Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K – which CPU should you go for?

Updated on March 30, 2023 by Romilly Cotta

Posted in Tech

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We’re going to be comparing Ryzen 7 7800X3d vs Core i7 13700K – how will AMD’s budget-friendly X3D chipset shape up to Intel’s Core i7 13700K?

The announcement from AMD of their Ryzen 7000 X3D lineup was one of the most exciting of CES 2023. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D will be joining the 9 7900X3D & 7950X3D as powerhouse CPUs, geared specifically for CPU-intensive tasks. The 7 7800X3D will come as the most affordable CPU of the triad and is set to exceed expectations all round.

So, how does it compare to Intel’s i7 13700K? Intel’s 13th gen CPUs have dominated the markets for good reason. With support for either DDR4 or DDR5, combined with a strong performance in both productivity and gaming, the Core i7 13700K is putting up a good fight against Team Red.

You might be looking to upgrade your CPU to play some of 2023’s most CPU intensive games, like Shadow of the Tomb Raider or Red Dead Redemption 2. Or else you might be considering whether AMD’s 3D V-cache technology is all that’s cracked up to be.

We’re hoping to guide you in your decision by discussing the specs, price and overall performance of both CPUs. We’ll look at everything from clock speed to TDP, and weigh up which CPU offers the best value for money so you can make an informed choice.

So let’s get jump right in! Here are the differences and similarities between Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K – specs comparison

Specs	Ryzen 7 7800X3D	Intel Core i7 13700K
Architecture	Zen 4	Raptor Lake (3rd gen)
Core Count	8	14
Thread Count	16	20
Base Clock	4.4 GHz	3.5 GHz
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.1 GHz
L3 Cache	96MB	0
TDP	120W	125W

Above you can see a few notable points of difference between the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Core i7 13700K. Below we’ll discuss how both CPUs generally perform before breaking down the above specs.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K – performance

If you’re comparing Ryzen 7 7800X3D to Intel Core i7 13700K, then you’ll need to be clear on what 3D V-cache is, and how it affects the CPU’s overall performance.

AMD’s technology first appeared on the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and basically utilized a dedicated high-speed memory buffer to cache vertex data. It’s basically used to improve the performance of 3D graphics applications, making it well-suited for video games, animation and video rendering.

It makes a huge difference in gaming performance, mainly because it avoids the frequency the processor accesses the system’s memory, which is generally slower. This generally equates to more frames per second, which is a massive advantage in fps games.

This 7800X3D’s V-cache enhancement will make it a much better gaming processor than the 13700K. All the same, the 13700K is a highly capable gaming processor in its own right and offers better single-thread performance than the 7800X3D due to its higher clock speeds which we’ll discuss below.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K – architecture

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D boasts AMD’s latest Zen 4 architecture which marks a significant leap for the tech giant. The new architecture shifts to a 5nm process with support for premium features like DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5. You can also expect Zen 4 to make these CPUs significantly more powerful than their predecessors.

The main downside of Zen 4 is that it requires a DDR5 compatible motherboard that has an AM5 socket.

Meanwhile, the 13700K, as a ‘Raptor Lake’ processor boasts a hybrid architecture that divides the workload into P-cores and E-cores. It’s actually built on the same process as Alder Lake, its architectural predecessor.

If you’re after the best value pick, Intel’s support for DDR4 memory is potentially a dealbreaker. It means you won’t have to upgrade your motherboard, and can stick to mid-range motherboards like the B660 motherboards.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K – core count

Generally speaking, CPU cores allow for better performance because the processor can handle more tasks simultaneously.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, compared to the Core i7-13700K which has 14 cores and 20 threads which is a fairly significant difference.

The Core i7 13700K’s greater number of threads translates to the preferred choice for highly multi-threaded workloads. This, combined with its higher clock speeds potentially makes the Core i7 13700K the preferred choice for gamers.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K – clock speed

In case you’re unfamiliar, the core speed, also known as clock speed, is the rate at which a CPU completes one instruction cycle per second. The more cycles the processor can complete in a given amount of time, the faster the clock speed.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has a boost clock of 5 GHz, which is just a fraction less of Intel’s 5.1 GHz clock speed.

Generally speaking, speed is one of the most important factors when trying to measure a GPU’s performance. With a clock speed of 5.1 GHz, the Core i7 13700K pulls ahead, though not by a ridiculous amount thanks to AMD’s 3D V-cache technology.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K – TDP

TDP, also known as Thermal Design Power, refers to the amount of thermal energy that the CPU emits under normal operating conditions. As a general rule, the higher TDP, the more effort you have to put into cooling it.

Read More: Best thermal paste for CPU and GPU

Once again, both CPUs are neck in neck, with just 5W between their TDP scores. Compared to non-X3D chips, both chips require pretty robust cooling solutions.

If you are leaning towards the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, we recommend checking out WePC’s pick of the best coolers for Zen 4 and 13th Gen CPUs coolers to keep your PC in check.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs Core i7 13700K – price comparison

There are a few factors to consider when working out which CPU offers the best value for money.

The Core i7-13700K launched with an MSRP of $310, though it’s currently retailing for a little higher via Amazon.

This puts it largely neck and neck with the 7800X3D, whose price is set at $449. However, as we mentioned, opting for AMD’s CPU will mean you’ll need to upgrade to an AM5 motherboard if you haven’t already. This is a fairly hefty investment, though if you’d like to check out your top options, we’ve covered the best X670 motherboards.

Intel Core i7-13700K

Cores

Threads

Base speed

P-cores 3.4 GHz / E-cores 2.5 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.4 GHz / E-cores 4.2 GHz

Cache

24MB

TDP

125 W / 253 W boost

How We Review

This makes the i7-3700K the preferred choice for budget-conscious buyers, especially if you’re primarily planning to use your PC for workstation productivity.

Final word

Overall, you can’t really go wrong with either processor. They both offer excellent performance for a range of computing tasks.

If we had to pick, we’d say Intel’s Core i7-13700K is better suited for workstation productivity because it’s better for multi-threaded workloads. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D meanwhile is excellent for gaming thanks to its 3D V-Cache technology, so long as you can afford to invest in a good cooler and compatible motherboard.