Ryzen 9 9900X

12 cores · 24 threads · up to 5.6 GHz on AM5.

4.5 · 67 votes

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Cores

Threads

Boost

5.6 GHz

L3 cache

64 MB

TDP

120W

Socket

AM5

Performance breakdown

Gaming33

Productivity31

Single-core32

Multi-core50

Power efficiency33

Lab scores

Performance score33

Cores12

Threads24

Boost clock (GHz)5.6 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.

1080p73 fps

1440p58 fps

4K40 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores

Architecture: Granite Ridge
Process node: 4 nm
Socket: AM5
Release year: 2024
Total cores: 12
Threads: 24
Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics

Clocks & cache

Base clock: 4.4 GHz
Boost clock: 5.6 GHz
L1 cache: 960 KB
L2 cache: 12 MB
L3 cache: 64 MB

Memory & platform

Memory support: DDR5
Base power (TDP): 120W
Max temperature: 95°C
PCIe: PCIe 5.0
Launch price: $499

Technologies

Instruction sets: SMT, AES, AVX, AVX2, AVX512, FMA3, MMX (+), SHA, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4A
Extensions: AES-NI, AVX, AMD-V, Precision Boost 2

Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners love how fast it chews through heavy workloads like video editing without breaking a sweat. The common complaint is that it runs hotter than expected, even with a decent cooler.

Pros

Plays demanding games without breaking a sweat
Stays cool on a standard air cooler
Handles heavy multitasking like a champ
Draws less power than its predecessor

Cons

Needs expensive liquid cooling
Requires pricier AM5 motherboard
Performance gains over last gen slim

Verdict

Our verdict on the Ryzen 9 9900X

A 12-core Granite Ridge chip that runs cool and efficient, but doesn't push performance far past the previous generation.

Get it if you need heavy multi-threaded grunt for rendering or compiling and have the cooling to match. Skip it if you mainly game, as cheaper chips offer similar performance and run cooler.