AMD Ryzen 7950X3D Review - Leo can't believe it!

Summary

In this tech review, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 3D processor is put through its paces, showcasing its impressive performance with 3D V-Cache technology. Despite its high cost and complex software requirements for optimal performance, the processor delivers significant gains in gaming and productivity tasks, outperforming its non-3D counterpart and setting a new standard for efficiency with low power draw under load. However, the high idle power consumption and the necessity for a specific BIOS and drivers installation for the 3D cache to function correctly are noted concerns.

Takeaways

• 🚀 AMD has announced the Ryzen 9, 7950X 3D processor with 3D V-Cache technology, promising significant performance improvements in certain applications and games.
• 📅 The Ryzen 9, 7950X 3D is set to launch in February, but the 8-core Ryzen 7 will be available later in April.
• 💡 The 3D V-Cache technology in the Ryzen 9, 7950X 3D allows for asymmetric cache configurations, which AMD will manage through software with the AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer driver.
• 🔍 AMD presented charts showing the 7950X 3D outperforming the Intel Core i9 3900K and the regular Ryzen 9 7950X in various gaming benchmarks, though the choice of games was controlled by AMD.
• 💰 The 7950X 3D is priced similarly to the non-3D 7950X, which had a price reduction since its launch, making it a competitive option for high-performance processors.
• 🛠️ The Ryzen 7000 series and AM5 motherboards require a specific BIOS and chipset driver to support the 3D V-Cache technology, indicating a complex setup process.
• 🔥 The Ryzen 9, 7950X 3D showed lower power consumption and cooler temperatures under load compared to the non-3D version, which is impressive for performance-oriented processors.
• 🎮 In gaming tests, the 3D cache provided a noticeable boost in frame rates, with some games showing as much as a 30-40% improvement.
• 🤔 The reviewer expressed skepticism about the consistency of the performance gains across different games and the complexity of the required software stack for the 3D cache to function correctly.
• ⏰ The Ryzen 7 7800X 3D, which is expected to be a strong contender for gaming performance, has not been reviewed yet, suggesting potential future competition for the 7950X 3D.
• 🏆 Despite some concerns, the Ryzen 9, 7950X 3D received a high rating of 9 out of 10, being deemed a 'must-have' for those seeking top-tier performance.

Q & A

What new product was announced by AMD during the keynote?

AMD announced the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D, which is a processor with 3D V-Cache technology, along with other Zen 4 models featuring 3D cache, including the Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 series.

When are the new Ryzen 7000 processors expected to launch?

The new Ryzen 7000 processors, specifically the 7800, 7900, and 7950X 3D parts, were announced to launch in February, with the 8-core Ryzen 7 going on sale in April.

What is the AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer and how does it work?

The AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer is a driver that, along with the AMD PPM Provisioning File driver, detects when a game is being played and ideally directs it to run on the core complex with the extra 3D cache for performance benefits.

How does AMD's 3D V-Cache differ from Intel's Alder Lake and Raptor Lake hybrid core technology?

While Intel's Alder Lake and Raptor Lake designs include a mix of performance and efficient cores with extra hardware support from the start, AMD is adding 3D V-Cache to an existing processor design, managing the asymmetric cache configuration through software.

What potential performance benefits were shown by AMD for the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D?

AMD presented charts indicating that the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D could show significant performance gains over the Intel Core i9 3900K and the regular Ryzen 9 7950X in certain games, with only minor losses in others.

Why might AMD choose to stack cache or memory in their processor designs?

Stacking cache or memory can shorten connection lengths, reduce costs associated with monolithic die size, and improve scalability on a given fabrication process. It also allows for more efficient thermal management and power delivery.

What is the significance of the 3D cache technology for AMD's future processor designs?

The 3D cache technology is significant as it represents a step towards more advanced stacking techniques, which could include stacking regular DRAM, and even graphics, potentially leading to more powerful and efficient processors.

What steps are required to ensure the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D's 3D V-Cache is functioning correctly?

Several steps are needed, including installing the correct BIOS version, ensuring the AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer driver and AMD PPM Provisioning File driver are installed, verifying the AMD 3D V-Cache device in Device Manager, and checking that the Xbox Game Bar and related services are up to date.

How did the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D perform in gaming benchmarks compared to the regular Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel Core i9 13900K?

The Ryzen 9 7950X 3D showed significant performance improvements in gaming benchmarks, often outperforming both the regular Ryzen 9 7950X and the Intel Core i9 13900K, with higher frame rates in games like Far Cry 6 and Borderlands 3.

