AMD has just launched their latest Ryzen 7000 series processors for desktop PCs. Based on the latest “Zen 4” architecture, the new Ryzen 7000 series processors now come with many new features and improvements that will power computers for 2022 and beyond. Here are 5 key things you need to know about these new processors.
1. Unparalleled Performance
The new “Zen 4” architecture was purpose-built to optimize gaming and content creation experiences. With such a focus on performance targeting these two use cases, the latest Ryzen 7000 series of processors has recorded significant improvements over its predecessors.
In general, the Ryzen 7000 series was tested to have an estimated 13% of IPC (instructions per clock) performance improvement. The top-of-the-line Ryzen 9 7950X processor can also reach significantly higher clock speeds of up to 5.7GHz at stock. This was made possible by increasing the processor’s TDP limitations to 170W.
With higher IPC and clock speeds, AMD recorded up to 29% total single-threaded performance gain over the Ryzen 5000 series processors.
You can learn more about the performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X here – First Look at AMD Ryzen 7950X Performance and Efficiency
2. Superb Efficiency
Built on TSMC’s 5nm process node, the AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors are now even more efficient than ever when compared to both its predecessors and competition.
With the usage of the 5nm process technology, the AMD Ryzen 7000 processors can contain Zen 4 architecture within a much smaller area size. This reduces the amount of energy for the CPU to operate. Together with a more efficient microarchitecture and based on a performance per watt metric, AMD claims that the new Ryzen 7000 processors are (up to) 47% better in terms of energy efficiency when compared to Intel’s Alder Lake and Golden Cove Core processors.
3. Brand new AM5 Socket
With the launch of the AMD Ryzen 7000 processors, a new motherboard socket, known as AM5, was also introduced. AMD has promised that the new socket will support the AMD Ryzen 7000 processors and future processors from AMD to 2025(and beyond). *Thank you!*
The AM5 platform allows the introduction of the latest I/O and connectivity standards to the AMD platform. This allows the Ryzen 7000 series processors to work with the latest DDR5 memory and also has support for PCIe 5.0. Socket AM5 also supports a higher power delivery headroom of up to 230W to the CPU.
Unlike the past where AMD processors are based on a PGA package, the new Ryzen 7000 series processors, as well as new processors that support the AM5 platform, now use the LGA package. The contact pins are now on the motherboard, instead of the CPU.
Thankfully, the latest AM5 socket still supports AM4 CPU coolers. There shall be full compatibility of AM4 coolers to be installed on AM5 motherboards.
4. New Socket means a new Motherboard and Chipset
Based on the new AM5 platform, AMD will also introduce 4 new motherboard chipsets to pair with the latest Ryzen 7000 series processors. They are the X670 Extreme, X670, B650 Extreme, and B650.
All 4 new chipsets support PCIe 5.0 for NVMe storage. However, only those with the “Extreme” name will support PCIe 5.0 on the PCIe expansion slots for graphics cards and other expansion cards.
It is expected that the X670 will feature more connectivity and bandwidth which allows for more PCIe lanes and USB ports, while the B650 will be a stripped-down version of the X670.
5. Ryzen 5, 7, and 9 7000 series processors available at launch
| Processor | Core/Threads | Clock Speed | Cache Size | TDP | SRP |
| Ryzen 9 7950X | 16 / 32 | 4.5GHz to 5.7GHz | 80MB | 170W | 699USD |
| Ryzen 9 7900X | 12 / 24 | 4.7GHz to 5.6GHz | 76MB | 170W | 549USD |
| Ryzen 7 7700X | 8 / 16 | 4.5GHz to 5.4GHz | 40MB | 105W | 399USD |
| Ryzen 5 7600X | 6 / 12 | 4.7GHz to 5.3GHz | 38MB | 105W | 299USD |
All the processors will be available from 27th September 2022. X670 Extreme and X670 motherboards will be available in September 2022, and B650 Extreme and B650 motherboards will be available in October 2022.
