AMD returns to high-end gaming and officially launches its long-awaited Ryzen CPUs, starting with the 3 SKUs from the R7 lineup. A desktop CPU line based on its much-hyped Zen architecture. A chip that it says can contend with Intel's chips at long last. Both Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 are set to be launched later, and Ryzen 7 is the first lot of the family to be released -- the major x86 launch for AMD in 5 years.

Ryzen 7 Key Features

AMD R7 CPU's boast 8 cores and 16 threads with an unlocked multiplier and a TDP as high as 95W for the R7 1800X and 1700X, with the R7 1700 being the black sheep of the group, with 65W. What's vital is an impressive improvement in the number of instructions the chip can handle at once. A Ryzen 7 CPU can do 52 percent more work every cycle than a similarly -clocked predecessor.

AMD R7 features a newer 14-nanometer manufacturing process, five times the bandwidth and some overdue architectural upgrades. This is AMD's first processor with simultaneous multithreading (Hyper-Threading in Intel speak), so each core can execute two code paths at the same time.

Ryzen 7 Price And Availability

AMD Ryzen processors are priced as follows: 7 1800X: 8C/16T, 3.6 GHz base, 4.0 GHz turbo, 95W, at $499, and the 1700X: 8C/16T, 3.4 GHz base, 3.8 GHz turbo, 95W, is at $399. The Ryzen 7 1700: 8C/16T, 3.0 GHz base, 3.7 GHz turbo, 65W, is at $329, respectively, reports The Verge. With Ryzen, the processor stack will be divided into three based on performance and price: Ryzen 7 at the high end, Ryzen 5 in the middle, and Ryzen 3 for more price-conscious clients.

AMD Ryzen 7 CPU also plans to announce its R5 and R3 CPU lineups soon (likely at around the second quarter) to compete with the Intel i5 and i3 in the mid- and much lower range sector. However, no official date has been revealed as of this writing.

The new R7 is a huge leap forward and a true competitor to Intel. Pre-orders from major retailers are now on, ready for a general hard launch on March 2. This also transpires to be right in the middle of two yearly shows, Mobile World Congress and Game Developer Conference, shares AnAndTech.