The Ryzen 9 7950X has been AMD’s greatest processor for some time, but it surely now faces some critical competitors. We don’t simply imply AMD’s long-standing rival, Intel. AMD itself has created a CPU that is perhaps even higher than the flagship: the Ryzen 9 7950X3D.
Geared up with a large 3D V-Cache, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D simply is perhaps the world’s quickest gaming processor proper now. Let’s examine these two AMD flagships and see which one shall be topped because the winner.
Pricing and availability
AMD first ushered in its Ryzen 7000 processors on September 27, 2022. The Ryzen 9 7950X is the crowning jewel of that lineup, and it arrived priced at $700. Apart from the Ryzen 9 7950X, AMD additionally launched three extra processors on that very same day, together with the Ryzen 9 7900X, Ryzen 7 7700X, and the Ryzen 5 7600X.
Whereas the preliminary Zen 4 lineup was nice to see, many individuals have been eagerly awaiting the return of AMD’s 3D V-Cache — however that didn’t come till later. Introduced at CES 2023, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D was launched alongside the Ryzen 9 7900X3D on February 28, 2023. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D should wait till April 6.
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D comes with a $700 price ticket, which is identical worth because the Ryzen 9 7950X had earlier than it was adjusted. You possibly can normally discover the CPU for round $600 lately, which makes the 3D V-Cache chip pricier by $100.
Specs
| Ryzen 9 7950X | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | |
| Cores/threads | 16/32 | 16/32 |
| Base clock | 4.5GHz | 4.2GHz |
| Enhance clock | 5.7GHz | 5.7GHz |
| Cache (L2 + L3) | 80MB | 144MB |
| TDP | 170W | 120W |
| Checklist worth | $600 | $700 |
Each the Ryzen 9 7950X and the Ryzen 9 7950X3D are based mostly on AMD’s Zen 4 structure — however the latter comes with AMD’s 3D V-Cache. Which means AMD has stacked the cache on prime of the processor, which ends up in a a lot bigger cache, and that’s the principle distinction between the 2 processors. The 3D half comes with 144MB of mixed cache, whereas the common CPU solely comes with 80MB.
There are a pair extra modifications. Whereas each the processors increase to five.7GHz, the 3D chip solely has a base clock pace of 4.2GHz versus the 7950X with 4.5GHz. However, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is much more power-conservative, with a TDP of 120 watts versus the 170W Ryzen 9 7950X.
Efficiency
We’ve had the prospect to get up-close and private with each processors, and that offers us a novel perception into how they carry out. Take a look at our in-depth opinions of the Ryzen 9 7950X and the Ryzen 9 7950X3D to be taught extra. We’ve examined each chips in a setup that additionally included Nvidia’s RTX 4080 and 32GB of DDR5-6000 reminiscence. We didn’t simply match them up in opposition to one another, but additionally in opposition to Intel’s Core i9-13900K, the current-gen flagship for Staff Blue.
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is a supercharged model of the last-gen Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Geared up with much more cache, it was virtually destined to change into a gaming beast — however AMD clearly wished it to be greater than that, concentrating on productiveness alongside gaming. Our take a look at outcomes present that AMD was profitable in making an attempt to stop the CPU from being pigeonholed as a chip strictly for avid gamers, in addition to that there’s nonetheless has its place within the lineup for the Ryzen 9 7950X.
| AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | |
| Cinebench R23 multi-core | 36,335 | 38,116 |
| Cinebench R23 single core | 2,045 | 2,030 |
| 7-Zip | 224,446 MIPs | 224,581 MIPS |
| Blender Monster | 271.9 | 283.2 |
| Blender Junkshop | 172.1 | 175.4 |
| Blender Classroom | 133.4 | 139.9 |
| Handbrake (seconds, decrease is best) | 38 | 38 |
| JetStream 2 | 353.9 | 357.2 |
| PugetBench for Photoshop | 1,590 | 1,574 |
| Y-Cruncher multi-core (seconds, decrease is best) | 8.87 | 9.26 |
| Y-Cruncher single core (seconds, decrease is best) | 77.19 | 77.11 |
AMD claimed that the Ryzen 9 7950X3D would present an enchancment starting from 4% to 52% by way of productiveness, however in our benchmarks, the CPU wasn’t hitting these superb heights. Nonetheless, it held its floor in opposition to the non-3D chip, however each are defeated by Intel’s Core i9-13900K in virtually each take a look at.
In case you solely examine the 7950X3D to the 7950X, you’ll discover that the CPUs are almost equal by way of productiveness benchmarks. There are some duties the place the additional massive cache is useful, however the lead is nothing to jot down house about in the long term. Nonetheless, it’s protected to say AMD succeeded in making it extra versatile than the 5800X3D.
| AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | |
| F1 2022 | 379.8 fps | 363.7 fps |
| Far Cry 6 | 196.1 fps | 156.8 fps |
| Gears Ways | 273.5 fps | 244.9 fps |
| Hitman 3 (Dartmoor) | 234.6 fps | 197.4 fps |
| Learn Lifeless Redemption 2 | 164.8 fps | 163.5 fps |
| Time Spy CPU | 16,116 | 15,831 |
| LeelaChessZero | 643 | 643 |
Issues get attention-grabbing once we have a look at gaming, which was at all times going to be the first use case for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. The decision is evident — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the perfect gaming CPU proper now, and can possible keep that manner for a very long time.
The brand new chip manages to grab the crown away from Intel in fairly just a few titles. In Gears Ways and Hitman 3Intel was in a position to beat the bottom Ryzen 9 7950X, however the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is now right here to defeat each processors. It leads in each sport versus Intel and AMD, generally exhibiting an enchancment of as much as 25% in opposition to the bottom model. Nonetheless, Intel stays victorious in artificial benchmarks and AI workloads.
In uncooked efficiency, there isn’t a single title the place the 3D V-Cache doesn’t beat its non-3D predecessor. Some wins are bigger than others, but it surely reveals an enchancment in each take a look at.
Which CPU is the perfect of all of them?
So far as a brief abstract goes, we’ll say one factor — each chips are glorious and their efficiency is worthy of a current-gen flagship. Proper now, each are simply among the many greatest processors available on the market, and solely high-end chips just like the Intel Core i9-13900K can hope to beat both of the 2 Ryzens.
Nonetheless, making the change to AMD’s AM5 platform isn’t low-cost, and that knocks just a few factors off for these processors. You’ll want a elaborate motherboard, and while you’re looking for RAM, you’ll have to choose from the high-end DDR5 shelf versus selecting any of the perfect RAM kits obtainable.
The aforementioned bills are true for each the Ryzen 9 7950X and the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, however the latter prices an additional $100. Seeing as it should principally make its manner into high-end rigs, it’s attainable that this shall be a nonissue for a lot of consumers — but it surely nonetheless provides up. On the time of writing, you possibly can typically discover the non-3D processor discounted, and at
$600
, it’s a very good deal.
Nonetheless, the 3D chip is totally the quickest gaming CPU proper now, and it beats its predecessor by an honest quantity. In case you’re keen to spend further and don’t want a productiveness workhorse, you’re certain to like the gaming prowess offered by the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Nonetheless, if you need a extra balanced CPU, the Ryzen 9 7950X shouldn’t be all that far behind.
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