After showing the world how much of a benefit 3D V-Cache can be to gamers, AMD is now all set to launch its 2nd Gen 3D V-Cache chips, the Ryzen 7000 X3D. Launching later this month, the Zen 4 3D V-Cache CPUs are expected to bring similarly massive gaming performance increments and we are going to talk about what you can expect in terms of specifications, performance, and prices.
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D ‘Zen 4’ CPUs: Bringing 3D V-Cache Goodness To The Zen 4 Architecture & AM5 Platform
Last year, AMD introduced the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, a CPU that was designed to offer the best value and performance to gamers by leveraging 3D V-Cache technology which allows AMD to stack large pools of cache on top of Zen chiplets, driving up performance in bandwidth starved games & applications. The benefit was clear right from the beginning with reviews showing a huge gaming performance boost that matched and even exceeded Intel’s fastest CPU, the Core i9-12900K, at the time.
With the Ryzen 7000 X3D parts, AMD plans to repeat that and give gamers another boost that could potentially make AM5 the fastest platform to game on.
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D ‘Zen 4’ 3D V-Cache Desktop CPUs Expected Features:
Minor optimization on TSMC’s 5nm process node
Up to 64 MB of Stacked cache per CCD (96 MB L3 per CCD)
Increase In Gaming Performance (Avg & Mins)
Compatible With AM5 Platforms
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPU Lineup & Specifications
The AMD Ryzen 7000 3D V-Cache CPUs are the 2nd generation consumer V-Cache parts featuring stacked cache. While the Zen 3 lineup featured just one 3D V-Cache SKU, the Zen 4 lineup is getting three SKUs at vastly different prices.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D – 16 Cores With 144 MB Cache
Starting at the top, we have the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D which will be the flagship and the first 16-core CPU to feature 3D V-Cache technology. The chip will incorporate a total of 32 threads, a total of 144 MB cache (64 MB CCD, 64 MB V-Cache + 16 MB L2), and a TDP of 120W. As for the clocks, the chip is rated at a base clock of 4.2 GHz which is 300 MHz slower than the standard 7950X but boost clocks are rated at the same 5.7 GHz. This should give us a hint at why the TDP is 50W lower versus the Non-3D part.
The way AMD is arranging the 3D V-Cache structuring on the Ryzen 9 X3D parts is by putting the SRAM cache on a single CCD instead of both CCDs. This way, AMD can maximize the performance in gaming through a single CCD while retaining the secondary die to benefit from the higher clock speeds (1T). This means that there should be a balance of single-threaded gaming performance & multi-threaded applications without sacrificing overall clock speeds like the previous gen. This is first and foremost a gaming chip so the cache die is the more important aspect to optimize. It’ll be rather interesting to see how things pan out in the final retail units and just how far AMD enables tuning on the new parts.
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D – 12 Cores With 140 MB Cache
The second chip is the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D which will feature 12 cores and 24 threads. This is also a 2 CCD configuration with one CCD configured with the V-Cache and the second without it. The chip features a total of 140 MB cache (64 MB CCD, 64 MB V-Cache + 12 MB L2). The clocks are rated at a 4.4 GHz base which is 200 MHz slower than the Non-3D SKU & the boost clock remains the same at 5.6 GHz. The CPU is also rated at a TDP of 120W.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D – Replacing The 5800X3D As The New Gaming Champ!
Lastly, we have the successor to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This CPU is going to be the ideal choice for gamers with 8 cores, 16 threads, and the same 104 MB of cache (32 MB CCD, 64 MB V-Cache + 8 MB L2). The CPU comes with a base clock of around 4 GHz which could end up at least 500 MHz slower than the Ryzen 7 7700X and a boost clock of 5.0 GHz which is 400 MHz slower than the Ryzen 7 7700X.
AMD Ryzen 7000 Raphael Desktop CPU Specs:
CPU NameArchitectureProcess NodeCores / ThreadsBase ClockBoost Clock (SC Max)CacheTDPPrices (MSRP)
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3DZen 4 3D V-Cache5nm16/324.2 GHz5.7 GHz144 MB (64+64+16)120W$699 US
AMD Ryzen 9 7950XZen 45nm16/324.5 GHz5.7 GHz80 MB (64+16)170W$599 US
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3DZen 4 3D V-Cache5nm12/244.4 GHz5.6 GHz144 MB (64+64+12)120W$599 US
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XZen 45nm12/244.7 GHz5.6 GHz76 MB (64+12)170W$449 US
AMD Ryzen 9 7900Zen 45nm12/243.6 GHz5.4 GHz76 MB (64+12)65W$429 US
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3DZen 4 3D V-Cache5nm8/164.0 GHz5.0 GHz104 MB (32+64+8)120W$449 US
AMD Ryzen 7 7700XZen 45nm8/164.5 GHz5.4 GHz40 MB (32+8)105W$349 US
AMD Ryzen 7 7700Zen 45nm8/163.6 GHz5.3 GHz40 MB (32+8)65W$329 US
AMD Ryzen 5 7600XZen 45nm6/124.7 GHz5.3 GHz38 MB (32+6)105W$249 US
AMD Ryzen 5 7600Zen 45nm6/123.8 GHz5.1 GHz38 MB (32+6)65W$229 US
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPU Performance
In terms of performance, AMD hasn’t shared a whole lot of data which is fair since they want the independent tech industry to test these chips out later this month and showcase their own data rather than relying on official figures. We did get to see performance numbers for the two Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
AMD compared the Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU to Intel’s top Core i9-13900K across several gaming and workload apps. The results show that the 3D V-Cache chip can offer up to 24% faster performance in gaming at 1080p with high image quality. Following are the game tests and the respective gains over the 13900K CPU:
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Gaming Performance Test (via AMD):
Watch Dogs Legion (1080p) – Up To 9% Faster
DOTA (1080p) – Up To 11% Faster
Rainbow Six Siege (1080p) – Up To 13% Faster
Horizon Zero Dawn (1080p) – Up To 24% Faster