What are some of the potential downsides or concerns regarding the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D processor?

Some concerns include the high cost of the CPU and motherboard, the complexity of the required software stack for the 3D V-Cache to function correctly, high idle power draw, and the lack of direct comparison to the yet-to-be-released Ryzen 7 7800X 3D.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Launch of AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 3D and Zen 4 Models

The script introduces the new AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 3D processor with 3D V-Cache technology, highlighting its launch alongside other Zen 4 models in February. Dr. Lisa Su's keynote at the AMD event is mentioned, emphasizing the expansion of the Ryzen 7000 series and the introduction of new motherboards. The script also discusses the technical challenges of integrating 3D V-Cache into existing processors, as opposed to Intel's Alder Lake and Raptor Lake designs. AMD's solution involves software optimization with the AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer driver and the AMD PPM Provisioning File driver to manage the asymmetric cache configuration and improve gaming performance.

05:01

🔍 Investigating 3D Cache Performance and Setup

This paragraph delves into the performance implications of AMD's 3D cache technology, referencing the mixed results from the Ryzen 7 5800X 3D. The importance of software recognizing and utilizing the additional cache is underscored. The script outlines the extensive setup and verification process required for the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D, including BIOS updates, driver installations, and system configurations to ensure optimal performance. The narrator's experience with an unverified motherboard and the subsequent need for the correct BIOS is also shared, illustrating the complexity of the process.

10:02

🛠️ Benchmarking and Testing the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D

The script describes the narrator's test setup for benchmarking the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D, including the hardware used and the process of transferring components from an Intel system for comparative testing. It details the power consumption and thermal performance of the processor under various loads, such as Blender and gaming benchmarks. The results show improved performance and lower temperatures with the 3D cache enabled, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology in gaming scenarios.

15:05

📊 Comparative Analysis of Ryzen 9 7950X 3D Performance

This section presents a detailed comparative analysis of the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D's performance across multiple benchmarks and gaming tests. The processor shows significant gains in certain games, such as Far Cry 6 and Borderlands 3, with the 3D cache providing a noticeable boost in frame rates. However, the narrator expresses skepticism about the selection of games used by AMD for their comparisons, suggesting a potential bias towards titles that favor the new processor.

20:08

💡 Pros and Cons of the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D Processor

The narrator discusses the pros and cons of the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D processor. On the positive side, the processor offers impressive all-around performance with notably low power draw under load. However, the high cost of the CPU and motherboard, the complexity of the required software stack, and the high idle power consumption are cited as drawbacks. The narrator also expresses concern about not being able to compare the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D with the yet-to-be-launched Ryzen 7 7800X 3D, which could potentially offer similar gaming performance at a lower cost.

25:09

🏁 Final Verdict on the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D Processor

In conclusion, the narrator gives the Ryzen 9 7950X 3D a high rating of 9 out of 10, deeming it a must-have processor despite its cons. The overall performance, especially in gaming, is praised, and the narrator suggests that the processor is an improvement over the previous model. However, the complexity of the setup process and the high idle power consumption are lingering concerns, and the potential of the upcoming Ryzen 7 7800X 3D is noted as a reason for consumers to wait for more options before making a purchase.

Keywords

💡AMD Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D

The AMD Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D is a high-performance processor from AMD that features 3D V-Cache technology. This chip is central to the video's theme as it represents the latest advancement in CPU design, offering increased cache for improved performance. In the script, it is highlighted for its potential gains in gaming and productivity tasks, with benchmarks comparing it to other processors like the Intel Core i9 3900K.

💡3D V-Cache

3D V-Cache refers to AMD's technology that stacks additional cache on top of the processor, allowing for more data to be stored closer to the CPU cores, thus improving performance. The script discusses the implementation of this technology in the Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D and how it is handled with specific software to optimize performance, illustrating the significance of this feature in the new processor's capabilities.

💡Zen 4 Architecture

Zen 4 is the codename for the microarchitecture used in AMD's latest processors. The script mentions Zen 4 in the context of new models with 3D V-Cache, indicating a generational leap in CPU design that brings about improved performance and efficiency. It is a key concept as it represents the underlying technology of the processors discussed in the video.

💡Motherboard BIOS

BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, is firmware used to perform hardware initialization during the booting process. In the script, the importance of having the correct BIOS version is emphasized for compatibility with the new Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D processor, highlighting the need for a verified and approved BIOS to fully utilize the CPU's capabilities.

