AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs AMD Ryzen 7 1700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data splits cleanly along core-count lines. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 1700 posts 1414 points against 805 for the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, a 75.7% advantage. That is a decisive margin, and it reflects the Ryzen 7's doubled core and thread count in heavily parallel workloads. Geekbench multi-core tells a similar story, with the Ryzen 7 1700 scoring 5475 versus 4326 for the Ryzen 5 1500X, a 26.6% lead. While not as dramatic as the Cinebench gap, it still shows a substantial throughput edge for the eight-core part.

The single-core results flip the outcome. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen 5 1500X scores 154, while the Ryzen 7 1700 trails at 147, a 4.5% deficit for the larger chip. Geekbench single-core widens that gap: the Ryzen 5 1500X reaches 1122, against 1023 for the Ryzen 7 1700, an 8.8% shortfall. The pattern is consistent: the Ryzen 5 1500X wins both single-threaded tests, and the Ryzen 7 1700 wins both multi-threaded tests. The win tally is even at two apiece, but the magnitudes differ. The multi-core victories for the Ryzen 7 are far larger in percentage terms, especially the Cinebench R15 result, while the single-core wins for the Ryzen 5 are comparatively modest.

Looking at the broader database averages, the Ryzen 7 1700 holds an average benchmark score of 2015, placing it at the 45th percentile of all CPUs tracked. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1807B, scores 2012, a delta of only 0.2%. The Intel Core i5-1145GRE sits just ahead at 2025, a 0.5% gap in favor of Intel. The Ryzen 5 1500X, meanwhile, averages 1992, placing at the 44th percentile. Its closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-7920HQ, which matches it exactly at 1992. The Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 is 0.1% behind at 1991, and the Intel Xeon E-2276M is 0.2% ahead at 1996. These aggregate figures suggest that despite the wide multi-core delta between the two AMD parts, their overall benchmark averages sit only about 1.2% apart, which is a reminder that single-threaded performance drags the Ryzen 7's average down toward the Ryzen 5's level.

Architecture Differences

Both processors come from the same Zen generation, specifically the Summit Ridge core family, and both are built on the same 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The die size is identical at 213 mm², and the transistor count is the same at 4,800 million. Neither chip has integrated graphics, and both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on both, and both use the AMD Socket AM4. The PCIe implementation is also identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The core configuration is where the architectures diverge. The Ryzen 7 1700 provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1500X provides 4 cores and 8 threads. This is the fundamental difference, and it explains the multi-core benchmark results. Cache layout, however, is the same per core: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Despite having half the cores, the Ryzen 5 1500X retains the full 16 MB L3 pool, so the per-core L3 availability doubles on the smaller chip. That may contribute to its single-thread advantage, along with its higher base clock.

Clock speeds differ notably. The Ryzen 7 1700 runs a base clock of 3.00 GHz and boosts to 3.70 GHz. The Ryzen 5 1500X starts at 3.50 GHz base, also boosting to 3.70 GHz. The Ryzen 5's 500 MHz higher base clock gives it a head start in lightly threaded tasks, while the identical boost ceiling means both chips top out at the same frequency under single-core load. Both have unlocked multipliers, so overclocking is possible on either, but the factory clock differences still shape out-of-box behavior. Thermal design power is identical at 65 W for both, which is notable given the Ryzen 7's extra cores; the data implies the Ryzen 7 achieves its higher throughput within the same power envelope.

Release timing differs by roughly a month, with the Ryzen 7 1700 arriving on 2017-03-01 and the Ryzen 5 1500X following on 2017-04-10. Both carry part numbers from the YD family, and both are listed as active production status. The Ryzen 7's part number is YD1700BBAEBOX, while the Ryzen 5's is YD150XBBM4GAEYD150XBBAEBOX. The Ryzen 5's part number includes a duplicated segment, which may indicate a packaging variant, but the underlying silicon is from the same generation and process.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 wins decisively. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1414 against 805 for the Ryzen 5 1500X, a 75.7% advantage. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 5475 versus 4326, a 26.6% lead.

