Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 5600X: AMD completes the 5000 series
One to the top and another to get started: AMD completes the 5000 series with two new Ryzen CPUs. In review: The 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X and the 8-core Ryzen 5 5600X. The Ryzen 9 5950X is not a bargain. With the performance offered in the test, however, it stalks nice close to the much more expensive Thread ripper top model 3990X.
Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 5600X
Months after the introduction of the 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X CPU, AMD is introducing the 5950X, a new version of its top CPU for consumers. And at the lower end, the Ryzen 5 5600X replaces the mid- range model 3600XT.
AMD’s 5000 series including the already tested models Ryzen 9 5900X and Ryzen 7 5800X is now complete. But how are the new CPU doing this? We had the Ryzen 9 5950X and the Ryzen 5 5600X in the test.
AMD Ryzen 5000: Same manufacturing process
The AMD has not changed anything in terms of production: AMD also manufactures the Ryzen 5000 processors with thin 7 nanometer structures. Intel still builds its current 10000 core CPUs from the Comet Lake S series with thick and inefficient 14 nanometers.
The Rocket Lake S series, which will appear in the first quarter of 2021, will also use the wide structures. With its 7nm FinFET manufacturing process, AMD promises a 19 percent increase in performance per cycle. For this purpose, AMD has improved the output, loading and storage units as well as the buffer.
AMD Ryzen 5000: All CPUs at a glance
| processor | Ryzen 9 5950X | Ryzen 9 5900X | Ryzen 7 5800X | Ryzen 5 5600X |
| production | 7nm FinFET | 7nm FinFET | 7nm FinFET | 7nm FinFET |
| architecture | Zen 3 | Zen 3 | Zen 3 | Zen 3 |
| model series | Vermeer | Vermeer | Vermeer | Vermeer |
| base | AT 4 | AT 4 | AT 4 | AT 4 |
| Cores | 16 | 12 | 8th | 6th |
| Threads | 32 | 24 | 16 | 12 |
| Clock (base) | 3.4 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Clock (boost) | 4.9 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| Cache (L2) | 8 MB | 6 MB | 4 MB | 3 MB |
| Cache (L3) | 64 MB | 64 MB | 32 MB | 32 MB |
| Storage type | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 |
| Max. Memory cycle | 3,200 MHz | 3,200 MHz | 3,200 MHz | 3,200 MHz |
| PCIe version | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| TDP | 105 watts | 105 watts | 105 watts | 65 watts |
| Prices | 799 euros | 549 euros | 449 euros | 299 euros |
Comes with more cores
The top model 5950X now consists of two wired eight-core CPUs (CCX modules). In the predecessor, a CCX still had four processing units. Also new: All cores can access the 32 megabyte cache (L3) of a CCX directly and do not have to take a detour via the I/O controller.
This also applies to the 32 megabyte cache of the 5600X, which has six cores on a silicon chip. The 16-core is currently the fastest Ryzen processor for consumers, the 5600X is the smallest 5000 CPU.
A little more nimble, much more economical
And what do the innovations bring? Both CPUs tested here do not provide any great speed advantages over their predecessors. Only when calculating figures and objects in games and when creating 3D effects (image rendering) were they significantly faster on average around 15 percent.
Great: Both work more economically than their predecessors. The 5950X needed 8 percent less energy, the 5600X 16 percent!
Conclusion: Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 5600X
The new CPUs Ryzen 9 5950X and Ryzen 5 5600X work faster and more economically than their predecessors. The advantages are not so great that they retire the old CPUs. If you have a Ryzen 3000 CPU, you can keep it. A 5000 model is useful for upgrading older computers.