AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D Review: The Forgotten Midpoint of 3D V-Cache
AMD’s $599 12-core Ryzen 9 7900X3D is designed to beat Intel’s Core i9-13900K, which it beats a median of seven% in video games, proving it has the facility to beat Intel’s greatest. That stated, AMD has been unusually quiet about this mannequin – the corporate did not pattern it to print and did not share any of the usual pre-launch benchmarks we’re used to. Perhaps that is as a result of the 7900X3D’s greatest competitor is situated in AMD’s personal steady – the extremely spectacular 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X3D, which has come to the throne because the quickest gaming CPU available on the market and the most effective CPU for gaming for high-end techniques.
Like its costlier counterpart, the 7900X3D takes benefit of AMD’s unique second-generation 3D V-Cache, growing L3 capability to 128MB, taking gaming efficiency to unprecedented ranges. The Ryzen 9 7900X3D is designed particularly for avid gamers trying to deal with CPU-limited video games, and whereas there are some trade-offs for different kinds of work, it nonetheless has 12 cores to assist deal with heavy productiveness workloads.
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| Worth | Cores / Enamel (P+E) | P-Core Base / Increase Clock (GHz) | Cache (L2/L3) | TDP / PBP / MTP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | 699 {dollars} | 16 / 32 | 4.2 / 5.7 | 144MB (16+128) | 120W / 162W |
| Ryzen 9 7900X3D | $599 | 12 / 24 | 4.4 / 5.6 | 140MB (12+128) | 120W / 162W |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | $449 | 8 /16 | 4.2 / 5.0 | 104MB (8+96) | 120W / 162W |
| Ryzen 7 5800X3D | 348 {dollars} | 8 /16 | 3,4 / 4,5 | 104MB (8+96) | 105W |
The primary-generation 3D V-Cache chip, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, has turn into the go-to chip for avid gamers, however has struggled with some productiveness functions as a result of eight-core restrict and comparatively low increase frequency. AMD’s new lineup is the primary 3D V-Cache household to make use of two computing chips with as much as 16 cores, offering increase frequencies a lot greater than the earlier era’s 4.5 GHz whereas boosting productiveness functions. The chips additionally use a brand new thread concentrating on method designed to assist apply good points extra evenly throughout a variety of video games, however as with earlier era chips, there are nonetheless some tradeoffs in productiveness functions.
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This is a fast rundown of the Ryzen 9 7900X3D’s efficiency with out all our full take a look at outcomes, together with overclocking. It’s best to head over to our gaming and productiveness app benchmarks on the subsequent pages for precise outcomes, however this common of efficiency in our prime benchmarks offers a good suggestion of relative positioning.
The pricing of the $599 Ryzen 9 7900X3D near the $699 Ryzen 9 7950X3D complicates issues, and the upcoming $449 octa-core Ryzen 7 7800X3D is coming in late April. It will positively be the chip to beat: AMD tells us the 7800X3D will supply the lion’s share of 3D V-Cache’s gaming efficiency, nevertheless it comes at a way more reasonably priced value level. These AMD chips give the 7900X3D loads of inner competitors, however Intel is not sitting on the sidelines both, as Raptor Lake alternate options supply their very own benefits. Let’s have a look at how the chips stack up.
