The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X was one of the most anticipated processors of 2020. As part of the Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 series, it promised substantial performance gains over its predecessors and Intel‘s competing offerings. While the 5800X largely delivered on those promises, it also drew a fair number of complaints and criticisms from reviewers and consumers alike.
In this article, we‘ll take a deep dive into the most common issues users have raised with the 5800X. We‘ll examine the chip from a technical perspective, compare it to its peers, and try to cut through the hype to determine where it excels and where it falls short. Whether you‘re considering the 5800X for your next build or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest in CPU tech, this detailed breakdown should help you make an informed decision.
Ryzen 7 5800X Specifications and Performance
First, let‘s look at the 5800X‘s key specifications:
| Specification | Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|
| CPU Cores/Threads | 8/16 |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz |
| Total L2 Cache | 4 MB |
| Total L3 Cache | 32 MB |
| TDP | 105W |
| PCIe Version | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max Memory Speed | DDR4-3200 |
On paper, the 5800X is an impressive chip. Its 8 cores and 16 threads put it in line with Intel‘s high-end Core i7 and i9 offerings. The 4.7 GHz boost clock is one of the highest of any Ryzen CPU, and the large 32 MB L3 cache should provide plenty of fast memory for gaming and other latency-sensitive tasks.
In practice, the 5800X largely lives up to its specs. In gaming benchmarks, it trades blows with Intel‘s Core i9-10900K and i7-11700K, two of the fastest gaming CPUs on the market. It also posts very strong numbers in content creation workloads like video encoding and 3D rendering, thanks to its 8 cores and high IPC (instructions per clock).
Here‘s a quick look at how the 5800X stacks up against its Ryzen 5000 siblings and Intel competitors in some key benchmarks:
| CPU | Cinebench R20 Single | Cinebench R20 Multi | Geekbench 5 Single | Geekbench 5 Multi | Passmark CPU Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 5800X | 631 | 6166 | 1671 | 11246 | 35791 |
| Ryzen 5 5600X | 600 | 4301 | 1610 | 7893 | 27387 |
| Ryzen 9 5900X | 636 | 8477 | 1669 | 14252 | 44251 |
| Intel Core i7-11700K | 582 | 5474 | 1690 | 10347 | 29049 |
| Intel Core i9-10900K | 532 | 6279 | 1387 | 10848 | 27916 |
_Data sourced from CPU-Monkey and PassMark._
As you can see, the 5800X is an excellent all-around performer. It beats the Intel CPUs handily in multi-threaded benchmarks thanks to its additional cores and strong IPC. It also boasts very high single-threaded performance, which is a key factor for gaming. The 5900X beats it out in multi-core tests by virtue of its 4 additional CPU cores, but the 5800X remains the fastest 8-core Ryzen CPU in lightly threaded workloads.
Common Complaints and Drawbacks
So, with such impressive specs and benchmark numbers, why does the Ryzen 5800X draw so many complaints? Let‘s break down some of the most common issues users and reviewers have raised.
1. Lack of included CPU cooler
One of the most obvious omissions with the 5800X is the lack of any included CPU cooling solution. While lower-end Ryzen CPUs like the 3600 and 5600X include AMD‘s Wraith Stealth or Wraith Spire air coolers, the 5800X ships with no stock heatsink in the box.
According to AMD, this decision was made because the 105W TDP of the 5800X places it outside the realistic performance envelope of the Wraith coolers. The company‘s official guidance is that the 5800X should be paired with a high-end air or liquid aftermarket cooler for optimal performance and acoustics.
While there is some merit to this argument, many users feel that AMD should have provided some kind of basic cooling option at the 5800X‘s launch price of $449. Requiring the end user to spend an additional $50-$100 or more on a third-party cooling solution eats into the value proposition and adds additional setup time and complexity.
This complaint is especially noteworthy in comparison to Intel‘s offerings. Even high-end Intel chips like the Core i9-10900K include a basic air cooler in the box. While serious overclockers and performance enthusiasts will likely want something beefier, the included Intel heatsink is enough to get the system up and running out of the box.
If you‘re considering the 5800X, be sure to factor in the additional cost of an adequate CPU cooler. While you may not need a top-of-the-line 360mm AIO liquid cooler, a good tower-style air cooler like the Noctua NH-D15 or be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 is highly recommended.
