Right now, we’re following up with our testing from final week, which in contrast AMD’s Ryzen 7 3700X with the Core i9-9900K. Each CPUs acquired our advice again within the day – the 9900K as an uncompromising top-tier gaming CPU, and the 3700X for its distinctive worth, not simply in gaming but additionally in core-heavy productiveness duties. It actually was a superb all-rounder for these on a finances.
Provided that, these CPUs weren’t actually in direct competitors; on the time, AMD had no direct rival to the Core i9 in gaming. However, for many avid gamers, we prompt the 3700X or, ideally, the extra inexpensive Ryzen 5 3600 as a substitute, as they weren’t solely considerably cheaper, however the AM4 platform they required was set to help a future era of CPUs. In distinction, Intel’s LGA1151 platform was successfully lifeless, with the 9900K being the top of the highway.
Lately, a reader posted a query: How do the 3700X and 9900K examine at this time, and the way does the 9900K stack up in opposition to the 5800X3D?
It is an attention-grabbing query and an ideal comparability to look again on.
On one hand, one may have invested $600 on the Core i9-9900K for the very best gaming efficiency 2018/2019 needed to supply, or, alternatively, spend half that quantity, generally even much less, on the 3700X.
Regardless of the large value distinction, the 3700X wasn’t a lot slower in gaming and constantly delivered extremely playable efficiency, making it an apparent selection for a lot of.
Unexpected on the time was that buying the 3700X in 2019 – or actually any AM4 processor as much as that time – would mean you can improve to the 5800X3D some 3 years later utilizing the identical motherboard, for $450, which isn’t filth low cost, however was nonetheless more cost effective than the 9900K.
Furthermore, when you may wait longer, some 5 months after launch, the 5800X3D’s value dropped to $330, the unique value of the 3700X.
On the identical time, Intel’s Core i7-12700KF was retailing for $380, and to improve, 9900K homeowners would require a brand new Z690 motherboard, with first rate choices priced round $200, bringing the whole improve value to roughly $580 (assuming you caught along with your present DDR4 reminiscence). Nonetheless, utilizing DDR4 typically resulted within the 12700KF performing slower than the 5800X3D, so the platform improve would not essentially web you further efficiency.
After all, when you opted for a Core i9-12900K at $620, a $200 Z690 motherboard, and for instance, extravagantly, $150 for DDR5 reminiscence, that might quantity to $970. These keen to dump $1,000 on platform upgrades each few years do not care about worth, which is the camp most unique 9900K homeowners would have been in, so this is not to say 9900K consumers did it flawed, it is only a look again at how the assorted choices have performed out.
The place the “you probably did it flawed” debates would possibly emerge is when evaluating the Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 7 3700X in opposition to the extra inexpensive Ninth-gen Core sequence elements. However maybe that is a dialogue for one more time.
So, now in late 2023, with a extra highly effective GPU just like the RTX 4090 and a slew of latest titles, how do the 5800X3D and 9900K examine? Each CPUs have been paired with 32GB of dual-rank DDR4-3600 CL14 reminiscence, the most recent BIOS updates have been utilized, and we’re, in fact, operating Home windows 11. Let’s delve into it…
Benchmarks
Beginning with Murderer’s Creed Mirage, we beforehand discovered that this was one of many few titles the place the 3700X and 9900K had been very related, sometimes delivering between 110-120 fps. Now, fairly remarkably, we’re a large 56% efficiency uplift from the Core i9 to the 5800X3D, because the 3D V-Cache half propelled the RTX 4090 to 184 fps.
Even at 1440p, we’re observing a 52% enhance in efficiency, with the 5800X3D delivering a really high-refresh-rate expertise. Then at 4K, we’re nonetheless seeing a 21% enhance, rendering 132 fps, marking a big enchancment general from the 5800X3D.
These outcomes additionally spotlight why utilizing an RTX 4090 to check the 9900K and 3700X is not a difficulty as many inexperienced PC customers would possibly declare. It is because the outcomes are closely CPU-limited, which is the purpose, and thus we’d see related outcomes from these older CPUs utilizing a a lot slower GPU. Nonetheless, a slower GPU would obscure any enchancment supplied by the sooner 5800X3D, which might fully negate the aim of a CPU efficiency investigation.
