What Other Reviewers DON'T Tell You...AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D VS Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

Summary

In this comparison between the AMD Ryzen 7 9800 X3D and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, the AMD CPU leads in gaming performance, especially in CPU-bound titles, thanks to its innovative 3D V-Cache architecture. Despite a higher core count, Intel’s 285K struggles with micro stuttering and GPU underutilization in some gaming scenarios but excels in productivity tasks like rendering and video editing. Power efficiency and thermals are better on the 9800 X3D, making it the preferred choice for gamers. However, Intel’s 285K shows promise for future improvements and remains a strong contender for content creators.

Takeaways

• 😀 The AMD Ryzen 7 9800 X3D outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in CPU-bound gaming scenarios, with up to 49% better performance at 720p in certain games.
• 😀 The 9800 X3D features 8 Zen 5 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.2 GHz boost, while the 285K has 24 cores (8+16 configuration) and a 5.7 GHz boost, but costs more at $630.
• 😀 The 9800 X3D leverages a new 3D V-cache stacked directly beneath the 8-core CCD, improving temperature, voltages, and overall performance, especially in gaming.
• 😀 Intel’s 285K uses a more radical architecture with two core types (Lion Cove for P-cores and Skymont for E-cores), but faces issues with lower-than-expected CPU and GPU utilization.
• 😀 Despite the 9800 X3D’s clear gaming advantage in CPU-bound titles, the 285K performs well in productivity tasks like Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Blender due to its higher core count.
• 😀 In games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Far Cry 6, the 9800 X3D generally leads, but the 285K’s higher 1% lows and smoother performance in certain scenarios (like Red Dead) suggest it’s still competitive.
• 😀 At 720p, the 9800 X3D leads the 285K by a large margin, showing how CPU limitations in Intel's architecture manifest at lower resolutions.
• 😀 Power consumption and thermal performance show that the 285K consumes significantly more power (up to 244 watts), while the 9800 X3D stays more power-efficient at 159 watts.
• 😀 Intel’s 285K struggles with micro-stuttering in CPU-bound games, like CS2, which impacts its 1% lows compared to the 9800 X3D's smoother frame pacing.
• 😀 The 9800 X3D, with its 3D V-cache, provides superior gaming performance due to better cache utilization, while Intel’s 285K remains competitive in single-threaded workloads but struggles in multi-core workloads for gaming.

Q & A

What are the key specifications of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D features 8 Zen 5 cores, 16 threads, with a 5.2 GHz boost clock. It has 8MB of L2 cache, 96MB of L3 cache, and is built on a 4nm process. Its price is $479.

How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K differ in specifications compared to the AMD 9800X3D?

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has 24 cores (8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores) with a 5.7 GHz boost clock. It features 40MB of L2 cache and 36MB of L3 cache, built on a 3nm process. Its price is $630, making it more expensive than the AMD 9800X3D.

What is the significance of AMD's 3D V-Cache technology in the 9800X3D?

AMD’s 3D V-Cache in the 9800X3D is stacked directly under the 8-core CCD, rather than on top as in previous generations. This results in better temperature management, improved clock speeds, and overall better performance in both gaming and other applications.

How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's architecture impact gaming performance?

The Intel 285K uses a hybrid architecture with Lion Cove (performance cores) and Skymont (efficiency cores), which leads to some performance inconsistencies. While it excels in single-core tasks, it struggles in gaming due to issues with CPU/GPU utilization, especially in CPU-limited scenarios.

What were the results of gaming benchmarks at 1080p resolution for both CPUs?

At 1080p, the 9800X3D led by 10-19% in CPU-bound games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Far Cry 6. The 285K had better 1% lows in some cases, indicating more stable performance in scenarios with lower CPU utilization.

How did the Intel 285K perform in GPU-bound games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 5?

In GPU-bound games, both the 9800X3D and the 285K showed similar performance, with only minor differences in frame rates and 1% lows. The 9800X3D still had a slight edge due to better CPU performance in more CPU-intensive sections.

What were the main productivity performance results between the 9800X3D and the 285K?

The 285K performed better in productivity tasks that require multi-threading, like Blender and Adobe Premiere Pro, thanks to its higher core count. However, the 9800X3D surprisingly outperformed the 285K in Photoshop by 24%, possibly due to its efficient cache architecture.

What thermal performance differences were observed between the AMD 9800X3D and Intel 285K?

The 9800X3D averaged 86°C, with a peak of 89°C, while the Intel 285K averaged 90°C and peaked at 97°C. Both CPUs had stable performance, but the 285K's higher peak temperatures reflect its higher power consumption and thermal output.

How did the power consumption compare between the two CPUs?

The AMD 9800X3D was more power-efficient, averaging 154W and peaking at 159W, while the Intel 285K averaged 223W and peaked at 244W, a significant increase due to its higher core count and clock speeds.

What impact did clock speed stability have on the performance of the Intel 285K during benchmarking?

The Intel 285K demonstrated inconsistent clock speeds during benchmarks, with fluctuations as low as 2.4 GHz. This instability negatively affected its performance in CPU-bound tasks, as it struggled to maintain optimal clock speeds under load.