2. No integrated graphics
Another common point of criticism with the Ryzen 5800X is the lack of any integrated graphics. Unlike most of Intel‘s CPU lineup, the 5800X has no onboard video output capabilities. This means a discrete graphics card (GPU) is required, even if you don‘t plan on doing any gaming or graphics-intensive work.
This omission isn‘t entirely surprising given the 5800X‘s position as a high-end CPU aimed at enthusiasts and power users. Most people buying a $400+ processor are likely pairing it with a powerful dedicated GPU for gaming or content creation. However, the lack of an iGPU does limit the 5800X‘s flexibility for troubleshooting and certain productivity use cases.
Having a basic integrated graphics solution can be helpful for initial setup and diagnosing issues with your dedicated GPU. It also allows the CPU to be used in simplified builds without a graphics card, such as home theater PCs and basic office systems. While these aren‘t key use cases for the 5800X, it‘s still a notable downside compared to the Intel competition.
Again, this complaint comes down largely to market positioning and segmentation. AMD has reserved integrated graphics for its APU lineup, like the Ryzen 5 5600G and Ryzen 7 5700G. These chips offer solid CPU performance and surprisingly capable Vega-based graphics in a more affordable package. However, they‘re based on the older Zen 2 architecture and don‘t offer the same level of CPU performance as the 5800X.
3. Price-to-performance ratio
Perhaps the largest and most consistent complaint about the Ryzen 5800X relates to its price and overall value proposition. With an MSRP of $449, it‘s a full $150 more expensive than the 6-core Ryzen 5 5600X. The jump to the 12-core Ryzen 9 5900X, meanwhile, is only $100 more at $549.
This puts the 5800X in a somewhat awkward spot in the overall Ryzen product stack. It offers only marginally better gaming performance than the much cheaper 5600X, and significantly lower multi-threaded capabilities than the 5900X for productivity. Many reviewers and users have argued that the 5800X doesn‘t offer enough of a performance benefit to justify its significant price premium over the 5600X for most use cases.
Here are some key value comparison points between the 5800X and its closest Ryzen relatives:
| CPU | MSRP (Launch) | Cinebench R20 Single | Cinebench R20 Multi | Cores/Threads | TDP | L3 Cache |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 5600X | $299 | 600 | 4301 | 6/12 | 65W | 32MB |
| Ryzen 7 5800X | $449 | 631 | 6166 | 8/16 | 105W | 32MB |
| Ryzen 9 5900X | $549 | 636 | 8477 | 12/24 | 105W | 64MB |
As you can see, the 5800X offers only about a 5% single-core performance bump over the 5600X, which is unlikely to translate to a noticeable difference in real-world gaming scenarios. Its 43% advantage in multi-threaded performance is more substantial, but comes at a 50% price premium. The 5900X, meanwhile, offers nearly identical single-threaded speeds and a massive 37% multi-core advantage for only 22% more cost.
For the vast majority of users, the 5600X is a better value for gaming and light productivity, while the 5900X is a more compelling option for serious content creators and power users. The 5800X occupies an awkward middle ground where it doesn‘t excel strongly enough in either category to justify its price tag.
Of course, value is subjective and depends heavily on your specific needs and budget. The 5800X is still an exceptionally fast CPU in both single and multi-threaded workloads. If you need the absolute best 8-core performance and are willing to pay a premium for it, the 5800X may still be worth considering. For most users, however, it‘s hard to recommend over its cheaper and pricier siblings.
4. Limited overclocking headroom
Overclocking, the practice of pushing a CPU beyond its rated specifications to eke out additional performance, is a popular pursuit among PC enthusiasts. AMD‘s Ryzen processors have traditionally offered solid overclocking capabilities, with many chips able to achieve significant performance gains with adequate cooling and manual tuning.
The Ryzen 5800X, however, has gained something of a reputation as a lackluster overclocker compared to other Ryzen models. While it does offer unlocked multipliers and can be overclocked with a compatible motherboard, many users have reported hitting a frequency and voltage wall around the 4.7-4.8 GHz mark.