Cyberpunk was a way more favorable title for the 9900K, as right here it is a vital 27% sooner than the 3700X, which is advantageous for the Core i9. Nonetheless, 3700X customers who improve to the 5800X3D will see a considerable 31% efficiency enhance over the 9900K, providing a real high-refresh-rate expertise in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty with 142 fps at 1080p and 141 fps at 1440p.
Subsequent up, now we have Horizon Zero Daybreak, the place the 9900K was as much as 11% sooner than the 3700X. Nonetheless, the 5800X3D was a big 28% sooner than the 9900K, exhibiting that the AM4 platform had extra longevity than Intel’s LGA1151. Even at 1440p, we’re as much as 27% extra efficiency after which a extra modest 12% achieve at 4K.
The Far Cry 6 outcomes are much like these seen in Murderer’s Creed Mirage, in that the 3700X and 9900K are very aggressive. Nonetheless, the 5800X3D far surpasses the 9900K, delivering 50% extra efficiency at 1080p and 1440p, and was even as much as 22% sooner at 4K.
Shifting on to F1 23, this can be a title the place the 9900K carried out very properly relative to the 3700X, providing a big 28% efficiency enhance at 1080p, reaching 170 fps – a really spectacular outcome for the older i9. Nonetheless, the 5800X3D simply outperforms the 9900K, providing a further 28% in efficiency, reaching 218 fps on common, which is a 61% enhance over the 3700X.
For Assetto Corsa Competizione, the 9900K was restricted to 111 fps, which was fairly spectacular in comparison with the 3700X, marking it 23% sooner, though it did value virtually twice as a lot. But, when the 5800X3D is launched into the comparability, it’s an unbelievable 58% sooner, permitting for 175 fps on common, and even at 4K, it was nonetheless 51% sooner.
When testing with Watch Canines: Legion, each the 9900K and 3700X fell wanting 100 fps. Nonetheless, with the 5800X3D put in, we’re now seeing an virtually 60% efficiency enhance, hitting 155 fps on common at 1080p, after which a 60% enhance at 1440p. Even at 4K, the 5800X3D was nonetheless 26% sooner than the 9900K.
Subsequent, now we have A Plague Story: Requiem, the place the 9900K is 21% sooner than the 3700X, marking a substantial efficiency uplift. Nonetheless, it is not as substantial because the 32% efficiency benefit the 5800X3D enjoys over the 9900K. Then at 1440p, the 5800X3D was 30% sooner than the 9900K, although that margin diminished to simply 5% on the GPU-limited 4K decision.
The 9900K was notably sooner than the 3700X in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, delivering 22% extra frames at 1080p, and the 5800X3D improved upon that by an extra 35%, averaging 140 fps. At 1440p, the 5800X3D was 34% sooner than the 9900K, although we turn into closely GPU-limited at 4K.
Like Watch Canines: Legion, Baldur’s Gate 3 is one other recreation the place the older 3700X and 9900K had been unable to hit 100 fps, regardless of the RTX 4090’s capabilities. With the 5800X3D put in, efficiency was boosted to over 140 fps, a considerable 54% enhance over the 9900K.
The 3700X and 9900K delivered related efficiency in Name of Obligation: Fashionable Warfare II, however the 5800X3D was nonetheless 36% sooner than the 9900K at 1080p, 11% sooner at 1440p, and 6% sooner at 4K.
Resident Evil 4 is one other title the place the older CPUs fell wanting 100 fps, that means the 5800X3D was 54% sooner than the 9900K at 1080p, 51% sooner at 1440p, and a powerful 33% sooner at 4K.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider, whereas an older title, stays CPU-demanding. Each the 3700X and 9900K carried out properly, with the Intel CPU 16% sooner, averaging 159 fps at 1080p. Nonetheless, the 5800X3D was a powerhouse, producing 269 fps, an virtually 70% enhance over the 9900K, underscoring the AM4 platform’s capabilities.
The Callisto Protocol, a a lot newer title, confirmed related margins to Tomb Raider. At 1080p, the 9900K was 16% sooner than the 3700X, however the 5800X3D was 41% sooner than the 9900K – a big margin, although not as giant as in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
In Complete Conflict: Warhammer III, the 9900K was simply 7% sooner than the 3700X at 1080p, with each CPUs delivering wonderful efficiency. Nonetheless, the 5800X3D was 47% sooner than the 9900K, outputting 253 fps on common.
