AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU review
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The best gaming processor AMD has ever produced.
(Image: © Future)
Our Verdict
It feels like AMD has saved the best for last with its Zen 4 CPU releases, delivering us a chip purely dedicated to PC gaming that can match—sometimes beat—any other processor around. If you want to do anything else with your PC there are better options, but for pure gaming power and supreme efficiency, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a fantastic CPU.
For
- Top gaming performance
- Super efficient
- Cool running
Against
- High price compared with an i5 13600K/F
- Comparatively weak outside of gaming
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There is a very strong argument to be made for the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D being the best gaming CPU around right now. It’s certainly the best gaming chip that AMD has ever made, but it’s also capably outperforming Intel’s top CPU when it comes to gaming frame rates, and is doing so for a lot less cash.
It’s also a lot less thirsty, too.
That’s possibly one of the most intriguing things about the 3D V-Cache processors of the Zen 4 generation—just how much more efficient they are than the first top-end chips of the Ryzen 7000-series. In fact, with every subsequent release of this new generation AMD has improved its latest processor range, making the previous ones almost redundant.
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D was the first of the new 3D V-Cache chips to hit our test bench, and it offers a mix of high-end gaming performance and a full 16-cores of Zen 4 processing.
But its hybrid design, which offered one eight-core chiplet (or CCD) with the extra 64MB of L3 cache fused on top of it and another CCD without, demanded some extra hoops for the operating system to jump through, and also sacrificed some of a standard 16-core chip’s raw multithreaded performance.
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, however, is as straightforward as AMD’s 3D V-Cache gets. There’s one eight-core chiplet with extra cache, and no messing around with provisioning or applications scratching their heads to figure out which of the big CPU’s CCDs it ought to be using at any one time.
So, does that make it a better dedicated gaming chip? Well, it’s not necessarily faster—which highlights how well AMD actually delivered on the 7950X3D’s hybrid design—but it makes far more sense as the CPU at the heart of your next gaming PC.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D verdict
(Image credit: Future)
Is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D any good?
Simply put, if you want the absolute highest gaming frame rates, and care not a jot for the CPU-intensive distractions of rendering or encoding, then AMD’s latest chip is the processor for you.
It wears its gaming predilections on its sleeve, and delivers performance that could make a Core i9 blush.
No jack of all trades, but certainly a master of one, and that’s gaming.
It’s seriously efficient, too, and that combination of gaming power and low electrical power makes this new 3D V-Cache processor a tantalising choice for your gaming rig. Now that AMD’s AM5 platform has matured we’re finding more affordable motherboard options every day, and DDR5 memory, and PCIe 4.0 SSDs seem to be constantly dropping in price as well.
The value argument for Intel’s Raptor Lake platform is starting to look ever thinner when you can build an impressively future-proof PC from AMD’s affordable options.
At $450 it’s more expensive than the more versatile Core i5 13400F, but until Intel can get a handle on its chips’ power demands AMD’s best gaming CPU is by far the most elegant. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is no jack of all trades, but it is certainly a master of one, and that’s gaming.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D specs
(Image credit: Future)
What’s inside the Ryzen 7 7800X3D?
The Zen 4 architecture inside the new 7800X3D is a known quantity by now. It’s mostly a derivative spec of the old Zen 3 design, but here built on the TSMC 5nm process for the CCD and 6nm for the I/O die. The bigger news at launch was the addition of PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support from the get-go, that and a new socket with a funky new heatsink design.
There’s a little more L2 cache in the Zen 4 CPU make-up, giving 1MB of L2 for each core, and some front end optimisations, which along with the higher clock speeds of the main range has delivered a welcome bump in Ryzen processor performance. Even if the core counts have remained the same.
7800X3D specs
(Image credit: Future)
Architecture: AMD Zen 4
Socket: AMD AM5
Lithography: 5nm CCD | 6nm IOD
Cores: 8
Threads: 16
Base clock: 4.
2GHz
Boost clock: 5GHz
L2 cache: 8MB
L3 cache: 96MB (inc. 64MB 3D V-Cache)
TDP: 120W
Price: $450
But the 7800X3D goes further in one way, while taking a step back in the other. This is a resolutely eight-core CPU in the same vein as the Ryzen 7 7700 and Ryzen 7 7700X, so this 16-thread design alone is not new for a Zen 4 chip. But the extra 64MB L3 cache mounted on top of the eight-core CCD is.
The compromise is—as with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D which kicked this whole cache-heavy enterprise off—about clock speeds.
