Speed Improvements

The 9700X’s clock speeds surpass those of the 7700X and 7800X3D. Increasing the TDP might allow it to reach even higher speeds, crucial for gaming performance. This adjustment could address concerns about the 9700X’s relatively low base clock, ensuring it maintains higher speeds during various workloads.

As AMD prepares to release its Ryzen 9000X3D series later this year, the potential TDP increase for the 9700X promises exciting times for CPU buyers. The 9700X could become a compelling option, potentially matching or exceeding the 7800X3D’s gaming performance while excelling in other tasks.