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:
| Category | Ryzen 5 2600 | Ryzen 5 2600X | Ryzen 7 2700 | Ryzen 7 2700X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Threads | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 |
| Base clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 4.3 GHz |
| TDP | 65W | 95W | 65W | 105W |
| Cooler | Wraith Stealth | Wraith Spire RGB | Wraith Spire RGB | Wraith 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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