Two distinct stories about Zen 5 on desktop and mobile.
Two distinct stories about Zen 5 on desktop and mobile.
On mobile platforms I notice positive feedback about zen5 outperforming rivals. On desktops, however, users express disappointment with its performance. The reason for this variation remains unclear.
Most of the desktop Zen 5 criticism seems linked to the low-power performance of the 9700X, making it look similar to its older version, and we haven't seen the top-tier models yet. On mobile, saving energy is key, and AMD has usually performed well in that area recently.
For desktop gaming, even with identical power budgets, you can expect roughly a 5% improvement if you allow some flexibility. Taking into account the recent price increases, this isn't ideal—you wouldn't choose either component for a gaming setup. On the other hand, it offers better efficiency, which benefits mobile performance too. Many laptop processors cap at around 28W, while desktop parts can handle much higher power. If you push both the 7700X and 9700X down to 28W or lower, the 9700X could gain a 15-20% edge in gaming. This would make it a strong contender for the next generation. In desktop builds, power limits aren't the same, so this advantage isn't as relevant.
Zen 5 emphasizes performance optimization. On mobile devices, where power and heat are constrained, it significantly outperforms due to the chips gaining substantial flexibility in processing demands. On desktops, the impact is less pronounced since more power and cooling solutions are feasible, as noted by others who suggest the addition might have been unnecessary for AMD to support higher power consumption. Either way, both options are excellent choices.
The price increase was actually a reduction, as the 7700X launched with a much pricier platform. The 9700X is expected to drop below 300 within a year. I often get annoyed when people claim a product experienced a price jump, only to find its launch MSRP has fallen to about two-thirds of that amount. I haven’t noticed anything yet—will there be a Zen 5 version of Dragon Range for laptops? I usually ignore the 45W space specs since I think a laptop should balance battery life and comfort.
Despite its significance, the 65W 7700 carried a launch MSRP of $330. This places it alongside an older model’s price, highlighting a noticeable increase. AMD likely referred to the part as the 9700X rather than the 9700 to sidestep such a direct comparison. The name should have reflected the Ryzen 7 9700, and considering today’s market conditions, it should have stayed under $300.
You clearly understand that if the 9700X is priced at $300, then the 7700X would currently be worth $260 instead of its present $300, and you’d repeat the same reasoning. The next-gen, more efficient model will always cost more than the actual price of the older, less efficient version that has undergone several discounts over time. This point will be made again when Zen 6 launches. The "10700X" with an MSRP of $370–$400 would still be worth around $290–$300 in real-world terms if the 9700X is at $290–$300.