Where the 7700X can deliver up to 5.4GHz and the 7950X up to 5.7GHz, the 7800X3D is resolutely stuck at just 5GHz. Yeah, we’re at a point where I can say ‘just’ about hitting 5GHz regularly out of the box.
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still a 120W chip, however, which puts it in a higher bracket than the 105W 7700X. Though, having run through all my testing now, that TDP number is starting to feel a little delusive considering just how efficient the chip is in operation.
Even while delivering effectively the highest gaming performance of any chip we’ve tested.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D performance and benchmarks
(Image credit: Future)
How does the Ryzen 7 7800X3D perform?
PC Gamer test rig
AMD
Motherboard: ASRock X670E Taichi
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5-6000 CL30 2x 16GB
Intel
Motherboard: Asus ROG Z690 Hero
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-5600 CL36 2x 16GB
Graphics card: Nvidia RTX 3080 10GB
Storage: 2TB Corsair MP600 Pro XT | 1TB WD Black SN850
Cooler: Corsair h200i RGB
PSU: NZXT 850W
Chassis: DimasTech Mini V2
The fact the 7800X3D can deliver at worst the same gaming frame rates as both of the most expensive processors in the business—the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Intel Core i9 13900K—is hugely impressive.
Especially considering it’s nominally far slower than both in terms of clock speeds.
Though, admittedly, the peak 5.7GHz clock speeds of the 7950X3D are a little misleading given they’re specifically for the CCD without the 3D V-Cache attached to it. The CCD with the extra cache fused onto it is likely to be performing at the same speed as that powering the 7800X3D, and that’s the one tasked with the majority of gaming workloads.
That’s why there’s so little between the AMD chips in terms of gaming performance, but still, the Core i9 13900K is a 5.8GHz processor with Intel’s classic gaming heritage to lean on. And it still gets beat by this $450 chip.
In the AMD-supplied documentation I should still find the 7800X3D getting beating by the 7590X3D for the most part, but that’s not the experience I’ve had in our standard PCG testing suite. Granted, it’s not conclusive by any means; there are more games and apps than one human could possibly test ahead of launch.
But it’s our regular suite, doesn’t favour either red or blue side of the CPU divide, and highlights what a chip we have on our hands.
Gaming performance
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If you’re after an all-rounder then move along. The 7800X3D isn’t that versatile.
Switching from gaming to more creative/productivity apps and you can see why we’re talking about this as a gaming-focused processor. Sure, it’s got the edge on the last-gen Ryzen 7 5800X3D with the same core count, but with the Zen 4 architecture, but compared with similar chips at the same price point it’s markedly off the pace.
That’s where Intel’s top Core i9, Core i7, and Core i5 CPUs will still make the cache-heavy AMD chip look positively laggardly. If you’re after an all-rounder, a processor that’s equally adept at multi-threaded task loads as it is with gaming, then move along. The 7800X3D isn’t that versatile.
The rendering and encoding benchmarks, as well as the memory bandwidth tests highlight where the slower clock speeds owing to the 3D V-Cache are holding it back.
But, honestly, that’s not what this is about. This is as close to being a pure gaming CPU as it’s possible to be, and a hella efficient one to boot.
System performance
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At 81W of peak package power measured in HWInfo over the duration of my testing, the 7800X3D is able to deliver gaming performance at double the efficiency of the last-gen 3D V-Cache chip and practically double the efficiency of the Core i9 13900K. That power-sipping nature also makes it impressively cool, too, with my measurements topping out at 80°C under load. That’s under full multi-threaded load, with the actual gaming numbers coming out at roughly half of that during three loops of Metro Exodus.
You want a cool and quiet gaming PC that’s capable of the absolute fastest gaming frame rates? Then grab a 7800X3D, people.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D analysis
(Image credit: Future)
What does the Ryzen 7 7800X3D mean for gamers?
So, why the caveats? Why is this not unequivocally the best gaming CPU? Because your processor is not the be-all-and-end-all of gaming performance.
Our numbers are run at 1080p to highlight relative performance differences between CPU architecture, and those deltas can disappear the higher up the resolution stack you go, where your choice of graphics card has far more impact on your frame rates.
And at $450 it’s a lot more than the Intel Core i5 13600K/F. That’s a ~$300 chip that sports 14 cores and 20 threads of compute power. It will also top 5GHz and can actually be overclocked.
Sure, the Intel i5 delivers slightly slower 1080p gaming frame rates at 1080p, but that performance delta will all but vanish at 1440p and 4K. And in the productivity stakes you’ve then got a more rounded processor, one which is more capable at multi-threaded workloads if you’re into doing anything with your PC other than purely gaming.
