Hey there! Let‘s take an honest look at complaints around AMD‘s Ryzen 7 5800X

The Ryzen 7 5800X seemed to offer exactly what demanding desktop users wanted when it launched in late 2020. This 8-core Zen 3 processor served up ample multi-threaded muscle combined with strong single thread throughput perfect for high refresh rate gaming. Early reviews showered praise on the 5800X for striking a balance between performance and (relative) affordability among other Ryzen 5000 models.

However, as enthusiasts got their hands on the processor, some nagging issues came to light. Odd omissions and confusing positioning next to other Ryzen chips gave discerning buyers pause.

As a long-time system builder and AMD user myself, I wanted to have an open discussion around the most common complaints about the Ryzen 7 5800X. I closely followed reviews and feedback around the processor‘s launch, and ultimately chose not to buy one for my own system.

Through my analysis, I think there are some clear reasons why the 5800X disappointed many enthusiasts even though it promises strong performance on paper…

The Ryzen 7 5800X – Impressive Specs with Some Gotchas

Let‘s briefly recap what the 5800X brings to the table before diving into user complaints:

• 8 high-performance Zen 3 CPU cores and 16 threads
• Up to 4.7 GHz boost clock speeds (beats Ryzen 3000 series)
• 105W TDP to balance efficiency and peak output
• Support for latest PCIe 4.0 storage/GPUs
• 7nm transistor architecture (improved over earlier Ryzens)

So in sheer core counts and clocks, the 5800X seems to check the right boxes. And with a launch MSRP of $449, it hit noticeably under the flagship 5950X for those wanting near-peak gaming speeds.

However, we‘ll see some surprising omissions and performance realities failed to impress…

Complaint #1 – No Bundled CPU Cooler in the Box

One of the first frustrations I saw echoed widely was the lack of any included CPU cooler. The vast majority of processors ship with a basic air cooler, even high-end chips pulling well over 100W.

But AMD broke from expectations by shipping the $449 5800X as a standalone processor. No cooler or thermal paste in the box to get buyers up and running.

The company claimed reliance on bundled coolers risked a "least common denominator" scenario that couldn‘t show off the 5800X‘s full performance. But users don‘t expect exotic liquid cooling in the box – just a basic solution to complete an out-of-box build.

Having to shop separately for cooling adds hassle and extra cost right off the bat. For me, it was an immediate strike against the 5800X before even getting to performance.

Complaint #2 – Lack of Integrated Graphics Cripples Fault Tolerance

Along with no included cooler, AMD also opted not to integrate any graphics processing into the 5800X‘s silicon design. Every desktop CPU for generations has featured at least basic integrated graphics (think Intel UHD 630). They deliver video output should a discrete GPU fail, allowing you to access the BIOS and system for troubleshooting.

But with the 5800X, you‘re rendered helpless if your main graphics card dies. I actually experienced two Nvidia GPU failures last year, and was thankful for integrated graphics in my other systems to identify the root cause without extended downtime.

Having to keep an obsolete GPU handy just in case, or going days without a working system, is an unnecessary frustration the 5800X introduces. And again removes standard functionality buyers expect to minimize hassle.

Complaint #3 – Premium Price Fails to Reflect Performance

This leads me to the next major complaint around confusing pricing and positioning of the 5800X. At $449 MSRP, it cost a significant $150 more than the 6-core 5600X. And was just $100 shy of the flagship 12-core 5900X.

Early reviews confirmed what many expected – the 5800X offered the worst value per dollar among new Zen 3 processors:

Credit: TurboPCs.net

You can see the 5800X anchoring the bottom with relatively light single and multi-threaded performance versus its high asking price. Both cheaper and pricier models surpass it.

Where the 5800X does excel is 1080p gaming framerates. But still only ~10% faster than the 5600X, which is far cheaper for nearly the same experience.

Let‘s check some 1080p benchmarks from TechSpot putting actual FPS deltas into perspective:

You‘d be hard pressed to perceive 7-10% more FPS in real-world gaming. And frames are already well over typical monitor refresh rates. Yet you pay 34% more for the 5800X.

This data made clear to me the 5800X just doesn‘t deliver enough tangible benefit over much cheaper Zen 3 alternatives. Or even pricier models for more intensive workloads.

Complaint #4 – IPC and Clocks Barely Budge from Ryzen 3000 Series

We just compared the 5800X versus its 5000 series siblings. But how does AMD‘s new hotness fare against previous generation Zen 2 products?

As a long time Ryzen user, I rely on healthy IPC and clock speed growth between upgrades to justify the investment. Especially at $450 price points.

Unfortunately, AMD made puzzlingly conservative strides moving from Zen 2 to 3 architecture with the 5800X…

• Built on same 7nm process as Ryzen 3000 CPUs
• Same core / thread count as predecessor Ryzen 7 3800X
• Less than 10% average clock speed increase over 3800X

All this translates to around 15% application performance lift over prior Zen 2 chips. Much less than the 25%+ gen-on-gen gains we saw earlier in Ryzen‘s maturity curve.

Anandtech summed it up concluding…

"the upper limits of AMD’s zen microarchitecture on TSMC’s 7nm process node seems to be nearing platform maturity."

In other words, AMD is starting to leave meat on the bone versus extracting all possible performance from each refinement of its chiplet design. Not great when you just paid over $450 for a new CPU!

