AMD’s vaunted “X3D” V-Cache know-how vaulted Ryzen processors to the head of gaming supremacy when it debuted within the legendary Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Now, it arrives with additional strain on its proverbial shoulders: Can that X3D magic assist resuscitate a Ryzen 9000 lineup that’s struggled with ho-hum evaluations out of the gate and dramatic performance-altering Home windows updates?
Spoiler alert: Completely. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D rocks, obliterating Intel’s new Core Extremely 9 285K in video games – however that’s not all.
Earlier X3D generations all the time popped in video games, however proved lackluster towards its non-X3D siblings in creation workloads. Because of some good tweaks to the second-gen V-Cache design, the $479, 8-core Ryzen 7 9800X3D really will get a fair larger bump in choose creator workloads than gaming, in comparison with its predecessor, and now sits comfortably above the 8-core 9700X for work and play. It’s a monumental second for AMD – and a monumental beat down for Intel’s gaming ambitions.
Our assessment of the preliminary Ryzen 9000 CPUs can get you caught up on essential platform particulars about this era of AMD processors. We’ve already dug into the Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s speeds and feeds, whereas the video embedded above dives deep into our full testing outcomes for the chip (although you may swipe by means of all our benchmark graphs under). Right here, we’ll clarify the 5 key issues it’s essential know earlier than shopping for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D… which we completely suggest should you’re a gamer.
1. Second-gen V-Cache makes very important enhancements
Earlier than we get into the benchmarks, we have to rapidly discuss how AMD achieved such sterling outcomes.
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D introduces the second era of AMD’s V-Cache know-how, and it’s a winner. In earlier X3D generations, the slabs of cache sat on prime of the Ryzen CPU dies, which resulted in them not with the ability to clock as excessive as their non-X3D siblings resulting from warmth considerations – and also you couldn’t overclock them in any respect. So the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and 7800X3D had been slower than their non-X3D counterparts in lots of non-gaming workloads.
Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry
Say goodbye to these limitations with the 9800X3D and its new-style V-Cache. Right here’s AMD describing the tweaks:
“AMD has re-engineered its cutting-edge on-chip memory solution with 2nd Gen AMD 3D V-Cache technology. The 64MB cache memory has been relocated below the processor, which puts the core complex die (CCD) closer to the cooling solution to help keep the “Zen 5” cores cooler, delivering excessive clock charges and offering as much as a median 8% gaming efficiency enchancment in comparison with our last-gen era and as much as a median 20% sooner than the competitors. This revolutionary change in placement permits for excessive overclocking of the processor.”
Finish end result? The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has a a lot increased, 4.7GHz base clock velocity than each the Ryzen 7 9700X and the older Ryzen 7 7800X3D, whereas additionally bumping up most clock speeds to five.2GHz and in addition permitting you to (lastly) overclock the processor.
2. A gaming legend certainly
With these adjustments in tow, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D completely slaps in video games – and slaps Intel’s flagship Core Extremely 9 285K round within the course of.
Within the 4 video games we examined, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D runs a median of 25 % sooner than the 285K at 1080p decision. That’s a huge unheard-of gulf, and it’s really being dragged down by the leads to Whole Warfare Warhammer 3, which runs equally on each processor we examined. If you happen to take that out, the 9800X3D runs a whopping 30 % sooner than Intel’s largest canine. It’s 45 % sooner than the 285K in Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing off.
Insanity! I can’t keep in mind the final time I witnessed a {hardware} beat down this relentlessly violent. In order for you the one finest gaming chip you should purchase, the Ryzen 9 9800X3D is it.
Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry
AMD’s newcomer additionally bests the corporate’s productiveness flagship, the Ryzen 9 9950X, in gaming – no shock there given the Ryzen 9’s dual-CCD design, which might affect gaming body charges.
Apparently, the 9800X3D isn’t all that a lot sooner in our examined video games than its predecessor, the 7800X3D. However that’s not the case in relation to, nicely, every little thing however gaming.
3. Shockingly good creation chops
Eight-core CPUs are the candy spot for most people who recreation and dabble in duties like streaming and primary video enhancing, and the second-gen V-Cache within the 9800X3D makes it a a lot extra compelling choice for work than its predecessors.
In contrast to prior X3D chips, the 9800X3D is demonstrably sooner than the vanilla 8-core chip in AMD’s Ryzen lineup – the 9700X, right here. We examined the 9700X in each its inventory 65-watt configuration, in addition to with the 105W choice unlocked through a BIOS replace. The 9800X3D soundly trounces the 9700X’s default efficiency, and manages to maintain its lead even while you juice the vanilla chip with ample additional energy. We haven’t seen this earlier than, and it’s an enormous feather within the 9800X3D’s cap.