You could almost feign some green credentials building your system around the 7800X3D.
Plus you get another $150 to spend on your graphics card if you’re looking at building a new machine from scratch.
Though, admittedly in these times that doesn’t necessarily equate to a higher tier of GPU…
But those are the sensible facts and figures, and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still the fastest gaming CPU I’ve ever tested. So, if you want the absolute highest possible frame rates the extra cacheola on top of this Zen 4 chiplet is going to do the business.
It’s also the most energy efficient gaming CPU around, too. You could almost feign some green credentials building your system around the 7800X3D. The fact it’s significantly lower power, and more efficient in terms of frames per watt, than even Intel’s Core i5 13400F is seriously impressive.
My only sadness comes from the fact that AMD is unlikely to give us a Ryzen 5 with 3D V-Cache. A Ryzen 5 7600X3D with this sort of gaming performance would certainly stop a lot of gamers from spending more on a Ryzen 7 or a Ryzen 9 CPU, and so capitalism is probably going to make this as far down the stack as the excellent cache tech goes.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Price Comparison
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AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
It feels like AMD has saved the best for last with its Zen 4 CPU releases, delivering us a chip purely dedicated to PC gaming that can match—sometimes beat—any other processor around. If you want to do anything else with your PC there are better options, but for pure gaming power and supreme efficiency, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a fantastic CPU.
Dave has been gaming since the days of Zaxxon and Lady Bug on the Colecovision, and code books for the Commodore Vic 20 (Death Race 2000!). He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. He first started writing for Official PlayStation Magazine and Xbox World many decades ago, then moved onto PC Format full-time, then PC Gamer, TechRadar, and T3 among others.
Now he’s back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.
The Best CPUs — 2023 Update
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With competition at an all-time high, the best CPUs are heavily contested on each bracket, which is excellent news for consumers. The right choice will heavily depend on your use case, therefore we’re going to work through the pros and cons on each segment, so you’ll know what will work best for you.
As usual, we’ll start with the more affordable options and progressively move up the ladder. We typically consider aspects such as platform costs and potential future upgrade options when making our recommendations, and this discussion will be no different.
The ongoing rivalry between AMD and Intel has resulted in competitive pricing across the board – again, great news.
Intel E-cores have allowed them to offer really competitive performance for all scenarios making them solid all rounders in that sense, though they are not as strong in future platform support.
As for future CPU releases, we’ve received strong hints that a Raptor Lake refresh is incoming, though it’s unclear what that means for potential buyers. Meanwhile, AMD’s anticipated Zen 5 series is not expected to hit the market until next year. Although claims of significant IPC gains are exciting, if you need to build your system now, waiting until 2024 may not be a viable option. So we believe that the current time is as good as any to invest in your next CPU.
- $80 — $130
Intel Core i3-12100F | AMD Ryzen 5 5600
Price: $88
- $180 — $240
Intel Core i5-12400F | AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Price: $149
- $300 — $320
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X / 7700 | Intel Core i5-13600K
Price: $289
- $400 — $440
Ryzen 7 7800X3D | Ryzen 9 7900X | Core i7-13700K
Price: $439
- $550 — $700
Core i9-13900K/KF | Ryzen 9 7950X | Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Price: $515
Budget CPU ($80 — $130)
In numbers
Price:
$88 on Amazon
TechSpot Metascore:
User Reviews:
Starting with the most affordable CPUs, our focus here is mostly on gaming performance and there are only a few worthwhile options in this range.
Considering the most affordable AM5 processor is priced at $225, AMD’s latest platform might not be suitable for those with a tight budget. Instead, we suggest considering the AM4 platform, specifically the Ryzen 5 5500 or preferably in our opinion the Ryzen 5 5600. Intel also offers a viable option with the Core i3-12100 series.
If you are building a new PC from scratch, we strongly advise against the Ryzen 5 4500 and 10th-gen Core i3 parts. They’re only $20 less than the Core i3-12100F, but the newer 12th-gen model offers significantly better performance and holds an upgrade potential to 13th-gen Raptor Lake parts down the track.
For those with a tight budget, considering a new PC build or even just a platform upgrade, the Core i3-12100F is a solid starting point at $90. Paired with affordable DDR4-3600 CL16 memory, the 12100 typically outperforms the Ryzen 5 5500 in gaming, delivering around 15% more performance in our tests.
There are several reasonably priced B660 boards that can support Core i9 processors without any throttling issues.
One such example is the $150 MSI Pro B660M-A. However, if you have no plans to upgrade beyond a Core i5, the Asrock B660M Pro RS works well for $95. Still, investing an additional $55 for the MSI model provides a more capable product in terms of power delivery.
