AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Review: One Of The Best Ryzen Gaming Processors
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the new flagship Ryzen processor for gamers. It’s the first Ryzen processor using the new Zen 4 architecture and is part of its Ryzen 7000 series of processors.
But is the price tag of $699 worthy for this processor? Are there any better alternatives out there? Read this post till the end to find out!
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Release Date And Price
This processor was released on 28th February 2023. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D currently has a price of $699 in US markets.
This processor uses the 3D V-Chip cache, which significantly increases its overall cache memory. This was first introduced with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D that was released last year.
AMD has stated that this increase in L3 cache memory will allow them to reduce manufacturing costs and produce better performance – which is part of its 2023-2024 roadmap.
This processor has two different Core Compute Die (CCD) chipsets- each one having eight cores (a total of 16). However, only one core has a top-mounted 7nm SRAM chipset which provides the additional L3 cache. The other chipset is a normal one.
If the workload is manageable, one chipset (the one without SRAM) gets used. However, when conducting tasks that require super low latency (like playing games), the chipset with the SRAM gets activated, freeing up processing power on the previous one.
To do so, you must download and install the AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer Driver. This detects when to transfer workloads from one CCD to another.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Specifications
The main specifications of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D are:
| Number of Cores | 16 |
| Number Of Threads | 32 |
| Clock Speed (Base) | 4.2 GHz |
| Clock Speed (Boost/Max) | 5.7 GHz |
| Cache (L2 + L3) | 144 MB (16 MB + 128 MB) |
| Architecture | Zen 4 |
| Manufacturing Process | 5 nm |
| Memory | DDR5 5200 |
| Motherboard Socket | AMD AM5 |
| Integrated Graphics | AMD Radeon |
| Integrated Graphics Frequency | 2200 MHz |
| TDP (Thermal Design Power) | 120 Watts |
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Benchmarks
Using Benchmarking Tools to test the power of a processor or graphics card is mandatory to understand its capabilities.
For this AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D review, this is the AMD testing setup that I have used:
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 512 GB SSD |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte X670 AORUS Elite AX |
However, to provide a better benchmarking comparison, I have also tested other competing processors alongside it as well. Here are the benchmark test results of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU alongside other competing processors:
| Benchmark | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | i9-13900 KS | i9-13900K | Ryzen 9 7950X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 5 (Single Thread) | 2,158 | 2,161 | 2,080 | 2,093 |
| Geekbench 5 (Multi-Thread) | 22,705 | 26,230 | 25,741 | 21,992 |
| Cibenech R23 (Single Thread) | 1,523 | 1,663 | 1,169 | 1,441 |
| Cibenech R23 (Multi Thread) | 35,024 | 34,410 | 38.204 | 34.314 |
| PugetBench (Photoshop) | 1,350 | 1,478 | 1,446 | 1,297 |
| PugetBench (Premiere Pro) | 1,088 | 1,154 | 1,027 | 948 |
| Blender Fishy Cat Render Time | 13.1 s | 13.2s | 13s | 12.5s |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 16,175 | 20,358 | 20,679 | 18,150 |
As you can see from the test scores above, the performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X3D is comparable to the higher-end Intel Core i9 13900 K and i9-13900KS. This processor is definitely a step up from its non-3D V Chip counterpart – the Ryzen 9 7950X.
In comparison, the i9-13900K is the best processor to go head to head with this processor. The i9-13900KS is significantly better than this processor in all respects, thanks to its gargantuan 6 GHz max clock speed.
While this processor appears to be better than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, the margin is not that high. However, this processor runs significantly cooler and consumes less power as well, which makes it better. In addition, this processor easily outperforms other processors like the i7-13700K and the Ryzen 7. 5800X3D.
Overall, from the benchmarks above, it seems that the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the best Ryzen gaming processor. However, in terms of performance, the equally priced i9-13900KS seems to be better.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Performance
While benchmarking tools help evaluate the performance of the processor, using the computer on a daily basis for a few days is definitely my preferred way of doing so.
In this regard, I can say that you will enjoy the performance of this processor. It’s snappy and fast, where everything loads up pretty quickly.
For my day-to-day work, like using Microsoft Office Suite and the Google app to write blogs, the performance increase is not noticeable since these tools require lesser resources to run anyway.
However, since I use Adobe Creative Suite for work, I was happy with the performance I got. Editing videos on the Premiere Pro timeline felt snappy, while I was satisfied with how quickly I was able to render a 4k video.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Gaming Performance
When it comes to gaming, it seems like the additional L3 cache memory was made for it. Therefore, here are the frames I got while playing these games at the highest settings with ray tracing turned on.
| Game | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | i9-13900KS | i9-13900K | Ryzen 9 7950X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro: Exodus | 138 | 137 | 139 | 133 |
| Shadow Of The Tomb Raider | 334 | 294 | 288 | 266 |
| Gears 5 | 193 | 207 | 215 | 191 |
| Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla | 187 | 187 | 189 | 181 |
| Watchdogs: Legion | 136 | 135 | 135 | 121 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 189 | 192 | 190 | 177 |
| F1 22 | 403 | 369 | 368 | 369 |
As you might have noticed, I didn’t play any online games like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, or Rainbow Six: Siege here. That’s because I know that they will run at 400+ fps pretty easily. On most single-player games with high graphics, it will give you amazing frame rates as well.
The performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is comparable to its peers. While it may come close to the performance of the i9-13900KS (which is a bit better) and the standard i9-13900K, it’s way better than the Ryzen 9 7950X.
If you buy this processor and use it on a decent setup with RTX graphic cards (preferably RTX 4000+ cards), you will have the best gaming experience of your life. However, you must also spend a bit more on upgrading your motherboard to one with a DDR5-enabled AM5 socket.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Alternatives
The main alternatives that can give the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D a run for its money are:
1. Intel Core i9 13900KS
Price: $699
As you can see from the comparison above, the i9-13900KS is by far one of the best processors a gamer could possibly want. Boasting a maximum clock speed of 6 GHz, it provides lightning-fast performance in almost everything. However, the 0.2 GHz jump in performance from the standard i9-13900K is not that. much, considering it costs $100 more.
2. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Price: $449
If you want a good gaming processor that is not as pricey as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, you may consider this one instead. In all honesty, this processor is enough to support your gaming needs. However, if you need a good processor for productivity tasks, this will suffice as well.
3. AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Price: $649
While this processor initially launched with a price tag of $699 – the same as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D – this one recently got its price cut after the launch of the latter. However, I would still recommend getting the latter for $50 more since it provides better performance and consumes less power as well.
Final Verdict: Is The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Worth Buying In 2023?
If you want a beefy gaming computer that also allows you to work on your graphically-intensive productivity tasks as well, then the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is a good choice. However, it’s expected that most people will back out after having a look at its $699 price tag.
It’s a solid processor that goes head-to-head with the Intel Core i9-13900KS, which is slightly better in performance. However, if gaming is on your mind, then this one is better. However, if you need a processor for productive tasks, then the i9-13900K or 13900KS still reigns supreme.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Amazing gaming performance • Low power consumption • Good single and multi-threaded performance | • Expensive • Supports only DDR5 and AM5 sockets |
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