This was eye opening to me while researching whether to upgrade from my trusty Zen 2 desktop. The minor architectural improvements couldn‘t justify the towering 5800X price tag.

Complaint #5 – 10th Gen Intel Core i9 Nearly Erases Performance Lead

Lackluster generational gains are worrying enough for prospective AMD upgraders. However, another nail in the coffin for the 5800X came when reviewers benchmarked it against Intel‘s just-released 10th gen desktop processors.

The competing Intel flagship – the 10 core / 20 thread Core i9-10900K – shocked everyone by nearly matching the 5800X in both gaming and productivity workloads.

Despite having a process node deficit (14nm vs 7nm) and giving up core/thread counts to AMD, Intel‘s brute force clock speeds prevented Ryzen from truly flexing its efficiency advantage.

Let‘s peek again at some 1080p benchmarks from TechSpot, now with Intel 10th gen in the mix:

Across the board we see Intel‘s gaming muscle neutralizing the 5800X‘s architectural strengths…while costing $100+ less. This shocked media and buyers alike based on assumptions Zen 3 would clearly leapfrog Intel after lagging for years.

Suddenly that $450 for more and faster next-gen cores didn‘t seem so clearly ahead of the curve. Especially versus the blue team‘s strong value gaming chips like the 10600K.

For me this was the final nail that made paying high-end money for the 5800X unreasonable given Intel‘s competitiveness. And made cheaper Zen 3 models even more appealing to save money without losing performance.

Complaint #6 – Awkward Middle Child Among Zen 3 Offerings

Stepping back further, the 5800X misstep becomes most obvious when looking at AMD‘s full Zen 3 product stack. This processor was destined for awkward middle child status from the moment AMD announced its lineup:

• 6 core 5600X – $300 MSRP
• 8 core 5800X – $450 MSRP
• 12 core 5900X – $550 MSRP

On paper, the 5800X seems perfectly poised as a "Goldilocks zone" offering between mainstream and HEDT processors. But as we‘ve explored already, that mainstream-level $300 chip offers nearly equal gaming speed. And the premium 12 core chip runs laps around the 5800X in creative workloads.

So what we ended up with was the worst mix of pricing and performance misalignments:

• Pay more for virtually no real gaming benefits
• Pay so much more than 6 core Zen 3 variant
• Pay almost as much as 12 core variant that crushes productivity apps

Ouch. Losing a battle on both the budget and premium fronts is less than ideal! Even many AMD die hards had trouble justifying slotting this oddball 8 core chip into their builds.

Complaint #7 – Less Room for Overclocking Than Expected

Enthusiasts eying the 5800X as an overclocking candidate also came away largely unimpressed. Given Zen 3‘s much touted architectural redesign, expectations ran high for hitting new clock speed heights.

But between processor binning, voltage restrictions, and thermals, reviewers found the 5800X topping out around 4.85 GHz to 5.05 GHz across samples. That‘s often with exotic cooling methods too!

This represents just a single speed bin jump over rated boost clocks around 4.7 GHz. Not exactly setting records given the hype and $450 asking price.

Overclocking focused buyers felt further disincentive paying up here versus cheaper Zen 3 models with nearly equal headroom. Or biting the bullet for even pricier 12 and 16 core models offering way more cores to push.

Complaint #8 – High Price Matching Modest Generational Gains

Stepping way back, I think the root of complaints around the Ryzen 7 5800X boil down to questionable value.

There‘s no doubt Zen 3 and this processor improved markedly over prior generations in areas like:

• Increased Instructions per clock (IPC)
• Higher peak boost frequencies
• Beefed up L3 cache for latency reduction
• Enhanced floating point throughput

However, relatively light generational performance gains metlarge price hikes across all Zen 3 models. So that value proposition waned quickly as buyers saw cheaper mature Zen 2 chips remaining "good enough" for their needs.

Especially factoring Intel‘s aggressive pricing and major 10th gen performance leap. The modest 10-15% application speed bumps from the equally modest Ryzen 5000 series left buyers questioning need for an immediate upgrade.

Final Verdict – Capable But Hard to Recommend 5800X

I don‘t mean to paint the Ryzen 7 5800X as a fundamentally bad processor. It remains plenty capable in 2023 for high refresh rate gaming and moderate productivity/streaming workloads. You surely won‘t feel lag or struggle to achieve smooth gaming performance in today‘s top titles.

However, its oddly balanced capabilities stack up questionably against alternatives:

• Much pricier than 6 core 5600X that‘s nearly as fast for gaming
• Handily outclassed in core counts and multicore performance by 12+ core models
• Runs neck-and-neck with Intel‘s well-priced 10th gen Core i9 gaming king
• Architectural and performance gains underwhelm versus prior gen Ryzen

All this leaves the 5800X catering to a narrow slice of shoppers focused strictly on maximum gaming fps today without regard for future needs or workload changes. DIY upgraders willing to flip CPUs down the road as applications call for more cores.

For most buyers playing the long game, including myself, it‘s hard to crown a no-compromise recommendation for the 5800X over cheaper and better balanced alternatives. Particularly as both AMD and Intel flesh out mainstream performance options in following generations.

I‘m curious if you arrived at similar conclusions around AMD‘s middle child Zen 3 processor? Or if you‘re rocking a 5800X happily today with none of the complaints above giving you pause? Let me know what you think of this polarizing Ryzen CPU!