This means if you pair the $90 12100F with a decent $150 B660 board and $40 for a 16GB DDR4-3600 CL16 memory kit, the combination will cost you $280. We’d urge you to consider spending an extra $20 on a comparable 32GB kit, taking the total to just $300.
That being said, our current recommendation leans towards DDR5. We advise skipping B660 boards and opting for B760, where you’ll find decent models around $150. Several 32GB DDR5-5600 kits are now selling for roughly $80 US, which is a minor premium over DDR4-3600 kits. This brings the total to just $320, with the extra memory bandwidth offering noticeable gains in CPU-limited games like Spider-Man Remastered, Hogwarts Legacy and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
In our opinion, the only viable alternative to the Core i3-12100 series is AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600, which is still available for $130, a price point it has maintained for over a year.
The AM4 processor can be used with a quality B550 board for as little as $100, like the MSI B550M-Pro VHD WiFi, while the Asrock B550 Pro4 for $105 is another viable option.
For $60, you can get a decent 32GB DDR4-3600 CL16 memory kit. This means you can assemble the AM4 combo for as little as $290, saving $10 compared to the 12100F. Plus, you have the luxury of upgrading to the 5800X3D in the future, or for better productivity performance, the 5900X or 5950X.
So, for a similar price when considering platform costs, you can opt for either the Core i3-12100F or the Ryzen 5 5600. Both are excellent choices with promising upgrade paths. It’s tough for us to choose between them, as their current performance is impressive, and the upgrade option to either the 13600K or 5800X3D is equally attractive. Both choices have strong arguments in their favor, so we recommend you to evaluate the prices in your region, as that could be the deciding factor.
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Mainstream CPU ($180 — $240)
In numbers
Price:
$149 on Amazon
TechSpot Metascore:
User Reviews:
Increasing the CPU budget opens up several options in the AM4, AM5, LGA1200, and LGA1700 categories.
There are over a dozen choices, but we can rapidly narrow the selection down to just three. In essence, one can disregard Intel’s 10th and 11th gen processors priced above $150, as they don’t provide enough competitive value. Most AM4 parts, such as the 5600X, also don’t make sense; it would be more sensible to opt for the 5600, which we previously reviewed.
The Ryzen 7 5700X looks reasonable at $190 but is only worth considering if you’re already on the AM4 platform with a much older and lower-end Ryzen 5 or slower. Another reason to consider it would be if you’re interested in productivity performance, since the Ryzen 5 7600 on AM5 is not significantly more expensive.
Even Intel’s 12th gen parts are a tough sell in the current market, the 12400F at $150 isn’t a bad way to get your foot in the door and on something like the MSI B760-P Pro or Asrock B760M PG Riptide. Then paired with 32GB of DDR5-5600 memory for around $80 that combo would cost $380, a mere 20% more than the DDR5 Core i3 build, offering 50% more cores.
In demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, we observed a 32% performance boost from the 12400 over the 12100.
It’s worth noting that the Ryzen 7 5700X can offer comparable gaming performance. Priced at $190, one can create a 32GB DDR4 build on an entry-level B550 board for about $30 less. However, in bandwidth-intensive games, the Intel combo fares better. If heavy-duty productivity tasks are a priority, the 5700X is a superior option, delivering approximately 30% more robust performance.
Therefore, the Core i5-12400F offers a better upgrade path and the ability to support DDR5 memory, while the 5700X combo is cheaper overall. It typically delivers a comparable gaming experience and is much more potent for productivity tasks. Lastly, for those considering the 13400F priced at $210, both the 12400F and the 5700X offer significantly better value.
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Mid-Range Performance CPU ($300 — $320)
In numbers
Price:
$289 on Amazon
TechSpot Metascore:
User Reviews:
Moving beyond the previous options and budget, we encounter the Ryzen 7 7600 series, Core i3-13600 series, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and the Ryzen 7 7700 series.
In terms of value, the K-SKU 12th gen Core i5’s, i7’s and i9’s no longer merit consideration.
The most affordable among these options is the Ryzen 7 7600, priced at $225, especially given that the least expensive K-SKU 13th gen part, the Core i5-13600KF, comes at $290. The 7600X is also available at $245, and based on our most recent 50 game benchmark, the AMD processor was 5% faster overall, suggesting that the 13600K and 7600 should be comparably effective across a wide range of games.
The Core i5 offers the advantage of much stronger productivity performance, albeit at the cost of power. Conversely, the Ryzen 5 is cheaper, delivers similar gaming performance while using less power, and is supported by a platform expected to see at least two more generations of CPUs.
