AMD - Ryzen 9 9900X 12-Core - 24-Thread 4.4 GHz (5.6 GHz Max Boost) Socket AM5 PCI Express 5.0 Unlocked Desktop Processor - Silver

I upgraded from the Ryzen 7 78003dx my cpu was causing a 5% bottleneck with my 4090. Now with the 9900x i have no bottleneck and out of the box my clock speed is 5.4 ghz with no over clock. Temps did go up a hair as expected but not all that much. In my opinion Amd has made leaps and bounds over the years. Let me be the first to say if you are thinking about this chip do it. I think it is also worth the mention if you are running a b550 motherboard it may need to have the bios updated as mine did other wise it will not post.

Easy to install and efficient, offering good value for money. Runs cool with my AIO and handles demanding applications and tasks smoothly.

Blazing-Fast Performance in a Compact Powerhouse The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a phenomenal CPU for enthusiasts, gamers, and content creators who demand high-end performance without stepping into Threadripper territory. Packing 12 cores and 24 threads on the new AM5 socket, this chip absolutely flies through heavy workloads, from 4K video editing to high-FPS gaming. With a base clock of 4.4 GHz and a max boost up to 5.6 GHz, it delivers serious single-thread performance that rivals Intel’s top contenders, all while maintaining AMD’s efficiency advantage. Pair it with DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 components, and you’re looking at a future-proof system that won’t need upgrading for years. Overclocking is smooth and stable, thanks to it being unlocked, and the thermal management with a decent cooling setup is surprisingly good for a 12-core beast. It’s also worth noting the excellent power efficiency, especially at idle or low-load operations—a testament to AMD’s Zen 5 architecture refinements. Pros: Lightning-fast performance across gaming and productivity Future-ready AM5 platform with DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support Strong multi-core and single-core results Unlocked for easy overclocking Cons: Requires a new motherboard (AM5), which adds to cost No integrated graphics – a discrete GPU is a must Runs hot under full load – invest in a quality cooler

This CPU is hands down the best at the $385 I paid on Black Friday. If you haven't messed around in the BIOS to maximize the performance, you should. Here are the BIOS Settings that increased Cinebench Multi-Core Score 4,000 points and makes it a rocket on Windows 11. BIOS Settings: Precision Boost Overdrive >> Advanced PBO Limits >> Motherboard Platform Thermal Throttle Cntrl >> Manual Platform Thermal Limit >> 90 Curve Optimizer >> All Cores All Core Curve Optimizer Sign >> Negative All Core Curve Optimizer Magnitude >> 30 XMP/EXPO Profile >> EXPO 1 Integrated Graphics >> Disabled If you don't want to overclock it, You should still disable Integrated Graphics, that makes it much faster in Windows 11. Also, Get a good Cooler --My Hardware / BIOS used for this-- Motherboard: GIGABYTE B650 Aorus Elite AX Ice >> BIOS F32h [Dec 19, 2024] >> Has Update AGESA 1.2.0.2b Memory: Corsair 6000MT/s AMD EXPO CL30 CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X Cooler: Corsair H150i Elite Capellix XT Cheers

Pros: Picked this CPU up for $380 or about $120 cheaper than retail. Despite so call professional reviewers hating on this CPU, it's actually fast. I'm upgrading from a 5900X and have seen some games like World War Z go from 189 FPS to 335 FPS using the same GPU at 1080P. CyberPunk 2077 went from 155 FPS to 189 FPS. I don't normally game at 1080P, but it's nice to see improvements by 20-70% depending on the game. Flight Simulator my 5900X could muster 48 FPS. I now get 63 FPS using the 9900X using the same GPU. Cons: It's slower than X3D chips in games. To get the most of it, make sure you have the latest chipset drivers directly from AMD. Using Asus X870 MB drivers, World Ward Z for example was stuck at 290 FPS. Updating to AMD drivers based off a few tips on Youtube, I gained 45 FPS. Make sure you have the latest MB bios as well. This increased Cyberpunk from 184 to 189 FPS. So not really a knock against the 9900X, but to get the most out of it, you need motherboard updated with the latest bios, and drivers straight from AMD. So I'm still giving it a solid 5 since the other issues are coming from the MB.