AMD announces Ryzen 9000 processors

AMD promises 16 per cent more instructions per cycle (IPC) with the new Ryzen 9000 processors than with the current generation. The processors are based on the Zen 5 architecture and are manufactured using the 4 nm process. AI performance is set to double compared to its predecessors. Here is an overview of the new processors:

The new chips offer the same number of cores and threads as their predecessors, from the 6-core Ryzen 5 9600X to the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X. However, the thermal power dissipation (TDP) is between 30 and 40 per cent lower for three out of four models. The chips still fit on the AM5 socket. AMD intends to support this beyond 2027. There are new chipsets for Zen 5: X870 and X870E. They enable more USB 4.0 ports and extend PCIe 5.0 support. However, the older AM5 mainboards with a 600 series chipset also support the new chips. Prices are not yet known. Release is in July.

AMD has also presented various benchmarks and compared the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X with the Intel Core i9-14900K. In productivity applications, the AMD chip beats the Intel chip by 7 to 56 per cent. In gaming, the differences are between 4 and 23 per cent. You should keep in mind that AMD is comparing with the current Intel generation. The new one, called Arrow Lake, will not arrive until later in the year. Benchmarks from manufacturers should also be treated with caution. Independent tests in July will show how the chips actually perform.

In addition, AMD has also unveiled two processors for the eight-year-old AM4 platform. The Ryzen 9 5900XT and Ryzen 7 5800XT are based on the Zen 3 architecture. The larger model offers four more cores than the 5900X. The boost clock of the 5800XT is increased by 100 megahertz (MHz) compared to the 5800X. With the latest processors for the old platform, this supported 145 CPUs and APUs.