AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Review: Gamers, Don’t Buy This One!

Two months after AMD’s announcement at CES 2023, the primary 3D V-Cache enabled Zen 4 elements have hit the cabinets, and we now have the top-of-the-range Ryzen 9 7950X3D up for evaluate. Two different fashions with the additional cache, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D and Ryzen 7 7800X3D, have been additionally a part of the announcement however AMD just isn’t sampling them but and has delayed the discharge of the 7800X3D for one more 5 weeks.

There is no technical cause for it, maybe binning, however it will appear that AMD is doing this merely to push consumers towards spending extra on the 7950X3D or 7900X3D.

The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is arguably the higher deal at $700, because it prices $44 per core whereas the 7800X3D at $450 prices $56 per core, an nearly 30% improve. However then solely half the 7950X3D cores really function 3D V-Cache know-how, so the comparability is not that simple.

In complete, the 7950X3D packs 128 MB of L3 cache, but it surely’s not break up evenly throughout the 2 CCDs within the CPU package deal. The cores within the major CCD get the usual 32 MB, that is built-in into the CCD, plus the stacked 64 MB 3D V-Cache, for a complete of 96 MB. The cores within the second CCD solely get 32 MB.

The 3D V-cache is stacked onto the common L3 cache within the CCD

As we noticed with the Zen 3-powered Ryzen 7 5800X3D, AMD’s first CPU to have 3D V-cache, the additional L3 means gaming efficiency has the potential to be considerably improved. The issue, or fairly problem, is that it is crucial that the threads from video games are processed by the CCD with 96MB of L3, with the cores within the second CCD being handled extra as in the event that they have been just like the E-cores on an Intel processor.

Twin CCD CPUs are already fairly difficult relating to gaming and such functions can see a efficiency decline because of the massive latency penalty when speaking throughout the Infinity Cloth. This makes the 7950X3D a CPU for fairly a distinct segment market, in our opinion, it is unlikely to be AMD’s finest gaming CPU, nor will or not it’s their finest productiveness CPU.

The most effective gaming CPU is sort of definitely going to be the 7800X3D, whereas the most effective productiveness CPU will nonetheless be the usual 7950X. It’s because the 7800X3D solely has one CCD to handle, so you do not have to fret about how the working system or sport makes use of the CPU. There will not be any latency points, both, as there isn’t any different CCD to speak with.

In the meantime, the Ryzen 9 7950X will likely be quicker for productiveness work for the easy truth that each one of its cores can clock greater. So the 7950X3D is absolutely for many who need to work and play, and are in search of the very best efficiency for each duties out of a single chip.

To make sure the processor works appropriately, AMD recommends utilizing the most recent model of both Home windows 10 or Home windows 11. Sport Mode have to be enabled and the Xbox Sport Bar must be updated, too. You may additionally want a 3D V-cache particular BIOS in your AM5 motherboard and the most recent chipset drivers have to be put in.

Out of curiosity, the 7950X3D was examined on an AM5 system with no updates, and we will affirm efficiency was poor, principally slower than the 7950X in the entire video games examined, so that you completely want the right BIOS and chipset driver, at least.

We used the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master for our 7950X3D testing, as AMD offered the supporting BIOS for that motherboard, paired with a DDR5-6000 CL30 package. All check programs have been configured with a GeForce RTX 4090, Home windows 11, and Resizable BAR was enabled.

For testing, we usually embody much more software benchmarks than what you are about to see. However relating to productiveness, the 7950X3D is principally only a barely slower model of the 7950X, as the first CCD cannot clock fairly as excessive because of the V-Cache. So the main focus goes to be on gaming efficiency as that is the place the X3D half ought to shine.

Working Conduct

Let’s begin with a have a look at the working habits of the 7950X3D in the course of the Cinebench R23 all-core workload. The V-Cache enabled CCD1 usually clocks at between 4750 and 4800 MHz, whereas CCD2, with the common 32MB L3 cache, clocked its cores at 4900 MHz.

