AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review: The most powerful gaming processor at the end of 2024

Attracting the attention of gamers, the mid-to-high-end Zen 5 architecture Ryzen 9000X3D series processor with 3D V-Cache: Ryzen 7 9800X3D is officially launched, priced at US$479 (excluding tax) / NT$16,450 (tax included). What is the gaming performance? How far is it from its own Ryzen 9000 series processors and rival flagships? Please see our actual performance analysis.

Specifications and Architecture

Ryzen 7 9800X3D still uses a single TSMC 4nm process CCD (Core Complex Die) chip paired with TSMC 6nm process IOD (Input/Output Die) chip, and the main CPU core architecture located in the CCD is still the 8-core Zen 5.

However, compared to the past X3D series processors that placed the 3D V-Cache on top of the CCD chip, Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s second-generation 3D V-Cache uses more advanced technology to sandwich it between the CCD chip and the substrate.

The CCD and 3D V-Cache chips use Through Silicon Vias (TSVs) to communicate between the chips, and are then combined using copper-to-copper direct connection.

The biggest advantage of this is that the CCD chip can directly contact the IHS (Integrated Heat Spreader, integrated radiator) metal cover, so that the heat of the CPU core can be more effectively transferred outward and discharged, further improving the operating clock.

Packaging and appearance

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D retail color box continues the visual design of the Ryzen 9000 series, but the original more three-dimensional iron gray block is changed to a brighter and flat silver gray. The upper left corner emphasizes that this processor specifically uses AMD 3D V-Cache technology. . The processor body is also an AM5 package covered with a uniquely shaped IHS metal cover, and no air-cooling radiator is attached.

test environment

We have prepared the previous generation Ryzen 7 7800X3D of the same level, as well as the current generation Ryzen 7 9700X 105W and Ryzen 9 9950X, as well as the newly launched Core Ultra 9 285K / Core Ultra 5 245K by rival Intel, as well as the rival Core with better game performance. i9-14900K is used as a control group to see the performance of Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

In addition, AMD once again emphasized that when Ryzen 9000/7000 series processors are paired with DDR5-6000 memory, UCLK (that is, the memory controller) can operate at the highest clock speed of 3000 MHz and provide the best memory performance. Therefore, AMD The platform will be equipped with DDR5-6000 memory. Intel Core Ultra 200 processors continue to be equipped with DDR5-8000 memory, while the 14th generation Core processors continue to be equipped with the more mainstream DDR5-6400 memory.

Game performance

Let’s look directly at the games, starting with Full HD 1080p resolution, which has the biggest gap.

Compared with Ryzen 7 7800X3D / Ryzen 7 9700X 105W / Ryzen 9 9950X, the average fps of Ryzen 7 9800X3D increased by 4% / 7.5% / 6.7% respectively. Compared with Core Ultra 9 285K, it can even lead by 10.1%, but the comparison game performance is better. The Core i9-14900K only leads by 3.8%.

The game with the most outstanding performance is “Far Cry 6”, which is about 17% ~ 22% ahead of Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Core i9-14900K. It is ahead of Ryzen 7 9700X 105W / Ryzen 9 9950X, and the margin can even be expanded to nearly 30%, even leading the Core Ultra 9 285K by 31.6%.

Next is WQHD 1440p resolution for mid-to-high-end mainstream application environments. Ryzen 7 9800X3D has grown by 4.5% / 6.8% / 6.5% respectively compared to Ryzen 7 7800X3D / Ryzen 7 9700X 105W / Ryzen 9 9950X, leading Core Ultra 9 285K / Core i9-14900K respectively. reached 8.3% and 2.9%.

4K Ultra HD 2160p resolution Since the main load falls on the GPU, Ryzen 7 9800X3D only grows 3.4% compared to Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This part is slightly higher, which is roughly higher than other Ryzen 7 9700X 105W / Ryzen 9 9950X / Core Ultra 9 285K, etc. Leading by 1.3% ~ 1.6%, then tied with Core i9-14900K.

In terms of first-person shooter games, Ryzen 7 9800X3D can only lead Core Ultra 9 285K / Core i9-14900K by about 3.7% ~ 4% at 1080p resolution, and the remaining numerical differences are very small.

Rendering operations

After looking at the game performance, we will only compare the next computing performance with Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Ryzen 7 9700X 105W and Core Ultra 5 245K with the same core size.

Compared with the previous generation Zen 4 architecture Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Ryzen 7 9800X3D benefits from the advancement of Zen 5 architecture, with single-core performance increasing by 17% ~ 20% and multi-core performance increasing by 22% ~ 33%.

However, there is no advantage compared to Ryzen 7 9700X 105W and Core Ultra 5 245K. Ryzen 7 7800X3D is slightly inferior in single-core. Multi-core is slightly behind or tied with Ryzen 7 9700X 105W, but it lags behind Core Ultra 5 245K by up to 10%. % ~ 12%, only V-Ray 6 regained 10%, leading Core Ultra 5 245K by about 7.6%.

Comprehensive application

In terms of comprehensive applications, Ryzen 7 7800X3D maintains a significant lead over Ryzen 7 7800X3D, equals Ryzen 7 9700X 105W, and slightly lags behind Core Ultra 5 245K.

3DMark

The trend of 3DMark looks similar to comprehensive applications. The CPU score of Ryzen 7 9800X3D is significantly ahead of Ryzen 7 7800X3D, slightly behind Ryzen 7 9700X 105W, and the multi-core lags behind Core Ultra 5 245K.

Power consumption and temperature

Since the CCD chip of Ryzen 7 7800X3D is covered by 3D V-Cache, AMD has built in a special protection mechanism for it, and the maximum power consumption only stays at the beginning of 90W.

The second-generation 3D V-Cache of Ryzen 7 9800X3D is placed under the CCD chip, and there is no special protection mechanism. The maximum power consumption during burn-in can reach close to 160W, which is about 15W higher than the 105W mode Ryzen 7 9700X.

As for Core Ultra 5 245K, only when the power consumption restrictions are completely lifted, the maximum power consumption of Prime95 is nearly 200W, but the maximum power consumption of AIDA64 FPU is slightly lower than Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

In terms of temperature, the maximum temperature of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D when burning the AIDA64 FPU reaches 83.5°C, which is slightly higher than the 105W mode Ryzen 7 9700X by about 2°C. At this time, the high temperature of Core Ultra 5 245K is only 65°C, and even the most demanding Prime95 is only 73°C.

Summarize

With the support of the second-generation 3D V-Cache structure change, the operating clock of AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has been effectively improved, and the ultra-large capacity L3 cache coupled with the advanced Zen 5 computing architecture has indeed greatly improved the game performance, and the specific game environment It can even be more than 30% ahead of its rival’s newly released flagship processor, and its power consumption and temperature performance are also within a relatively reasonable range. This time it is also open to overclocking.

It is a pity that although the price of Ryzen 7 9800X3D in the United States is only about US$10 higher than that of Ryzen 9 9900X, the retail price in Taiwan is NT$1,700 higher, which does put more pressure on consumers.

To sum up, AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is in the mid-to-high-end price range and its gaming performance surpasses all current processors. For users who don’t have high demands for multi-core multitasking but are particularly concerned about gaming performance, this processor is definitely the first choice.

On the other hand, since the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is slightly higher than the Ryzen 7 9700X according to the naming principle, it is more expensive than the -900X level anyway. I hope that in the future, AMD’s clock settings at the -800X3D level will be at least as high as -700X Flush.