Motherboard and memory prices are largely the same for either option, and there’s no wrong choice here, as both options perform well, especially with a focus on gaming performance. However, the 13600K is priced more in line with theRyzen 7 7700 and even the 5800X3D, both of which currently cost $325.
For new system builders, the Ryzen 7 7700 outperforms the 5800X3D. Despite the performance of the Zen 3 3D V-Cache part, the 7700 offers similar gaming performance and stronger productivity on a newer platform, while costing about the same. The decision then narrows down to the 7700 at $325, the 13600KF at $290, or the 13900K at $310.
In terms of power usage, the 7700 uses significantly less power than the 13600K, but the Core i5 part can be up to 30% faster for productivity workloads that are well-suited to the E-Cores. In situations where the E-cores are not particularly useful, the performance is roughly the same. In gaming, they typically trade blows, with the 7700 slightly faster overall in our tests.
Much like the 7600 vs 13600K battle, the 7700 vs. 13600K competition is somewhat of a stalemate, with both options delivering similar results. There’s really no wrong option here. However, we would personally opt for the 7700 due to its superior power efficiency and extended platform longevity.
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High-end Performance CPU ($400 — $440)
In numbers
Price:
$439 on Amazon
TechSpot Metascore:
Moving up to the $400 price point, there’s really no need to consider any of the older, previous generation CPUs. This leaves us in a contest between the various flavors of the Core i7-13700 and AMD’s Ryzen 9 7900 series, along the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
If gaming is the main goal, the top option for around $400 is undoubtedly the 7800X3D. As proficient as the 13700K is, it’s typically slower, and in several cases, the 3D V-Cache part was 20% faster or more. This is when pairing the Core i7 with expensive DDR5-7200 memory, which starts at around $160.
In comparison, the DDR5-6000 CL30 memory used to test the 7800X3D can be had for just $120 now. It’s worth noting that if this same memory was used with the 13700K, it would only reduce performance by around 5% on average, but that would further benefit the Ryzen processor.
So, while it’s possible to save some money on the CPU by purchasing the 13700KF for $390, it is a less effective product for gaming, despite still being very fast. The Core i7 also uses significantly more power when gaming, which could be a concern for your power bill, but is typically a more substantial issue for your motherboard’s VRM, CPU cooler, and possibly even room temperature.
If productivity is also part of the plan, the 7800X3D won’t be the most optimal solution, and here the 13700KF does have an edge. That said, for an additional $30, the Ryzen 9 7900 becomes an option and with PBO enabled, it can match the performance of the 13700K while using less power, even in applications that synergize well with E-cores such as Cinebench.
The 7900 is less of an all-rounder, however, and generally, better gaming performance can be found with the 13700K. So, if power consumption isn’t an issue, one could certainly argue that Intel offers the best all-around option at the $400 price point with the 13700K.
The only other point of contention here for Intel is platform support. While we are expecting a refresh on the LGA1700 platform, it should just be that – a refresh, whereas AM5 will see real architectural upgrades, and at least two of them. Thus, for gaming, we’d unquestionably opt for the 7800X3D, and for a more productivity-focused build, the decision would depend on which CPU delivers the best results in our application(s), the 13700K or 7900.
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CPU Performance Kings ($550 — $700)
In numbers
Price:
$515 on Amazon
TechSpot Metascore:
User Reviews:
Finally, we have the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, 7950X, 7950X3D and Core i9-13900 series. In our opinion, the 7900X3D is a dumb CPU that doesn’t make any sense at $550. If productivity is the focus, consider the more affordable 7900 for $420 or the 7900X for $430. If gaming is the priority, opt for the 7800X3D for $450.
The 7950X3D makes a bit more sense, though it’s still very much a niche product.
It really only makes sense for those who want to build a single PC and desire the best gaming performance possible, coupled with top-tier productivity performance, without making the PC run hotter than a portable oven.
For $700, the 7950X3D is your best bet. It’s generally on par with the Core i9-13900K for gaming and productivity but consumes significantly less power and is supported by a superior platform in terms of future support.
As an example, the 7950X3D is 8% faster than the 13900KS using DDR5-7200 memory in the Blender Open Data benchmark, and it consumes almost half as much power for total system usage – just 279 watts versus a whopping 497 watts for the Intel processor.
Of course, at $700, the 7950X3D costs significantly more than the $560 13900K, but the 7950X doesn’t at $580, so if productivity is your primary concern, then we recommend the 16-core 7950X for its superior power efficiency and platform longevity.