Hogwarts Legacy did not carry out properly on the 3700X, and the 9900K did not fare a lot better, averaging simply 46 fps. However, the 9900K was 15% sooner than the 3700X, and the 5800X3D’s 30% efficiency enhance was vital, making 60 fps achievable and vastly enhancing the gaming expertise.
In Starfield, the efficiency positive aspects had been modest, with the 5800X3D being simply 13% sooner than the 9900K, a good enchancment however not as giant because the 40%+ positive aspects we have seen in different titles.
For The Final of Us, the 9900K was 15% sooner than the 3700X at 1080p, permitting for a median of 114 fps. The 5800X3D managed a median of 139 fps, making it 22% sooner than the 9900K, contributing to a greater high-refresh-rate expertise.
Each the 3700X and 9900K delivered extremely playable efficiency in Halo Infinite, with the Intel CPU roughly 12% sooner at 1080p and 1440p. The 5800X3D eclipsed these outcomes with a median of 215 fps, making it 42% sooner than the 9900K at 1080p and 33% sooner at 1440p.
In Hitman 3, the 3700X and 9900K had been intently matched, with only a 5% efficiency benefit for the Intel processor. However, the 5800X3D excelled, averaging 195 fps at 1080p, a 35% enhance over the 9900K.
Lastly, in Spider-Man Remastered, the 9900K considerably outperformed the 3700X, providing 26% extra efficiency at 1080p, averaging 110 fps. But, the 5800X3D surpassed that, offering a 31% enhance and reaching 144 fps on common, delivering a superior high-refresh-rate expertise.
Efficiency Abstract
So we have examined the 21 video games examined, and it appears fairly clear that the 5800X3D presents AM4 homeowners a big improve over one thing just like the 3700X, and it’s significantly sooner than the 9900K. However let’s decide exactly how a lot sooner it was throughout the video games examined, starting with the 1080p knowledge.
At 1080p, utilizing the RTX 4090, we discovered that the 5800X3D was, on common, 41% sooner than the Core i9-9900K, which is a exceptional efficiency distinction. In truth, within the least spectacular case, the 5800X3D was 21% sooner, and there are 7 examples the place it was over 50% sooner.
Even at 1440p, the 5800X3D was, on common, 35% sooner than the 9900K, with the overwhelming majority of titles seeing a 20% achieve or extra, and once more, there have been 7 video games the place the 5800X3D was greater than 50% sooner.
Lastly, at 4K, the 5800X3D was 16% sooner than the 9900K. It is vital to notice that, on common, the 3700X was simply 13% slower than the 9900K at 1080p.
What We Realized
As we have mentioned from the beginning, we do not consider there was essentially a proper or flawed option to method these purchases. Should you wished the very best of the very best again in 2018 and will afford the 9900K, then it might have made sense to take action. Hopefully, your funds did not take successful through the years and by the point extra processing energy was wanted, one thing just like the 12900K or maybe the 7800X3D was inside attain.
However, when you wished robust gaming efficiency with extremely playable body charges in all of your favourite video games, then the extra inexpensive Ryzen processors supplied excellent worth. In truth, the true worth of Ryzen was not totally realized till the discharge of the 5000 sequence, significantly the 3D V-Cache mannequin, because the 5800X3D proved to be exceptionally aggressive, particularly on the $330 value level that it has largely maintained.
The worth of AM4 is simple; upgrading from the 3700X to the 5800X3D was a fast and easy course of, with the whole funding amounting to barely greater than the preliminary value of the 9900K, although you might have bought the 3700X to recoup a number of the value. All issues thought-about, by 2023, for roughly the identical monetary outlay, the AM4 platform is providing a median of 40% extra efficiency when CPU-limited, in line with our most up-to-date testing. We reckon that is fairly spectacular.
Tell us what you concentrate on the AM4 improve path. Would you wish to see AMD replicate this success with AM5? Do you suppose Intel must help extra generations on the identical socket?
And which platform would you’ve gotten invested in, understanding what you understand now? You should definitely tell us within the remark part beneath, and we’ll try your suggestions. For now, we’re executed with this one, and we hope you loved the look again.
