What you need to know
- AMD today launched its latest Ryzen desktop processors, based on the Zen 3 architecture.
- The new chips represent a generational leap over the previous Zen 2-based CPUs.
- The chips make up the new Ryzen 5000 series.
AMD took to a virtual event today to launch its hotly anticipated new Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. The new chips are based on AMD's Zen 3 architecture, which represents a generational leap over the previous Zen 2 chips. And, as you'd expect, they're fast.
With the Zen 3 architecture, AMD CEO Lisa Su said that it has managed to "deliver the best single-threaded performance" and gaming performance. Based on a 7nm process, AMD says Zen 3 CPUs can deliver up to a 19 percent increase in instructions per clock. That's in addition to a broader set of improvements on the microarchitecture that result in drastically improved performance.
There's also power efficiency: AMD's measurements up to a 20 percent increase in power efficiency over the prior generation. AMD also claims its Zen 3 chips are 2.8-times more efficient than an Intel Core i9-10900K.
Leading the pack is the new Ryzen 9 5900X. This top-end chip is built with 12 cores and 24 threads, running at a 105W TDP with a boost clock of 4.8 GHz. In practical terms, that means a significant increase in performance for gaming in particular.
For people upgrading from AMD's Ryzen 3000 series, you'll see double-digit performance gains on a host of games running at 1080p. Specifically, AMD showed off benchmarks for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which showed a framerate jump of 28 percent when moving from the Ryzen 9 3900XT to the Ryzen 9 5900X
While the Ryzen 9 5900X leads the consumer pack, AMD also launched the Ryzen 9 5950X, which is purpose-built for enthusiasts. While running on the same 105W TDP, the 5950X is built on 16 cores with 32 threads and can achieve a 4.9GHz boost.
The rest of the Ryzen 5000 series is made up to the Ryzen 7 5800X and Ryzen 5 5600X. The 5800X features eight cores and 16 threads running at the same 105W TDP with a boost clock of 4.6GHz. Meanwhile, the Ryzen 5 5600X runs at a 65W TDP with six cores, 12 threads, and a 4.6GHz boost clock.
The AMD Ryzen 5000 series is expected to launch on November 5. Pricing comes in at $800 for the top-end Ryzen 9 5950X, $550 for the Ryzne 9 5900X, $450 for the Ryzen 7 5800X, and $300 for the Ryzen 5 5600X.
With the impending launch of the Ryzen 5000 series, it's likely we'll also see a price drop for older chips in the line. If you're debating which one will be a good fit for your build, check out our guide on how to pick the right AMD Ryzen CPU for your PC. It's also worth keeping an eye out for any Prime Day deals that may pop up next week.