Q: Which CPU wins in single-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X wins both recorded single-core tests. It scores 154 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 147 for the Ryzen 7 1700, a 4.5% margin. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1122 against 1023, an 8.8% margin.

Q: Do both CPUs use the same socket and memory?

A: Yes. Both use AMD Socket AM4, support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, and provide 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Ryzen 7 1700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen 5 1500X has 4 cores and 8 threads. This is the primary architectural difference between them.

Q: Are the clock speeds different?

A: Yes. The Ryzen 7 1700 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost of 3.70 GHz. The Ryzen 5 1500X has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost of 3.70 GHz. The boost clocks are identical, but the Ryzen 5 has a higher base clock.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 7 1700 averages 2015, placing at the 45th percentile. The Ryzen 5 1500X averages 1992, placing at the 44th percentile. The difference is about 1.2% in favor of the Ryzen 7.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For users running heavily threaded applications, the Ryzen 7 1700 is the stronger choice. Its 75.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 26.6% lead in Geekbench multi-core show that doubling the cores and threads delivers substantial throughput gains. The Ryzen 7 also holds a slightly higher average benchmark score, 2015 versus 1992, and a marginally better percentile ranking at 45 versus 44.

For users whose workloads are primarily single-threaded, the Ryzen 5 1500X is the better fit. It wins both single-core tests, with an 8.8% margin in Geekbench single-core and a 4.5% margin in Cinebench R15 single-core. Its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 3.00 GHz likely drives this advantage. Since both CPUs share the same boost clock of 3.70 GHz, the Ryzen 5's sustained single-thread performance at stock settings is simply higher.

The even split in wins, two apiece, is misleading if read without the percentages. The Ryzen 7's multi-core wins are much larger in relative terms than the Ryzen 5's single-core wins. A user who needs both types of performance should weigh the magnitude of the multi-core benefit more heavily, given that the Ryzen 7's average score is higher overall. However, the Ryzen 5 is not a weak part; its 44th percentile ranking places it just one percentile behind its larger sibling, and its single-thread performance is superior out of the box.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 1700 | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Release Date | 2017-03-01 | 2017-04-10 |

| Part Number | YD1700BBAEBOX | YD150XBBM4GAEYD150XBBAEBOX |

| Launch MSRP | $329 | $189 |

All other tracked specifications are shared: AMD Socket AM4, Zen architecture, 14 nm process, GlobalFoundries foundry, 4,800 million transistors, 213 mm² die size, 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, 16 MB shared L3, DDR4 dual-channel memory, 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, ECC support, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, no integrated graphics, 65 W TDP, unlocked multiplier, and desktop market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 1700 wins in any scenario that scales with core count. Rendered workloads, video encoding, batch compilation, and other parallel tasks will see the 75.7% Cinebench R15 multi-core advantage and the 26.6% Geekbench multi-core advantage. The data shows that the eight-core configuration provides a large throughput buffer for multitasking or heavily threaded applications. The Ryzen 7 also edges ahead in aggregate, with an average benchmark score of 2015 versus 1992 for the Ryzen 5.

The Ryzen 5 1500X wins in latency-sensitive, lightly threaded tasks. Its 8.8% Geekbench single-core lead and 4.5% Cinebench R15 single-core lead suggest faster responsiveness in everyday desktop use, older games that rely on one or two threads, and applications with poor parallel scaling. The higher base clock of 3.50 GHz gives it a stock-frequency advantage that the Ryzen 7 cannot match without manual overclocking. Both chips share the same boost ceiling, so the Ryzen 5's single-thread edge persists under boost conditions as well.

The database also shows that the Ryzen 5 1500X is not far behind in overall standings. Its average score of 1992 places it within 1.2% of the Ryzen 7 1700, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-7920HQ, matches it exactly. The Ryzen 7's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1807B, is only 0.2% behind it. Neither AMD part dominates its immediate competitive cluster, but within this head-to-head, the choice reduces to whether the workload is parallel or serial. The Ryzen 7 owns the former, the Ryzen 5 owns the latter.