AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Rated: 8.5/10
Intel Core i9 13900K
Rated: 7.5/10
Pros And Cons
| Processor | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | ✅Better overall performance ✅ Better power efficiency | ❌Higher price tag |
| Core i9-13900K | ✅Lower price tag ✅Slightly lower temperatures | ❌Higher power consumption ❌Worse performance |
- Our performance testing showed a 3% increase in average performance for the AMD chip, which grew to around 8% in terms of 1% lows, facilitating smoother gameplay.
- The 13900K took around a third more power than the 7950X3D, while the temperatures remained the same on the two in our testing.
- As of late April 2024, the 13900K is 20% or $100 cheaper than the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, though both are relatively pricey.
- The lower power consumption and better performance of the AMD chip make it better in our books, but the price could be too much to justify for some consumers.
Comparison Table
| CPU Name | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Intel Core i9-13900K |
|---|---|---|
| Product Line | Ryzen 9 Series | Intel i9 Series |
| Product Generation | Ryzen 7000 Series | Intel 13th Generation |
| Core Architecture | Raphael AM5 Zen4 | Raptor Lake |
| Processing Node | 5nm | 7nm |
| Socket | AM5 | LGA 1700 |
| Motherboard Chipset Support | X670E, X670, B650E, B650 | Z690, H670, B660, H610, Z790 |
| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Memory Support | DDR5 up to 5200MHz | DDR4 up to 3200MHz, DDR5 up to 5600MHz |
| PCIe Support | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 4.0 & PCIe 5.0 |
| Launch Price | $699 | $589 |
| Launch Date | Feb 28, 2023 | Sept 27, 2022 |
| Best Motherboards | BEST Motherboards For i9-13900K | BEST Motherboards For Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
| Best Cooler | BEST CPU Coolers For The i9-13900K | BEST CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
| Best RAM | BEST RAM For i9-13900K | BEST RAM For Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
Architectural Differences
- TDP: AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D has a TDP of 120W, which is lower than the Core i9-13900K’s 125W power draw. This makes the Ryzen 9 slightly less power-hungry, at least on paper.
- Core Count and Threads: The Ryzen 9 7950X3D features 16 cores and 32 threads. The Core i9-13900K offers 8 performance (P) and 16 efficiency (E) cores, resulting in 24 and 32 threads.
- Clock Speed: The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D has a base clock speed of 4.2GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.7GHz. The Core i9-13900K operates at a base clock speed of 3.00GHz for P-cores and 2.20GHz for E-cores, with a boost clock speed of 5.40GHz for P-cores and 4.30GHz for E-cores.
- Memory Support: The Ryzen 9 7950X3D supports only DDR5 memory with speeds of up to 5200MHz. The Core i9-13900K supports DDR4 memory up to 3200MHz and DDR5 memory up to 5600MHz.
- Cache: The Ryzen 9 7950X3D features 16MB of L2 cache and 128MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core i9-13900K has 32MB of L2 cache and 36MB of L3 cache. The larger cache of the Ryzen comes in very handy in gaming scenarios.
Intel has maintained a stronghold on the top-end of gaming processors for a while now, but do the Ryzen 7000 3D V-Cache processors bring a dent in their reputation? Keep reading the Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Core i9-13900K comparison to find out!
Gaming Benchmarks
The best method to compare two similar pieces of hardware is through practical benchmark tests. Therefore, we shall test both processors in multiple games at 1080P resolution to stress the processors as much as possible.
Testing Rig
- Motherboard: Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master & ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming
- CPU cooler: Be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
- Graphics card: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
- RAM: G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB 32GB DDR5 6000MHz CL32
- Power supply: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
- Storage: CORSAIR MP700 PRO 2TB
Microsoft Flight Simulator
- In our testing, the Ryzen 9 averages 124 FPS, outpacing the Core i9-13900K’s 117 FPS by approximately 5.98% in this title.
- The 1% lows were almost the same between the two chips in this game, with the Ryzen 9 hovering around 95 FPS, while the Core i9 fell to around 96 FPS.
Hogwarts Legacy
- Hogwarts Legacy performed better on our AMD processor, with an average framerate of 78 FPS, while the Intel processor had an average of 73 FPS. The difference here was around 6.84%, with the Ryzen 9 in the advantage.
- 1% lows were a bit higher on the Ryzen at around 55 FPS instead of the 52 FPS of the Core i9-13900K.
Call Of Duty Warfare 2.0
- Running CoD MW II, the Core i9-13900K takes a slight lead by being 1.58% faster at 192 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 averages 189 FPS.
