Rumor
AMD reportedly prepares Ryzen 7 9750X and Ryzen 5 9650X Zen 5 refresh CPUs with 120W TDP
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 12:54 PM
AMD is reportedly developing two new Zen 5 refresh processors, the Ryzen 7 9750X and Ryzen 5 9650X, both featuring a 120W TDP. This move suggests a shift in thermal management and power delivery specifications for the upcoming iteration of the Ryzen 9000 series manufacturing cycle.
Context
Recent leaks indicate AMD is preparing a "Zen 5" refresh for its desktop lineup, introducing the Ryzen 7 9750X and Ryzen 5 9650X. These new SKUs reportedly feature a significantly higher 120W TDP, a sharp increase from the 65W default profile found on the existing 9700X and 9600X. The 9750X is expected to offer 8 cores with boost clocks up to 5.6 GHz, while the 9650X provides 6 cores reaching 5.5 GHz.
This move appears to be a direct response to Intel's recently launched Arrow Lake Refresh (Core Ultra 200S Plus), which has pressured AMD on multi-threaded value and performance-per-dollar. By nearly doubling the power envelope, AMD aims to recover the performance lead in productivity workloads that was previously constrained by the efficiency-focused 65W limit. This strategic pivot follows AMD's earlier decision to authorize a 105W cTDP warranty-backed setting for existing chips, signaling a broader shift toward higher power targets to remain competitive in the enthusiast market through 2026.
Sources (9)
AMD Ryzen™ 5 9600XAMD Unveils Next-Gen “Zen 5” Ryzen Processors to Power Advanced AI Experiences :: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)Intel finds its Zen undercutting AMD with Arrow Lake refresh • The RegisterAMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X Review: Zen 5 brings upgraded gaming performance (Updated) | Tom's HardwareAMD Ryzen 7 9750X and Ryzen 5 9650X leak with 120W ...AMD Rumored To Boost Clocks And TDPs With Ryzen 7 ...AMD's Zen 5 Challenges: Efficiency & Power Deep-Dive, Voltage, & Value | GamersNexusAMD Ryzen 9000 Series: Zen 5 CPUs, Specs, Benchmarks ...
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