As we mentioned above, the 7950X3D chips have a different CCD configuration with one running at higher clocks and the other with conservative limits set in place due to the 3D V-Cache stacking. But that doesn’t change the overall performance a lot even in workload apps as the chip can outclass a Core i9-13900K CPU in various tests as shown below:
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Workload Performance Test (via AMD):
File Encryption (VeraCrypt AES) – Up To 4% Faster
3D Graphics (PassMark 10) – Up To 11% Faster
Adobe Premiere Pro (Playback) – Up To 17% Faster
DaVinci Resolve (Extended Score) – Up To 24% Faster
File Compression (7-Zip) – Up To 52% Faster
Lastly, we have the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D which has been compared against the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and the results are even more impressive. Using the same 1080p resolution and high-quality preset across various games, the CPU scored a gaming performance lead of up to 30% versus the first-gen X3D CPU. The gains can be seen below:
Rainbow Six Siege (1080p) – Up To 21% Faster
Warhammer Dawn of War III (1080p) – Up To 22% Faster
CS:GO (1080p) – Up To 23% Faster
Dota 2 (1080p) – Up To 30% Faster
These are definitely big gains for gamers and the addition of the Ryzen 9 parts means that users will not only have the fastest gaming performance around but also the fastest content creation perf. There are also going to be some big uplifts to the minimum FPS range thanks to V-Cache which AMD’s not showing yet but we can’t wait to see more detailed performance numbers.
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPU Power & Thermals
The power and thermal limits play an important role in the development of 3D V-Cache chips. The stacked V-Cache chips are unlike your regular Ryzen CPU since the SRAM itself is a very fragile chip component to work with. Hence, AMD has lowered down the overall TDP, locked down the voltage, and also lowered the temperature thermal limits otherwise known as TjMax.
The current Zen 4 lineup is currently rated at a TjMax of 95C and while the CPUs can easily hit that target, AMD confirms customers have nothing to worry about since this kind of operation is within spec. These high-temperature limits seem to be the norm for AMD these days as their GPUs also have a peak temperature limit of up to 110C which is considered as ‘Normal Spec’.
The trio of AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs which include the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, Ryzen 9 7900X3D, and the Ryzen 7 7700X3D has been listed with a TjMax of just 89C which is 6C lower than the 95C TjMax of the Ryzen 7000 Non-3D CPUs.
AMD has a maximum voltage of the Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs set at 1.4V which is a 0.3V increase over the Ryzen 7 5800X3D (1.1V). The new CPUs will come with auto OC options such as PBO and Curve Optimizer but the reason manual overclocking is restricted is due to the volatile nature of the 3D V-Cache stacked on top of the singular CCD. Both high voltages & high temperatures can lead to abnormal behavior or even damage the chip.
The hybrid layout of the dual CCD SKUs such as the Ryzen 9 7950X3D & Ryzen 9 7900X3D is already being optimized in the Windows 11 OS but it remains to be seen how high temperatures will affect the clock operation on these parts. You will definitely require some high-end cooling solutions to stay within the 89C limit. That might also explain why AMD chose to go with a lower 120W TDP on the higher-end SKUs to limit them from using excess power and running into the thermal wall. As expected, manual overclocking is a big No-No but AMD has done something that wasn’t possible on the first-gen 3D parts and that’s enabling Curve Optimizer and PBO support.
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D Overclocking
Yes, Curve Optimizer and Precision Boost Overdrive overclocking features along with AMD EXPO memory support will be available across all three Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs. AMD is recommending users go with Curve Optimizer as it delivers the best balance of overall CPU performance but hard frequency overclocking is locked just like the previous generation Zen 3D V-Cache chips.
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPU Support
All AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs will be supported by AM5 motherboards. Users will have to require a manual BIOS firmware update & install the latest chipset drivers to ensure the best compatibility on the new hardware. There will also be new motherboards released this month that will support these CPUs without any BIOS updates.
AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPU Pricing & Availability
Lastly, we have the pricing and availability. The AMD Ryzen 9 X3D CPUs will be the first to hit retail shelves on the 28th of February followed by the Ryzen 7 X3D CPU which is expected to hit retail on the 6th of April so just over a month later. It can be seen that AMD wants to target premium users first before they enter the market with the sub-$500 US mainstream X3D solution. Having that out immediately would make it eat up the sales of the higher-end parts as is the case with the 5800X3D which has been the top-selling CPU at various retailers for several months owing to its unbeatable price-to-performance value in the gaming segment.
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D will feature a price of $699 US at launch which is the same MSRP that the standard 7950X had before it was slashed down to $599 US. That’s $100 US more than the i9-13900K from Intel.
The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D will feature the same pricing as the now 7950X at $599 US and will be launching with the 7950X3D on the 28th of February. It looks like AMD sees the 7900X3D sitting comfortably ahead of the i9-13900K at the same price point in gaming.
Lastly, we have the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D with a price of $449 US. That’s around $100 US more than the Ryzen 7 7700X and $30 US higher than the Core i7-13700K but once again, this is the chip that many gamers have set their eyes on and it has the potential to be a truly disruptive gaming product by AMD.
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The post AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs, The 2nd Gen 3D V-Cache Gaming Chips – Here’s Everything We Know So Far by Hassan Mujtaba appeared first on Wccftech.