💡Software Stack

The software stack in the context of the video refers to the collection of software components required for the Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D to function optimally, including drivers and services. The script describes the complex process of verifying and ensuring that each component of the software stack is correctly installed and operational to support the 3D V-Cache technology.

💡Performance Optimizer

A performance optimizer, in this case, refers to the AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer driver, which is designed to enhance the CPU's performance by managing the use of the 3D V-Cache. The script explains that this driver, in conjunction with the AMD PPM Provisioning File driver, detects when a game is being played and ideally directs the game to run on the core complex with the extra 3D cache for optimal performance.

💡Power Consumption

Power consumption is a critical aspect of CPU performance, affecting both efficiency and thermals. The script discusses the power draw of the Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D under load, noting that it is significantly lower than its non-3D counterpart, which is an important factor for users concerned about energy efficiency and cooling solutions.

💡Thermal Management

Thermal management is the process of controlling the temperature of a CPU to ensure stable operation. The script mentions the use of the Corsair H150i Elite LCD cooler for the Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D and compares the thermal performance of the 3D model to the non-3D version, noting that the 3D V-Cache technology results in cooler operation due to lower power consumption.

💡Gaming Performance

Gaming performance is a key metric for evaluating the capabilities of a CPU, especially when new technologies like 3D V-Cache are introduced. The script provides benchmarks and comparisons of the Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D's gaming performance against other processors, demonstrating significant gains in certain titles, which is a central part of the video's narrative on the processor's capabilities.

💡Benchmarking

Benchmarking is the process of running specialized software to measure the performance of hardware. In the script, benchmarking is used to evaluate the Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D's capabilities in various tests, including Cinebench R23, Blender, and gaming tests. The results from these benchmarks are essential for understanding the processor's real-world performance.

💡Cost-effectiveness

Cost-effectiveness is the balance between the price of a product and the value it provides. The script discusses the price of the Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D and its cost-effectiveness in comparison to its performance, noting that while it offers impressive performance, the high cost of the CPU and necessary motherboard may be a consideration for potential buyers.

Highlights

AMD Ryzen 9, 7950x 3D model with 3D cache was announced.

Zen 4 models with 3D cache, including Ryzen 7, 7800, 7900, and 7950x, are set to launch.

AMD's keynote revealed a new lineup of processors and expanded AM5 motherboards.

The 8-core Ryzen 7 will be available later in April.

Only one core complex in Ryzen 9 Zen4 has the extra cache, leading to questions about performance optimization.

AMD 3D V-cache Performance Optimizer driver will manage the asymmetric 3D V cache in software.

AMD presented charts showing significant performance gains with the 7950x 3D against Intel Core i9 3900k and regular Ryzen 9 7950x.

The benefits of 3D cache include more cache at a lower cost and better scalability.

AMD is using TSMC packaging technologies to address the challenges of 3D cache integration.

The 3D cache Ryzen 7 5800x has shown inconsistent performance in different applications.

The system setup for Ryzen 9 7950x 3D includes specific BIOS, drivers, and software configurations.

The Ryzen 9 7950x 3D showed lower power consumption and cooler operation compared to the non-3D model.

Gaming benchmarks demonstrated significant performance improvements with the 3D cache enabled.

The 3D cache technology shows promise but requires a complex software stack for optimal performance.

The high cost of the CPU and motherboard may be a consideration for potential buyers.

The Ryzen 9 7950x 3D outperforms its non-3D counterpart in various benchmarks and gaming tests.

The review concludes that the Ryzen 9 7950x 3D is an impressive all-around performer with a must-have rating.

Transcripts

my fresh shiny AMD ryzen 9

7950x 3D

magnetic flap open the box

just a block of foam it's all about Zen

4 with 3D cache

[Music]

