Can you overclock the Ryzen 9 7900X3D?

Can you overclock the new Ryzen 9 7900X3D from AMD?

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AMD is set to release the new Ryzen 9 7900X3D at the end of February 2023, the 7900X3D will also release alongside the 7950X3D but not the 7800X3D. Instead, the 7800X3D will release later. Today, we’re focusing on the Ryzen 9 7900X3D and asking: Can you overclock the Ryzen 9 7900X3D?

Now Read: Everything we know about Ryzen 7000 X3D

There is a reason we’re asking whether or not you can overclock the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, that’s because the previous generation’s 5800X3D didn’t allow overclocking at all. This is because the 3D V-cache installed in these chips is extremely sensitive to high voltages and temperatures. So will the 7900X3D suffer the same fate?

First of all, let’s take a look at the specifications of the Ryzen 9 7900X

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Ryzen 9 7900X3D specs

• Architecture: Zen 4
• Core count: 12
• Thread count: 24
• Boost speed: 5.6GHz
• Cache: 140MB
• TDP 120W

Everything looks pretty normal until you notice the insane amount of cache that has been allocated to the 7900X3D. This is going to make the gaming performance of the 7900X3D insane if the performance of the 5800X3D is anything to go off.

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What is the main difference between the 7900X3D and the 7900X?

The main difference between the two CPUs is the inclusion of AMD’s 3D V-cache, and a lot of it. The new 3D V-cache is vertically stacked on a single CCD, which conserves space on the CPU die without sacrificing access speed.

More cache enables the CPU to store more data, thereby reducing its dependence on system memory, which is much slower.

The result is improved gaming performance for single-core workloads and optimized multi-core performance, thanks to preserving clock speeds on the other CCD. This design choice balances the benefits of the 3D V-cache, unlike the 5800X3D which saw reductions in both clock speed and overclocking potential.

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Can you overclock the Ryzen 9 7900X3D?

Unfortunately, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D is locked to manual overclocking in the traditional sense.

However, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D does feature support for PBO (Precision Boost Overdrive) and Curve optimizer. So there are some automatic overclocking features implemented into the new Ryzen 7000 X3D. This means that there should be some balance in the X3D chips, with restrictions being limited and not traded off as heavily in favor of raw gaming performance.

But how does the 3D V-cache limit the overclocking potential of the new X3D chips?

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Why does 3D V-cache restrict CPU overclocking?

The 3D V-Cache is highly susceptible to high voltages and temperatures, which are generated by increasing the core frequency. To prevent overheating and voltage spikes, the 7900X3D is restricted to a voltage of 1.4V and a TDP of 120W.

Such spikes can cause instability or harm to the cache, rendering the CPU useless. Nevertheless, AMD has advanced this technology by integrating typical PBO, EXPO, and Curve optimizer support into the chip.