With Ryzen 7000, AMD has released a whole range of new processors. For whom are the CPUs worthwhile and what do you have to consider when buying or upgrading?
New generation: With Ryzen 7000 AMD has released new processors. However, there are some changes and things to consider when upgrading.
MeinMMO explains what you need to know about Ryzen 7000 if you want to buy a new processor.
What do I have to consider when upgrading? What’s new with Ryzen 7000?
With Ryzen 7000 there are a lot of changes in AMD’s processors. We present the most important ones to you. These include the new architecture, the new AM5 socket and new memory, but also a few smaller changes that are relevant to users.
New Zen 4 architecture
The “Ryzen 7000” series relies on AMD’s latest Zen 4 CPU architecture. Unlike Zen 3, the previous generation, Ryzen 7000 are the first 5nm desktop CPUs you can buy.
Basically, a new manufacturing process often brings with it better energy efficiency. This also applies to Ryzen 7000, but the CPUs with the “X” suffix in the factory state are primarily trimmed for maximum performance. The models without an “X” in the name, with a lower TDP, on the other hand, are more efficient by default
motherboard (AM5)
With Ryzen 7000, AMD has introduced a new socket for the processors. The processor is inserted into the socket. AM5 replaces the previous socket AM4. This means that you can no longer put the new 7000 series processors on the old socket and vice versa you cannot place the old processors on the new socket.
With Zen 4 (AM5) there are then the corresponding mainboards such as X670E, X670, B650E and B650. In the future there will also be a budget variant with the A620. The new mainboards are all more expensive than the models for the old generation (AM4).
DDR5 memory
AMD also introduced DDR5 memory with AM5. In contrast to Intel’s 12th generation processors, with Ryzen 7000 you have not yet been able to use your old DDR4 memory. So you have to buy new RAM.
Integrated graphics unit
With Ryzen 7000, all processors offer an integrated graphics unit, so-called iGPUs. This means that basically every PC with Ryzen 7000 runs without the “right” or dedicated graphics card. However, these chips are not really powerful and are intended at most for occasional gamers and older, less hardware-hungry titles. If you want to play properly, you can’t avoid a graphics card from AMD or Nvidia.
With Ryzen 3000 and Ryzen 5000, AMD only sold certain processors with iGPU. You could recognize this by a “G” in the product description (e.g. Ryzen 5 5600G). With Ryzen 7000, everyone now has such an iGPU integrated.
More changes in Ryzen 7000
Also, Ryzen 7000 now supports AVX-512. These are 512-bit extensions that some software requires. In gaming, this plays a subordinate role. In addition, Ryzen 7000 offers support for PCIe 5.0. But that still hardly matters because there is practically no suitable hardware.
Beginners, Gamers and Enthusiasts – Who Should Buy Ryzen 7000?
Basically, the same pattern applies to all Ryzen processors: Ryzen 3, 5, 7 and 9 are counterparts to Intel’s Core i3, i5, i7 and i9 and represent roughly the same performance class:
For beginners: As mentioned above, AMD currently (as of January 2023) does not offer any entry-level or budget options for the Ryzen 7000. On top of that, upgrading to Ryzen 7000 is currently expensive.
For beginners and casual gamers, we’d recommend looking at Ryzen 5000 if you really need an upgrade and already own an AM4 motherboard. For example, you can get the Ryzen 5 5600X for around 170 euros. You can get upgrade kits consisting of a processor, mainboard and RAM for around 300 euros.
For gamers: The Ryzen 5 7600X is the current middle class and recommended CPU for gamers. With the 6-core you get more than enough power if you mainly want to play games or just want a powerful processor. Alternatively, there is also the AMD Ryzen 5 7600, which offers around 4-6% less performance than the X variant, but works more economically.
Even today, hardly any modern game can really use 12 or 16 cores. The expensive processors are therefore only worthwhile to a limited extent for gamers and are intended more for professional users and enthusiasts
But it could also be worth waiting for gamers: Because the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D with AMD 3D V-Cache partly outperforms the fastest 7000, the Ryzen 9 7950X, in terms of gaming performance. It could be worth waiting for the 7000 models with 3D cache. However, there is still no official release date (via gamestar.de).
For enthusiasts: Are you a streamer, an enthusiast or just want the best hardware, then there is currently no way around the Ryzen 9 7950X. With 16 cores and 32 threads, you get AMD’s currently fastest CPU for your system with an AM5 socket.
Another alternative is the Ryzen 9 7900X, which also delivers very good performance.
For whom is it generally worth upgrading to Ryzen 7000?
When is an upgrade worthwhile?
When is an upgrade not worth it?
All Ryzen 7000 processors at a glance (as of January 2023):
Ryzen 7000 vs Ryzen 5000 – are the old processors still worth it?
Basically, you can’t do much wrong with “Ryzen 5000” CPUs, because the mid-range and high-end models will also offer more than enough power for your games in 2023.
An upgrade to Ryzen 5000 can therefore still be worth considering, since you pay less than for Ryzen 7000. This is especially true if you already have an AM4 board and DDR4 memory.
Upgrading to Ryzen 5000 can also be worthwhile if you come from a very old architecture. Even then you will immediately notice the leap in performance and you don’t have to go directly to the expensive Ryzen 7000 series for that. Here, however, it can be worthwhile to go straight to Ryzen 7000 because you then skip several generations and invest directly in future-proof hardware.
With the Ryzen 7 5800 X3D there is also a processor that can easily compete with the fastest model of the 7000 series in games.
Further questions: FAQ about Ryzen 7000
AMD relies on the AM5 socket for Ryzen 7000. Ryzen 7000 is not backward compatible with AM4.
Yes, if you want to upgrade to Ryzen 7000, you absolutely need a motherboard with an AM5 socket.
No, Ryzen 7000 does not support DDR4 memory or older. You absolutely need DDR5 RAM for a working system.
According to AMD, the new AM5 platform should be supported until at least 2025.
You currently pay at least 300 euros for the Ryzen 5 7600X. For the better model, the Ryzen 7 7700X, you already pay at least 400 euros. The top model (Ryzen 9 7950X) currently costs over 600 euros.
You still have to add a new mainboard and RAM to the processor. In addition to around 100 euros (DDR5, 16 GB), you then have to factor in 200 euros for the mainboard. For the cheapest combination you currently pay at least 600 euros.
The current recommendation here is the Ryzen 5 7600X. With six cores and 12 threads, it offers more than enough performance and is very well suited for most mid-range games.
For Zen 4 (AM5) you need X670E, X670, B650E or B650. A620 is not yet available but is expected to appear in 2023.
No, you can also combine an Nvidia graphics card with an AMD CPU.
Further recommendations and tips for hardware purchases: Are you still looking for tips and recommendations and would you like to buy a suitable graphics card for your new processor? On MeinMMO we explain in detail what you have to consider when buying a graphics card:
What should you consider if you want a graphics card – buy it now or later?