kick Guru was present and correct when

Dr Lisa Seuss took to the stage to

deliver a Cas keynote announcing a great

many things including Zen 4 models with

3D cash not only ryzen 7 but also ryzen

9. the new 7800 7900 and 7950x3d parts

will launch in February and we are also

launching new low power 65 watt ryzen

7000 processors and an expanded

portfolio of entry-level am5

motherboards that will make ryzen the

best CPU at every price point in the

desktop Market that sounded like great

news however while the three models were

launching in February the 8 core ryzen 7

was going to go on sale in April as to

when we'll get a review sample of the

ryzen 7. don't know for now we've got

the 16 core ryzen 9 haven't yet seen a

12 core with 3D cache and the ryzen 7 is

at least some weeks away it also became

clear over the day or two after the

keynote and the keynote's not a

particularly technical announcement so

we weren't surprised to only get certain

details during the keynote but it took a

day or two for it to become apparent

that only one of the two core complexes

in ryzen 9 zen4 would have the extra

cash so it's either six with regular

cash and six plus extra cash or eight

with regular cash and eight with extra

cash and that raises a few questions how

on Earth would AMD make that work after

all Intel with their Alder Lake and then

Raptor Lake had to put extra Hardware

inside the processor it was designed in

from the start to mix together their

hybrid of performance and efficient

cores they called that technology thread

director AMD by contrast is adding 3D

cache on the existing processor with the

ryzen 7 Zen 3 Model they were really

adding extra cash and as a result you

had poorer thermal so they reduced the

power and slowed the speed slightly but

the design seemed quite straightforward

with a hybrid design in Zen 4 things

were looking rather more complicated AMD

addressed this question in a press

briefing the answer is a thing called

AMD 3D V cache performance Optimizer

driver in other words they're going to

handle the asymmetric 3D V cache in

software and as they explained that

driver in association with a second

driver called AMD PPM provisioning file

driver will essentially detect when a

game is being played ideally a game will

play on the core complex with the extra

3D cache and all would be well what

benefit might this bring AMD presented

some charts comparing the new 7950x 3D

against the Intel Core I9 3900k and also

the new ryzen 9 the 7950x 3D against the

regular ryzen 979 50x in both cases the

3D cache model shows potentially

significant gains with a handful of very

minor losses on paper this looks very

impressive you should however note the

choice of games is obviously entirely in

the hands of AMD and some of the choices

look ever so slightly peculiar you might

wonder why AMD wants to increase cash

and or stack that cash in general more

cash is better but adding more cash to a

monolithic die is expensive furthermore

cash doesn't scale as well on a given

fabrication process as core logic so it

makes sense to manufacture cash using a

different process took or logic further

furthermore if you stack your dies you

can shorten the connections and this can

be a very good thing there are downsides

you have to supply power to the 3D cache

and also you have to shed heat from the

call logic which is now covered by the

cache amd's using tsmc packaging

Technologies to make this approach work

and it matters because AMD is talking

about stacking other things in future

including regular dram as well as cash

and let's face it if you can stack

memory on top of CoreLogic why not stack

graphics on top of core logic why not

pile up your chips just as high as you

can go we're in the early days of

stacking with 3D cache but just as

chiplets are now proven and guaranteed

to be here for the foreseeable future

what happens with this 3D cache ryzen

97950x matters because this is the

future the problem as Luke discovered

with the ryzen 7 5800x 3D to date the

only 3D cache model the processor on the

market is that it's very hit and miss

feel free to make jokes about missed

cash in the comments below if we take

some of the charts from my recent core

i7 13700k review you can see that in

cinebench R23 the ryzen 7 3D is right at

the bottom of the chart and it falls

even below the regular ryzen 7 5800 in a

handbrake conversion test using h.264

once again the 3D is at the bottom of

