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You may be wondering what’s the difference between the Ryzen 9 7950X vs 7950X3D and you’d certainly not be alone.
The Ryzen 9 7950X, released in September 2022, is a fantastic all-round CPU built on AMD’s Zen 4 architecture. It followed the Ryzen 9 5950X, and marked a significant improvement on boost clocks, even if it’s lead to a higher TDP.
Aside from the Ryzen 7950X, AMD also released three more processors, including Ryzen 9 7900X, Ryzen 7 7700X, and the Ryzen 5 7600X. Then we’re expecting to see the Ryzen 7 7800X3D launch for April 6th 2023 which will join the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, and the Ryzen 9 7900X3D amongst AMD’s flagship CPUs.
For now, our focus is turned to the Ryzen 9 7950X3D which might just be the world’s fastest gaming processor which was released at the end of February. Only just announced at CES 2023, AMD’s flagship processor will boast AMD’s 3D V-cache that significantly gears it towards gaming workloads. We’ve recently also got a confirmed release date for this powerful new CPU.
You may be weighing up which CPU to go for, and how it matches up to what your main usage will be – whether that be for competitive gaming, video editing, or general workloads. If you’ve just upgraded your GPU to AMD’s RX 7900 XTX or XT, consider our selection of the best CPUs to compliment AMD’s flagship GPUs.
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 9 7950X vs 7950X3D.
Ryzen 9 7950X vs 7950X3D – specs
| Spec | Ryzen 9 7950X | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 4 |
| Core Count | 16 | 16 |
| Thread Count | 32 | 32 |
| Base Clock | 4.5GHz | 4.2GHz |
| Boost Clock | 5.7 | 5.7GHz |
| L3 Cache | 80MB | 144MB |
| TDP | 170W | 120W |
| iGPU | RDNA 2 | RDNA 2 |
One thing is for certain – both these CPUs are absolute monsters.
As you can see from the above table, they both share the same core and thread count, meaning both can handle running multiple programs at once without slowing down. This makes them both excellent choices for content creators and workstation users alike.
Both are also based on AMD’s Zen 4 architecture, meaning they are capable of executing significantly more instructions per cycle than previous generations. Zen 4 also boasts improved energy efficiency which is a welcome feature considering the increase in TDP for both CPUs.
Read More: Ryzen 7 7700 vs Ryzen 7 7700X – which CPU should you go for?
Both CPUs also share the same RDNA 2 iGPU, meaning you can use this added power to accelerate your AI inferencing workloads. It’s worth adding that if you’re building a gaming PC, iGPU can be disabled to marginally improve the performance of your CPU.
You’ll notice that the Ryzen 9 7950X has a higher TDP, meaning it requires more cooling than the 7950X3D. If you’re leaning towards the Ryzen 9 7950X, know that a high TDP will typically require a larger and more expensive cooling solution. If energy efficiency is important to you, we recommend opting for the 7950X3D which boasts an impressive TDP of 120W.
We’ll now move to discuss the key differences in specs that affect the overall performance of each CPU.
Ryzen 9 7950X vs 7950X3D – performance
CPU clock speed basically refers to the rate at which a CPU can execute instructions. A higher clock speed means that the CPU can execute more instructions per second.
While both CPUs have the same boosted clock speed, the 7950X3D has a lower base clock speed of 4.2GHz compared to 4.5GHz. This translates to improved power efficiency under light workloads, making it an ideal choice for desktop workers.
Read More: Where to buy Ryzen 9 7900 – expected retailers
The 7950X3D has a higher cache capacity than the 7950X, meaning it has a definitive edge in gaming performance. This is because the more cache a CPU has, the more data it can store. For workloads that require a lot of data access, a large cache will make a significant improvement to overall performance.
Though the 7950X3D might have an edge, the Ryzen 9 7950X is still an exquisitely powerful CPU. It’s definitely not messing around and is a solid pick for high-end PCs.
What is V-cache?
If you’re comparing Ryzen 9 7950X vs 7950X3D, you’ll probably want to be clear on what V-cache is and exactly how much faster AMD’s V-cache memory is.
Ryzen 9 7950X3D is amongst the first AMD CPUs to boast this V-cache technology, clocking in with 96MB of L3-Cache. This makes it a strong contender for CPU-intensive games, though it demands an effective cooling solution.
Ryzen 9 7950X vs 7950X3D – price
The Ryzen 7000X3D series CPU’s official MSRP is $699, the same price as the 7950X at launch. This is a bold move by AMD, and will put pressure Intel whose i9-13900KS CPU is priced well above $750. Below we’ve listed some retailers stocking the 7950X3D.
Read More: Best CPU for RTX 4080
The slightly older Ryzen 9 7950X has since seen a price reduction, potentially making it the sweeter deal for users looking to save a couple of hundred dollars.
It will be up to each individual to weigh up whether the improved specs on the 7950X3D make up for the inflated price.
Price Check
Final word
It’s looking like the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 7950X will be more evenly matched than their predecessors, which certainly doesn’t help in making that final decision.
However, if you’re a gamer, you should definitely go for the 7950X3D, as this is what it was designed for. While some users might not need a CPU so powerful, it should definitely be your choice if you’re going down the high-end PC route.
Read More: Best CPU for RTX 4070 Ti
That being said, the Ryzen 9 7950 will still handle most things you throw at it. Since it’s been released for slightly longer, you might also find it discounted for less than $600.
