AMD’s X3D series, which are tuned versions of their regular CPUs with an additional physical cache in the chip, have for several generations now not only been good “bang for the buck”, but also in many cases outperformed both Intel and AMD’s top models when it comes to real gaming.
This has not changed. There’s still 104MB of additional cache, but it’s now located below the chip, providing a number of cooling benefits. This is a good idea as this generation of X3D chips can be overclocked. That’s 8 cores with 16 threads, which might not sound like much, but will be more than enough for modern games that still struggle to fully utilize modern CPUs. It runs 500 MHz faster than the 7800X3D and has a boost clock that is 200 MHz higher. We never measured more than 112.3 watts, despite the fact that the chip is stated to be able to handle 120 watts. If you can get past this, there really is even more overclocking potential to be found.
The chip ran at 41.3 degrees at idle and 55.0 degrees at full load. There were a few peaks of 60.5 degrees, but overall heat dissipation is extremely limited. We are talking about 20 degrees below what we normally see, so there are good opportunities to use the 9800X3D in SFF designs as well.
It is important to note that it is very different with this CPU what you can achieve, how many cores run optimally, and how many run high from the start. I was lucky as all cores run at 5.2GHz to begin with. Our test specimen reached 5.418 GHz all by itself, but with all the boost features of the MSI X870E Carbon Wi-Fi motherboard enabled and 32 GB of G.SKILL Trident Z RAM running at 6000 MHz, and a PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive in addition , it should be possible to reach 5.7 GHz. But at the time of writing there are few examples of 6+ GHz with this CPU and the best are some dedicated overclockers that have reached 7.4 GHz consistently. That’s pretty impressive.
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The new architecture that the 9800X3D uses means that you don’t have to take into account CPU multipliers and other things like in the old days, which makes overclocking your CPU and RAM much easier. AMD themselves say they support EXPO 8000 MHz, so you should already be able to get a lot out of it. In addition, the AM5 platform is used, so if you have an older motherboard with AM5, you don’t need to buy a new one. In general, the price of competing motherboards has also skyrocketed.
Speaking of price, it costs around £480. It’s quite a bit cheaper than both AMD’s and Intel’s options, but both have been reduced, and the price difference between a Ryzen 7 X3D CPU and the flagship models isn’t what it used to be. That doesn’t change the fact that this is a product where you really get a lot for your money.
When testing processors, you’ll usually be using 1080p, so it’s not the graphics card that matters. Therefore, you will usually also look at 1% times, where you look at how many frames per second the lowest measured 1% is. This is, so to speak, the worst the hardware can deliver, and thus also a pretty good example of what can be achieved. We used an RX 7900XTX because it was one of two graphics cards with reference data, and unfortunately no one could lend us an RTX 4090 card. This means that there is some bias in our results, as some games and synthetic tests are better at taking advantage of RTX graphics cards, as many of them have some degree of Ray-Tracing. However, our data is a mixture of several elements in order to better compare it with the past. We have also run the tests several times against Intel’s new Ultra 285K CPU, their top model. Again, we have run the same tests several times, as some of the results look strange. However, we suspect that poor Windows optimization may have an impact.
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The first strange result is the Fire Strike Ultra, where Intel’s counterpart takes a beating with a synthetic score 3,000 points higher. Here you have to go up to, for example, a 7950X CPU to find better. This makes sense, as more cores usually result in higher scores. However, Intel’s 285K is beaten by quite a bit, and even recent tests like 3D Benchmark’s Steel Nomad give the 9800X3D a score of 6,635, just enough to beat the competition. Much to my surprise, Intel’s 24-core Ultra 285K was also beaten in AIDA’s Checkmate test with a score of 12,547 vs. 8,652. To be fair, it won the multi-core test with 23,473 vs. 40,185, but lost the single-core test with 2,106 vs. 2,055.
On the gambling side, there was a varying degree of victory, but almost always victory. As mentioned earlier, we tested primarily at 1080p to avoid a GPU bottleneck, but that doesn’t explain a score of 227.50 FPS in Total War: Warhammer III, which was 25% higher than 285K. It was even worse in Red Dead Redemption in 4K, where the FPS counter said 100.40 against 170.53 in AMD’s favor. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was also a win for AMD, but not by a large percentage. The biggest difference was in 1440p with a difference of 9% and peaked at 167 FPS. It was even more disappointing in Far Cry 6, where we got the highest score ever: 231 FPS, or a difference to Intel’s 285K of just under 69%. We tested a number of other games and with other engines, but the general picture was the same.
In general, it’s also a bit unfair, because Intel’s 285K has not had a good start in life and in most of our tests it is beaten by both the 14900K and even the 13900K. But the funny thing is that this is evident in raw computing, for example with Cyberpunk 2077 when you don’t use FidelityFX, DLSS or other black magic. Here there was a difference of 93% in 1080p, which is quite a lot. In fairness, it should be said that Dirt 5 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 gave a higher score of 285K, but here we are talking about a few FPS. In Black Myth: Wukong, on the other hand, we hit 119 FPS, a difference of 45 FPS, or more than 60%.
