AMD Ryzen 5 9600X review – now my favorite budget gaming CPU

I can not fathom what AMD was pondering when it gave this CPU a bizarrely inflated $279 price ticket when it first launched in 2024, however I am very glad to see that the value has now plummeted to a way more smart stage. Not solely that, however you may also now give the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X an influence enhance, so long as you have got a good CPU cooler. As such, I believed it was about time I put it by way of its paces in our benchmarks, in a full 9600X evaluate, to see if it is now value shopping for.

This AMD Zen 5 CPU picks up from the place the Ryzen 5 7600X left off, and whereas it solely has six cores, that is nonetheless lots for many video games, and people cores are additionally full-fat ones primarily based on AMD’s newest Zen 5 structure. There isn’t any 3D V-cache, as you will discover on AMD’s pricier X3D chips, however at $192.99, this nonetheless seems like a good basis for a brand new gaming rig if you do not have large quantities of money to splash. Is that this sub-$200 chip a brand new contender for our information to purchasing one of the best gaming CPU? Let’s discover out.

Specs

Whereas it may not have any 3D V-cache, the 9600X nonetheless has a wholesome 32MB allocation of L3 cache, which is double the 16MB you get on some price range AMD CPUs, and it additionally has a wholesome 5.4GHz enhance clock pace. That is an excellent 200MHz greater than the 9800X3D’s peak clock pace, and it is also a 100MHz enhance over the 7600X’s 5.3GHz as properly.

In the meantime, its six Zen 5 cores assist Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT), that means that this CPU can deal with 12 concurrent threads. Nonetheless, this chip’s specs are nonetheless at a aggressive drawback in the case of multi-threading energy.

Comparatively, the Intel Core i5 14600K has six full-fat P-Cores that may additionally deal with 12 threads with Hyper-Threading, but it surely additionally has one other eight power-efficient E-Cores. As such, the Intel chip has the higher hand in case you’re on the lookout for a price range CPU that is good for multi-threaded software program, equivalent to video encoding and 3D rendering, in addition to video games.

When it first got here out, the Ryzen 5 9600X had a thermal design energy (TDP) of 65W, that means you’ll solely want a modest CPU cooler to maintain its temperature in verify, with a corresponding drop in energy draw. Comparatively, its predecessor, the Ryzen 5 7600X, has a TDP of 105W. On the one hand, thermal effectivity and low energy draw are excellent news for the brand new CPU, however however, it was clear that there was untapped potential within the chip.

This led to the unlocking of a brand new 105W mode for the 9600X on some motherboards, which provides the CPU extra thermal headroom and may allow it to take care of greater clock speeds when all its cores are engaged. I’ve examined it with each modes on this evaluate to see what distinction it makes. I discovered it made no distinction by any means in our recreation exams (aside from rising the height temperature), but it surely had a major affect in closely multi-threaded software exams, equivalent to Cinebench.

How we check

I’ve benchmarked the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X in our MSI X870E Carbon WiFi check motherboard, and I’ve additionally retested all the opposite present CPUs we have got within the lab, with the intention to ensure the comparability outcomes are updated. All of the CPU check rigs use the identical 32GB of (2 x 16GB) G.Talent TridentZ 5 Neo RGB 6,000MHz, CL28 RAM, in addition to a 2TB WD Black SN850X SSD, Corsair H100x 240mm AIO cooler, Corsair RM1000x Shift PSU, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Version graphics card.

All our exams had been carried out utilizing Home windows 11 24H2, and with the most recent BIOS model of the motherboard, which was model 7E49v1A64, with AGESA PI 1.2.0.3g, on the time of testing. The comparability Intel CPU exams within the graphs under had been carried out utilizing an Asus Z790 Darkish Hero motherboard for LGA1700 CPUs, and an Asus TUF Z890-Plus WiFi for LGA1851 chips.

