After several years of CPU monoculture, AMD is set to release a completely new CPU generation against Intel on March 2nd. The three upcoming top models, Ryzen 7 1700, Ryzen 7 1700X, and Ryzen 7 1800X, are now available for pre-order, and with the Asus Prime B350M-A, there is also a guaranteed mainboard available by release.
In recent years, performance leaps from new CPUs have been rather rare; even Intel’s current CPU champion, the Core i7-7700K, stands out only due to a higher clock speed compared to the previous generation. In addition to technical limitations – after all, the individual structures of a CPU are now so tiny that even a grain of dust appears unimaginably large in comparison – the lack of competition in the CPU market is also responsible for this situation.
AMD’s Bulldozer processors proved to be too power-hungry with insufficient performance. However, with Ryzen, a powerful alternative to Intel’s fast Core i processors is set to hit the market on March 2nd.
First benchmark results directly from AMD already indicate that Ryzen will be able to keep up with Intel in terms of single-thread performance, which remains very important for gaming (when only one processing core is used). However, initially, AMD will launch real computing monsters with eight fully functional computing cores and Hyper-Threading (as already known from Intel’s Core i series).
The AMD Ryzen 7 does not only compete with Intel’s Core i7 in naming; it also offers Hyperthreading, which can provide a noticeable performance boost for some games like Battlefield 1. Both Playstation 4 and Xbox One already require game developers to use at least eight processing cores; in the future, PC gamers will also increasingly face optimization for many processing units. Even now, especially online titles benefit from more than four CPU cores; a current test by Computerbase shows that lower-clocked eight-core CPUs often outperform currently popular gaming quad-cores.
The top model of the Ryzen series is called AMD Ryzen 7 1800X and will appear with a clock speed of 3,600 MHz and a maximum turbo speed of 4,000 MHz. AMD installs eight processing cores along with Hyper-Threading, allowing games and applications to utilize a total of 16 threads simultaneously. The maximum thermal design power (TDP) is specified by AMD as 95 watts, which is an impressively low value for a true eight-core, while Intel’s server competition is rated at 140 watts. At €559, the Ryzen 7 1800X may not seem cheap at first glance, but Intel charges prices around €1000 for comparable configurations.
The AMD Ryzen 7 1700X also offers eight cores and 16 threads with a TDP of 95 watts. However, the clock speed is slightly lower at 3,400 MHz and 3,800 MHz in turbo mode, and the price is also reduced to €439. Entry into the luxury class is even cheaper with the AMD Ryzen 7 1700 for €359: the eight-core also offers Hyper-Threading, has a clock speed of 3,000 MHz (3,700 MHz via turbo), but remains slightly lower. However, the TDP is only 65 watts, even lower than that of an Intel Core i7-7700K. As a special feature, AMD includes the new Wraith cooler with the Ryzen 7 1700; for the two more expensive CPUs, a sufficiently powerful cooling system is required.
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The necessary foundation is already available for pre-order. However, as the only board with a guaranteed delivery date, Alternate currently only offers the Asus Prime B350M-A. The micro-ATX board offers the AM4 socket for Ryzen and supports 4x DDR4 memory. For fast graphics cards (Ryzen does not provide integrated GPU), a PCIe16x slot is available, and AMD also supports the current PCIe 3.0 for the first time. An M.2 slot accommodates SSDs, and 6x SATA III is available for additional drives.
Later, Ryzen CPUs with six and four processing cores and, of course, significantly lower prices will follow. However, all share the factory-unlocked multiplier; there are no “K” versions like with Core i7, which should please overclockers. All Ryzen and AM4 motherboard pre-orders at Alternate are shipping free. Delivery will be timely on March 2nd.
Order AMD Ryzen now at Alternate:
Pre-order AMD Ryzen 7 1700 for €359
Pre-order AMD Ryzen 7 1700X for €439
