AMD already launched its first blow against Intel amid CES 2023 earlier this year. The firm is calling it the “best CPU at every price tag in the desktop market,” a statement meant to show the vast portfolio it will have once the 7950X3D launches in February.
So, we know AMD considers the 7950X3D to be the best CPU that will be available but how much better is it going to be when compared to Intel’s i9-13900K? Look no further, as in this article we will provide a definitive answer to who wins in the bout that sees the Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Intel i9-13900K. Spoiler alert, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the best gaming CPU on the market at the moment.
Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Intel i9-13900K: specs comparison
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D boasts impressive specifications, including a whopping 144MB of cache, thanks to its cutting-edge 3D V-Cache design for the Zen 4 series. A performance comparison against Intel’s top-of-the-line Raptor Lake CPU, the Core i9-13900K, was provided by AMD. However, before delving into that comparison, let’s review the specs on the 7950X3D.
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Core i9-13900K | |
| Cores/Threads | 16 / 32 | 24 / 32 |
| Base Clock speed | 4.2GHz | 3 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 5.7GHz | 5.8 GHz |
| Cache | 144MB (64+64+16) | 36MB |
| TDP | 120W | 125W |
| MSRP | $799? | $589 |
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is a high-end desktop processor from AMD that belongs to the Zen 4 microarchitecture and is built on the 5nm process node. It features 16 cores and 32 threads, providing a significant amount of multitasking and multithreading capabilities.
The processor has a base clock speed of 4.2GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.7GHz, allowing fast and efficient performance. It also has a whopping 144MB of cache memory (64MB CCD, 64MB V-Cache + 16MB L2) that helps to reduce latency and improve overall performance. The TDP of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is rated at 120W, which is relatively high but is still lower than Intel’s.
The Intel Core i9-13900K, on the other side, has a base clock speed of 3GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.8GHz, allowing for fast and efficient performance. Additionally, it has 36MB of shared L3 cache memory which helps to reduce latency and improve overall performance.
The TDP of the Core i9-13900K is rated at 125W, making it higher than the Ryzen 9; an expected difference due to the difference in cores. The main characteristic of the 13900K is the hybrid architecture, the technology that launched Intel back to the top charts with the previous generation.
It is suitable for demanding tasks such as content creation, video editing, and gaming. The i9-13900K also supports Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology, which allows each core to handle two threads simultaneously, further improving multitasking capabilities. Additionally, it supports Intel’s Turbo Boost Max 3.0 technology, which allows for higher single-threaded performance by identifying the best-performing core and boosting its clock speed.
Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Intel i9-13900K: Price
The pricing of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Intel Core i9-13900K is an important consideration when comparing the two processors. The MSRP of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is expected to be around $799, however, this has not been officially confirmed by AMD yet. The Core i9-13900K, on the other hand, has an MSRP of $589.
The price difference between the two processors is significant and it’s important to consider the performance, features, and specifications of each processor against your budget and needs. The Intel Core i9-13900K is relatively more affordable, but the Ryzen 9 7950X3D may offer more value for users who require more cores, threads, and cache memory.
In the definitive, it would be up to your budget to decide if you can go as high up for the X3D AMD component or you can choose the Intel processor. Both CPUs offer great performance, but they’re just in two different leagues.
Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Intel i9-13900K: Performance
According to AMD’s performance comparison, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D outperforms the Intel Core i9-13900K at Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution with High Image Quality preset. Both the Intel and AMD test systems used the same Arctic Liquid Freezer II cooling solution and were equipped with 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory.
AMD tested both processors across games like CS: GO, League of Legends, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Grand Theft Auto V, Hitman 3 Dubai GPU, Wolfenstein Youngblood (LabX), Hitman 3 Dubai CPU, Cyberpunk 2077, Borderlands 3, DOTA 2, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, F1 2021, Far Cry 6, Final Fantasy XIV, Warhammer: Dawn of War III, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms Battle, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Watchdogs: Legion, Rifbreaker CPU, and Red Dead Redemption 2.
AMD didn’t reveal the FPS count or the results from all the tested games but it did reveal the improvement over some titles:
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D improvement | |
| Rainbow Six Siege | +21% |
| Warhammer: Dawn of the War III | +22% |
| CS:GO | +23% |
| DOTA 2 | +30% |
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D appears to show significant performance improvement over the Intel Core i9-13900K in the games that were tested.
In Rainbow Six Siege, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D shows a 21% improvement over the Core i9-13900K. In Warhammer: Dawn of War III, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D shows a 22% improvement. In CS:GO, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D shows a 23% improvement. And in DOTA 2, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D shows a 30% improvement over the Core i9-13900K.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Intel Core i9-13900K are both high-end processors that offer powerful performance for demanding tasks such as content creation, video editing, and gaming. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers more cores, more threads, and more cache memory, which may provide an advantage in tasks that can take advantage of multithreading. The i9-13900K has a higher boost clock speed and supports Intel’s Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost Max 3.0 technologies, which may provide an advantage in single-threaded workloads.
It’s worth noting that the performance improvement may vary depending on the specific game, settings, and usage scenarios. However, the data provided in this article shows that the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is a powerful and capable processor that can handle demanding games and applications with ease.
- Now read: where to buy the Ryzen 9 7950X3D
