Comparison of 5700x and 5900x with energy use
Comparison of 5700x and 5900x with energy use
You're looking to upgrade your CPU while keeping your existing x370 motherboard. The MSI X370 SLI Plus supports both R5 5700X and R9 5900X, so you have options. The R9 5900X offers more cores and better performance for demanding tasks like compiling, which should definitely help with your workload.
It seems it's on the Tier D range. I’d likely opt for a lower budget and less powerful CPU. The 5700x should work just fine. Currently it’s $280 from BHPhoto. https://pcpartpicker.com/product/JmhFf7/...0000926wof In performance terms compared to the 5900x, the difference is minimal. For multi-core tasks... you’re getting about a similar result with both options.
Gamers Nexus notes the CPU uses around 130W when under stress, which is lower than my 1700 overclocked at 4.2GHz, so it should work well here. Are you hoping the Zen 3 model will become much more affordable after Zen 4 launches?
I'm purchasing in Germany. The 5700x costs 299€, the 5900x 399€. That means the price per meter performance is acceptable. The boost clock runs at 200MHz, which seems irrelevant here, probably.
I once owned that board—it really frustrated me with its quirky problems. It works decently on the first-gen Ryzen, drawing minimal power even at higher voltages, but it wouldn't handle the 150W load from a 5900X under full use. I’d consider swapping it for a 12700F and a B660M-A Pro. They’d cost the same as the 5900X, keep your current RAM, and offer better single-thread speed.
The board would occasionally struggle to send data, frequency would fall to 1.5GHz unpredictably whenever I interacted with the multiplier, and sleep mode was entirely nonfunctional. Some issues were resolved via BIOS updates, but they persisted long after I sold the board two years ago. This would further strain the VRM setup. The Ryzen boost system relies on sufficient power and thermal capacity to raise clock speeds. Since power depends on voltage multiplied by current, keeping VRMs hot comes down to managing high current rather than just high voltage. Reducing CPU voltage through undervolting provides extra flexibility, enabling the power target to rise more easily and allowing greater current flow through the VRM, pushing performance closer to its limits.
Platform lock in, likely not a huge deal. It's already fairly expensive compared to Alderlake. Lowering the voltage or capping power usage removes many of the advantages a 5900x offers over a 5700x. Best to understand your needs first—purchase based on actual requirements rather than impulse buys.