Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
AMD ’s Zen 4 3D V - Cache CPUs are true marvels of forward-looking mainframe performance . They offer olympian gaming performanceon equivalence with the absolute best that Intel has to offer , and yet do it at a fraction of the power draw and heat output . They recede out on productivity performance , but that ’s what the non - X3D AMD CPUs are for . And if you want all - rounders , but do n’t mind high thermal design power ( TDP ) ratings , then Intel ’s offering are always an choice .
But out of the latest generation of X3D CPUs , which is the best ? The7950X3D is the most expensive with more inwardness , while the 7800X3Dis the gambling favorite . And what about the choice between those two , the 7900X3D ? Let ’s ascertain out .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Pricing and availability
AMD launched its X3D refresh of the Ryzen 7000 multiplication in spring 2023 , startle with the 7950X3D and 7900X3D on February 28 , and following with the 7800X3D on April 6 . Their MSRPs were $ 700 , $ 600 , and $ 450 , respectively , although real - world retail pricing has get along down a lot since then . you’re able to now find these processors at around $ 600 , $ 400 , and $ 370 , respectively . Availability is far-flung for all of them and , due to their popularity , they seem unlikely to sell out any time before the next - generation ofZen 5 processorslaunch later this class .
Specs
Despite all three of these processors being from the same generation and all sporting the same additional L3 cache stuck on top of the main central processor die , the shape of these CPUs is still quite distinct . On the surface , there are the marrow count difference of opinion , with the 7800X3D sporting eight Zen 4 cores , the 7900X3D 12 , and the 7950X3D 16 — mirror their non - X3D counterparts .
Cache quantity are quite distinct , too . All of them have more than their non - X3D translation — and much more than the Intel competition — with the 7800X3D at 100 MB of total L3 stash , and the 7900X3D and 7950X3D both at 128 MB . That ’s not a vast difference of opinion — and it does n’t make much of one in the real creation , as you ’ll see below . But it ’s there .
Clock speeds are also different , but this metric is a little misleading . Like the last - generation5800X3D , 3D V - Cache CPUs have to operate at a lower clock speed due to caloric and power constraints . However , in both the 7900X3D and 7950X3D , the additional L3 memory cache is only tie to one of the burden complex dies ( CCX ) , so the 2nd CCX can operate as standard Zen 4 cores at eminent clock speeds .
That means the 7900X3D has only six cores with 3D V - Cache musical accompaniment , while the 7800X3D and 7950X3D have eight , though the 7800X3D has no in high spirits clocked essence to work with . Despite these differences , TDP is basically the same across the board , highlight the impressive efficiency of 3D V - Cache CPUs .
Performance
tangible - world performance results are where the galosh really meets the route for CPUs , so how do these three modern , high - power processors do ?
While you might assume that the 7950X3D walks by with every comparing , you ’d be surprised to learn that , at least in gaming , the 7800X3D is arguably more telling and the good CPU for anyone interested in perfect play .
Although the 7950X3D hold a significant atomic number 82 in synthetic tryout like 3DMark , where the additional central processor cores can be leverage , in real - humankind play benchmarks , that leading disappears all . In our own testing , we found the7800X3D was private-enterprise , or even slimly better than , the 7950X3D in most games , andTechPowerUp match with us . It render the 7800X3D being quicker than the 7950X3D on mediocre in games at 1080p , 1440p , and 4 K , despite the add together Congress of Racial Equality of the higher - end chip .
While we have n’t tested the 7900X3D at once , MakeUseOfpulled together the event of high - profile YouTube technical school channel and found that the 12 core CPU often fall behind both the 7950X3D and 7800X3D in biz . In fact , the 7800X3D ends up often being the most capable processor .
So , what ’s go on ? The 7950X3D and 7800X3D are effectively the same processor , but the former just has eight additional heart and soul it can use for other undertaking . In the cases where the 7800X3D pulls onward , it could be a programing exit where the 7950X3D ’s non-3D V - Cache cores are used alternatively , but that ’s probable to materialize less often as these processors maturate . As for the 7900X3D , it only has six heart with 3D V - Cache , despite hold those redundant six cores in aggregate , so its CPU performance suffers and the shape rate neglect as a answer .
Productivity , however , is another matter altogether . There , the 7950X3D dead walk away with it , thanks to its great inwardness count and access to higher clocked meat . The 7900X3D follow along in second place , in some cases offering very credible competition to the 7950X3D in apps where not all 32 thread of the higher - end splintering can be leveraged . The 7800X3D comes in last place and often by quite a security deposit . Eight cores just ca n’t measure up to 12 or 16 in apps that can use them .
Best for games, best for everything else, and best left alone
It seems we have at least two crowns to give out at this award ceremony . The gaming crown emphatically belong to the 7800X3D. It ’s the fast in raw play power , has a low price tag , and draws less power than the others . If you ’re a virgin gamer and only concerned in what frames per second you could get , the 7800X3D is n’t just the best CPU here , it ’s thebest gaming processorof any CPU from either manufacturer .
If you want pure productivity performance , you should still opt for the non - X3D 7950X from AMD , or better yet , Intel ’s 13900 K or 14900 K , as their higher heart and soul counts ( 24 in both case ) and in high spirits clock speeding mean that if you’re able to keep them cool , you ’ll get top performance in apps that can apply all those core and threads . But out of these three X3D central processing unit , the 7950X3D is by far the fast if you require to do some video redaction or data file archiving .
The 7900X3D is the second best in productivity , but if you’re able to take vantage of 12 cores , you’re able to plausibly take advantage of 16 , and if you ’re buying a processor for work , it ’s believably deserving the tally expense to get the practiced poker chip . It ’s the bad at play , too .
The 7900X3D feels like a central processor without a market . If you ’re gamer , get the 7800X3D. If you desire to workandplay , get the 7950X3D. If you ca n’t quite give the 7950X3D , you could get the 7900X3D , but it ’s believably good to just keep open up .
