Which Ryzen 7000 X3D CPU offers the best value for gaming? Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Ryzen 9 7900X3D, and 7950X3D compared
The AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs are some of the best options for gamers these days. Thanks to 3D V-cache technology, you can expect superb framerates with this chip, much better than the 'X' and non-'X' variants. However, unlike the last generation, you have three options to choose from now, which can complicate things for some.
In this comparison article, we have looked at all the details of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, and the Ryzen 9 7950X3D.
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs are some of the fastest in the market
The Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs are based on a similar underlying architecture. Let's look at their on-paper specs.
Specs comparison
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D packs eight cores and sixteen threads. It is based on a single core complex with 64 MB of 3D V-cache and 32 MB of regular cache.
The higher-end Ryzen 9 7900X3D and the 7950X3D are slightly different in terms of underlying architecture. They are based on two core complexes with half the cores in each.
One of these CCDs bundles regular cores that clock to the advertised turbo speeds. However, the other complex is slightly slower to accommodate the 3D V-cache.
The detailed specs of the three chips are as follows:
The prices of the three Ryzen 7000 X3D chips have dropped considerably from their launch MSRPs. The 7800X3D is now available at $399, the 12-core 7900X3D is selling at $499 with the flagship 7950X3D at an eye-watering $599.
Performance comparison
The Ryzen 7000 X3D chips offer superb performance when paired with a capable video card. While all chips deliver significant computing prowess, they differ quite a bit in terms of productivity performance.
Below are the benchmark scores of the three CPUs in Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 6 tests. We have sourced the numbers from Nanoreview.
Do note that these benches don't do justice to the 3D V-cache technology paired with these chips. Let's look at the detailed gaming performance of the CPUs to get a better idea of what to expect
Framerates achieved by the three Ryzen 7000 X3D chips when paired with an RTX 4090 are as follows. The numbers are from the YouTube channel Hardware for Gamers.
Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Ryzen 9 7900X3D vs 7950X3D: Final verdict
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D seems to be the best all-rounder for gamers this generation. Gains with the costlier CPUs are all over the place, with some titles reporting as much as a 30% improvement and others reporting poorer framerates.
We recommend buying the Ryzen 7 7800X3D for a balanced experience. The chip frees up some of your budget so you buy a costlier GPU. However, if you want to spend $500+ on a CPU, consider waiting for the upcoming Ryzen 9000 lineup.