The usual 7950X, for instance, clocks the CCD1 cores at 5.1 GHz and the CCD2 at 4.9 GHz, so round a 4% clock velocity benefit for the unique mannequin.

Additionally value noting is that together with the decrease TDP when in comparison with the usual 7950X (120W vs 170W), the 3D V-Cache half has additionally seen the TjMax lowered from 95°C to 85°C. That is excellent news for many who did not imagine that the 95°C working temperature of Zen 4 was by design.

Hopefully, 85°C will likely be seen as being extra acceptable, as a result of this would be the working temperature with just about any AIO or air-cooler. The outcomes you are seeing listed below are with the Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD XT put in.

With simply CCD1 enabled (i.e. the 3D V-Cache enabled CCD), the cores clocked barely greater at 4830 MHz, so round a one % improve in comparison with what we noticed when each CCD’s have been enabled.

Then with simply the second CCD enabled, the cores clocked at 5220 MHz, so a 7% increase when in comparison with what we see with each CCDs enabled. So when you may take away the thermal and energy limits of the 7950X3D you’d see a efficiency uplift, however because of time constraints, this is not one thing we have been capable of discover but.

Software Benchmarks

And this proper right here is why we’re not going to waste your time with a load of productiveness benchmarks. If you wish to know the way the 7950X3D performs for compression, decompression, video manufacturing, and code compilation work, simply read our 7950X review and deduct 5% from the end result.

That is precisely what we’re seeing in Cinebench R23 the place the 3D V-Cache mannequin is 5% slower than the unique, making it 12% slower than the 13900KS, although the ability utilization of the Core i9 to attain that result’s insane.

Single core efficiency must be a lot the identical, particularly if the applying is instructed to prioritize the second CCD with the 3D V-Cache, as these cores do clock greater. Right here the 7950X3D was simply 1.5% slower than the 7950X, although that did make it considerably slower than the 13900KS because it was 13% slower.

For frivolously threaded functions, equivalent to Adobe Photoshop 2022, the 7950X3D could be fairly a bit slower than the 13900KS. Right here, for instance, it is 11% slower and three% slower than the usual 7950X.

Now whereas the E-cores are nice for accelerating Cinebench scores, they are not at all times that environment friendly, and we discover that to be the case in Blender the place the 7950X3D is 8% quicker than the 13900KS, and once more simply 3% slower than the usual 7950X.

Energy Consumption

In relation to productiveness, the difficulty with the 13900K is energy consumption, and whilst you can implement energy limits, that can cut back efficiency, extending the 7950X’s lead additional. So the place the 13900K/KS pushed complete system consumption to simply shy of 500 watts, the 7950X3D ran comfortably underneath 300 watts, utilizing much less energy than even the 13600K which is tremendous spectacular.

Additionally, regardless of the addition of the 64MB 3D V-Cache, complete system utilization was diminished by nearly 30% when in comparison with the usual 7950X.

Gaming Benchmarks

Time for the gaming benchmarks and we’ll begin with Factorio, which was a powerful displaying for the 5800X3D and nonetheless is to at the present time. The 7950X3D, however, not a lot because the 3D V-Cache enabled chip was barely any quicker than the usual 7950X.

It seems as if this workload is working on the incorrect CCD, and is due to this fact not benefiting from the 3D V-Cache. To show this concept, we disabled the second CCD within the BIOS and re-ran the check, labeling the end result as 7800X3D [Simulated], as a result of that is primarily what this configuration is.

So this seems loads higher. With the second CCD disabled, we’re seeing an nearly 80% improve in efficiency for the 7950X3D. With a rating of 433 pts the upcoming 7800X3D must be round 25% quicker than the 5800X3D and 60% quicker than the 13900K, giving AMD a straightforward win in simulation video games equivalent to Factorio.

