AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Ryzen 9 5900X: Which is the best gaming CPU?
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Ryzen 9 5900X are among the most popular high-end CPUs today. Both chips deliver top-notch performance and are capable of handling up to an RTX 4090 without any bottlenecks. This makes them worth purchasing for any mid-range to high-end gaming rig. Moreover, AMD is showering all its older offerings with lucrative discounts to make room for the upcoming 9000 series lineup. This has brought the 7800X3D and 5900X closer than ever.
In this article, we will compare the two processors and try to find out which is the better deal.
NOTE: Parts of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's opinion.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 9 5900X are some of the fastest CPUs today
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Ryzen 9 5900X are based on different architectures. While the Ryzen 7 utilizes AMD's 3D V-cache technology for added performance in single-core-heavy workloads like gaming, the 5900X is a regular 12-core chip based on the Zen 3 architecture.
Specs comparison
In terms of specs, the Ryzen 9 5900X and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D have their differences. The biggest change is the underlying silicon: the 5900X, although formidable, is based on the older 7 nm Zen 3 architecture. The Ryzen 7, on the other hand, is a Zen 4 offering. It also has the added benefit of 3D V-cache.
While the 5900X is bundled with 70 MB of combined cache, the 7800X3D is packed with 104 MB. This comes in handy in the latest video games.
Besides, the newer processor also supports the latest DDR5 memory standard. It is paired with an RDNA 3-based iGPU that can handle basic video output without relying on a discrete GPU. The operating clock speeds are also higher and the 7800X3D boosts up to 5 GHz.
The detailed specs comparison is as follows:
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has dropped to just $339 these days, down from its launch MSRP of $450. The discounts on the 5900X are more lucrative, however. The processor is selling for just $249 on Amazon and Newegg, making it much cheaper than the 7800X3D.
Performance comparison
In terms of single-core performance, the 7800X3D takes a considerable lead over the older chip thanks to the improved Zen 4 architecture powering it. However, the sheer number of cores on the 5900X pushes it to the better option for productivity workloads like file compression and rendering.
Below is a comparison of the synthetic benchmark scores achieved by the two chips.
The numbers have been sourced from the aggregator website Nanoreview.
In terms of performance in the latest video games, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D absolutely bulldozes the 5900X out of consideration. Across some of the latest titles, the extra performance a simple CPU upgrade can give you feels like a graphics card upgrade.
Below are the framerates achieved by the GPUs when paired with an RTX 3090 Ti.
The numbers are from the YouTube channel Mark PC.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Ryzen 9 5900X: Final verdict
Overall, both the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Ryzen 9 5900X are fantastic high-end CPUs. However, the Ryzen 7 is the better option for gamers. Although it is $85 costlier, you won't have to spend a premium on cooling hardware, unlike the 5900X.
However, if you are limited by budget, the 5900X can be a fantastic option too. It is a great workstation chip. Further, AM4 motherboards and DDR4 RAM are dirt cheap these days, earning the 5900X a recommendation for the best high-end CPU under $300.
Check out other CPU comparisons from Sportskeeda:
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT vs Ryzen 9 5900X
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Ryzen 5 7600X
- Intel Core i9-14900K vs Ryzen 9 7900X