Recreation benchmarks

Let’s begin with Far Cry 6, which responds rather well to further CPU energy and is an effective showcase for this price range AMD gaming CPU. As you may see within the graph under, when operating this recreation with the Extremely graphics preset at 1,920 x 1,080, its common is an effective 14fps faster than the Ryzen 5 7600X, and its minimal of 132fps is far more stable than the 109fps from the 7600X.

It could possibly’t catch the X3D CPUs with 3D V-cache, after all, however its efficiency is first rate for the cash. It is in the same league to the competing Core i5 14600K on this check (the typical is faster, however the minimal is slower), and it is also sooner than the pricier Core Extremely 7 265K from Intel’s new Arrow Lake lineup.

Dropping this recreation’s settings to Excessive, which magnifies the distinction between CPUs because the GPU is not being challenged so exhausting, reveals this CPU in a good higher gentle. Unsurprisingly, it is nonetheless behind the X3D CPUs, but it surely’s in any other case on high, with its 182fps common being properly in entrance of the 165fps from the 7600X and the 14600K’s 170fps.

Subsequent up is a tougher check for this six-core CPU, within the type of Complete Struggle: Warhammer III. The benchmarks for this recreation are actually dominated by considered one of Intel’s newest CPUs, following my current Core Extremely 7 265K retest. Within the Battle benchmark for this recreation, the 265K leads the pack, adopted by the X3D CPUs, however the 9600X is not far off the 7800X3D in any respect right here, and it is a little bit forward of the Core i5 14600K too.

The place this CPU does not cope fairly so properly is on this recreation’s Mirrors or Insanity benchmark, which sees a great deal of characters being chucked round within the air. With its 101fps common, the 9600X is certainly stronger than the 7600X on 90fps, but it surely lags behind the opposite CPUs within the graph under. Specifically, the Core i5 14600K is a good bit stronger on this check, as are the X3D chips.

These locations had been swapped in our Cyberpunk 2077 benchmarks, nevertheless. I ran this recreation at two settings, each utilizing 1,920 x 1,080 because the decision. The primary check simply runs the sport on the Excessive graphics preset, with no ray tracing or DLSS, and the 9600X copes rather well right here, regardless of having simply six cores. As within the different exams, it is a honest approach behind the X3D CPUs, however its 211fps common is faster than the 186fps from the 14600K, and it is 5fps in entrance of the previous 7600X as properly.

The second check on this recreation runs it with the Extremely ray tracing preset, with DLSS upscaling on the High quality setting (however no body gen), and once more, the 9600X was sturdy for its worth. In fact, it might probably’t catch the X3D CPUs, but it surely’s faster than the Core Extremely 7 265K and the older 7600X, and its common is an effective 8fps forward of the 14600K, though its 97fps minimal is 4fps slower.

Whereas the above three video games do display variations between CPUs in the case of body charges, it is value noting that, in lots of video games, efficiency is especially decided by the GPU, with the CPU having a minimal affect. That is demonstrated in our F1 24 benchmark, run at 1,920 with the Extremely graphics preset (however with DLSS disabled). Solely 4fps separates the highest and backside CPUs within the graph under, and the 9600X’s common of 154fps is stable, being solely 3fps off the 9800X3D.

Software benchmarks

In fact, most individuals do not buy a desktop CPU only for gaming, and there are different areas of PC efficiency the place the CPU has a large affect. One in all them is multi-threading, the place all of a CPU’s cores work exhausting collectively in parallel. Video encoding software program, equivalent to Handbrake, and 3D rendering software program, equivalent to Maxon Cinema 4D, make good use of multi-threading, and you actually profit from having plenty of cores right here.

I put the 9600X to the check in Cinebench R23 and R24 to see how properly it might probably deal with these calls for with simply six cores, so let’s begin with the previous. As you may see within the graph above, the Ryzen 5 9600X is a great distance behind the CPUs with extra cores on this check. This check additionally demonstrates a good thing about enabling the 105W TDP mode, which it’s best to have the ability to unlock in your motherboard BIOS.

