AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor review

ZAH Computers Tech Editorial

ZAH Computers Hardware Research Desk

AMD has finally released the highly anticipated Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor series, which we have thoroughly evaluated. This flagship CPU boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, as well as 64MB of 3D V-Cache. The X3D series was specifically developed to narrow the performance gap between AMD and Intel's Raptor Lake processors. The additional cache in the 7950X3D is expected to significantly improve gaming workloads. During CES 2023, AMD unveiled the launch of three new Ryzen 7000 X3D models that promise a balanced combination of single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, as well as enhanced gaming capabilities. These new processors feature a larger L3 cache size of +64MB and incorporate the manufacturer's proprietary 3D V-Cache stacked on top of a CPU chiplet and the cache present in the Ryzen 7000 CPUs. The three new Ryzen 7000 X3D models will offer 8, 12, and 16 cores. While the current Ryzen 7 5800X3D remains a top choice for gamers, the Ryzen 7000 X3D components stand to benefit even more from 3D V-Cache due to the increased bandwidth, resulting in improved performance in games, as well as specific creative workloads and applications. The proposed pricing for these processors is as stated below. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Ryzen 9 7900X3D processors will be released for purchase starting today, February 28th, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D will be accessible for sale on April 6th. These components will be readily available in the market in the near future.

Processor	Core architecture	Cores Threads	Base / Turbo	L2 + L3 Cache	TDP	iGPU	Price
Ryzen 9 7950X3D	Zen 4	16/32	4.2/5.7 GHz	16+64+64 MB	120 W	yes	699 USD
Ryzen 9 7950X	Zen 4	16/32	4.5/5.7 GHz	16+64 MB	170 W	yes	699 USD
Ryzen 9 7900X3D	Zen 4	12/24	4.4/5.6 GHz	12+64+64 MB	120 W	yes	599 USD
Ryzen 9 7900X	Zen 4	12/24	4.7/5.6 GHz	12+64 MB	170 W	yes	549 USD
Ryzen 7 7800X3D	Zen 4	8/16	4.2/5.0 GHz	8+32+64 MB	120 W	yes	449 USD
Ryzen 7 5800X3D	Zen 3	8/16	3.4/4.5 GHz	4+32+64 MB	105 W	yes	449 USD
Ryzen 7 7700X	Zen 4	8/16	4.5/5.4 GHz	8+32 MB	105 W	yes	399 USD
Ryzen 5 7600X	Zen 4	6/12	4.7/5.3 GHz	6+32 MB	105 W	yes	299 USD

AMD has detailed the clock speeds of its Ryzen 7000-series desktop processors, with the Ryzen 9 7950X hitting up to 5.7 GHz, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D reaching up to 5.6 GHz, and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D maxing out at 5.0 GHz. Meanwhile, the Ryzen 7 7700X can reach speeds of up to 5.4 GHz. The high turbo of the Ryzen 9 is attributed to the cache chip being carried by a single chiplet. The TDP of all three X3D CPUs is 120 watts, higher than the Ryzen 7 7700X's 105 watts but lower than the default 170 watts of the two existing Ryzen 9 models. Moving forward to the review, the processor underwent testing on an ASUS X670E Hero motherboard and was paired with 32GB of DDR5 memory.