the chart but in gaming we see something

quite different in Borderlands 3 at

1080p the ryzen 7 3D is at the top of

the chart Far Cry 6 at 1080 however has

the ryzen 7 3D towards the bottom of the

chart while shadow of the Tomb Raider at

1080p has the ryzen 7 5800x 3D right at

the top in other words it's all well and

good installing extra L3 cache whether

it's stacked or otherwise but the system

has to understand how to make use of

that cache otherwise it's no good at all

foreign

to lay the groundwork for this review

but the background matters AMD told us

they had verified one bias for

motherboards from a Zeus ASRock MSI and

gigabyte they sent us this Zeus Rog

Crosshair x670e hero which has a very

fine example they also sent us an

extensive user guide telling us how we

should prepare our new system ready for

benchmarking I'm going to run through

this at some Pace because the length of

it is extraordinary and the detail is

quite eye-watering the important thing

is that we get the 3D v-cash performance

Optimizer driver and the PPM

provisioning file drivers running the

starting point is that we need a bias

that supports the processor and then in

the bias if we choose we can manually

change Dynamic preferred cores or we can

leave it on auto by running Ms

info32.exe we can check that

virtualization based security or VBS is

enabled previously with AMD you probably

wanted to leave this feature disabled

verify that game mode is on IE we turn

off background services update the Xbox

game bar install the AMD chipset driver

that supports the 3D cache processor and

then check in device manager the AMD PPM

provisioning file is installed also

check in device manager the AMD 3D V

cache performance Optimizer is installed

within Services verify the AMD 3D V

cache performance Optimizer service is

running and as built Embraces verify the

AMD 3D V cache user.xc is running I'm

not going to try to read out this

particular line of code but do this

thing then you use the win and G keys to

open the Xbox game bar app and check

it's up to date and within the Xbox game

bar app you verify the kgl version

loaded is the same as the kgl service

version this was absolute Greek to me I

still don't know what kgl stands for if

you choose within the Xbox game bar app

you can use a check box to ensure that

any chosen piece of software is

remembered as a game and then we get a

breakdown of how the AMD 3dv cache

performance Optimizer driver actually

works in the software stack in other

words it's a series of steps if any Link

in the chain breaks the whole thing

fails it so happens the motherboard we

are sent by AMD did not have the

verified and approved bias installed but

I thought what the heck let's experiment

build a system with a 3D processor and

so I did installing the chipset drivers

appeared to go fine although I noted the

3D cache driver was not part of the

process and looking in device manager

the 3D cache was clearly absent task

manager also failed build to show the

AMD 3D V cache but what the heck let's

press ahead and try running cinebench

R23 which did not work and similarly

opening ryzen Master did not work I had

a word with AMD they confirmed I did

indeed need the new bias so I installed

it with bios 9922 replacing 9908 I went

to device manager and I now had some new

unknown devices one of them being the 3D

V cache device the other being the

integrated Graphics in the processor

which had previously been absent

installing the chipset drivers once

again we now had 3D V cache performance

Optimizer driver and once that was

installed device manager looked exactly

as we expected and now we could run

through the setup list and check that

things like the Xbox game bar were

indeed updated and everything was ready

for benchmarking let's take a look at

the test setup I've been using from a

benchmarking so the motherboard has

described a Zeus rug Crosshair x670e

hero power supply csonic vertex gx1200

that's an atx3 power supply which will

become significant in just a moment SSD

under this enormous heatsink is a

separate rocket 4.0 and for the memory

we have g-skill Trident Z5 6000.

Z5 if you must the processor installed

at the moment is the regular 5950x non

3D for the graphics card I have this

gigabyte RTX 4080 gaming OC in their

chart AMD used

90x1490 for a lot of their comparisons

so they're clearly fine with using a

combo of AMD and Nvidia and we have

poured this move but I have a 4080

rather than a 40 90.

