Is AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D worth it?
Exploring the new X3D Ryzen CPU architecture.
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AMD revealed the Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs during its keynote presentation at CES 2023, which excited many hardcore AMD fans, including ourselves. However, AMD didn’t go into too much detail regarding these new CPUs, so we’re going to determine if they’re any good. Is AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D worth it?
Now read: What is Ryzen X3D?
There are three CPUs in the Ryzen 7000 X3D family, this did come as a shock considering the fact that there was only one single X3D CPU last generation. We expected the 7800X3D as the 7800X was conveniently missing from the original 7000 series launch, but we had no idea the 7900X3D and 7950X3D were going to join It on the roster.
Update: AMD revealed the release date of the 7000 X3D CPUs on YouTube. The release date for the Ryzen 7000 X3D series is the 28th of February 2023. All apart from the 7800X3D, which will release on the 6th of April.
With all that being said, is AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D worth it?
Ryzen 7000 X3D series specifications
Here we will outline the specification of each CPU in the Ryzen 7000 X3D series.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Architecture: Zen 4
- Core count: 8
- Thread count: 16
- Boost speed: 5.0GHz
- Cache: 104MB
- TDP 120W
Ryzen 9 7900X3D
- Architecture: Zen 4
- Core count: 12
- Thread count: 24
- Boost speed: 5.6GHz
- Cache: 140MB
- TDP 120W
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Architecture: Zen 4
- Core count: 16
- Thread count: 32
- Boost speed: 5.7GHz
- Cache: 144MB
- TDP 120W
As you can see, all of the CPUs are really beefy in the cache department. But why is that? Why do 3D V-cache CPUs rely so much on the cache to boost gaming performance?
Ryzen 7000 X3D performance
During AMD’s Keynote presentation, AMD revealed a snippet of the 7950X3D’s performance against the 13900K. And the 7800X3D’s performance against the 5800X3D.
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D faced off against Intel’s flagship at the time, the 13900K, and it had a lot to prove. All of these results were gathered in 1080P using the high image quality setting, according to AMD at CES 2023.
The 7950X3D is about 10% faster on average than the 13900K according to AMD’s own benchmark data, but we will see as soon as the X3D CPUs are released whether that is totally accurate. Here’s the benchmark data:
- The 7950X performed 9% better in Watch Dogs Legion.
- DOTA 2 saw the 7950X3D gain an 11% lead over the 13900k.
- In Rainbow 6 Siege, the 7800X3D was 13% faster.
- Horizon Zero Dawn saw the 7950X perform 24% better.
Ryzen 7 7800X3D
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D was compared to the legend that is the previous generation’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D in 1080P on the high image quality preset.
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D performance is better than the 5800X3D in all games by a considerable margin. Here are AMD’s benchmark results:
- Cyberpunk 2077 saw the 7800X3D gain 10% performance.
- In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the 7800X3D performed 13% better.
- Borderlands 3 saw the 7800X perform 22% better.
- F1 2022 showcased a 25% uplift in performance for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
As you can see, 3D V-cache paired with the power of Zen 4 is definitely something to behold.
How does CPU cache boost gaming performance?
It’s important to note that the idea was not just to increase CPU cache here, it was to incorporate 3D V-cache also, so please read the article outlined in our “Now Read” section to learn what 3D V-cache is.
A larger CPU cache can boost gaming performance by reducing the amount of time the CPU spends waiting for data to be retrieved from the main memory. This is because a larger cache size allows the CPU to store more data closer to the processor, where it can be accessed more quickly.
In gaming, the CPU is responsible for many tasks such as physics calculations, AI, and image processing. These tasks can generate a lot of data that needs to be accessed quickly. When the CPU needs to access data, it first looks in the cache to see if the data is already stored there. If it is, the CPU can access the data much faster than if it had to retrieve it from the main memory. This can lead to smoother and more consistent frame rates, which is important for maintaining the realism and immersion of the gaming experience.
Having more cache can also help to improve the performance of the whole system, as it can reduce the amount of time the CPU needs to spend waiting for data to be retrieved from the main memory. This can lead to improved loading times in games and outside of them, and better performance overall.
There is a trade-off, however, as this increased cache and the Integration of 3D V-cache has some downsides.
The downsides of 3D V-cache
The 3D V-cache that resides in the X3D CPUs is pretty sensitive to high and fluctuating temperatures. The reason why X3D CPUs have lower clock speeds, like the 5800X3D of the last generation, is so the CPU does not get too hot. The cache inside the X3D CPUs is unstable at higher temperatures and may cause issues with the processor’s main function.
It’s for this reason that traditional overclocking was also disabled on the 5800X3D, but it remains to be seen whether the new Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs will suffer the same fate.
So for the CPU to carry the new 3D V-cache, the CPU must have a lower clock speed to keep temperatures under control and must be locked to overclocking. This results in the CPUs workstation power being lowered significantly compared to its non-3D V-cache counterpart. AND the CPU will suffer in tasks that do not rely heavily on larger cache sizes.
Essentially, a 3D V-cache turns the CPU into a pure gaming processor.
Ryzen 7000 X3D price prediction
We don’t have anything concrete, but we expect the Ryzen 7000 X3D processors to be priced similarly to their “X” counterparts. Give or take $30 or so.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, however, and these are our predictions. We do not speak for AMD, nor are we trying to confirm these prices as fact.
Is AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D worth it?
It all depends on your use case whether the AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D is worth it or not.
As we mentioned before, the inclusion of 3D V-cache means that the CPU sufferers in multicore workloads compared to the non-3D V-cache counterparts. This is all thanks to the limitations placed on the CPU thanks to the new cache technology. So if you’re only planning on gaming with the new Ryzen 7000 X3D series, then absolutely they are worth it.
However, you are going to be paying a pretty penny for this new technology. Especially if you’re having to upgrade from a different socket platform. So that is also something you have to take into consideration.
We think this new technology is exciting, and we can’t wait to see what we can squeeze out of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D when we get our hands on it, sometime in February.
