onMarch 6, 2025

Surprise, surprise! Ryzen 9 9950X and 9900X offer, by far, the best value for money when it comes to AMD Zen 5 cores

Technology

5 min read

The four non-3D Zen 5-based AMD Ryzen processors top our leaderboard when it comes to price per core.

Data collated at the beginning of March 2025 shows that the 9900X, the 9950X, the 9700X and the 9600X are the most competitive price wise.

The Ryzen 9900X is by far, the most balanced offer of the quartet, with a low TDP per core (just 10W), a high base speed (4.4GHz) and a very reasonable price at $387.75 (or $31.56/core) at the time of writing, almost a quarter cheaper than its suggested retail price.

This is the second of several articles based on data I’ve compiled on 41 AMD Zen 4 and Zen 5 CPUs (socketed, OEM). In the rest of the series, I will be looking at the cost per core, performance per core, AMD CPUs that are getting more expensive, all this with the new Ryzen 9 9900/9950 X3D CPUs in the backdrop.

Not bad for a near-flagship CPU launched less than one year ago. The 9950X has a cost per core slightly higher, at $34.05, but is the fastest consumer CPU that AMD has to offer (until the launch of the 9950X3D).

The table of all the CPUs I have analyzed can be found at the end of this article. They have been sorted by cost per core. Some CPUs are not yet on sale at the time of writing.

A ‘value’ 192-core CPU?

At just over $10,000 from a reputable retailer (Wiredzone), the EYPC 9965 is AMD’s most expensive CPU ever launched and one that I covered extensively in a recent article.

It has 192 cores, which translates into a per-core cost of $52.26; far more than any consumer Ryzen CPUs but still a third of the cost of the most expensive AMD CPU (per core).

It delivers one of the lowest TDP per core (at just 2.6W) and the lowest TDP per GHz* (1.16W), thanks to its Zen 5c architecture, a more compact (but compatible) version of the Zen 5.

Its smaller sibling, the 96-core AMD EPYC 9655, has the largest discount I’ve seen across the 41 CPUs I’ve tracked, with a staggering 56.8% reduction from the sticker price.

It is a full Zen 5 part and as such gets a much higher TDP per core, twice the amount of cache and a faster base speed.

* Lowest TDP per GHz is calculated by taking the CPU TDP and dividng it by the number of cores x the base speed in GHz. It delivers a very rough composite efficiency metric.

The mystery of the ThreadRipper Pro 7945WX

At the other end of the spectrum, the EPYC 9175F is the most expensive AMD CPU per core costing of just under $160, that’s almost 5x that of the 9950X, which shares the same number of cores (16).

The reason why it is so expensive is that it has 32x more cache per core than an average consumer CPU (512MB) and cache is a very, very expensive commodity.

Other F-labelled EPYC CPUs trawl the bottom of my cost per core leaderboard; F stands for Fast and these CPUs are high frequency optimized parts with big cache memory.

One more thing. I’d like to draw your attention to the existence of the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX.

It is the only AMD CPU from this list that you cannot buy as it is available exclusively in workstations from Lenovo, HP and Dell.

What makes it so special for me is its high TDP per core, the highest of all the CPUs I’ve analysed.

At 6.21W, this Zen 4 part is 5.5X more power hungry than the EPYC 9965 (or 3x that of the 9900X, a similar 12-core CPU).

Maybe that’s because it has the highest base speed of any CPU in the list (jointly with the 9800X3D) and is built on an older manufacturing technology.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