and we plug in the 600 watt high power

connector

hang on the two ryzen nines is this

Corsair h150i Elite LCD which is a 360mm

AIO it's an excellent cooler I used it

for my Intel 13th gen launches and Luke

has also used the same cooler for his

Zen 4 reviews handily by swapping the

hold Downs to the AMD versions that are

supplied with the cooler it fits the

native mounts without any fuss

whatsoever nice and straightforward

thermal compound Arctic MX6

and on with the pump cover

as I've mentioned in previous reviews I

prefer to run the AIO fans directly off

the motherboard rather than using the

supplied Corsair Hub so I'm not using IQ

to control the fans I'm using the bias

the significant thing about switching to

the RTX 4080 from gigabyte is that when

I've done my recent Intel 13th gen

reviews and Luke has done his N4 reviews

we've both been using AMD Radeon 6950xt

graphics this is clearly a step up from

that but it means that my comparative

testing of the 5950x 5950x 3D against

Intel Core I9 13900k I've had to do some

retesting and I've been using this MSI

MPG z790 carbon Wi-Fi

happily the interchangeability of

components means I can use the same

power supply graphics card the G skill

memory I've transferred between the

system successfully and the same is true

for the Corsair liquid cooler I've been

using a separate rocket on the MSI as

well but I've used a different

installation obviously for Intel to AMD

with the system idling it pulls a rather

disappointing 130 watts of which 51

watts is going to the CPU we're going to

start with a quick run in blender to see

how the Asus treats the ryzen 97950x

this is not the processor that Luke has

reviewed it's a fresh sample sent to me

by AMD as soon as the CPU comes under

load it's immediately fed 205 Watts the

system's putting 335 Watts One Core

complex is running at 5.1 gigahertz and

the other at 4.85 gigahertz the

temperature immediately pushes up to 95

Celsius and then sits there

next we have a run in Far Cry 6 at 1440p

image quality set to ultra this

generates an impressive average frame

rate of 143 FPS and a minimum of 112 FPS

in Borderlands 3 at 1440p with the image

quality on badass the average is 152 FPS

in this run and the minimum 108 FPS

shutting the system down I removed the

ryzen 9 7950x and install the 7950x 3D

with a dollop of Arctic MX6 reinstall

the Corsair cooler and we're ready for

action with the system running we're

pulling slightly less power idle but

it's still high 121 Watts for the system

43 for the CPU in blender the Asus is

treating the ryzen 9 3D with much more

care than its non-3d friend 148 Watts

package hour and the temperature is a

mere 75 Celsius 20 Celsius cooler than

the non-3d and very little difference in

clock speed so let's see how this 3D

cache behaves in gaming Far Cry 6 at

1440p ultra settings

and this time the average is

178 FPS versus 143 and the minimum is

133 FPS versus 112. it's a similar story

in Borderlands 3 at 1440p the average is

177 FPS and the minimum 135 FPS clearly

this 3D cache is having a significant

effect so let's get to the charts

cinebench R23 multi-core I've plugged my

new data into the old data that we have

this is a pure CPU test so that should

be absolutely fine at the top of the

chart I have Luke's original ryzen

97950x drawing 215 watts and Howling

along at 38.5 000 marks behind that core

I9 13900k then my sample of the ryzen 9

7950x putting 205 Watts running at the

same speed as Luke's but scoring

significantly lower I do not understand

that I'm giving you the information as I

have it just behind that we have the

7950x 3D pulling much less power running

slightly slower and scoring slightly

lower than my 7950x sample power

consumption in cinebench we can see the

7950x 3DS using a mere 151 Watts a

regular 7950x needs just over 200. Intel

is up there in the mid 250s 260s and

we've seen them run as high as 300 AMD

much more efficient than Intel CPU

temperature running on the Corsair 360

AIO the new 3D model 75 Celsius the

regular 7950x running slightly fast with

a lot more power 95 Celsius Intel will

head towards 100 given half a chance

cinebench R23 single core Intel at the

top of the chart and then we have pretty

much a dead heat between the 7950x 3D

and the regular 7950x blender classroom

ryzen 9 7950x takes the win the 3D just

behind and then the core I9

13900k very hard to separate these three

processors only three processors in this

test because we have a new version of

handbrake 1.6.1 previously we used 1.5.1

and they behave slightly differently in

testing the fastest processor in our

h.264 conversion test Intel's core I9

13900k close behind that we have the

regular ryzen 9 7950x and then the 3D

not a lot between them but there is a

margin of Separation handbrake

conversion

h.265 the ryzen 9 7950x wins out then we

have the 3D and trailing a distance

behind the core 0930 900k 7-Zip version

21 the built-in Benchmark at the top of

the chart it's the new ryzen 9 7950x 3D

and the tiniest margin behind the

regular ryzen 97950x trailing a fairway

behind that core I9 3900k and then the

rest of the field Ada 64 memory

bandwidth This falls into two halves did

it R5 at the top as you'd expect ddr4 at

the bottom Intel has more bandwidth than

AMD 3D Mark CPU profile again I'm

plugging my data into the previous data

again it's a CPU test Luke's 7950x at

the top of the chart then the Cora 9

3900k then my 7950x and then the 7950x

3D all scoring very well but quite a

distance between them and then we get on

to gaming so because I'm testing with

the RTX 4080 we're just looking at core

I9 1800k ryzen 979 50x and ryzen 9 7950x

3D

1440p badass settings at the top of the

chart by a healthy margin it's the new

3D best part of 20 frames ahead of its

non-3d compatriot Borderlands 3 at 1080