This is only marginally higher than the chip‘s rated max boost clock of 4.7 GHz, and pushing it further often requires exotic cooling solutions and extremely high voltages. The 5800X also tends to produce a significant amount of heat when overclocked, necessitating robust thermal solutions.
Some of this limited overclocking potential can be attributed to the 5800X‘s already aggressive stock frequencies. AMD has pushed the 5800X close to the limits of the Zen 3 architecture out of the box, leaving relatively little headroom for manual tuning.
The 5800X‘s bin quality has also been called into question by some enthusiasts. As a mid-tier offering in the Ryzen stack, it may not receive the same level of high-quality silicon as the flagship 5900X and 5950X models. This can translate to more chip-to-chip variance and lower overall overclocking potential.
For casual users and even most enthusiasts, the 5800X‘s limited overclocking capabilities are unlikely to be a major concern. The chip still offers excellent performance at stock settings, and pushing it beyond its rated specifications is not necessary for the vast majority of use cases.
However, if you‘re the type of user who enjoys tinkering and pushing your hardware to the absolute limit, you may find the 5800X‘s overclocking chops a bit disappointing. The 5600X, 5900X, and older Ryzen 3000 series CPUs have all demonstrated more impressive overclocking results on average.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Despite its flaws and detractors, the Ryzen 7 5800X remains an impressively powerful and capable CPU. In gaming and lightly threaded workloads, it offers top-tier performance that rivals or exceeds the best Intel has to offer. Its multi-threaded capabilities are also very strong, making it a solid choice for content creators and power users who can take advantage of its 8 cores and 16 threads.
However, the 5800X‘s awkward positioning in the Ryzen 5000 product stack and a few key omissions make it a tough sell for many users. Its high price relative to the 5600X and 5900X, lack of included cooler and integrated graphics, and limited overclocking potential are all notable drawbacks that should be carefully considered.
For pure gaming builds, the 5600X offers nearly identical performance at a significantly lower price point. For productivity and content creation, the 5900X is a more compelling option with its additional cores and cache. The 5800X occupies a somewhat narrow middle ground where it doesn‘t excel strongly enough to justify its price tag for most users.
That‘s not to say the 5800X is a bad CPU – far from it. If you need the absolute best 8-core performance and are willing to pay a premium for it, the 5800X is still a very strong option. It‘s also worth considering if you can find it at a discount or as part of a bundle with a compatible motherboard and cooler.
As with any PC component purchase, the key is to carefully evaluate your specific needs and budget. What are you primarily using your PC for? What other components are you pairing the CPU with? How much are you willing to spend for optimal performance? Answering these questions will help you decide if the 5800X‘s strengths outweigh its weaknesses for your particular use case.
The Ryzen 7 5800X is a powerful and impressive CPU with a few notable drawbacks and a somewhat confusing value proposition. It‘s not the right choice for everyone, but for certain users and configurations, it can still be a very compelling option. As always, be sure to do your research, weigh the trade-offs, and make an informed decision based on your individual needs and constraints.
Key Takeaways
- The Ryzen 7 5800X is a powerful 8-core, 16-thread CPU based on AMD‘s Zen 3 architecture
- It offers excellent single-threaded and gaming performance, rivaling the best from Intel
- Its multi-threaded capabilities are also very strong, making it a good choice for content creation and productivity
- However, it lacks an included CPU cooler and integrated graphics, adding to the total platform cost
- Its price-to-performance ratio is somewhat awkward, with the 5600X and 5900X offering better value for many use cases
- The 5800X also has relatively limited overclocking headroom compared to other Ryzen CPUs
- While an impressive performer overall, the 5800X‘s drawbacks and positioning make it a niche product for certain high-performance 8-core configurations
As a technology expert and enthusiast, I‘ve spent countless hours researching, testing, and evaluating PC components like CPUs. I‘ve built dozens of PCs for myself, friends, and clients, and have hands-on experience with a wide range of Intel and AMD processors. Combining that practical knowledge with careful analysis of benchmarks, specifications, and market trends allows me to provide nuanced recommendations and insights for users looking to navigate the often confusing world of PC hardware. While the Ryzen 7 5800X has its flaws and detractors, it remains a compelling option in the right circumstances – but it‘s crucial to understand and weigh those trade-offs carefully.