AMD Zen 5, Zen 5c, Zen 4 (TRP), OEM, socketed CPU
Product	Cores	Base Speed (GHz)	Max Speed (GHz)	L3 Cache	TPD	SKU	List Price	Selling price	Difference	Cost/Core (List)	Cost/Core (Selling)	Column 1	uArch	TDP per Core	Cores x B.Speed	Cache per Core	TDP/Core x BS	CPUBenchmark	Column 4	CPUB/Core x BS	CPUB/Core
Ryzen 5 9600	6	3.8	5.2	6	65	100-000000718	Row 0 – Cell 7	Row 0 – Cell 8	#DIV/0!	$0.00	$0.00	Row 0 – Cell 12	Zen 5	10.83	22.80	1.00	2.85	Row 0 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen 9 9950X3D	16	4.3	5.7	16	170	100-000000719	Row 1 – Cell 7	Row 1 – Cell 8	#DIV/0!	$0.00	$0.00	Row 1 – Cell 12	Zen 5	10.63	68.80	1.00	2.47	Row 1 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen 9 9900X3D	12	4.4	5.5	12	120	100-000001368	Row 2 – Cell 7	Row 2 – Cell 8	#DIV/0!	$0.00	$0.00	Row 2 – Cell 12	Zen 5	10.00	52.80	1.00	2.27	Row 2 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen 9 9900X	12	4.4	5.6	12	120	100-000000662	$499.00	$378.75	24.10%	$41.58	$31.56	Row 3 – Cell 12	Zen 5	10.00	52.80	1.00	2.27	54836	1039	1039	4570
Ryzen 9 9950X	16	4.3	5.7	16	170	100-000001277	$649.00	$544.74	16.06%	$40.56	$34.05	Row 4 – Cell 12	Zen 5	10.63	68.80	1.00	2.47	66470	966	966	4154
Ryzen 7 9700X	8	3.8	5.5	8	65	100-000001404	$359.00	$289.00	19.50%	$44.88	$36.13	Row 5 – Cell 12	Zen 5	8.13	30.40	1.00	2.14	37145	1222	1222	4643
Ryzen 5 9600X	6	3.9	5.4	6	65	100-000001405	$279.00	$229.00	17.92%	$46.50	$38.17	Row 6 – Cell 12	Zen 5	10.83	23.40	1.00	2.78	30060	1285	1285	5010
EPYC 9115	16	2.6	4.1	64	125	100-000001451	$726.00	$766.00	-5.51%	$45.38	$47.88	Row 7 – Cell 12	Zen 5	7.81	41.60	4.00	3.00	49691	1194	1194	3106
EPYC 9965	192	2.25	3.7	384	500	100-000000976	$14,813.00	$10,034.00	32.26%	$77.15	$52.26	Row 8 – Cell 12	Zen 5	2.60	432.00	2.00	1.16	Row 8 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9655	96	2.6	4.5	384	400	100-000000674	$11,852.00	$5,120.00	56.80%	$123.46	$53.33	Row 9 – Cell 12	Zen 5	4.17	249.60	4.00	1.60	Row 9 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen Threadripper 7960X	24	4.2	5.3	24	350	100-000001352	$1,499.00	$1,327.99	11.41%	$62.46	$55.33	Row 10 – Cell 12	Zen 4	14.58	100.80	1.00	3.47	83909	832	832	3496
EPYC 9845	160	2.1	3.7	320	390	100-000001458	$13,564.00	$9,192.00	32.23%	$84.78	$57.45	Row 11 – Cell 12	Zen 5	2.44	336.00	2.00	1.16	139712	416	416	873
EPYC 9655P	96	2.6	4.5	384	400	100-000000674	$10,811.00	$5,767.00	46.66%	$112.61	$60.07	Row 12 – Cell 12	Zen 5	4.17	249.60	4.00	1.60	160211	642	642	1669
EPYC 9535	64	2.4	4.3	256	300	100-000001447	$8,992.00	$4,032.00	55.16%	$140.50	$63.00	Row 13 – Cell 12	Zen 5	4.69	153.60	4.00	1.95	Row 13 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9745	128	2.4	3.7	256	400	100-000001444	$12,141.00	$8,232.00	32.20%	$94.85	$64.31	Row 14 – Cell 12	Zen 5	3.13	307.20	2.00	1.30	Row 14 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen Threadripper 7970X	32	4	5.3	32	350	100-000001351	$2,499.00	$2,099.99	15.97%	$78.09	$65.62	Row 15 – Cell 12	Zen 4	10.94	128.00	1.00	2.73	99086	774	774	3096
Ryzen 7 9800X3D	8	4.7	5.2	8	120	100-000001084	$479.00	$535.00	-11.69%	$59.88	$66.88	Row 16 – Cell 12	Zen 5	15.00	37.60	1.00	3.19	40069	1066	1066	5009
EPYC 9015	8	3.6	4.1	64	125	100-000001452	$527.00	$547.00	-3.80%	$65.88	$68.38	Row 17 – Cell 12	Zen 5	15.63	28.80	8.00	4.34	Row 17 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9825	144	2.2	3.7	384	390	100-000000837	$13,006.00	$9,887.00	23.98%	$90.32	$68.66	Row 18 – Cell 12	Zen 5	2.71	316.80	2.67	1.23	Row 18 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9755	128	2.7	4.1	512	500	100-000001443	$12,984.00	$8,802.00	32.21%	$101.44	$68.77	Row 19 – Cell 12	Zen 5	3.91	345.60	4.00	1.45	Row 19 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9645	96	2.3	3.7	256	320	100-000001445	$11,048.00	$6,956.00	37.04%	$115.08	$72.46	Row 20 – Cell 12	Zen 5	3.33	220.80	2.67	1.45	Row 20 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X	64	3.2	5.1	64	350	100-000001350	$4,999.00	$4,782.99	4.32%	$78.11	$74.73	Row 21 – Cell 12	Zen 4	5.47	204.80	1.00	1.71	135829	663	663	2122