It’s affordable, it stays cool, it doesn’t use a lot of power, and it beats its main competitor from Intel. Still, when we look at the old numbers for the 7800X3D, they are higher, but we’re usually talking about 10%. However, a few games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 produced significantly higher scores, while others were only a 5% improvement, proving that the 7800X3D is hard to beat. On the other hand, the 9800X3D has completely different possibilities when it comes to overclocking.
If you’re going to upgrade this year, you’ll need a Ryzen 7 9800X3D. For once, it’s easy to recommend a very specific product, as the price is low enough that it’s something everyone should consider, regardless of budget.
AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D: The Unexpected Overclocking Hero
Welcome, tech enthusiasts! Buckle your seatbelts because we’re diving headfirst into the world of AMD’s latest marvel, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D— the amiable giant of CPUs, ready to tackle anything from your everyday spreadsheets to the most demanding gaming scenarios. Think of it like the office worker who moonlights as a superhero. It’s just good at everything!
The Jaw-Dropping Specs
There’s no beating around the bush here; AMD’s X3D series has become synonymous with “bang for your buck.” And guess what? The 9800X3D isn’t just good; it’s blasted through the roof with performance! With a staggering 104MB of additional cache sitting pretty beneath the chip, AMD has taken cooling to the next level. You know what they say, heat kills the vibe, and this bad boy stays cooler than a cucumber at a vegan picnic, running at just 55 degrees under full load!
Clock It! Overclock It! Love It!
Ah, overclocking—the art of squeezing every last drop of juice from your CPU without it spontaneously combusting. The 9800X3D manages to run at a spicy 500 MHz faster than its predecessor, the 7800X3D! Who doesn’t want a chip that practically begs for you to push it further? But hold onto your hats, folks; we’ve seen dedicated overclockers hit jaw-dropping speeds of 7.4 GHz. That’s not just smashing records; that’s like breaking into Fort Knox wearing roller skates!
Performance: Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Let’s talk numbers! When most of us are just trying to score a solid 60 FPS, this champ delivers a whopping 227.50 FPS in Total War: Warhammer III. Meanwhile, the rival Intel Ultra 285K is left in the dust, crying into its overpriced cooler. And yes, 1080p testing is the name of the game here; because it’s not about the graphics card melting your wallet—it’s about performance!
Price Tag: The Sweet Spot
The cherry on top? It comes with a price tag of around £480—cheaper than a round of drinks at the pub… well, if you’re avoiding those fancy cocktails! But let’s face it, in a world where top-tier options launch at prices that make your bank account weep, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is like finding a tenner in an old coat. It makes you do a little happy dance!
Pushing the Envelope
While it competes fiercely, the 9800X3D doesn’t just rest on its laurels. AMD’s trying out a new architecture here, and I’m not saying it’s revolutionary like the discovery of penicillin, but it’s pretty darn close for overclocking enthusiasts. With EXPO support for 8000 MHz, even the laziest of techies can hook it up for a ride into overdrive.
Conclusion: Get On Board!
In a nutshell, if you’re contemplating an upgrade that won’t break the bank or your sanity, look no further than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This chip is fast, efficient, and puts Intel’s Ultra 285K in a headlock while whispering sweet performance secrets. So, whether you’re a gamer, a creator, or a binger of cat videos, this CPU is your golden ticket. But remember, folks: with great power comes great responsibility. Don’t go toasting marshmallows over it just yet!
If you’re looking to step up your game this year, the 9800X3D is the recommended choice. It’s like having a top-tier sports car for the price of a used bicycle. Plus, you can still rev that engine on your existing AM5 motherboard—as long as it didn’t come from the Stone Age!
Final Thoughts
So, in conclusion, get out there, upgrade, and don’t forget to flaunt your brand new CPU like it just came fresh off the catwalk. Happy gaming, overclocking, and whatever else your heart desires.
AMD’s latest X3D series offers a competitive edge with its specially optimized CPUs, featuring an impressive additional physical cache that enhances gaming performance significantly. These CPUs have consistently delivered exceptional value, often surpassing high-end options from both Intel and AMD in real-world gaming scenarios.
This time around, the 9800X3D retains its formidable 104MB of additional cache, strategically positioned beneath the chip for improved cooling efficiency. This innovative architecture allows for overclocking options, which is a great incentive for enthusiasts eager to push performance boundaries. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it may appear modest on paper, yet it’s more than sufficient for contemporary games that continue to struggle with effectively leveraging cutting-edge CPUs. Markedly, the 9800X3D clocks in at 500 MHz faster than its predecessor, the 7800X3D, boasting a commendable boost clock that sits 200 MHz higher. During testing, the chip never exceeded 112.3 watts, even though specifications allow for a maximum of 120 watts, indicating a wealth of untapped overclocking potential.
