The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is currently considered the best CPU you can buy for a gaming PC, according to tests. However, the predecessor is available at a lower price. Which processor is worth it the most and for whom does another CPU make sense? MeinMMO presents the similarities and differences of the CPUs and explains what you should know before making a purchase.
The most important points at a glance:
- The Ryzen 7 9800X3D was released in late 2024 and is the successor to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
- AMD’s processors with “3XD” in the name are equipped with a 3D V-Cache. This benefits games more than general applications.
- The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is currently the fastest CPU on the market, and with a price of around 600 Euros, it is not exactly cheap.
With the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, AMD released its latest gaming CPU with 3D cache in November 2024 and immediately offered a successor to the popular Ryzen 7 7800X3D. But for whom is the new CPU worth it? Or should one rather stick with the older model, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D?
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: The specs compared
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Similarities and differences
- Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Which CPU is better?
- Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Which one should you buy?
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: The specs compared
| AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Base Clock | 4.7 GHz | 4.2 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz | 5 GHz |
| L2 + L3 (Cache) | 8 + 32 + 64 MB | 8 + 32 + 64 MB |
| Socket | AM5 | AM5 |
| TDP (in Watts) | 120 | 120 |
| MSRP (Euros) | 529 | 499 |
| Market Price (Euros) | 589 | 522 |
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Similarities and differences
Similarities:
- Both processors are 8-core CPUs with 16 threads.
- Both have the same cache size (L2 + L3)
- 9800X3D and 7800X3D both use the same AM5 socket.
- The TDP of both processors is also identical: Both require 120 watts.
The differences between AM4 and AM5 have been thoroughly explained on MeinMMO.
Differences:
- The base and boost clocks of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D are slightly higher than those of the older Ryzen 7 7800X3D:
- The Ryzen 9800X3D supports 192 GB of DDR5 RAM, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D supports a maximum of 128 GB.
- The L1 cache of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is slightly larger (640 KB vs 512 KB).
- According to AMD, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is unlocked for overclocking, while the older 7800X3D is not.
Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Which CPU is better?
Which CPU is better? The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better and faster CPU in comparison. In independent tests, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is about 14% ahead of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This is noted by ComputerBase in their review. The average FPS with the 9800X3D is 152, while the older counterpart only reaches 134.
Compared to Intel’s new CPUs of the “Arrow Lake-S,” the gap is even larger. The new Intel Core Ultra 200S lags between 30 and 40% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This is also said to be a reason why AMD has significant supply issues.
Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Which one should you buy?
If you already own the Ryzen 7 7800X3D: An upgrade to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is hardly worthwhile for you as the performance gain is barely noticeable. Even if you have a high-end graphics card like the RTX 4090 in your PC, the upgrade is hardly worth it.
If you’re a casual gamer: If you game occasionally or gaming is just not your main hobby? Then neither of the two high-end CPUs is worth it for you. There are cheaper and better alternatives for you.
If you own a “Ryzen 5000” CPU or older: If you are using an older AMD CPU, the two X3D processors offer you massive improvements in performance (assuming a modern graphics card). As far as Intel is concerned, both Ryzen 7 X3D chips surpass everything available in terms of gaming performance.
- Sehr hohe Leistung in Games
- Beeindruckende Effizienz
- Preis-Leistung
- Anwendungsleistung
Ryzen 7 9800X3D or 7 7800X3D: If you want to upgrade now, the new Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better choice. Because for an additional cost of about 70 Euros, you get the current best CPU available on the market for gaming.
If the 70 Euros is too much for you, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D still offers you a very good CPU for gaming that will also be future-proof in the coming years.
AMD introduced its next graphics card at CES 2025. MeinMMO presents all the details we already know about the new RX 9070 XT and what you should know before buying a new graphics card: RX 9070 XT: Price, Release, and Specs – Everything we know about AMD’s new graphics card
