AMD is fighting with itself . The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the fastest gaming C.P.U. you could buy , and I do n’t cogitate anyone is surprised by that . It ’s even in the running for one of thebest processorsyou can buy thanks to much higher productivity public presentation compared to previous generation .
But AMD posture at the top uncontested , and it ’s unfrequented up there — or so I hear . The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is faster than its last - gen counterpart , and it blows away flagships fromAMD and Intelwhen it get to game . That ’s nothing to scoff at , even if the margins are n’t as wide as I ’ve fare to expect .
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D specs
Specs - wise , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is n’t too different from the last - gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D. You ’re still contract eight inwardness and 16 threads , along with a maximum power haul of 120 Watt . Both also add up with 104 megabyte of total cache thanks to AMD’s3D V - Cachetech . The major difference from the high - level specs is that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is time somewhat eminent , and that reveals a draw about what ’s going on under the hood .
This is the first 3D V - Cache processor that ’s fully unsecured foroverclocking . As with old 3D V - Cache CPUs like theRyzen 9 7950X3D , you could overclock the potato chip with AMD ’s Precision Boost Overdrive ( PBO ) . However , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the only processor with 3D V - Cache that allows for manual overclocking , as well . you may tweak your emf , set your multipliers , and so on , which has n’t been possible on 3D V - Cache CPUs up to this point — without some serious modding , at least .
That ’s because the Ryzen 7 9800X3D employment “ next - gen ” 3D V - Cache , according to AMD . late CPU with the tech have pile the additional stash on top of the CPU die , serving as almost an insolating ( in a speculative way ) bed between the mainframe cores and the integrated heat broadcaster ( IHS ) on top of the central processing unit . The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has the cacheunderthe CPU cores , give the center direct access to the IHS . That , according to AMD , allows the cores to stay cooler and therefore be given at high clock speeds .
Outside of the cache change , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is also pack the Zen 5 computer architecture that we ’ve seen in mainframe like theRyzen 9 9950X and Ryzen 9 9900X. There are a wad of modification in Zen 5 , but one of the most significant is a 512 - bit data path for AVX-512 instructions . There are applications for AVX-512 in AI work load , but also in PS3 emulation . It ’s not something that will change your performance in most applications , but in the few apps that can leverage AVX-512 , you ’ll be happy it ’s there in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
Test configurations
As I do with all central processor reviews , I ran all of the chips featured here through my rooms of benchmarks , trying to keep the test platforms as similar as possible . The only difference between them are the motherboards and processor — and I kept motherboard mise en scene identical . The data here is all bracing , meaning the results were recorded within the last match of workweek with the same Windows and driver versions for each of the various platform .
It ’s important to foreground these similarity because , as I experience with theRyzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X , Windows can toy a big theatrical role in performance . And that ’s even more straight with a 3D V - Cache CPU , which leverages the Xbox Game Bar for optimum performance . I ran all of my test with the latest updates , both from Microsoft and AMD , as well as the most recent BIOS versions for the motherboards . There have been a circumstances of updates for Ryzen 9000 CPUs since launching , so all of the outcome here add up from those update .
The only thing I did n’t get to test was the X3D Turbo mode uncommitted on the Gigabyte motherboard I used . Some early examination suggests this mode does n’t really boost performance much anyway , and it ’s not a consistent mise en scene across motherboards , so I left it off . Gigabyte , for its part , is claiming a performance uplift of 3 % to 5 % with the mode enabled , however .
Productivity performance
For as telling as AMD ’s 3D V - Cache CPUs have been , they ’ve always compromised on productiveness execution , fix by power , temperatures , and clock speeds . AMD says that with the fresh 3D V - Cache layout , productiveness performance is up on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D in a big fashion , and my results back that up .
Cinebench establishes the dynamic here . Although the Ryzen 7 9800X3D easy outclass flagships like theCore Ultra 9 285Kin games , it ’s still an eight - sum CPU , so it ’s not going to dominate in multi - core mental test like Cinebench . What ’s impressive here is how the Ryzen 7 9800X3D pile up to the eight - core Ryzen 7 9700X. The 3D V - Cache chip is onward , which is not a moral force we usually see . Further , if you look at the 105W business leader mood of the Ryzen 7 9700X , the two CPUs are identical .
That ’s mostly what I found — in productiveness apps , this is an eight - core Zen 5 CPU that has access to up to 120W of power . In short , it ’s a Ryzen 7 9700X always run in a higher power mode . In past generation , the 3D V - Cache version of a CPU was almost always a clear step behind , sacrifice productiveness operation to enable to the extra cache . Not the case here .
Geekbench 6 further book binding up that dot , with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 7 9700X at 105W sitting right next to each other . compare to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D , you ’re see at a 15 % increase in productiveness public presentation , despite the fact that both processors are packing eight CORE .
In some cases , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is even a moment ahead of the Ryzen 7 9700X. you’re able to see that in Blender 4.2 above , where the 3D V - Cache CPU force out a narrow pencil lead , even compare to the 105W fashion of the Ryzen 7 9700X. The gen - on - gen betterment are fantastic , too , with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D outclass its last - gen counterpart by upwardly of 21 % . That endorse up AMD ’s original performance claims about the CPU .
