The manufacturer AMD offers processors with an X in their name. But what does the suffix X stand for and is it worth buying a CPU with X?
AMD offers different processors for different applications. But some Ryzen models come with an X as an additional abbreviation, a so-called suffix.
MeinMMO explains what’s behind the X at Ryzen and whether it’s worth buying a processor.
The X in Ryzen stands for automatic overclocking
What does the X stand for in Ryzen? The X in AMD’s processors for Extended Frequency Range (XFR). This means that your CPU will be overclocked automatically when your cooling is sufficient and the performance is needed. The Precision Boost then also optimizes the clock rates.
On paper, the models with X hardly differ from their siblings:
Do I have to buy the model with X for more power? In theory, however, you can achieve the same performance or clock speed with a Ryzen 5 5600 without X as with a Ryzen 5 5600X. This way you can save 30 to 60 euros.
If you really want more power, then you should go straight to the next performance class. So buy a Ryzen 7 instead of a Ryzen 5. The surcharge and the additional performance increase are definitely worth it.
In addition to the X suffix, there are also models with “XT.” These versions are a bit faster than the X models.
With the new Ryzen 7000 processors (for AM5), the X models also have a significantly higher power consumption. While the Ryzen 5 7600 is supposed to get by with a 65 watt TDP, the Ryzen 5 7600 X has a TDP of 105 watts.
More on hardware and tech: If you are interested in graphics cards, then take a look at the following article on MeinMMO. Here we explain how big the difference in graphics cards is between AMD and Nvidia.
When it comes to a graphics card, how important is it if I buy AMD or Nvidia?