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D Pricing and Specs
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| Road/MSRP | Cores / Enamel (P+E) | P-Core Base / Increase Clock (GHz) | E-Core Base / Increase Clock (GHz) | Cache (L2/L3) | TDP / PBP / MTP | Reminiscence | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | 699 {dollars} | 16 / 32 | 4.2 / 5.7 | 144MB (16+128) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5200 | |
| Core i9-13900KS | 699 {dollars} | 24 / 32 (8+16) | 3.0 / 6.0 | 2.2 / 4.3 | 68MB (32+36) | 150W/253W/320W | DDR4-3200 / DDR5-5600 |
| Core i9-13900K/KF | $589 (Ok) – $564 (KF) | 24 / 32 (8+16) | 3.0 / 5.8 | 2.2 / 4.3 | 68MB (32+36) | 125W / 253W | DDR4-3200 / DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X | $579 ($699) | 16 / 32 | 4.5 / 5.7 | – | 80MB (16+64) | 170W / 230W | DDR5-5200 |
| Ryzen 9 7900X3D | $599 | 12 / 24 | 4.4 / 5.6 | 140MB (12+128) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5200 | |
| Ryzen 9 7900X | $419 ($549) | 12 / 24 | 4.7 / 5.6 | – | 76MB (12+64) | 170W / 230W | DDR5-5200 |
| Core i7-13700K/KF | $409 (Ok) – $384 (KF) | 16 / 24 (8+8) | 3.4 / 5.4 | 2.5 / 4.2 | 54MB (24+30) | 125W / 253W | DDR4-3200 / DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | $449 | 8 /16 | 4.2 / 5.0 | 104MB (8+96) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5200 | |
| Ryzen 7 5800X3D | $348 ($449) | 8 /16 | 3,4 / 4,5 | 104MB (8+96) | 105W | DDR4-3200 | |
| Ryzen 7 7700X | $349 ($399) | 8 /16 | 4.5 / 5.4 | – | 40MB (8+32) | 105W / 142W | DDR5-5200 |
The Ryzen 9 7900X3D has 12 cores and 24 threads and falls on the AM5 socket. On the floor, the 7900X3D seems like a Ryzen 9 7900X with an additional L3 cache chip and extra silicon and software program tuning, nevertheless it has quite a lot of distinctive options in comparison with different 3D V-Cache chips.
Like all different 3D V-Cache chips, the 3D stacked SRAM L3 chip weighs in at 64MB, so the 7900X3D comes with a monstrous 144MB whole cache, of which 128MB is the sport accelerator L3 cache. The extra L3 cache chip is fabricated on the 7nm course of and has a peak bandwidth of two.5TB/s. You may learn the finer particulars of the second era 3D V-Cache expertise and 6nm I/O Die (IOD) right here.
The primary-generation X3D chip suffered from gradual acceleration, however AMD has considerably elevated the acceleration clock frequencies with the brand new X3D fashions—the 7900X3D bumps it to five.6GHz, which is similar as the usual 7900X however 100MHz decrease than the 7950X. 4.4 GHz base clock, 200 MHz greater than the 7950X3D however 300 MHz decrease than the 7900X; it is a crucial association for the decrease energy envelope.
All of AMD’s Zen 4 3D V-Cache processors have a base TPD of 120W and a most PPT of 162W, that means the 7900X3D’s rankings are 68W decrease than the 170W/230W for the usual 7900X. The ability drops aren’t completely stunning, as the extra cache chip causes barely greater working temperatures that ought to be saved inside a protected vary. In reality, the 7900X3D’s most supported temperature is 89C, decrease than the 7900X’s restrict of 95C. The 7900X3D doesn’t include an included cooler — AMD recommends a 280mm water cooler or higher for Ryzen 7000X3D processors.
The Ryzen 9 7900X3D’s RDNA 2 built-in GPU comes with two compute items, 4 ACEs and 1 HWS, so it does not have the horsepower wanted to reap the benefits of the quicker CPU cores — this unit is completely depending on GPU computing. The iGPU additionally doesn’t profit from 3D V-Cache expertise because it resides on the I/O die and can’t entry the L3 cache; iGPU take a look at.
AMD solely allowed overclocking of reminiscence and Infinity Material for the earlier era 5800X3D, however will now permit each auto-overclocked Precision Increase Overdrive (PBO) and Curve Optimizer. AMD nonetheless does not permit direct frequency overclocking as a result of voltage limitation for one of many chips.
Each the 7950X3D and 7900X3D have two octa-core Core Compute Die (CCD) chips paired with a central I/O Die; Which means AMD is bringing 3D V-Cache expertise to the multi-CCD processor for the primary time. Nevertheless, the 7900X3D’s two computing chips (CCD) have six energetic cores (6+6) every, whereas the 7950X3D has eight energetic cores (8+8) per compute chip.
