The Ryzen Processor Series

Ryzen 5 & 7 Processor Series

We’ll start off first with the Series 7 processors first to get you an understanding what you can use on these motherboard. You all know the upcoming AMD processor as ZEN. That is a codename for the new architecture, and as such AMD figured they need a proper final name for the product series. However with ZEN pretty much sticking in everybody’s mind, AMD made the rather sensible decision to name Zen to something similar sounding? Yes, the Zen and thus Summit Ridge product series officially will be named AMD RYZEN, kind of extrapolated from "risen" I guess. Compared to an 8-core Intel Core i7-6900K processor the RYZEN engineering sample is pretty darn fast alright. Ryzen launched with three primary 8-core models with others like 6 and 4 cores to follow. When time passes there will be three tiers with the Ryzen 3, 5 and 7 denominators comparable to Core i3, i5 and i7 for the Ryzen product range. AMD in the first phase will launch with three SKUs, the AMD Ryzen R7 1700, AMD Ryzen R7 1700X and AMD Ryzen R7 1800X. You guys have already seen the models being announced, and we explained the numbers and prices as well. Let me first make clear that ALL Ryzen processor are unlocked, that’s Ryzen 3, 5 and 7. The motherboards need a chipset that is unlocked as well though, but the B350 and X370 series are covering all of that. 
 

AMD Ryzen 7 1800X

AMD Ryzen R7 1800X is the flagship processor and it has 8 cores with 16 threads, in fact all Ryzen processors have this core/thread ratio. The Ryzen 7 1800X processor will get an impressive boost frequency of 4.00 GHz, the base-clock is 3.6 GHz base clock. Depending on your choice in cooling, XFR will kick in and bring it to 4.1 GHz, maybe even higher on a single thread. XFR (extended frequency range) by the way is a technology that uses hundreds of sensors inside the processor. If the registers on thermals and such are within certain thresholds it can further boost the turbo frequency above the default spec available. So it’ll give you a performance boost based on proper cooling. We’ll talk a little more about it later on in the article though. The X in the Ryzen 7 1800X refers to a better yielded processor (could tweak better), a higher base and boost frequency and yeah, simply is a binned processor (thus tested and selected from good to great). This processor has a terrifically rated 95 Watt TDP. A similar 8-core Intel CPU would cost you about 1,200 USD, the price for this flagship Ryzen R7 1800X processor is 499 USD/Euro ex VAT. This is an unlocked (multiplier) processor, in fact all Ryzen processors are unlocked.

AMD Ryzen 7 1700X

The next AMD Ryzen in line would be the R7 1700X, this dawg once again gets 8 cores and 16 threads but this time the turbo and base clock sit 200 MHz lower compared to the 1800X. But that means a turbo frequency of 3.80 GHz. Yes, this is pretty much the same processor, just with a lower base at 3.4 GHz and turbo frequency and yes, a lower price as you just shaved off 100 bucks!

AMD Ryzen 7 1700

The lowest SKU AMD R7 is the Ryzen 1700, and actually I am the most excited about this product as it would be a terrific processor for gamers at a shocking price of just 329 USD. Again, you'll receive an 8 core and 16 threads processor. This time at a turbo frequency of 3.70 GHz and a base clock frequency set at 3.0 GHz. That lower base clock helps you with your energy consumption as a very notable attribute is that this processor is rated at a 65W TDP whereas the other two would be 95 Watt parts. Again, eight cores / 16 threads boosting to 3.7 GHz at 65 Watts for 329 USD. This might become one of the most popular processors ever.

So the above three processors will launch initially. All these processors will fit Socket AM4 and thus you can use the same motherboard. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 will be bundled with a Wraith Spire 95W cooler. The other two are not bundled with a cooler. We’d recommend you to look at a nice LCS kit or some sort of cooling from Noctua, as a little extra cooling performance can do magic to your boost frequency. This is the processor being tested in this article.

Ryzen series 5 Processors

AMD will also release four new Ryzen 5 based on four and six active processors cores:

• Ryzen 5 1600X
  This is a six-core part with 12-threads. The base frequency will be 3.6 GHz with a nice 4.0 Ghz boost frequency. This processor will cost 249 USD.
• Ryzen 5 1600
  This is a six-core part with 12-threads. The base frequency will be 3.2 GHz with a nice 3.6 GHz boost  aka turbo frequency. This processor will cost 219 USD.
• Ryzen 5 1500X
  This is a four-core part with 8-threads. The base frequency will be 3.5 GHz with a 3.7 GHz boost  aka turbo frequency. This processor will cost 189 USD.
• Ryzen 5 1400
  The 1400 is again a four-core part with 8-threads. The base frequency will be 3.2 GHz with a 3.4 GHz boost aka turbo frequency. This processor will cost 169 USD.

As stated before these processors are priced competitive alright. The flagship units will have a 95 Watt TDP, the lower SKUs settle for 65 Watts. The six-core parts will configured into a strict 3+3 combination, while the four-core parts will use 2+2. This confirms that both core clusters are in use and indeed these are 8-core parts with cores disabled. That also means for the 4-core enabled parts, the CCX clusters will run into the very same CPU bound game performance challenges. Then again with less cores enabled there's also less load and thus there should be less latency in-between the two CCXes. AMD is going to make SKUs available with a stock coolers, these will be the Wraith Stealth for the Ryzen 5 1400 and the Wraith Spire for the 1600 and 1600X. These stock coolers do not have LED lighting enabled. Improved XFR ranges - Ryzen 5 1500X also has support for an extended XFR frequency range of up to 3.9GHz (+200MHz over the max, all-core turbo frequency), XFR details for the other processors in the line-up have not been detailed. The four Ryzen 5 processors will be available starting April 11th. Ryzen series 3 you will see in the 2nd Half of 2017.

 
In the above table you can see the launch SKUs as well as an overview of what to expect in the coming months processor wise, it is going to be a busy year with AMD processor reviews alright. Have a browse above at the media deck for some more details. You will have noticed that some models end with an X, while others do not. It remains simple, the X models are a little more special in the sense that they will have a higher base and boost clock frequency as well as an increased XFR range. We'll talk a little more about XFR (Extended Frequency Range) on the next page but basically look at it as a bit of an extra on top of the boost. Also, all X model processors are binned. This means that the processors are tested on ASIC quality and then sorted from good to better and often will clock higher on the XFR range and yes, X models could be / should be more easy to tweak as well.