Sales of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and 9950X processors began just two days ago, but that was enough time for enthusiasts to push the Zen 5 chips to their maximum performance. These processors are already among the most powerful on the market, so it’s no surprise that users are pushing them to run at extremely high frequencies.
MSI highlighted the record clock speed achieved for AMD Ryzen 9000 series processors on its MEG X670E Ace motherboard. The achievement belongs to the well-known overclocker TSAIK, who managed to overclock the 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X to 7.4 GHz and the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X to 7.44 GHz, recording the results on the HWBot platform. For comparison, the manufacturer’s claimed peak clock speed for both chips is 5.6 GHz, meaning this record exceeds the standard frequency by nearly 2 GHz. For the previous generation’s Ryzen 9 7950X, a maximum overclock of 7.47 GHz was recorded, and the fact that the new models have come close to this result so soon after their release is impressive.
The AMD #Ryzen9000 is here, setting a new standard with an astonishing world record of 7.45 GHz when paired with the MEG X670E ACE. Plus, unlock a 122% memory boost with MSI’s exclusive BIOS—your PC will never be the same. Learn more: https://t.co/Q3XqIOhYnr pic.twitter.com/yUJbs9FXGU
— MSI Gaming (@msigaming) August 15, 2024
While this isn’t an absolute record – last year, the Intel Core i9-14900KF reached 9.1 GHz – it’s worth noting that overclocking Intel chips from the latest generations has become less rewarding due to stability issues. Intel has even recommended users avoid extreme overclocking to prevent irreversible damage to the chips. With the new AMD Ryzen 9000 processors, the record-breaking results were achieved using liquid nitrogen cooling, which requires extreme caution since cooling the processor too quickly can cause it to crack.
The AMD Zen 5 architecture stands out for its improved energy efficiency and reduced heat output, allowing mid-range models like the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X to operate almost in Eco mode. However, there are rumors that AMD is considering increasing the TDP to boost performance further. Despite a price drop compared to their predecessors, the high-end Ryzen 9 9900X and 9950X remain quite expensive. However, their prices may be adjusted with the arrival of Intel’s Arrow Lake processors.