the 7950x 3D at the top of the charts by

a significant margin then the core I9

and then the regular ryzen 9. Marvel's

Guardians are the Galaxy of 1440 very

high image quality setting

blimey there's a big gap between these

processors the new 3D at the top of the

chart by a significant margin and it's

the same story of Marvel's Guardians of

the Galaxy at 1080. the 3D is stomping

the field Far Cry 6 at 1440 Ultra preset

the 3DS at the top of the chart buy a

very small margin over the core I9 3900k

in fact if we look at the one percent

low you could easily argue that core

i9's done a better job the point here is

the regular ryzer nines trailing behind

so the new cache technology is really

helping Far Cry 6 at 1080 at the top of

the field it's the new 3D and then we

have the core I9 and then a long way

behind the regular ryzen 9 7950x Hitman

3 at 1440 Ultra preset the new 3D at the

top of the chart 10 frames behind we

have the core I9 a long way behind we we

have the regular ryzen 9. Hitman 3 at

1080 at the top of the chart it's a

close tie on average between the core I9

and the 3D and then when you look at one

percent low it's a clear win for the

core I9 however the regular ryzen 9 is

trailing behind Shadow of the Tomb

Raider at 1440. how old is this game now

look at these Monumental frame rates

though it's the new ryzen 9 7950x 3D at

the top of the chart just breaking

through the 300 FPS core I9 255 the

original ryzen 9221 these are huge

numbers shadow of the Tomb Raider at

1080 very similar frame rates to 1440

the 3D wins Watchdogs Legion at 1440

Ultra preset it's a fairly close battle

but the 3D wins Watchdogs Legion at 1080

the field space is out and the ryzen 9

7950x 3D takes a comfortable win first

gaming performance charts are fairly

hard to believe I have to confess I've

rechecked them a number of times I've

had conversations with one or two other

people who are reviewing this processor

obviously rule under NDA I get the

distinct impression that the games that

kikuru tends to use are games that favor

this processor I've heard for example

that the new Wizard game is doing some

very strange things with this processor

I haven't tried it myself but that's

what I hear on the Grapevine so it's

entirely possible there's going to be a

spectrum of games that go from losing a

percent or two to the regular non-3d

processor up to games that are 30 40

percent faster and it's entirely

possible those games I showed you are

towards that very positive end and I

don't have the negative stuff to offset

it

I suppose what I'm trying to say is I

feel almost like one of those magical

tricks is going on you know magician

offers you a deck of cards says choose a

card any card and you think you've got a

free choice and you take a card look at

it you put it back in you Shuffle the

deck the magician knows exactly what's

going on I kind of feel like something

like that is going on here amd's done

something very clever here

and I'm finding it incredibly difficult

to believe it's quite as clever as it

appears I've got chart after chart

showing this process of doing incredibly

well I have to go with the data

so pros and cons pros the good points

impressive all-round performance

undeniably so the other pro low power

draw under load

150 watts it's just mind-boggling what

amd's done here cons the negative points

High Cost of the CPU and the motherboard

the 3D 7950x is going to go on sale at

the same price as the non 3D regular

7950x however that process has had a

price cut of about 100 pounds since it

launched it was too expensive at launch

and the 12 core 7900x I believe has had

a cut of like 150 from launch price that

was far too expensive

so 699 is the price we've been given I

guess it'll go on sale here in the UK

for 6.99 pounds as an all-round

processor that you can use for pretty

much anything it seems like a reasonable

price however another of my cons is that

we haven't been able to compare the

ryzen 9 7950x 3D to the ryzen 7 7800x 3D

because of course it hasn't launched

well it has launched it's not available

yet even to us reviewers and not for

another five or six weeks

and that makes me skeptical because I

suspect that that zenfall ryzen 7 3D is

going to be blooming good for gaming it

might not be quite so good for

production work but for gaming I don't

see any reason why it won't match this

processor and of course it should be

considerably cheaper so for the moment

I'm gonna say hold your horses another

con that I have there are many steps as

I've showed you that are required to

verify the software stack is running

correctly and that software stack is

crucial to the 3D cache working

correctly as far as I can see the ryzen

7800x 3D there's no reason for half of

that software to be functioning it

should just operate just as the Zen 3 3D

ryzen 7 works

so you know you install it and it runs

at whatever power and speed setting are

built into the bias and that I think

will make life a great deal simpler

amd's gone with quite a complex solution

to make this processor work correctly

and I think they've done a good job with

it but if you can do away with all that

complication what's not to like

0.4 on my comms the idle power is rather

High using more than 100 Watts when the

system's sitting there doing absolutely

nothing or nothing as far as we're

concerned it's just excessive frankly I

think 50 watts is a bit steeper but more

than 100 I don't like that and that's

true of both the ryzen 9 3D and non-3d

so that's more cons than Pros however

when Luke reviewed the ryzen 9 7950x he

gave it 9 out of 10 and a must-have this

processor is better than that processor

in my opinion and therefore I have to

also give it 9 out of 10 and must have

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