All in all the Granite Ridge series, Ryzen 9000 for desktops, mark a step forward from the previous Ryzen 7000 series. This new lineup boasts improvements like better energy efficiency and enhanced overall performance due to an optimized design and an increased frequency range. The entire Ryzen 9000 range excels in single-threaded performance, and multi-threading performance is a bit on/off comparable towards Ryzen 7000. These upgrades make the Ryzen 9000 series a strong competitor in the computer processor (CPU) market. One of the standout features of the Ryzen 9000 series is its enhanced efficiency. These CPUs manage energy better, which means they use less power while delivering higher performance. This improvement is important in both everyday and professional settings where getting the most out of each watt of power is important, yet also for cooling (less complex). The top models of the Ryzen 9000 series benefit greatly from these design improvements, achieving higher speeds that significantly boost performance compared to earlier models. The release of the Ryzen 9000 series comes at a strategic time and could affect Intel's position in the market, especially considering the challenges Intel faces with its K series CPUs. With Intel's new Arrow Lake processors delayed until October, AMD has a chance to capture more of the market.

We all had to wait a long time for pricing, but here you go. The pricing for the Series 9000 processors, specifically the Ryzen 9 9900X, is set at $499. We'd also like to mention last gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which can be purchased just under $400 and will be the better enthusiast gaming processor. Retailers are currently charging high prices. Note that the cost per core for the 9700X is about $42. Remember, the total cost of ownership also includes necessary components like DDR5 memory and if needed an AM5 motherboard.

AMD suggests that a memory frequency of 6000 MHz is optimal, we used two 16GB G.Skill modules rated slightly higher at 6400 MHz. While this setup offers excellent speed, it comes at a cost—approximately $125 for a 32GB kit. We tested the Hynix-enabled mode at 6000 Mhz CL30 with the TridentZ5 NEO kit. After updating to the latest BIOS, the system was quick to post. Initial boot-up includes a memory training process by the BIOS, which might take a few minutes. Switching the BIOS to EXPO of Hynix mode (if compatible), which optimizes the memory timings, requires another round of training. In terms of stability, the memory kit performed flawlessly.

The Ryzen 9 9900X is a processor rated at only 120 Watts; the thing is, much like Intel's PL2 states, AMD applies a PPT of ~150W, so that means your processor can utilize that wattage for a given number of seconds dictated in firmware by the motherboard manufacturer. Overall, temperatures look fine under load at 60-65 Degrees C With merely air based cooling (heatpipe DeepCool AK500). You could easily run this processor even with low-end heatpipe-based cooler long-term load, of course, is incredibly energy efficient. 

Overclocking

Final words

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is an enthusiast-class desktop CPU within the Granite Ridge product family, featuring 12 Zen 5 cores (24 threads) operating at a boost frequency of up to ~5.6 GHz. It includes PCIe 5.0 support and a basic integrated GPU. The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a powerful desktop processor, frequently surpassing the Intel Core i9 14x00K in multi-core benchmarks. Although the Ryzen 9 9900X is powerful for gaming, the X3D series remains optimal. The Granite Ridge processors utilize the new Zen 5 microarchitecture, similar to the Strix Point APUs. However, unlike the Strix Point series, which combines performance and efficient cores, the 9700X consists solely of performance-focused Zen 5 cores. The multi-die design of the Granite Ridge series incorporates CPU cores manufactured using a 4 nm TSMC process, whereas the Strix Point processors are based on a single-die design. Pairing the Ryzen 9 9900X with a high-end X670(E) motherboard will be an excellent choice, however, perhaps a better option would be to go for the reasonably priced B650 chipset motherboards. One of the highlights of the AM5 platform is its support for PCIe Gen 5, it's worth remarking that the real-world performance benefits of PCIe Gen 5 SSDs, beyond their impressive sustained transfer speeds, may be minimal, even for Gen5.0-based NVMe SSDs.  The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, priced at $499, is an option that introduces users to a more advanced Zen 5 architecture and offers modest performance improvements over last-gen at $42 per CPU core. For those with a smaller budget and gaming needs solely the 7800X3D at $399 provides good performance at a lower cost. Additionally, AMD's AM5 socket will support future processor upgrades until at least 2027, making it a sound investment for future system enhancements. Overall the AMD Zen 5 processor brings notable performance improvements in the raw computing power front. During testing, no stability issues were encountered, indicating a reliable new platform. The 12-core design of this processor, though unique, may not appeal to all users. Creators might find it beneficial, but likely will prefer the 9950X model, it certainly is a bit of a beast inside your PC though.