Ryzen 7 9800X3D Vs Ryzen 9 9900X: We Tested Both

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Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 9900X packs 12 cores and 24 threads, making it better suited for heavy multitasking.
2. Clock Speed: The 9800X3D runs at a base clock of 4.7 GHz and boosts up to 5.2 GHz. On the other hand, the 9900X starts at 4.4 GHz but can boost up to an impressive 5.6 GHz.
3. Cache: The 9800X3D has a huge L3 cache of 96 MB thanks to its 3D V-Cache, compared to the 9900X’s 64 MB. However, the 9900X edges ahead with a larger L2 cache of 12 MB versus the 9800X3D’s 8 MB.
4. Process Node: Both chips are built using TSMC’s advanced 4nm process, which ensures excellent performance while keeping power usage in check.
5. TDP: Both processors have a TDP of 120W, meaning they require similar levels of cooling, though their efficiency ensures heat management isn’t too demanding.

The X3D chips have taken the stage ever since their release due to their history and performance. But as with the release of every chip, there is always some room for skepticism. Today, I will put an end to some of these rumors by testing the Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. Ryzen 9 9900X. Let’s get started.

Gaming Benchmarks – 2160p

In order to ensure transparency and accuracy, we will be using the same testing rig for both chips and test them across six different games at 4K resolution while keeping all settings at max. Moreover, here is the list of the components used in our rig.

Test Bench

• OS – Windows 11 
• CPU Cooler – Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360mm
• Graphics Card – GIGABYTE RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• SSD – XPG Gammix S50 Lite
• Power Supply – be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W
• Mobo (AMD) – ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

God of War

• The Ryzen 7 9800X3D pulled ahead with an average of 139 FPS, a 7.1% boost over the Ryzen 9 9900X’s 127 FPS. Honestly, the smoother gameplay here felt great, especially in intense combat scenes.
• Moreover, the 9800X3D hit 80 FPS in 1% lows compared to the 9900X’s 95 FPS, showing a 17% drop. This was noticeable in certain cutscenes where the frame dips felt less consistent on the 9800X3D.

Cyberpunk 2077

• In Night City, the 9800X3D scored an average of 95 FPS, which was almost 39% better than the 9900X’s 64 FPS. It’s honestly a night-and-day difference when exploring the world.
• The 9800X3D handled lows better at 75 FPS, 34% stronger than the 9900X’s 53 FPS. The smoother dips made driving around feel less choppy.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• Valhalla ran noticeably better on the 9800X3D, averaging 129 FPS, 19.5% higher than the 105 FPS on the 9900X. The extra frames made traversal and combat way more fluid.
• When it came to 1% lows, the 9800X3D led again with 105 FPS, about 18.7% better than the 9900X’s 87 FPS. This kept the gameplay buttery smooth during large-scale fights.

Watch Dogs Legion

• The 9800X3D pushed 128 FPS, giving it a strong 21% advantage over the 9900X’s 103 FPS. The fluid frame rates were especially noticeable during car chases in the busy streets of London.
• Furthermore, the 1% lows on the 9800X3D were 107 FPS, nearly 19.5% better than the 9900X’s 88 FPS. Honestly, I didn’t notice any stutters during hectic action sequences.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• With 137 FPS on the 9800X3D, it’s about 10% faster than the 9900X’s 121 FPS. Exploring the open world felt a bit more responsive, particularly when riding through dense forests.
• The 1% lows on the 9800X3D reached 107 FPS, an impressive 30% higher than the 79 FPS on the 9900X. It made even the busiest towns feel much more stable.

Horizon Zero Dawn

• Aloy’s adventures on the 9800X3D averaged 146 FPS, a noticeable 14% boost over the 9900X’s 128 FPS. Those extra frames really shine during combat with multiple enemies.
• At 99 FPS for 1% lows, the 9800X3D led by 20% compared to the 81 FPS on the 9900X. It kept things steady, even during chaotic fights with large machines.

Productivity Benchmarks

Now that we are done with the gaming benchmarks, let’s move on to the next stage and test out the chips based on their performance on different productivity tasks.

Cinebench R24

• The Ryzen 9 9900X edges out the 9800X3D here, scoring 139 points compared to the 9800X3D’s 133, a modest 3.3% lead. For single-core tasks, the 9900X just feels a touch snappier.
• Moreover, the 9900X pulls ahead again with 1769 points, 29% higher than the 9800X3D’s 1318. If you’re doing heavy rendering or multi-threaded tasks, the 9900X clearly has more horsepower.

Geekbench 6

• The 9900X narrowly beats the 9800X3D with a score of 3349 compared to 3307, a tiny 1.2% difference. Honestly, it’s a negligible gap—both perform equally well in single-threaded tasks.
• Again the 9900X flexes its multi-core muscles here with a score of 19,758, an 8% improvement over the 9800X3D’s 18,223. If you’re doing CPU-intensive multitasking, it’s a win for the 9900X.

iGPU – FP32 Performance

• Integrated graphics performance is exactly the same, so no surprises if you’re relying on onboard GPUs since they are majorly just used for display attributes in case you don’t have a dedicated graphics card.

Overall Performance

Average Framerate

As I compiled all the results from my testing, the 9800X3D was found to be in a clear lead as it provided 17.7% more FPS compared to the 9900X on average. Furthermore, the results were so consistent that the latter didn’t even take the lead.

1% Lows

A similar scenario was observed in the 1% lows category as the 9800X3D had an average of 17% advantage over the 9900X on average but it did falter once in God of War where the 9900X got a 17.1% lead over it.

Productivity

Unlike the gaming performance, the productivity landscape showed a different picture as the more core and thread counts of the 9900X came in handy and allowed it to lead pretty much all the tests we conducted on both of the chips.

Thermal Efficiency

In terms of thermal efficiency both the chips performed quite alike as there was only a small difference of 4.6% noticed among them. In most cases, they were found running on slightly higher temps but that has been the usual case in these chips.

Price 

While going over the price tags, the 9900X is available 22.5% cheaper compared to the 9800X3D, as it is still relatively new to the market. Moreover, this difference can increase even more if the shortage issues aren’t fixed soon.

What We Recommend

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X: If you are running on a tight budget and want to find a good processor for productivity tasks then the 9900X is your best bet. The processor is equipped with a higher core and thread count while being available at a cheaper price point.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D: The main focus of the X3D chips is to provide absolute gaming performance, and the 9800X3D follows in the same footsteps. So if you don’t have any budget constraints and are looking for a good boost to your gaming performance, this is the processor to buy.

Overall, I would easily recommend the 9900X to most users in normal circumstances as it provides a better price-to-performance ratio. But if you don’t want to compromise on the gaming aspect then you should get the 9800X3D.

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Shehryar Khan

[Comparisons Expert]

Shehryar Khan, a seasoned PC hardware expert, brings over three years of extensive experience and a deep passion for the world of technology. With a love for building PCs and a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the latest advancements in components, his expertise shines through his work and dedication towards this field. Currently, Shehryar is rocking a custom loop setup for his built.

Get In Touch: shehryar@tech4gamers.com