For testing CPU efficiency in Hogwarts Legacy, we used the Hogsmeade part of the sport. Right here the 7950X3D produced the most effective end result but with a mean body fee of 84 fps, with a 14% uplift over the usual 7950X, although this made it simply 5% quicker than the 13900KS utilizing DDR5-7200 reminiscence. Then with the second CCD disabled, efficiency did decline on this instance, suggesting that the 7800X3D will likely be akin to the 13900K on this title.

Spider-Man Remastered seems to hit a efficiency wall at round 140 fps. The 7950X3D was good for 136 fps which allowed it to match the 13900K/KS with the Intel CPUs utilizing DDR5-6400 reminiscence. This additionally meant that the 7950X3D was 10% quicker than the 7950X, not a large uplift, however a pleasant efficiency increase all the identical.

That mentioned if we disable the second CCD for our 7800X3D simulated end result the typical body fee improved by 3%, however the 1% lows by a way more substantial 7%. This implies the 7800X3D might be as much as 20% quicker than the 7700X on this sport.

Now ACC was an enormous hit on the 5800X3D, blowing away all different CPUs that have been out there on the time. Nonetheless, Intel largely caught up with their thirteenth gen sequence and now the 5800X3D is simply 3% quicker than the 13900KS utilizing DDR5-7200. The 7950X however is quicker than the 5800X3D, however solely by a mere 1.5%, and disabling the second CCD did not increase efficiency right here, so disappointingly these new Zen4 3D V-Cache elements aren’t a lot quicker.

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the 7950X3D was 5% quicker than the 13900KS utilizing DDR5-7200, so an excellent end result there for AMD. The 3D V-Cache can be offering round a 20% increase over the usual 7950X.

Disabling the second CCD did increase efficiency on this sport, rising the typical body fee by an extra 5%. Nonetheless, it was the large 18% improve in 1% lows that stands out probably the most right here. The unique Zen 4 elements supplied sturdy 1% lows on this title and with that second CCD disabled that sample continues.

Rainbow Six Extraction, like Factorio, sucks with the 7950X3D and the efficiency right here is damaged, at the very least when in comparison with the 7950X. Granted the tip end result was nonetheless extremely playable and really passable with 1% lows of 287 fps, however the common body fee was nonetheless 16% decrease than that of the usual 7950X, so we’re going backwards right here.

That is an odd end result that does not actually make sense, and we anticipate AMD will be capable of handle this problem. We did discover that disabling the second CCD solves the efficiency problem and the simulated 7800X3D result’s the most effective of any CPU examined, beating the 7700X by a 1.5% margin, although 1% lows have been improved by 6%.

Transferring on to Watch Canine: Legion and right here the 7950X3D was actually spectacular with 214 fps, making it 14% quicker than the 13900KS working DDR5-7200 reminiscence, and a large 32% quicker than the usual 7950X. Additionally on this title, disabling the second CCD resulted in no actual efficiency achieve, so it is a nice total displaying for the 7950X3D.

The Hitman 3 efficiency is pretty underwhelming, with the 7950X3D being just some frames quicker than the usual mannequin and we’re seeing the same factor when evaluating the simulated 7800X3D to the 7700X. So the 3D V-Cache seems nugatory on this title, or at the very least it was within the part of the sport we use for testing. This meant the 13900KS utilizing 7200 reminiscence was 5% quicker than the 7950X.

Zen 4 already performed really well in Horizon Zero Daybreak and as we lately found, this is not a memory-sensitive sport, (most likely one of many least delicate video games you are prone to come throughout). Wanting on the 7950X3D you’d suppose V-Cache would not assist a lot right here as we’re seeing only a 6% increase over the 7950X when trying on the common body fee.

Nonetheless, disabling the second CCD boosted efficiency by an extra 7%, making the simulated 7800X3D configuration 10% quicker than the 7700X and 28% quicker than the 13900KS utilizing DDR5-7200.