The picture above reveals AMD putting in solely a single 7nm SRAM chip on prime of an octa-core CCD, leaving the opposite CCD clean. Provided that each chips have the identical L3 cache capability, the cache per core varies as a result of totally different core counts.
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| Row 0 – Cell 0 | CCD 0 (3D V-Cache) | CCD1 (Regular) |
| Ryzen 9 7900X3D L3 | 96MB | 32MB |
| Ryzen 9 7900X3D L3 per core | 16MB | ~5.3MB |
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D L3 | 96MB | 32MB |
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D L3 per core | 12MB | 4MB |
As you may see within the desk above, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D’s 3D V-Cache geared up chip has extra per-core cache than the 7950X3D with 16MB per core and 12MB per core for the 7900X3D. 7950X3D. It additionally has extra L3 cache per core on the common die. In distinction, AMD disables L2 cache slices together with the cores, so the 7900X3D has 12MB of L2 whereas the 7950X3D has 16MB.
The 3D V-Cache chip ends in decrease efficiency as a result of thermal difficulties, which you’ll examine right here. Nevertheless, AMD’s new design permits the 3D stacked SRAM-free chip to run at full velocity, offering the extremely accelerated clocks we see within the spec sheet for frequency-rewarding functions. In the meantime, the SRAM-stack CCD will run at a barely decrease clock velocity than the chip’s rated improve, however will meet the wants of functions that reply greatest to low-latency entry, reminiscent of video games. The chip itself has a 1.4 V peak, enabling excessive clock speeds, however the 3D V-Cache geared up CCD has a ~1.1 V restrict to maintain thermals in examine.
Combining SRAM in only one CCD additionally lowers manufacturing prices, because the hybrid meeting course of and extra chip make this an costly expertise. AMD additionally says that utilizing two V-Cache chips does not present sufficient efficiency good points to justify the additional prices.
Both manner, the brand new design requires the mixture of a brand new chipset driver and the Home windows Xbox Sport Bar to position threads for various workload varieties on the proper chip. AMD’s new thread administration method requires Home windows 10 (1903) or 11 (21H2) and 4 parts: a brand new chipset driver, up to date BIOS, Home windows Sport Mode, and an up to date model of Xbox Sport Bar (you may replace it through the Microsoft Apps retailer) ).
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You may learn the in-depth particulars of AMD’s thread concentrating on implementation right here, however the important thing takeaway is that the 4 totally different parts work collectively to mechanically change the thread assignments to the cores. This system ensures that the OS thread scheduler can goal the right cores based mostly on present utilization — the chip with 3D V-Cache for cache latency delicate duties like gaming, or the usual chip for workloads that reply greatest to greater frequencies. You may also override the automated switching between kernel sorting modes to customise the settings, however we discovered the automated mechanisms to work properly.
Chipset drivers additionally embody a part that improves efficiency by parking the chip with out further cache when Gaming Mode or Blended Actuality Mode is energetic. In actuality this turns off the ‘normal’ CCD and thus limits latency delicate workloads (like video games) to the 3D V-Cache chip. This will increase cache hits and reduces high-latency communication between two CCDs, leading to quicker efficiency for workloads that need not entry (or reap the benefits of) all cores.
Naturally, each units of cores are used if the workload is sufficiently parallelized. Thread concentrating on and core parking solely come into play for twin CCD Zen 4 X3D processors, so they do not have an effect on efficiency with common chips.
Sport Mode is designed to cut back the influence of background duties on gameplay, however is greatest on lower-end techniques. It has a historical past of generally needlessly throttling background duties on high-end techniques that do not want a lot useful resource safety; this may be problematic for video streaming or different apps working within the background. We have achieved our personal cursory testing and have not encountered any points, however we’re additional testing the impact of background apps.
Now let’s transfer on to the gaming and productiveness standards on the next pages.
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