🚀 CPU Launch

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs AMD Athlon X4 970

Table of Contents



Overview:

Comparison between AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and AMD Athlon X4 970

Both CPUs are manufactured by AMD. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a higher base speed of 3.9 GHz compared to AMD Athlon X4 970's 3.8 GHz. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a higher turbo speed of 5.4 GHz compared to AMD Athlon X4 970's 4.0 GHz. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has more cores (6) compared to AMD Athlon X4 970's 4 cores. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports more threads (12) compared to AMD Athlon X4 970's threads.

Both CPUs belong to the same class: Desktop. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X uses the AM5 socket, while AMD Athlon X4 970 uses the AM4 socket. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X was launched in Q3 2024, while AMD Athlon X4 970 was launched in Q4 2023. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a larger L3 cache of 32 MB compared to AMD Athlon X4 970's MB.

Specification Summary

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and AMD Athlon X4 970 are two processors with distinct specifications. Below is a detailed comparison of their key features:

  • Manufacturer: Both processors are manufactured by AMD.
  • Speed: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a base speed of 3.9 GHz, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 runs at 3.8 GHz.
  • Turbo Boost: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports a turbo speed of 5.4 GHz, compared to 4.0 GHz for the AMD Athlon X4 970.
  • Cores: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has 6 cores, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 has 4 cores.
  • Threads: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports 12 threads, compared to threads for the AMD Athlon X4 970.
  • Class: Both processors are designed for Desktop use.
  • Socket: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X uses the AM5, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 uses the AM4.
  • Launch Date: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X was launched on Q3 2024, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 was released on Q4 2023.
  • L3 Cache: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has 32 MB of L3 cache, compared to MB for the AMD Athlon X4 970.

Detailed Specifications:

Specs AMD Ryzen 5 9600X AMD Athlon X4 970
AMD AMD
Manufacturer AMD AMD
Speed 3.9 GHz 3.8 GHz
Turbo 5.4 GHz 4.0 GHz
Cores 6 4
Threads 12
Class Desktop Desktop
Socket AM5 AM4
Launched Q3 2024 Q4 2023
L3 Cache 32 MB MB

Review:

Single Core Performance:


CPU Performance in single-threaded applications

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X:



76%
AMD Athlon X4 970:
26%
* More is Better

Multi Core Performance:


CPU Performance in multi-threaded applications

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X



43%
AMD Athlon X4 970:
5%
* More is Better

Power Efficiency:


Power Consumption of CPU under full load

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X: 65 watts



16.25%
AMD Athlon X4 970: 65 watts
16.25%
* Lower is Better

Launched Date:


Time when the CPU was launched


AMD Ryzen 5 9600X : Q3 2024 ✅

AMD Athlon X4 970 : Q4 2023 ✅

* Newer is Better

CPU Launch FINAL SCORE:

CPU Final Rating Ratings

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X



AMD Athlon X4 970


Pro's and Con's

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Higher Base Clock Speed: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a higher base clock speed of 3.9 GHz compared to the AMD Athlon X4 970's 3.8 GHz. This results in better performance for single-threaded tasks and general responsiveness.
  • Higher Turbo Boost Speed: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports a higher turbo boost speed of 5.4 GHz compared to the AMD Athlon X4 970's 4.0 GHz. This allows for better performance during peak workloads.
  • Faster Single-Core Performance: With a single-threaded performance score of 4588, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X outperforms the AMD Athlon X4 970 (score: 1616). This makes it better suited for tasks that rely on single-core performance, such as gaming or everyday productivity.
  • Larger L3 Cache: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X features a larger L3 cache of 32MB compared to the AMD Athlon X4 970's MB. A larger cache improves performance in memory-intensive tasks, such as video editing or 3D rendering, by reducing latency and speeding up data access.

Cons:

  • Not available

AMD Athlon X4 970 – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Newer Release: The AMD Athlon X4 970 was launched more recently (Q4 2023) compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (Q3 2024). This means it benefits from the latest advancements in technology, improved efficiency, and potentially better software optimization.
  • Higher CPU Mark Score: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has a higher CPU Mark score of NA compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's 123.09. This indicates better overall performance across a wide range of tasks.

Cons:

  • Fewer Cores: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has 4 cores, which is fewer than the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's 6 cores. This could impact performance in multi-threaded workloads, such as rendering, compiling code, or running virtual machines.
  • Fewer Threads: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has threads, which is fewer than the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's 12 threads. This may limit its ability to handle highly parallel workloads efficiently.
  • Lower Multi-Core Performance: In multi-threaded tasks, the AMD Athlon X4 970 scores 3472, which is lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's score of 30156. This makes the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X a better choice for heavy multitasking or parallel processing.


Productivity


AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
This cpu Handles Mid Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Mid Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.

AMD Athlon X4 970
This cpu Handles Entry Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Entry Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.


Gaming

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
Ideal for Mid Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Mid Level level computing.

AMD Athlon X4 970
Ideal for Entry Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Entry Level level computing.



Verdict

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a reliable and Mid Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Mid Level computing needs or those building a New PC.

AMD Athlon X4 970

The AMD Athlon X4 970 is a reliable and Entry Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Entry Level computing needs or those building a New PC.