AMD has recently launched the 65W TDP Ryzen 7000 series processors, with the Ryzen 9 7900 being the most powerful one among the lineup. With less power consumption, and a slightly lower clock speed (and lower price) than the 7900X, how does it stack against the 7900X, and whether or not it is good value when compared to its sibling?
AMD Ryzen 9 7900 Specifications
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 7900 | AMD Ryzen 9 7900X |
| Core Count | 12 | 12 |
| Thread Count | 24 | 24 |
| Base Clock | 3.7Ghz | 4.7Ghz |
| Max Boost Clock | 5.4Ghz | 5.6Ghz |
| Cache | L1: 768KB L2: 12MB L3: 64MB | L1: 768KB L2: 12MB L3: 64MB |
| Default TDP | 65W | 170W |
| CPU Socket | AM5 | AM5 |
| Max Operating Temperature | 95°C | 95°C |
While the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 has a far lower TDP when compared to the 7900X, it still manages a maximum boost clock of 5.4Ghz, which is impressive indeed especially considering it has the same number of cores as the 7900X.
It still retains a 2-core Radeon iGPU like other processors in this series, though I don’t see it being used past initial boot or when troubleshooting your discreet GPUs.
Test Bench Specifications
| Processor | Ryzen 9 7900 |
| GPU | MSI Gaming Trio X GeForce RTX4070 Ti |
| Motherboard | MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi |
| RAM | 32GB Thermaltake ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5 6,000MT/S |
| Storage | WD Black SN770 1TB |
| CPU Cooler | MSI CoreLiquid K360 |
| Power Supply | MSI MAG A850GF 80 Plus Gold |
Performance
For the tests, I ran the processor on stock settings with no overclocking applied. For Cinebench R23 specifically, I turned on Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) and increased the TDP limt to 105W. Here are the results.
Cinebench R23 PBO Off: 25,524
PBO On 105W: 28,355Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
(Highest Preset, 1080p)234 FPS The Witcher 3
(Ultra+, 1080p)RTX Off: 145 FPS
RTX On: 78 FPS
RTX On + DLSS: 176 FPSCS:GO
(Very High, 1080p, DX9)420 FPS
Cinebench R23
For Cinebench R23, the Ryzen 9 7900 scores about 4,000 points less than the X counterpart, highlighting its performance being throttled by its TDP. Enabling PBO and increasing the TDP limit to 105W narrows the gap to 1,000 points.
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
For this test, we ran the game at the highest preset, and used the benchmark score as reference. It rendered a total of 36,491 frames, with an average frame rate of 234 FPS.
The Witcher 3
Despite its age, The Witcher 3 has recently received a next gen graphics update — the Ultra+ setting. During our testing, we managed to get a consistent 145 FPS with all the settings cranked up to the max. Turning RTX on drops the frames down to 78 FPS average, but turning DLSS on boosts it to a much more playable 176 FPS.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
The processor manages this game without even breaking a sweat. It easily manages about 400 FPS at Very High preset.
Thermals
To test the thermals, I stress-tested the Ryzen 9 7900 using HeavyLoad for 20 minutes, and recorded the maximum thermals. Overall it is quite impressive that it managed under 70°C under load.
With PBO on however, the temperature rises to 78°C, which is still manageable. All in all, liquid cooling is advised if you plan to get the most performance out of the processor.
Final Thoughts
Retailing for RM2,069, the Ryzen 7900 manages to make the 7900X obsolete in terms of performance and value, as the latter has an MSRP of RM2,699. For RM630 less, you could invest in better RAM, storage, or a better GPU for an overall performance boost rather than chasing the extra 200Mhz the Ryzen 9 7900X has to offer.
Overall, AMD had released a gem of a processor here with the Ryzen 9 7900, especially considering that it is much cheaper than the 7900X, while being capable of similar performance if you are willing to tweak with the power delivery settings.
For more information, please visit AMD’s official website here. Stay tuned to The AXO for more tech news, reviews and gaming updates!