EPYC 9455P	48	3.15	4.4	256	300	100-000001448	$4,819.00	$3,885.00	19.38%	$100.40	$80.94	Row 22 – Cell 12	Zen 5	6.25	151.20	5.33	1.98	117494	777	777	2448
EPYC 9555P	64	3.2	4.4	256	360	100-000001142	$7,983.00	$5,281.00	33.85%	$124.73	$82.52	Row 23 – Cell 12	Zen 5	5.63	204.80	4.00	1.76	Row 23 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9335	32	3	4.4	128	210	100-000001149	$3,178.00	$2,650.00	16.61%	$99.31	$82.81	Row 24 – Cell 12	Zen 5	6.56	96.00	4.00	2.19	Row 24 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9135	16	3.65	4.3	64	200	100-000001150	$1,214.00	$1,351.00	-11.29%	$75.88	$84.44	Row 25 – Cell 12	Zen 5	12.50	58.40	4.00	3.42	56886	974	974	3555
EPYC 9355P	32	3.55	4.4	256	280	100-000001450	$2,998.00	$2,821.00	5.90%	$93.69	$88.16	Row 26 – Cell 12	Zen 5	8.75	113.60	8.00	2.46	96101	846	846	3003
EPYC 9255	24	3.2	4.3	128	200	100-000000694	$2,495.00	$2,132.00	14.55%	$103.96	$88.83	Row 27 – Cell 12	Zen 5	8.33	76.80	5.33	2.60	Row 27 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9355	32	3.55	4.4	256	280	100-000001450	$3,694.00	$2,950.00	20.14%	$115.44	$92.19	Row 28 – Cell 12	Zen 5	8.75	113.60	8.00	2.46	Row 28 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9455	48	3.15	4.4	256	300	100-000001448	$5,412.00	$4,532.00	16.26%	$112.75	$94.42	Row 29 – Cell 12	Zen 5	6.25	151.20	5.33	1.98	Row 29 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9565	72	3.15	4.3	384	400	100-000001446	$10,486.00	$6,838.00	34.79%	$145.64	$94.97	Row 30 – Cell 12	Zen 5	5.56	226.80	5.33	1.76	Row 30 – Cell 18	0	0	0
EPYC 9365	36	3.4	4.3	192	300	100-000001449	$4,341.00	$3,460.00	20.29%	$120.58	$96.11	Row 31 – Cell 12	Zen 5	8.33	122.40	5.33	2.45	Row 31 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX	16	4.5	5.3	16	350	100-000000886	$3,499.00	$1,577.57	54.91%	$218.69	$98.60	Row 32 – Cell 12	Zen 4	21.88	72.00	1.00	4.86	59510	827	827	3719
EPYC 9475F	48	3.65	4.8	256	400	100-000001143	$7,592.00	$4,972.00	34.51%	$158.17	$103.58	Row 33 – Cell 12	Zen 5	8.33	175.20	5.33	2.28	Row 33 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX	96	2.5	5.1	96	350	100-000000884	$9,999.00	$9,999.00	0.00%	$104.16	$104.16	Row 34 – Cell 12	Zen 4	3.65	240.00	1.00	1.46	149606	623	623	1558
EPYC 9555	64	3.2	4.4	256	360	100-000001142	$9,826.00	$6,719.00	31.62%	$153.53	$104.98	Row 35 – Cell 12	Zen 5	5.63	204.80	4.00	1.76	Row 35 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX	24	4.2	5.3	24	350	100-000000885	$4,499.00	$2,649.00	41.12%	$187.46	$110.38	Row 36 – Cell 12	Zen 4	14.58	100.80	1.00	3.47	81350	807	807	3390
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX	64	3.2	5.1	64	350	100-000000454	$7,999.00	$7,349.00	8.13%	$124.98	$114.83	Row 37 – Cell 12	Zen 4	5.47	204.80	1.00	1.71	133909	654	654	2092
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX	12	4.7	5.3	12	350	100-000000887	$1,399.00	$1,399.00	0.00%	$116.58	$116.58	Row 38 – Cell 12	Zen 4	29.17	56.40	1.00	6.21	49814	883	883	4151
EPYC 9575F	64	3.3	5	256	400	100-000001143	$11,791.00	$7,664.00	35.00%	$184.23	$119.75	Row 39 – Cell 12	Zen 5	6.25	211.20	4.00	1.89	Row 39 – Cell 18	0	0	0
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7975WX	32	4	5.3	32	350	100-000000453	$5,699.00	$3,889.00	31.76%	$178.09	$121.53	Row 40 – Cell 12	Zen 4	10.94	128.00	1.00	2.73	95453	746	746	2983
EPYC 9375F	32	3.8	4.8	256	320	100-000001197	$5,306.00	$3,913.00	26.25%	$165.81	$122.28	Row 41 – Cell 12	Zen 5	10.00	121.60	8.00	2.63	92190	758	758	2881
EPYC 9275F	24	4.1	4.8	256	320	100-000001144	$3,439.00	$3,154.00	8.29%	$143.29	$131.42	Row 42 – Cell 12	Zen 5	13.33	98.40	10.67	3.25	87184	886	886	3633
EPYC 9175F	16	4.2	5	512	320	100-000001145	$4,256.00	$2,556.00	39.94%	$266.00	$159.75	Row 43 – Cell 12	Zen 5	20.00	67.20	32.00	4.76	Row 43 – Cell 18	0	0	0

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onMarch 6, 2025

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