AMD Zen 4 Ryzen 9 7950X and Ryzen 5 7600X Review: Retaking The High-End
by Ryan Smith & Gavin Bonshor on September 26, 2022 9:00 AM ESTCPU Benchmark Performance: Simulation And Encoding
Simulation and Science have a lot of overlap in the benchmarking world, however for this distinction we’re separating into two segments mostly based on the utility of the resulting data. The benchmarks that fall under Science have a distinct use for the data they output – in our Simulation section, these act more like synthetics but at some level are still trying to simulate a given environment.
One of the interesting elements on modern processors is encoding performance. This covers two main areas: encryption/decryption for secure data transfer, and video transcoding from one video format to another.
In the encrypt/decrypt scenario, how data is transferred and by what mechanism is pertinent to on-the-fly encryption of sensitive data - a process by which more modern devices are leaning to for software security.
Video transcoding as a tool to adjust the quality, file size and resolution of a video file has boomed in recent years, such as providing the optimum video for devices before consumption, or for game streamers who are wanting to upload the output from their video camera in real-time. As we move into live 3D video, this task will only get more strenuous, and it turns out that the performance of certain algorithms is a function of the input/output of the content.
We are using DDR5 memory on the Ryzen 9 7950X and Ryzen 5 7600X, as well as Intel's 12th Gen (Alder Lake) processors at the following settings:
- DDR5-5200 CL44 - Ryzen 7000
- DDR5-4800 (B) CL40 - Intel 12th Gen
All other CPUs such as Ryzen 5000 and 3000 were tested at the relevant JEDEC settings as per the processor's individual memory support with DDR4.
Simulation
Starting with the Dwarf Fortress section of our simulation suite, the performance of the Ryzen 9 7950X and Ryzen 5 7600X is inconsistent, to say the least. In the smaller of our three Dwart Fortress tests, there's around 2-3% difference between the Ryzen 7000 chips, the Core i9-12900K and Core i7-12700K, and AMD's impressive Ryzen 7 5800X3D with its incredibly large 96 MB pool of cache to play with.
In the larger Dwarf Fortress workloads, and the Alder Lake based Core i9-12900K, the Core i7-12700K and the Core i5-12600K show better scope for performance, with the exception being the Ryzen 7 5800X3D which due to its large 3D V-Cache, keeps the pressure on Intel.
Looking at performance in our Factorio benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D with its 3D V-Cache is streets ahead of the competition, with both the Ryzen 9 7950X and Ryzen 5 7600X both lagging behind considerably. Comparing Ryzen 7000 to Intel's Alder Lake, Alder Lake has the overall advantage here, even with the many optimizations and improvements that Zen 4 brings to the table.
Encoding
Focusing on encoding, and the Ryzen 9 7950X is the clear winner, beating the Core i9-12900K in all but one of the Handbrake tests (1080p30). The Ryzen 5 7600X trades blows with last generation Ryzen 7 5800X, which is an improvement within itself, as the Ryzen 5 5600X does lag behind the rest of the pack.
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Tom Sunday - Friday, September 30, 2022 - link
Just today received a special sales notice from Micro Center giving away FREE 32GB DDR5 with any purchase of a Ryzen 7000 series CPU. I wonder if AMD is sponsering such a sales push and this early in the game? Giving away a $190 value is a big deal in the trying times of today! ReplyCastillan - Sunday, October 2, 2022 - link
I suspect that's a Microcenter specific deal only. The RAM is 5600 at a fairly high latency (I think it was CAS40?). DDR5 prices have plummeted as well. The memory I picked up from Microcenter was 6600/CAS34 and marked down to 279 from 499.I'd guess that they have a surplus of a certain stock item that wasn't selling, and decided to use this promo to offload unwanted stock and still look good. Reply
imaskar - Friday, September 30, 2022 - link
It would be really great to add code compilation tests: Java, Go, C++ (linux kernel), Rust. Replydizzynosed - Saturday, October 1, 2022 - link
Si what shall I buy? Intel, amd, ??? Which cpu?? I only game. Replyrocky12345 - Saturday, October 1, 2022 - link
What's wrong with the gaming scores on the 7000 series there is no way a 5000 series should be able to match or beat a 7000 AMD CPU. I know this because I have a AMD Ryzen 5900x properly setup and tweaked. AMD is said to have sent DDR5 6000 with the test CPU's and asked the reviewers to use that to test with. Lets face it 97% of the people buying a new AMD Zen 4 setup or Intel 12th gen are not going to be using bargain basement low speed ram and if they do happen to buy cheaper ram most are more than likely to try and run it at the highest speed possible. did I read that right you used CL44 DDR5 5200Mhz talk about dead heading performance.Also maybe I missed it but what was the Intel test system setup? other than that it was a decent review. I never have seen Ryzen 5000 that close in gaming I guess using slow DDR5 knee jerks Ryzen 7000. My own ram is running at CL16 4000Mhz 2000IF and at the reported number in the review if I had the same video card I would be either faster or only slightly slower than the test results here for games and that would give me false hope that my Zen 3 was faster than it really is lol. Reply
Oxford Guy - Sunday, October 2, 2022 - link
The only way you're going to see movement on this is if you lobby AMD to abandon JEDEC.This site sees JEDEC as all there is. Reply
GeoffreyA - Monday, October 3, 2022 - link
I think it's about keeping a common baseline of memory speed, especially since Anandtech's database is about having parts directly comparable. ReplyOxford Guy - Monday, October 10, 2022 - link
That’s not the reason that has been given again and again and it’s a terrible one anyway. The parts are different. The memory that goes best with those parts differs. ReplyGeoffreyA - Tuesday, October 11, 2022 - link
They should have set all the systems to DDR4 3200 and called it a day. Replybyte99 - Sunday, October 2, 2022 - link
I'm a bit confused. When Anandtech was doing their efficiency analysis, it seemed they were taking the 65W Eco mode label as the actual package power, instread of actually measuring it (as they usually do). When Ars Technica measured the package power of the 7950X and 7600X in 65w Eco Mode, they found it was 90W for both.[ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/09/ryzen-7600... ]
Did Anandtech miss something obvious, or am I missing something? Reply