Now that we’ve seen how the 8-core 16-thread AMD Ryzen 7 1800X and the 6-core 12-thread Ryzen 5 1600X processors performed, it is time to turn our attention to one of the family’s 4-core 16-thread variants. Specifically, the Ryzen 5 1500X processor which offers a base clock speed of 3.5GHz with Precision Boost speed of 3.7GHz.
The chip can be pushed further up to 3.9 GHz through Zen’s XFR feature that provides extra boost with better cooling. With a TDP of 65W, the Ryzen 5 1500X also comes standard with AMD’s own Wraith Spire cooler.
Officially priced at RM 899, AMD believes that this particular chip is able to go head-to-head against the Intel Core i5-7500 which has a similar number of cores and TDP rating. However, Intel’s offering is lacking the multi-threading capability and costs slightly more than the Ryzen 5 chip. Then again, there is more to the story than just these numbers.
LOWYAT.NET TEST SYSTEM
With the exception of the processor and cooler, this is the same system we used for our previous Ryzen 5 1600X review.
BEFORE WE START…
As mentioned in our Ryzen 7 1800X and Ryzen 5 1600X reviews, we don’t yet have an Intel Kaby Lake-based test system that we can use as comparison in this Ryzen 5 1500X review. Hence, what you are looking at here is meant to be a stand-alone review.
While we are planning to build such system very soon and will make a return to all of our Ryzen reviews for comparison, the test system will be running on Core i7 which is generally not equal to this particular Ryzen 5 chip. Nevertheless, this review does include a section that include test scores from AMD’s internal test system which has the specs below:
Let’s move on to the benchmarks!
Performance Tests
We put the Ryzen 5 1500X through our standard set of application tests which represent several tasks that users might perform with the chip. These tasks include 3D rendering, video conversion, ray tracing, file compression, and productivity suite.
Given the chip’s reduced number of cores and threads, we not surprised to see that its performance level is lower than both the Ryzen 5 1600X and Ryzen 7 1800X. For those who are wondering, we didn’t encounter any issues when we ran all the applications above with the Ryzen 5 1500X.
Gaming Tests
By now, you might have already heard about how Intel Core processors are ahead of AMD Ryzen processors when it comes to gaming due to their higher IPC. At the same time, that doesn’t mean AMD offerings are being left in the dust because they are still very capable of delivering a good gaming experience, which were demonstrated in our Ryzen 7 1800X and Ryzen 5 1600X reviews.
Once again, a similar scenario applies to the Ryzen 5 1500X despite having less cores and threads – as well as clock speed than the two higher-end Ryzen chips that we previewed before. This CPU is still good for gaming when paired with capable graphics card.
Overclocking
Of all Ryzen processors that we tested so far, the Ryzen 5 1500X has the biggest clock speed gain through basic overclocking at 11% over its base clock speed. That being said, the stable clock speed that we managed to achieve using AMD Ryzen Master with default voltage settings is 3.9GHz which is somewhat identical with the two higher-end Ryzen processors that we reviewed before.
Below is how the gain translates into actual performance:
Once again, we would like to remind potential Ryzen 5 1500X owners out there that AMD has advised users not to set the CPU’s voltage at more than 1.45V in order to ensure its longevity. The company stated that 1.35V is acceptable limit for those want to use the CPU in manual overclock mode on daily basis.
Thermal & Power Consumption
Since the Ryzen 5 1500X has lower TDP rating than its two higher-end siblings that we reviewed previously, it is not surprising to see that the CPU consumes less power than they did. But, its temperature somehow remained identical although do note that we are using the bundled Wraith Sphere cooler in our system.
That being said, there is still nothing wrong with the stock cooler for general usage since the chip’s temperature hardly goes beyond 70°C under normal workload. Nevertheless, aftermarket coolers might be a good investment for users who want to utilize the CPU through manual overclock mode.
Competition
As mentioned earlier, AMD has its eyes set on the Intel Core i5-7500 for Ryzen 5 1500X. It is not hard to see the reason behind it since the specs for both processors look rather similar:
There is also a slight difference in terms of pricing as shown above (although not by much). The same goes for their performances, which is almost on par depending:
Conclusion
The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is a more down to earth product as compared to its higher-end siblings that we have tested before. Rather than edging out its designated competitor Intel Core i5-7500, the CPU generally stands on par with it. It might not sound much, but it is still a positive point for the Ryzen 5 1500X considering how this scenario can’t be achieved by its predecessors for the past few years.
In short, the Ryzen 5 1500X is still a formidable choice among quad-core CPUs options that are available in the market at the moment thanks to its competitive level of performance. Not to forget, there is also the affordability factor of the overclock-friendly mid-range AM4 motherboard which might able to help its case against its close competitor.