You could argue that, like the Core i7-13700K, the Core i9-13900K is the best all-rounder at its price tier.
There’s some truth to that, but you have to make significant compromises on power usage and platform support.
If gaming is the primary focus, then the much cheaper Ryzen 7 7800X3D is your best bet, and if you want a balance of both gaming and productivity, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the way to go. Despite its overall excellent performance, we find it challenging to recommend the 13900K these days. But of course, we’re very interested in hearing your thoughts on this. Please let us know in the comments section below.
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The best processors for gaming in 2023
The processor is the «heart» of a gaming computer, the processing power of which largely determines the performance of all other components. Depending on the type of processor, almost the entire platform is selected (motherboard, RAM, other components). Also, the number of FPS (frames per second) that the video card can generate depends on the chip model. Therefore, the harmony of the combination of the processor and the video card is important, otherwise an insufficiently powerful «stone» will become a limiter to the performance of the video core.
How to choose a processor for your gaming computer
When choosing a CPU for a gaming build, you need to take into account a number of important characteristics that directly reflect the performance of the model. These include:
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Number of Cores. Displays how many physical cores there are in the structure of a particular chip model. The more cores, the more productive the crystal will be, the better it will cope with a multi-threaded load.
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Number of threads. Modern gaming processors from Intel and AMD are capable of processing two data streams on a single physical core. This noticeably improves processor performance in multi-threaded workloads. But keep in mind that doubling the threads at the expense of «logical» cores does not lead to a doubling of performance. In most tasks, computing power increases by 30-50%.
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base frequency. This is the frequency at which the cores operate without high loads.
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Turbo frequency.
This is the maximum frequency that one or all cores reach under load. The higher it is, the more productive the “stone”, since a high frequency will allow you to process more information per unit of time. Various variants of turbo boost technology support all gaming processors. -
Unlocked multiplier. This characteristic is important for those who plan to overclock the chip themselves. The presence of an unlocked multiplier allows you to simplify this process and get the maximum FPS in games.
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Socket type. It depends on compatibility with certain motherboards.
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System memory. Reflects the type of RAM the processor is compatible with. Most of the current models this year are compatible with DDR4 memory, while the latest generation is compatible with the faster DDR5.
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The amount of cache memory. Cache is a memory built into the processor, which stores the most important data before direct processing by the processor cores.
Also, through the cache, information is exchanged between the cores. The larger the cache, the higher the speed and stability of the chip. Modern AAA-class game projects are especially sensitive to cache volume.
Also, when deciding which processor to choose, pay attention to the TDP level. The characteristic displays the requirements for heat dissipation and serves as an indirect indicator of the level of energy consumption. It must be taken into account when choosing the optimal cooling system.
Intel or AMD: which is better?
Now only two manufacturers supply processors to the mass consumer market — Intel and AMD. They have been competing with each other for more than 20 years, actively driving technological progress forward. Both companies produce lines of gaming processors suitable for gaming. When choosing a specific model, you need to take into account a number of features specific to the processors of each company.
Intel product features include:
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High clock speeds and single core performance.
The Core architecture is considered the best in terms of single core performance due to aggressive turbo boost, which ensures that the frequency of a single core at low-threaded loads is significantly higher than the 5 Hhz bar.
- The presence of energy efficient cores. This novelty appeared in the latest generations of Intel processors. Such cores are highly energy efficient and can only work in single-threaded mode. They are combined with high-performance «classic» cores on a single chip and take on various additional loads, freeing up high-performance cores for games or other resource-intensive tasks.
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Fast cache memory. Although its volume is smaller compared to its counterparts from AMD, it is able to work at much higher speeds.
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Fast memory controller. It allows you to use the highest frequency memory kits and ensures its stable overclocking to even higher frequencies, which has a positive effect on gaming performance.
AMD processors also have their advantages, the most significant ones include:
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Multichip structure.
Provides the ability to place several chips under one cover that work together as a single unit. For example, the top Ryzen 7950X contains 3 dies, two 8-core chips and one additional die that contains a memory controller, an integrated video core, and other additional components of the overall architecture. -
Large amount of cache memory. Despite the relatively lower data transfer rate compared to Intel, it provides a significant increase in gaming performance, especially noticeable in the latest games. Also in the AMD lineup there are processors with increased cache, which provide the highest gaming performance.
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Affordable cost. On average, an assembly on an AMD gaming processor is cheaper, you can often get by with a more budget motherboard (if you exclude the Ryzen 7xxx generation, which was released quite recently, prices for it have not yet returned to normal).
