AMD Ryzen 7 5800X review – is the 5800X worth it?

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is one to keep your eye on, even today. This AMD Ryzen 7 5800X review will make you see that this CPU released in November 2020 is still one to watch. The 5800X is the perfect balance of raw power and raw value, as we observed.

If you’re a gamer on a tighter budget, but one that affords you a little headroom over opting for the 5600X, then the Ryzen 7 5800X might be the best CPU you’ve been looking for. But how well does this CPU hold up today? and how well do our praises translate into synthetic and real-world performance?

If you don’t have time to read the full article, we have designated the 5800X as one of the best CPUs to purchase if you’re looking for an incredible performance at an amazing value, but want something a little more punchy than the 5600X.

Ryzen 7 5800X specifications

Before we get into the performance, we have to outline the specifications of the Ryzen 7 5800X, so we know exactly what we’re working with. The 5800X is an AM4 CPU donning the Zen 3 core architecture.

The specifications for the Ryzen 7 5800X3D are as follows:

On paper, it’s easy to see why we like the Ryzen 7 5800X, it has a strong CPU core speed to help with gaming workloads, and a set of 16 threads to help us push through the more demanding multi-core workloads.

Ryzen 7 5800X performance

We look at 2 categories of performance here at WePC, we look at both Synthetic and real-world applications of the CPUs that we test. We also like to keep the same system where we can, to minimize anomalies caused by hardware changes. Check out our How we test CPUs article for more detailed info.

The rig that we used to test the Ryzen 7 5800X comprised the following components:

This is the same rig we used to review the Ryzen 5 5600X. Because it is on the same platform and part of the same processor family.

Synthetic performance

We tested the Ryzen 7 5800X in a few of our favorite synthetic benchmark suites, these included CPU-Z, Cinebench, and Geekbench. Both the single-core and multi-core performance were tested to get a general sense of how well-rounded the CPU is. With that being said, how did the Ryzen 7 5800X perform?

In CPU-Z, the Ryzen 7 5800X scored a respectable 664 points in the single-core test, and 6,635 points in the multi-core benchmark. A strong performance when you consider that this CPU was released in 2020.

In Cinebench, the 5800X showed its strengths once again, scoring 1,524 points in the single-core benchmarks and 14,777 points in the multi-core. That’s almost 4,000 points stronger than the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Geekbench now, and the Ryzen 7 5800X managed a very respectable score of 2,268 points in the single-core and 9,982 points in the multi-core benchmarks. Almost 1,500 points stronger than the 5600X in this scenario.

Real-world performance

We tested the Ryzen 7 5800X in multiple games across different genres, again to get a feel for this CPU and how it will perform in different workloads. The games we tested the Ryzen 7 5800X in are Days Gone, Sons of the Forest, Cyberpunk 2077, and CS2. We compare the 5800X to the 5600X a lot in this comparison, just to get a feel for how this CPU performs about another CPU in Team Red’s area.

Firstly, we have Days Gone, the 5800X managed an average FPS of 194. Additionally, we saw no stutters or other performance-related issues while playing.

In Cyberpunk, we saw an average FPS reading in the benchmark section of 158FPS, making the 5800 better than the 5600X, as that only manages around 147FPS. A good performance, but not quite enough to beat the 5800X.

In SOTF, the Ryzen 7 5800X came home with an average FPS score of 121FPS. Again offering no stutters or performance-related issues at all.

CS2 is now, everyone’s favorite rage simulator. The 5800X manages an average FPS of 329FPS, whereas the 5600X fell just shy with a 322FPS average.

Ryzen 7 5800X price

So, given the price and the performance of the 5800X, is it worth it? The 5800X was released brand new back in 2020 at $449, but that was back in 2020, there’s no way you’re paying that for one now. Nowadays, you can pick up a Ryzen 7 5800X for around $200 or less if you’re lucky enough to catch a big sale.

If you want to go even cheaper, you can even browse the second-hand market to get a better deal. However, it’s good to note that second-hand hardware comes with risks, and is likely outside of its warranty period upon purchase. But CPUs are pretty robust, if it’s been treated at least semi-well, then it should be okay.

Final Word

The Ryzen 7 5800X is a fantastic bang for the buck CPU, although if you’re looking for something a little better in the gaming performance category you might want to look into the 5800X3D, which we reviewed here. The 5800X combines affordability with power, thanks to the older but not out-of-touch AM4 platform providing gamers a more budget-friendly way into high-performance gaming. Given the price of the 5800X and the performance you get out of it, it’s an easy decision.

The only downside to this CPU is that the AM4 platform won’t last forever, and you’ll be lumped with a hefty upgrade bill shortly if you want to keep your PC relevant enough to play the latest titles. If not though, AM4 might be the best value platform for you.