- The 13900K had a single frame of advantage in this test with a framerate of 134 FPS instead of the 133 FPS of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Strolling through Night City in Cyberpunk 2077, the Intel chip maintains its lead by staying approximately 3.57% faster, averaging 145 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 records an average of 140 FPS.
- The 13900K took a more sizeable lead in the 1% lows with a framerate of 121 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D stayed further behind at around 115 FPS.
Horizon Zero Dawn
- The Ryzen 9 7950X3D showcases a significant leap in performance, being 21.91% faster, with an average of 267 FPS, whereas the Intel chip averages 219 FPS in our testing.
- The improvements of the AMD chip flowed over to the 1% lows, with a framerate of 181 FPS, while the 13900K came up short with a framerate of around 149 FPS.
Hitman 3
- The Ryzen 9 7950X3D maintains a slight lead in Hitman 3, being approximately 3.84% faster, with an average of 270 FPS, while the Core i9-13900K averages 260 FPS.
- In our test, the 13900K had lows of 199 FPS, a bit lower than the 206 FPS that the Ryzen 9 7950X3D managed under the same conditions.
God Of War
- The Core i9-13900K regains the lead by being approximately 2.49% faster, with an average of 255 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D averages 243 FPS in our testing.
- The 13900K continued to lead with the 1% lows in GoW, with a framerate of 206 FPS, while the 7950X3D had a framerate closer to 199 FPS.
Forza Horizon 5
- The Intel processor takes a slight lead by averaging 308 FPS and being approximately 1.31% faster, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D averages 304 FPS according to our tests.
- Surprisingly, the 13900K took a significant loss in this test with lows of 168 FPS, while the 7950X3D was massively in the lead with lows of around 231 FPS.
Overall Gaming Performance
| Featured | Core i9-13900K | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Average FPS | 196 📈 | 202 📈 |
| %1 lows | 140 📉 | 151 📉 |
| Winner: AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D | ||
Average Framerate
There was only a 3% difference in the performance of these chips over the games we tested in terms of an overall average framerate. Performance in most games held pretty close to one another, with a few exceptions.
1% Lows
The difference in performance was a much larger 8% in terms of 1% lows, with the Ryzen 9 being substantially more stable. The 13900K was not exactly stuttery, per se, but the 7950X3D kept much better composure during our tests.
The AMD chip is the clear winner in terms of performance, but let us look at the other metrics to see how both stand against each other overall.
Power Consumption
| Processor | Power Consumption |
|---|---|
| Core i9 13900K | ⚡108 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | ⚡81 |
| Difference | 33% |
Our tests showed that the Core i9-13900K consumed a third more power than its rival. The X3D chips are known for their extraordinary efficiency, and the 7950X3D delivered in this respect. These differences lead to lower power bills and different ownership costs of these chips over time.
Temperatures
| Processor | Temperatures |
|---|---|
| Core i9 13900K | 🌡️61 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | 🌡️62 |
| Difference | 1% |
Thermals remained manageable on both processors, but that was only because of our adequate cooling solution. Be sure to pair these processors with powerful coolers to unlock the full potential they offer.
Pricing And Value
| Processor | Launch MSRP | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| Core i9-13900K | 💲589 | 💲500 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | 💲699 | 💲600 |
| Difference | 19% | 20% |
Our research on the current price of these processors shows that their value has fallen, though at the same rate. As of late April 2024, the 13900K is around 20% or $100 cheaper than the AMD chip, though both remain pretty pricey.
Intel Core i9-13900K Vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D: Our Recommendation
Ryzen 9 7950X3D: Though this processor delivers excellent performance for the power it draws, its price sticks out as a sore spot for most consumers. We urge you to buy this processor if you find a deal on it or stretch your budget enough to afford it.
Core i9 13900K: Intel had clung to their ways with this processor, delivering high performance but with low power efficiency. Though AMD took a more innovative approach, Intel managed to produce a cheaper processor that performs similarly, for the most part.
For most people looking to buy either of these processors, we would recommend going with the 7950X3D over the Intel chip, though the 13900K is a great performer for a lower price suited for someone with a slightly tighter budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
The “3D” symbolizes 3D V-Cache, a new technology by AMD for their high-end processors. The 3D V-Cache processors have significantly higher L3 cache and are better for gaming.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 will work perfectly fine with both processors, and you shouldn’t face any bottlenecking issues.
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor houses 128MB of L3 cache, one of the largest pools of L3 cache in any gaming processor.
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[Comparisons Expert]
Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.
Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.
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