AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Ryzen 9 9900X: Which Is the Better CPU?

AMD Ryzen 9 7900 meets Ryzen 9 9900X. Find out which one is better in gaming, benchmarks, and multithreading.

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The Ryzen 9 7900 is a 12-core, 24-threaded CPU from the Zen 4 era. The Ryzen 9 9900X is the same 12-core, 24-threaded CPU from the Zen 5 era; the latter, the 9900X, is more powerful, more costly, and is harder to cool. Still, the 7900 from the past is particularly interesting when you consider the cost, the undervolting potential, and gaming performance. That said, below is the comparison.

Also Read: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vs AMD Ryzen 9 9950 X3D: Specs, Price, Performance, and More Compared

AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Ryzen 9 9900X: Detailed Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Intel Core I7 14700K: Which Is the Better CPU? — An image showing Ryzen 9 7900 processor (Image via Amazon)

Specs Comparison

Here are the specs for the Ryzen 9 7900 and 9900X:

Specifications	Ryzen 9 9900X	Ryzen 9 7900
Architecture	Zen 5	Zen 4
Core/Thread count	12/24	12/24
Max clock speed	5.6 GHz	5.4 GHz
L3 cache	64 MB	64 MB
RAM support	DDR5-5600	DDR5-5200
PCIe Gen support	Gen 5	Gen 5
Platform Socket	AM5	AM5
Thermal design power (TDP)	120W – 165W	65-88W (170W with PBO)
Manufacturing nodes	4nm	5nm

As for core counts and cache, both are identical, but the 9900X has a better process node and higher clock speeds; as a result, it is better. But if you pay close attention to the power targets, the 7900 is incredibly efficient for what it is. Since both CPUs come unlocked, you can enable PBO (Precision Boost Overdrive) and undervolt them, further amplifying the 7900’s capabilities. In terms of power to performance, the 7900 remains an incredible choice, and likely very hard to beat.

Synthetic Performance Comparison

In terms of raw performance, the 9900X pulls ahead due to higher power headroom, a superior processing node, and a higher clock speed. You can otherwise tune the 7900 to reach higher potentials, and it does not lag far behind a 9900X. When doing real-world rendering tasks, and with a tuned or stock 7900, the difference will be there, the 9900x will be faster, but not an astronomically higher percentage.

Benchmark	AMD Ryzen 9 7900	AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
Cinebench R23 Single-Core	2000	2250
Cinebench R23 Multi-Core	24,600 (28K+ with PBO)	32,210
Geekbench 6 Single-Core	2,870 (3000 with PBO)	3,400
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core	16500, (17500 with PBO)	19,500

Gaming Performance Comparison

The data is sourced from Testing Games’ YouTube channel, where the person conducted the tests with all the mentioned games at the max preset, using DDR5 6000MT/s Dual Channel Memory kit with the RTX 4090 at 1080p ultra settings.

Games	AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (PBO – 170W)	AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
Starfield	123 FPS	127 FPS
Horizon Forbidden West	201 FPS	204 FPS
Cyberpunk: 2077	120 FPS	122 FPS
Hogwards Legacy	74 FPS	77 FPS
PUBG	272 FPS	275 FPS
CS2	571 FPS	576 FPS

Disclaimer: The numbers listed for the Ryzen 9 7900 are taken from benchmarks of the Ryzen 9 7900X, which runs at a 170W power limit. When the Ryzen 9 7900 is manually unlocked to the same power target using Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO), its performance matches that of the 7900X. These results represent the 7900 when configured with a 170W limit — not the stock 65W-88W performance.

With the above info cleared out, we can clearly say that the Ryzen 9 7900 is the better choice for most users focused on gaming after long working hours. The only catch here is that manual tuning is required. When configured correctly, with a 170W power limit via PBO parameters, the performance you get is identical to the 7900X, which calls for an incredible value.

Suppose you don’t plan to tweak settings, unlock power limits, or deal with the hassle of undervolting. In that case, the Ryzen 9 9900X will offer better out-of-the-box performance, particularly in CPU-bound scenarios. So yes, your mileage may vary depending on whether you are tuning or running stock settings.

Price Comparison

The Ryzen 9 7900 currently retails at Amazon.com for $333, and the Ryzen 9 9900X for $367. Pricing information is accurate as of August 2 and can change without notice. If you check the used market, you can snag a 7900 for even less than this.

Final Verdict on AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

Going for best value, performance per watt, and tweaking potential, the 7900 takes the cake. But if you want the latest and greatest, and specifically an out-of-the-box experience, the 9900X is the clear winner.

Also Read: Intel Core i9-14900K vs AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Specs, Price, Performance, and More Compared

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AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Ryzen 9 9900X: Which Is the Better CPU?