For Cyberpunk 2077, we have up to date the testing to make use of the Ray Tracing Extremely preset, as this could improve CPU load. The margins although aren’t that completely different from what we noticed with the earlier check technique utilizing the medium preset. Right here the 7950X3D was simply 4% quicker than the 7950X, permitting it to match the 13900KS utilizing DDR5-7200.

The Riftbreaker seems to be topping out round 225-230 fps, besides, the 7950X3D noticed an 18% improve in common body fee efficiency from the usual 7950X, so 3D V-Cache is providing a pleasant efficiency achieve right here. This additionally allowed the 7950X3D to match the Core i9 processors. Furthermore, disabling the second CCD did not assist enhance efficiency, so the 7950X3D and 7800X3D ought to ship comparable efficiency on this title.

Sadly efficiency in Counter-Strike: International Offensive does go backwards with the 3D V-Cache elements as core frequency is the efficiency limitation right here, not cache capability, and this will likely be true for many older video games. We’re nonetheless seeing 1% lows of over 300 fps, so I would not say efficiency right here is a matter, however it’s nonetheless slower than the usual 7950X.

Final up we now have A Plague Story: Requiem and right here we’re seeing huge 25% efficiency positive aspects with the 7950X3D over the usual mannequin. This was sufficient to see AMD overtake Intel’s 13900KS, albeit by only a 6% margin. Disabling the second CCD did once more enhance efficiency, although this time by only a 3% margin to the 7950X3D.

12 Sport Common

a gaming common, as you possibly can see the 7950X3D and 13900K/KS are very comparable total with no actual distinction in efficiency. The 7800X3D must be barely quicker once more, however total not a lot in it.

So the 13900K and these new 3D V-Cache CPUs are fairly properly neck and neck, AMD definitely did not blow Intel out of the water, however when out of the field efficiency, they do now have a really slight edge.

The 7950X3D was on common 9% quicker than the usual 7950X, whereas the 7800X3D seems like it will likely be round 10% quicker than the 7700X.

What We Discovered

The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is a powerful CPU that does an ideal good job of mixing sturdy productiveness efficiency with class-leading gaming efficiency. So, when you’re after a CPU that may do all of it, the 7950X3D goes to be a lovely choice.

However as we noticed with the simulated 7800X3D outcomes, when you’re simply excited about gaming, then the cheaper 8-core half goes to ship rather more constant gaming efficiency, and even when the 7950X3D performs as meant, the 7800X3D will nonetheless typically be a bit of quicker.

As for which is the higher gaming CPU, the 7950X3D or the 13900K/KS, it is determined by the sport, however total they’re very comparable. We’re not going to trouble with a value per body comparability, as we’re solely excited about these two processors, and worth takes a backseat to efficiency once we’re speaking about the best possible alternative for gaming.

Nonetheless, the 7950X3D is about to value round 20% greater than the 13900K which might presently be had for $580. Respectable Intel Z790 boards look to begin round $230, whereas AMD X670 boards are nearer to $280. The DDR5-6000 CL30 package used with the 7950X3D testing value $175, whereas the 6400 package used with the 13900K is about the identical.

So that you’re round $1,200 for the 7950X3D combo and $1,000 for the 13900K combo, making AMD round 20% costlier. That is a fairly large hole in pricing that would see you go along with premium DDR5-7200 reminiscence with the 13900K and nonetheless save $100. There’s most likely extra tuning headroom relating to reminiscence timings with the 13900K as properly, and that is one thing we are going to have a look at sooner or later.

Total, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is spectacular, but it surely would not bury the 13900K and actually, the Core i9 seems as viable as ever. The 7800X3D might be going to be the higher worth choice as it can come out a bit of cheaper than the 13900K, whereas typically providing barely higher gaming efficiency.

However if you wish to purchase right now, properly, AMD’s shot themselves within the foot as you’d most likely go along with the 13900K, particularly at its present sale value of $580 — a well timed low cost certainly.

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