That’s notable. However what actually drives house the purpose is the distinction between the 9800X3D and the 7800X3D in artistic workloads, particularly given their neck-and-neck efficiency in gaming.
Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry
The 9800X3D is 24 % sooner than the 7800X3D in Cinebench’s multi-thread check, regardless of each being 8-core chips with linked V-Cache. It’s roughly 25 % sooner in Blender workloads. That leaps as much as a whopping 35 % sooner throughout Handbrake video encodes. The torrid tempo slows in Premiere Professional and Photoshop, to a still-valiant 13 and 18 % respectively, whereas Davinci Resolve is the least spectacular end result, with the 9800X3D touchdown about 7.5 % sooner than the 7800X3D.
These are phenomenal outcomes, full cease, and ones that eradicate the earlier caveats related to Ryzen X3D chips. Selecting the Ryzen 7 5800X3D or 7800X3D meant you bought top-tier gaming efficiency, however non-gaming duties suffered in comparison with their vanilla siblings. That’s not the case anymore. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D outshines the 9700X in each method – and it’s typically not shut, particularly should you’re utilizing the 9700X’s default 65W configuration.
Don’t hear what I’m not saying: If you happen to’re an individual who does heavy, crunchy creation duties, you’re usually going to be higher off going for the Ryzen 9 9950X or Core Extremely 9 285K, each of which come loaded with method extra CPU cores than AMD’s new X3D vanguard and supply correspondingly increased efficiency (at, sure, increased costs). However the 9800X3D can simply deal with what the overwhelming majority of parents will throw at it.
4. It’s dearer
So the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the one finest gaming chip you should purchase, and it’s now a really strong chip for non-gaming duties too. Wonderful! However you don’t get these advantages free of charge.
At $479, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D prices $30 greater than its predecessor, and a whopping $130 greater than the 9700X – an fascinating value because the 9800X3D chip was solely about 14 % sooner than the 9700X in our gaming exams. In order for you the easiest gaming efficiency, although, it’s a must to pay for it. It’s additionally value declaring that the 9800X3D is $110 cheaper than Intel’s Core Extremely 9 285K. AMD’s chip whups on Intel’s in video games, whereas Intel’s shoves AMD’s chip round in multi-core workloads.
5. Do you have to improve your 5800X3D?
Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry
Lastly, the large query: What must you do should you already personal a Ryzen 7 5800X3D system? A lot of fanatics snatched up the legendary chip throughout hearth gross sales lately, and had been ready to see how the Ryzen 9800X3D carried out after skipping the 7800X3D.
Going off the numbers alone, the 9800X3D is 25 % sooner than the 5700X3D (which is clocked 400MHz decrease than the 5800X3D) in our gaming exams, and a complete lot sooner than that in content material creation duties. The 5800X3D needs to be about 7 % sooner than the 5700X3D. On the floor, that makes the 9800X3D look like a really wonderful improve certainly. However must you chew the bullet?
For individuals who demand the most recent applied sciences and the bleeding fringe of gaming velocity, it is smart. If you happen to take a step again, nevertheless, the beloved 5800X3D – which got here out years in the past – is simply as quick if not sooner than Intel’s 285K flagship. So it stays a really potent gaming chip, and the 9800X3D’s gaming uplift gained’t be as pronounced at 1440p or 4K decision, the place gaming bottlenecks are likely to get shifted extra in the direction of GPUs.
Upgrading from the 5800X3D to the 9800X3D doesn’t simply imply spending $479 on the chip, both – you’ll additionally have to improve to a brand new AM5 motherboard, and snag some newfangled DDR5 reminiscence to go along with it. All-in, you’re a complete platform improve price pushing almost $800 or extra, even should you preserve your present graphics card, case, energy provide, and so forth.
Once more, should you search the easiest gaming firepower, it may make sense, and doubly so should you stream or use your PC for different demanding workloads – the 9800X3D’s content material creation leap is breathtaking, and the AM5 platform helps newer applied sciences like PCIe 5, DDR5, and USB 4. However should you’re largely a gamer, and the 5800X3D continues to be spitting out ferocious body charges in your video games of alternative, saving your money for a baller new graphics card might be a greater bang in your buck regardless of how improbable the 9800X3D is.
