AMD drops the curtain on 2nd-generation Ryzen processors

We're now into the second year of AMD Ryzen processors and as if by magic the company has dropped the curtain and debuted its 2nd-generation chips (opens in new tab) for the very first time. Better still, the Ryzen 2000 series will be available to consumers from April 19.

We're initially seeing a pair of Ryzen 5 and a pair of Ryzen 7 processors. The Ryzen 5 2600 and 2600X are both 6-core/12-thread processors, while the Ryzen 7 2700 and 2700X are both 8-core/16-threads.

Here's a quick breakdown of the topline specs on each:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CategoryRyzen 5 2600Ryzen 5 2600XRyzen 7 2700Ryzen 7 2700X
Cores6688
Threads12121616
Base clock3.4 GHz3.6 GHz3.2 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock3.9 GHz4.2 GHz4.1 GHz4.3 GHz
TDP65W95W65W105W
CoolerWraith StealthWraith Spire RGBWraith Spire RGBWraith Prism RGB

A few immediate differences between the new chips and the older ones become apparent. The first is that the 2000 series runs at a faster clock speed across the board. You also now get a cooler in the box with every Ryzen processor, even the X versions which were previously shipped without. And aside from the Stealth, they all have RGB lighting.

Essentially the new Ryzen processors are faster and cheaper than their predecessors, and the latter of those is particularly noteworthy. AMD slashed the price of the current generation processors, presumably in preparation for today, but even so, the 2000 series represents (on paper at least) terrific value. The Ryzen 5 2600 is just $199, while the range-topping Ryzen 7 2700X is a respectable $329.

Along with the new processors comes a new X470 motherboard standard which promises AMD's new StoreMI technology and better features for overclocking, but they're all backward compatible with existing B350 and X370 boards.

Right now there are no official benchmarks or reviews since presumably, that embargo is still to come. But what is certain is that you can preorder right now for delivery on April 19.

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Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine

10 Comments
  • I like how they will work with existing motherboards/chipsets. Are you listening Intel?
  • Better still, AMD is on track to have AM4 supported until 2020. Which means 4 generations of Ryzen CPUs/APUs will be compatible with existing motherboards/chipsets. Which has solidified my intent to build an all Exclusive AMD rig for myself and anyone else. The best part of that is they are pretty cheap to build. I'm waiting on Ryzen 3 2nd gen with Vega Graphics. I've been asked to build a PC, monitor and all for £400. Once second gen hits, prices for the first gen will be pretty low.
  • I recently did my first ever AMD build, with X399 and Threadripper. 64 PCI lanes, 3 M.2 SSD slots directly from the CPU, Intel have a way to go to catch up in terms of price /performance
  • Same. It's a blast.
  • Does Intel still support motherboards for two generations of CPU?
  • Kaby lake and skylake worked with the same motherboards.
  • Nope
  • I'm curious about the price of the lower end Ryzen CPUs, with the 2600 prices at 199$ the 2500X can't cost 189$ like the 1500X at launch, that means that the 2500X needs to cost around 169$ or less because if not it won't sell, however the 1400 at launch also costed 169$ meaning that the 2400 will be probably 149$ wich is a great value. This will also probably affect the price of the 2200 and 2300X, and I can see them costing 79$ and 99$ respectively.
  • All 2nd-gen Ryzen processors are cheaper than their equivalents were at launch 12 months ago.
  • There is no "Ryzen 5 2500X" nor "Ryzen 3 2300X". There is Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G