The manufacturer AMD offers processors with an X in the name. But what does the suffix X stand for and is it worth buying a CPU with X?
AMD offers various processors for different applications. However, some Ryzen models come with an X as an additional designation, a so-called suffix.
MeinMMO explains what the X in Ryzen means and whether it is worth buying a processor.
The X in Ryzen stands for Automatic Overclocking
What does the X in Ryzen stand for? The X in AMD processors stands for Extended Frequency Range (XFR). This means that your CPU will automatically overclock when your cooling is sufficient and performance is needed. The Precision Boost then further optimizes the clock rates.
On paper, the models with X hardly differ from their siblings:
- The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 offers 6 cores/12 threads and clocks between 3.5 and 4.4 GHz.
- The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 X also offers 6 cores/12 threads and clocks slightly higher at 3.7 to 4.6 GHz.
Do I have to buy the model with X for more performance? Theoretically, you can achieve the same performance or clock rate with a Ryzen 5 5600 without X as with a Ryzen 5 5600X. This way you can save 30 to 60 Euros.
If you really want more performance, you should jump to the next performance class. So instead of a Ryzen 5, consider buying a Ryzen 7. Here the extra cost and additional performance is definitely worth it.
Besides the X suffix, there are also models with “XT.” These versions are a bit faster than the X models.
For the new Ryzen 7000 processors (for AM5), it is additionally true that the X models have a significantly higher power consumption. While the Ryzen 5 7600 is supposed to manage with 65 watts TDP, the TDP for the Ryzen 5 7600 X is 105 watts.
More on Hardware and Tech: If you are interested in graphics cards, take a look at the following article on MeinMMO. Here we explain how big the difference in graphics cards between AMD and Nvidia is.
How important is it for a graphics card whether I buy AMD or Nvidia?