Operating with its default TDP of 65W, the 9600X will get a rating of 16,286, which is an effective step up from the 7600X (regardless of the latter having the next TDP), however the 23,990 scored by the Core i5 14600K is an effective 47.3% sooner, because of these eight further E-Cores. For those who up the TDP to 105W, this rating then jumps to 17,437, which is not far off the 17,990 from the eight-core Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Watching the clock pace, you would see that the 9600X was in a position to often enhance all its cores to five.25GHz utilizing the 105W TDP, whereas it was often dropping to the 5GHz stage (and under) with simply the 65W TDP.

It is value noting that the 9600X is robust for a six-core CPU right here, because of the Zen 5 structure. Comparatively, the six-core Intel Core i5 12400F solely scores 12,371 on this check, with no E-Cores to assist it alongside. The issue is that the 12400F is dirt-cheap, whereas the 9600X nonetheless prices practically $200.

Cinebench R24 instructed a really related story, with the Core i5 14600K scoring a stable 1,411, whereas the 9600X solely scored 962 at 65W and 995 at 105W. The 9600X is certainly higher than the 7600X in the case of multi-threading, however there is no getting away from the truth that it is nonetheless only a six-core CPU, even when its six cores are very highly effective.

The opposite vital space to check, after all, is single-threaded efficiency, which largely stresses only one CPU core. Many video games nonetheless depend on single-threaded efficiency for probably the most half, as do a number of purposes. Not all workloads may be fortunately break up throughout a number of CPU cores, and the 9600X is a powerful single-threaded CPU, because of its Zen 5 structure and 5.4GHz enhance clock. As with the sport exams, I noticed no distinction in efficiency in single-threaded software exams between the 65W and 105W modes.

As you may see within the Cinebench R23 single-core graph above, the Ryzen 5 9600X is second solely to the Core Extremely 7 265K, with its rating of two,157, trouncing the X3D CPUs with their decrease clock speeds, and likewise being a good bit faster than the Core i5 14600K. The identical can be true within the newer Cinebench R24 benchmark, the place the 9600X’s rating of 133 is outstanding for such an affordable CPU.

Energy draw

Operating at its default 65W TDP, the Ryzen 5 9600X is actually power-efficient, with our system drawing simply 183W from the mains whereas operating the Cinebench R24 multi-threaded check. That is an excellent 29W lower than the 7600X. It is also 119W lower than the Core i5 14600K, though that is no shock when you think about that the Intel chip has extra cores and can be a lot sooner on this check.

Rising the TDP to 105W has a notable affect right here, with our system then drawing 225W from the mains in the identical check – an additional 42W. With this in thoughts, you may see why AMD initially set the TDP to 65W – the additional thermal headroom has a negligible affect on gaming, and it considerably will increase the ability attract multi-threaded work. There’s a efficiency acquire, after all, but it surely’s solely value it if multi-threaded efficiency is a precedence.

In the meantime, in video games, our system drew a peak of 426W from the mains with the 9600X operating Cyberpunk 2077. That is 27W lower than the Core i5 14600K in the identical check, but it surely’s additionally greater than the 415W with the lower-clocked 7600X or 7800X3D put in. Both approach, it is concerning the stage to be anticipated from a contemporary price range gaming CPU. It is actually a great distance off the sky-high outcomes from the extremely clocked Core i7 14700K and 14900K.

Temperature

As with the ability draw, the surprisingly low temperature of the 9600X at its default 65W TDP provides you an perception into why AMD put this restrict in place. Its peak of simply 68°C whereas operating Cinebench reveals a super-cool chip that might be tamed by even a modest CPU cooler, however this goes all the best way as much as 81°C whenever you unlock the 105W TDP.

The height of 66°C in our Cyberpunk 2077 gaming check can be a surprisingly low outcome, and this climbs to 72°C with the 105W TDP enabled. Mainly, in case you run this chip with its default TDP, it’s going to keep actually cool and nonetheless supply first rate gaming efficiency.