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High multi-threaded performance. Chips from AMD provide the best performance in applications for which information processing is important at once in many threads.
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Unlocked multiplier. Unlike Intel, any processors, even the most budget models, can be freely overclocked. But often there is no point in additional overclocking, since modern chips are “squeezed out” in frequencies already at the factory and are difficult to overclock.
Now the answer to the question of which processor is better for gaming is largely a matter of taste. Chips from both Intel and AMD allow you to unleash the potential of any modern video card without any problems. Intel products provide more gaming potential, while AMD stones perform better in mixed workloads and often provide a “golden mean” between price and processing power received by the buyer.
Best Budget CPUs for Gaming
The rating of budget gaming processors for games includes products with 6 physical cores and 12 logical ones. They unleash the potential of mid-range graphics cards and allow you to enjoy smooth gaming in FullHD resolution. Due to the modest level of power consumption, they will not require expensive cooling, a budget tower cooler or the simplest unattended LSS will be enough.
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- cores/threads — 6/12;
- base frequency — 3.6 GHz;
- turbo boost frequency — 4.2 GHz;
- total cache memory — 19 MB;
- the possibility of overclocking — yes;
- TDP — 65W.
One of the best budget gaming processors that combines an affordable price with high performance, especially in multi-threaded workloads. It is important to take into account that the amount of cache memory in the chip is reduced in comparison with the older representatives of the line. Also, the processor provides support only for the PCI-E bus version 3.0, while 4.0 is currently relevant, this may limit the capabilities of some video cards.
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 Gaming Computers
MAN-MADE Base S v.2a
Video card: GeForce RTX 3050
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500
RAM: 16Gb (2×8) DDR4 3200MHz
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MAN-MADE Base S v.4a
Video Card: GeForce RTX 3060 12G
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500
RAM: 16Gb (2×8) DDR4 3200MHz
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Intel Core i5 12400f
- cores/threads — 6/12;.
- base frequency — 2.5 GHz;.
- turbo boost frequency — 4.4 GHz;.
- total cache memory — 25.5 MB;.
- possibility of overclocking — no;.
- TDP — 117W.
This is a fairly powerful budget gaming processor from the Core series. It copes well with any games, and the performance will be enough even for above-average graphics cards. An additional advantage is compatibility with DDR4 and DDR5 RAM. The main disadvantage is a rather serious heat dissipation under high load; for cooling, you will need a powerful tower cooler or LSS.
Gaming PC based on Intel Core i5 12400f
MAN-MADE Base S v.1
Video card: GeForce RTX 3050
Processor: Intel Core i5 — 12400F
RAM: 16Gb (2×8) DDR4 3200MHz
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MAN-MADE Base S v.3
Video card: GeForce RTX 3060 8G
Processor: Intel Core i5 — 12400F
RAM: 16Gb (2×8) DDR4 3200MHz
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- cores/threads — 6/12;
- base frequency — 3.
7 GHz; - turbo boost frequency — 3.6 GHz;
- total cache memory — 35 MB;
- the possibility of overclocking — yes;
- TDP — 65W.
One of the best budget class processors. It doesn’t have the limitations of the 5500 and has a large amount of cache memory, which, combined with high frequencies, provides decent gaming performance. The chip can easily handle almost any gaming load and unlock the potential of a mid-range graphics card.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Gaming PC
MAN-MADE Base RS v.1a
Video Card: GeForce RTX 3060 12G
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
RAM: 16Gb (2×8) DDR4 3200MHz
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The best mid-range gaming processors
The performance of these «gems» is enough for unleashing high-performance graphics cards, as well as for various work tasks, such as streaming or video editing. A computer based on them is a universal digital combine that will show itself equally well in any tasks.
Intel Core i7 13700F
- cores/threads. 16/24. Includes 8 productive cores capable of processing information in two threads + 8 energy efficient ones, which in total gives 24 logical cores;
- base frequency — 2.1 GHz;
- turbo boost frequency — 5.2 GHz;
- total cache memory — 54 MB;
- possibility of overclocking — absent;
- TDP — 219W.
This is one of the latest 13th Generation Core Series balanced processors, with an architecture that provides a significant improvement over previous generation chips. The advantages include a high level of auto-overclocking, a decent amount of cache. The processor is compatible with DDR4 memory, but only DDR5 RAM will reveal its full potential. Also supports the PCI-E 5.0 standard.
The only serious drawback is the rather high power consumption, the buyer should take care of a productive cooling system in advance. A top-end tower cooler, an efficient maintenance-free coolant system, or a custom cooler will do.
