Does the Ryzen 7 7800X3D run hot?

Does the Ryzen 7 7800X3D run hot? Let's find out

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The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the entry-level Zen 4 X3D processor, and it’s expected to release on April 6th, 2023. Today, we’re talking about the upcoming processor’s thermals and cooling. Let’s find out, does the Ryzen 7 7800X3D run hot?

Now Read: Best CPU for gaming 2023.

While the 7800X3D’s release is still a few ways out, we can make some accurate assumptions based on its specs and testing data from the other X3D processors. 

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What is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D’s TDP?

The upcoming Ryzen 7 7800X3D will have a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 120 watts. A processor’s TDP rating essentially represents how much heat it would generate if placed under maximum load. 

Microprocessors, such as those found in CPUs and GPUs, convert all of the electricity they consume into heat energy. 

Now, a 120-watt TDP rating doesn’t necessarily mean that the CPU will draw 120 watts of power from the PSU at full load. It can draw slightly more or less, and exact maximum power consumption can only be found out using physical tests once we get our hands on the yet-to-release processor. 

But generally speaking, TDP ratings give us a good idea of power consumption and consequential heat generation.

A TDP rating of 120 watts is rather high overall, but could honestly be considered moderate if we’re comparing it exclusively to TDPs of processors from the Intel 13th gen and Ryzen 7000 lineups. 

To put things into perspective, the i9-13900KS has a maximum TDP of 320 watts. The Ryzen 7 7950X has one of 170 watts. Even the Core i5-13400, a $200 entry-level chip, has a maximum TDP of 154 watts. 

The Ryzen 7000X3D processors are actually quite power-efficient, given the high performance they offer.

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Will the Ryzen 7 7800X3D run hot?

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D will generate a fair bit of heat under tense workloads. And if said heat isn’t dissipated effectively, it will indeed run hot. Whether or not a processor runs hot depends mainly on the efficacy of its cooling solution. 

However, there is an additional factor to consider for the 7800X3D.

Based on tests conducted on the existing X3D processors, the R7 5800X3D, the R9 7900X3D, and the R9 7950X3D, it seems that the V-cache enhancement gets in the way of heat transfer from the cores on the silicon to the metal IHS (integrated heat spreader). 

The X3D processors run slightly hotter than they should at their power consumption, meaning that you need a stronger-than-usual CPU cooler to compensate. 

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What CPU cooler does the Ryzen 7 7800X3D need?

With a 120-watt TDP, it is possible to air-cool the 7800X3D, but it’s not the best idea. Even with a powerful air cooler, temperatures will remain toasty due to the aforementioned heat transfer penalty presented by the X3D’s V-cache setup. 

Entry-level and budget coolers could lead to throttling, especially in warm ambient temperatures. 

Going with an AIO liquid cooler will be best. Feel free to check out our recommendations in our best CPU cooler for Ryzen 7 7800X3D article.

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How dangerous are high temperatures?

Modern processors throttle when they start to near their maximum operating temperature and shut down automatically when said limit is reached. Due to this built-in protection mechanism, damage due to overheating is unlikely, at least in the short term. 

You do need to be more careful with X3D processors, though, since the included V-cache memory is inherently temperature sensitive.

In fact, this temperature sensitivity is primarily why AMD:

• Lowered the X3D TDP to 120 watts (from the 170-watt TDP of the 7000X processors)
• Cut down on the maximum clock speeds for the cores on the CCD housing the extra V cache
• And lowered the maximum operating temperature of the X3D processors to 89°C (down from 95°C)

With that in mind, it’s probably best to invest in a decent cooling solution to keep your expensive X3D processor running at lower temperatures.