Looking at apps that stress more than your CPU , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D traumatise me in Photoshop . It ’s on equation with the Ryzen 9 9950X. Granted , Photoshop is an app that does n’t really scale past eight nucleus , and it leans on your GPU for support flock . But unlike previous generations , where limited clock speed meant 3-D V - Cache could n’t do in productiveness apps , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is keep pace just fine .
Premiere scales up to togs more graciously , and sure enough , you may see the Ryzen 7 9800X3D fall behind multi - core monsters like theCore i9 - 14900K. Still , the CPU is keeping pace with the Ryzen 7 9700X , which is a confident sign , and it dead crushes the last - gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
close out productivity , take a feeling at Y - Cruncher . The public presentation here is n’t too surprising compare to the Ryzen 7 9700X , but this app leverages AVX-512 pedagogy . That has a massive impact on performance , with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D even beating out Intel ’s new 24 - core Core Ultra 9 285K.
The productiveness performance here is very impressive . dependable to AMD ’s claim , it was able to exit the gap by sticking the cache under the central processing unit kick the bucket and boost clock speeds . I do n’t think an eight - nub mainframe is your better stake if productivity execution is your main business concern . However , the functioning here is very hopeful if AMD scale up its 3D V - Cache CPUs this propagation as it did in previous generations . Something like a Ryzen 9 9950X3D would be a dead on target force in the current landscape painting of screen background CPU .
Gaming performance
gambling is what matters for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D , and true to AMD ’s word , the CPU is the fastest gaming crisp I ’ve tested . Cyberpunk 2077sets the stage here pretty well , though . you could see about a 6 % improvement compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D , and a little over 15 % compared to the Ryzen 7 9700X. I ’ll be straight with you — this section is going to be a little boring . The Ryzen 7 9800X3D just sit around at the top of the good deal across the dining table .
The main interrogative sentence is how much the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is forward , and games likeF1 22andFinal Fantasy XIVprovide some good insight . I saw a 5 % bump inF1 22and a 7 % jump inFinal Fantasy XIVcompared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. In all three of these games , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is just under the 8 % boost that AMD originally claimed . These are some of the better results for the central processing unit that I saw , too .
There are a lot of games where the movement is very small-scale , or completely nonexistent . Assassin ’s Creed Mirage , Returnal , andRed Dead Redemption 2are all premier instance of games where the Ryzen 7 9800X3D does very little over its last - gen twin . They also wait on as effective reminders that some game just do n’t care about the additional hoard on 3D V - Cache CPUs .
AMD still tops the nap , so this is far from bad performance . It ’s just not a reason to go out and buy the new 3D V - Cache offer , particularly when it ’s more expensive than its last - gen counterpart .
That ’s not to discredit the work that AMD did here . There are some games where the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is significantly faster than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. InAshes of the Singularity , for instance , the chip was around 15 % faster . That ’s howling .
However , there are still some unsolved issues with Ryzen 9000 CPU as a whole . Black Myth : Wukongprovides a window into that , where both the Ryzen 9 7950X and Ryzen 7 7800X3D are surpass all of the Ryzen 9000 chips . These post do n’t come up often , but my results here show there at least some games where AMD needs to put in a bit more work with its Zen 5 C.P.U. .
If you want the fastest gaming mainframe on the market , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is your answer . There ’s no doubt about that . However , the gain over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D are n’t that substantial . You ’re look at single digits in most games , which all but melt at gamy resolve and computer graphic setting .
Temperature and power
In the old generation , efficiency was a very firm point for gambling with a 3D V - Cache CPU . The Ryzen 7 7800X3D almost never draw 120W like it ’s capable of , and in games , it would barely top 70W. Things are dissimilar this time around . The Ryzen 7 9800X3D consumes more power and runs hotter than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D , but some context of use is important .
If you depend at the Core i9 - 14900 K , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is still wildly more effective . It , too , is staying under 100W in games , just like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. It ’s not as efficient , but that make common sense . The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is n’t limited by power ; it ’s limited by temperatures . It ’ll hit a temperature rampart usually before it hits a power wall , and by redesigning the internals of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D , AMD is capable to force closer to that top executive paries .
That ’s not to say the Ryzen 7 9800X3D runs cooler because it does n’t . you’re able to see the results from screen on the temperature front above . There ’s a bump here compare to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D , but it ’s not too significant . That ’s important take the Ryzen 7 9800X3D not only has a higher maximal operating temperature but it ’s also clocked higher and full unbolted for overclocking .
Should you buy the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
If you want the firm gaming performance , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a slam dunk shot . More so than old generation , AMD tightened up productivity performance a lot , and you ’re mostly getting the performance of eight Zen 5 cores — despite the extra memory cache . compare to previous 3D V - Cache releases , that ’s huge .
However , I ’m not sold on buying the Ryzen 7 9800X3D if you already have a Ryzen 7 7800X3D. I ’m also not sure where the price of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D will end up . Coming in now at $ 479 , the Ryzen 7 9800X3D does n’t apologize that terms if the last - gen chip drop down to its historic depression around $ 350 . I do n’t get laid if that ’ll bechance or not , however .
People coming from an Intel platform or upgrading from an AM4 motherboard do n’t need to occupy about much . grease one’s palms the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. If your frame-up is a little more late , however , I would take a good look at price on former generations before making a conclusion .