Value

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X worth is $192.99 in the meanwhile, after tumbling from its unique $279.99 MSRP at launch. At this worth, it provides first rate worth for cash for the gaming efficiency on supply, though the Core i5 14600K worth is in the same ballpark, with the 14600KF (which does not have an built-in GPU) undercutting it at $184.99 proper now. If you would like an all-rounder that may do gaming and multi-threading, then on the face of it, the 14600K is a greater purchase.

Nonetheless, the 9600X is arguably a greater funding than the 14600K, as you additionally want to think about the encompassing ecosystem, together with the fee and lifespan of a brand new motherboard. For those who already personal an LGA1700 system, maybe primarily based on a Core i5 12400F, then it is smart to flash the BIOS in your motherboard and purchase the Core i5 14600K.

Nonetheless, in case you’re planning to purchase a complete new motherboard from scratch, then the Socket AM5 platform utilized by the Ryzen 5 9600X has much more life left in it than the Intel LGA1700 socket, which Intel is not supporting.

Alternate options

Intel Core i5 14600K

With its eight E-Cores offering vastly superior multi-threading efficiency to the Ryzen 5 9600X, the Core i5 14600K is a greater all-arounder at this worth if you wish to run multi-threaded software software program in addition to video games. The Ryzen 5 9600X is stronger in the case of single-threaded and gaming efficiency, in addition to the improve potential of Socket AM5, however the 14600K remains to be an excellent possibility, particularly in case you already personal an LGA1700 system.

Learn our full Intel Core i5 14600K evaluate.

Intel Core i5 13400F

For those who’re trying to construct a gaming PC on a very tight price range, then this ten-core gaming CPU is remarkably potent for the cash. Not like its predecessor, the 12400F, it comes with 4 E-Cores to provide it a leg-up in multi-threaded software program, whereas its six P-Cores cowl the fundamentals in video games. Not like the 14600K, it might probably’t be overclocked, and its high enhance clock of 4.6GHz is not that top, but it surely’s surprisingly succesful for the cash, particularly in video games.

Better of all, it is extraordinarily low cost, with costs typically under the $129.99 mark. In the meantime, the later Core i5 1400F is principally the identical chip, however with a barely greater 4.7GHz clock pace.

Learn our full Intel Core i5 13400F evaluate.

Verdict

Due to a hefty worth drop, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is now an excellent price range gaming CPU. For underneath $200, it provides you six highly effective Zen 5 cores with a peak 5.4GHz enhance clock, supplying you with sturdy body charges for a surprisingly low worth. You may also now unlock its TDP to enhance its multi-threading efficiency, though I personally would not trouble. If you would like higher multi-threading efficiency, you would be higher off shopping for the Intel Core i5 14600K, or an eight-core Ryzen chip, and protecting this CPU’s TDP at 65W nonetheless provides you first rate gaming efficiency, together with low temperatures and energy draw.

The primary drawback for this chip, after all, is its comparative lack of cores. It solely has six of them, whereas Intel’s competing Core i5 chips have many E-Cores serving to to enhance multi-threading efficiency. The state of affairs is made extra difficult by the truth that Intel is not producing any new LGA1700 gaming CPUs, although, and its newest Arrow Lake chips aren’t nice for gaming. Shopping for a brand new LGA1700 CPU and motherboard now could be investing in a moribund ecosystem, and it seems as if Intel’s forthcoming Nova Lake CPUs will but once more use one other new socket.

As such, in case you’re trying to construct a brand new price range PC and gaming is your high precedence, the Ryzen 5 9600X is the higher alternative, because it provides you a transparent improve path and stronger gaming efficiency. Nonetheless, in case you already personal an LGA1700 board, I might as an alternative purchase the 14600K, as you then will not want to purchase a brand new motherboard, and the 14600K is a greater all-rounder, particularly in case you often run multi-threaded software program.

For those who’re planning to improve, take a look at our information to purchasing one of the best gaming motherboard so you will discover an excellent dwelling in your 9600X, in addition to our greatest CPU cooler information – you will not must spend huge to maintain this super-cool chip underneath management.