The thermal performance of the 9800X3D is particularly noteworthy; it idles at a mere 41.3 degrees and peaks at just 55.0 degrees under full load. While there were occasional spikes reaching 60.5 degrees, overall heat dissipation is impressively efficient, approximately 20 degrees lower than typical CPUs, thereby making it suitable for compact Small Form Factor (SFF) builds.
AMD’s new architecture radically changes the overclocking landscape; it simplifies the process by eliminating complicated CPU multipliers that used to complicate tuning. AMD supports EXPO 8000 MHz memory, allowing for significant performance gains. Moreover, the 9800X3D is compatible with the AM5 platform, ensuring that users with existing AM5 motherboards won’t need to invest in new hardware. The escalating prices of rival motherboards make this compatibility even more appealing.
Retailing at around £480, the 9800X3D is a uniquely affordable option compared to both Intel and AMD’s offerings. While competitors have recently cut their prices, the cost difference between the Ryzen 7 X3D and top-tier models has diminished significantly. Nevertheless, AMD’s new CPU undoubtedly delivers remarkable value.
In most performance tests, processors are evaluated at 1080p, which minimizes the impact of the graphics card. This context is essential, especially when examining 1% low frame rates, a critical benchmark indicating the minimum frames per second a system can deliver. Utilizing an RX 7900XTX graphics card for benchmarking, we had to bypass lending an RTX 4090 card, skewing some results in favor of AMD due to certain games’ compatibility with NVIDIA’s Ray Tracing features. Despite this, the tests were comprehensive, facilitating a direct comparison with Intel’s new Ultra 285K CPU.
A notable finding emerged from our Fire Strike Ultra benchmark, where Intel’s counterpart yielded a staggering synthetic score 3,000 points higher than the 9800X3D. This discrepancy validates the need for higher core counts for enhanced performance. The 285K also struggled against AMD’s offering in AIDA’s Checkmate test, where it mustered only a score of 8,652 compared to the 9800X3D’s 12,547. Though the Intel 285K clinched victory in multi-core testing, it faltered in the single-core scenario.
Overall gaming performance varied, though victories leaned heavily in AMD’s favor, especially at 1080p resolution. A compelling example is Total War: Warhammer III, where the 9800X3D achieved an astonishing score of 227.50 FPS—25% higher than the 285K. In Red Dead Redemption 2, the performance differential widened significantly, with the benchmarks revealing 100.40 FPS against 170.53 FPS favoring AMD. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s results showcased another win for AMD, albeit by a smaller margin, while Far Cry 6 saw the 9800X3D reach an unprecedented score of 231 FPS, trailing the Intel model by nearly 69% less in performance.
While it’s undeniable that Intel’s 285K hasn’t made a splash in the competitive landscape, consistently trailing devices like the 14900K and even the 13900K, it’s critical to note the drastic differences in raw computing power. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077 indicated a substantial performance gap when FidelityFX or DLSS technologies were absent, leading to disparities of 93% at 1080p. Although certain games like Dirt 5 favored Intel, the margin of victory was minimal. In striking contrast, Black Myth: Wukong showcased a substantial performance difference, achieving 119 FPS—over 60% better than Intel in that specific metric.
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D represents an unbeatable combination of affordability, thermal efficiency, and performance, consistently outperforming Intel counterparts. While the previous generation 7800X3D holds certain advantages in some metrics, particularly with an approximate 10% edge in specific scenarios, it is clear that the 9800X3D allows for more aggressive overclocking capabilities. For anyone contemplating a CPU upgrade this year, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D stands out as a compelling, cost-effective choice, making it a must Consideration for any budget-conscious enthusiast.
How does the Ryzen 7 9800X3D compare to the Intel Ultra 285K in graphically intensive games?
08p resolution, where the Ryzen 7 9800X3D showed impressive results across a variety of titles. It outperformed its Intel rival in several popular games, reaffirming its position as a top-tier choice for gamers and creators alike.
Some notable highlights from our testing included graphically intensive titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, where the 9800X3D consistently delivered higher frame rates compared to the Intel Ultra 285K. Even in titles reported to benefit from higher core counts, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, the 9800X3D held its ground, showcasing its versatility across different gaming genres. These results highlighted how AMD’s architecture and its large cache effectively bridge the gap in performance metrics, allowing a richer gaming experience with fluid gameplay.
Final Takeaway
Ultimately, AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D stands as a compelling choice for anyone looking to upgrade their system this year. Its combination of excellent thermal performance, competitive pricing, and an abundance of overclocking potential makes it an enticing proposition. Whether you’re diving into the latest AAA titles or multitasking with demanding applications, this CPU can handle the load, all while ensuring you won’t have to tear your hair out over unnecessary expenses. So, gear up and get ready to unleash the full power of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D on your setup—you won’t regret it!