Ryzen 5 7600X
- cores/threads — 6/12;
- base frequency — 4.7 GHz;
- turbo boost frequency — 5.3 GHz;
- total cache memory — 38 MB;
- the possibility of overclocking — yes;
- TDP — 105W.
The junior representative of the latest series of processors from AMD. The updated architecture brought a noticeable increase in clock speed, support for DDR 5 memory and the PCI-E 5.0 standard. All this, together with a large cache, made it possible to significantly increase the gaming performance of the processor. But the chip copes worse with work tasks than its higher-class counterparts or competitors at a price from Intel, so it cannot be called universal.
The main drawback is the high heat, which is due to the increased clock frequency and the miscalculation of AMD engineers, who used a too thick heat-distributing cover, which complicated the removal of excess heat. The processor is very sensitive to the power of the cooling system, in order to get the maximum performance, you will need a top-end air cooler tower or a powerful coolant.
Gaming computers based on AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor
MAN-MADE Rare GT v.1a
Video card: GeForce RTX 3080
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
RAM: 32Gb (2×16) DDR5 5200MHz
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MAN-MADE Rare GT v.2a
Video card: GeForce RTX 3080
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
RAM: 32Gb (2×16) DDR5 5200MHz
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Ryzen 7 7700X
- cores/threads — 8/16;
- base frequency — 4.5 GHz;
- turbo boost frequency — 5.4 GHz;
- total cache memory — 40 MB;
- the possibility of overclocking — yes;
- TDP — 105W.
Versatile, high-performance processor that performs equally well in gaming and work applications. It features significantly increased frequencies, support for high-speed DDR 5 RAM. Suitable for combination with any top-level video card, and the power reserve will be enough for at least 2-3 years.
The stone has only one significant minus — a high level of heating.
As in the case of the 7600X, a thick cover hinders heat dissipation. Therefore, choosing this processor, you will need to pay extra for an unattended or custom CBO.
Ryzen 7 7700X Gaming PC
MAN-MADE Rare GT v.3a
Video card: GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
RAM: 32Gb (2×16) DDR5 5200MHz
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MAN-MADE Rare GTR v.1a
Video card: GeForce RTX 4080
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
RAM: 32Gb (2×16) DDR5 5200MHz
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The best high-performance processors
The top processors of the current chip series from both manufacturers are included in the rating of processors with the highest gaming performance. Such a processor will ensure not only the disclosure of the potential of powerful video cards (with a margin of 2-5 years), but will also perfectly cope with other complex tasks, such as video editing, streaming with maximum quality.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- cores/threads — 16/32;
- base frequency — 4.
5 GHz; - turbo boost frequency — 5.7 GHz;
- cache memory — 80 MB;
- the possibility of overclocking — yes;
- TDP — 170W.
This is the most powerful number crusher from AMD. The processor combines all modern technologies and support for the latest memory and graphics bus standards. It provides equally high performance in both light and multi-threaded workloads. The only significant drawback of the processor is the high level of heating. Only a productive maintenance-free LSS or a custom water cooling system can cope with heat removal. Otherwise, at high loads, the processor will quickly heat up to critical temperatures, which will trigger protection and reduce turbo boost.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X based computers
MAN-MADE Rare GTR v.4a
Video card: GeForce RTX 4080
Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
RAM: 64Gb (2×32) DDR5 5600MHz
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MAN-MADE Rare Primera v.4a
Video card: GeForce RTX 4090
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
RAM: 64Gb (2×32) DDR5 5600MHz
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Intel Core i9 13900KF
- cores/threads — 24/32 including 8 performance cores and 24 power efficient cores;
- base frequency — 3 GHz;
- turbo boost frequency — 5.
8 GHz; - total cache memory — 68 MB;
- the possibility of overclocking — yes;
- TDP — 253W.
This is Intel’s top gaming processor, offering the highest level of single-threaded performance with its advanced architecture and record-breaking clock speeds. It also copes well with multi-threaded loads due to the presence of a large number of energy-efficient cores.
The processor performs well in gaming loads and lends itself to additional overclocking. But the payoff for high performance is an extremely high level of heat dissipation, which, even without overclocking, is more than 250 watts. Only water in the form of unattended or custom LSS can handle the cooling of such a monster. Of course, you can install a top-end air tower on it, but even with solutions from Noctua, overheating and the associated frequency reset cannot be avoided, especially during long and intense gaming sessions.
Gaming PC with Intel Core i9 13900KF
MAN-MADE Rare Primera v.
2
Video card: GeForce RTX 4090
Processor: Intel Core i9-13900KF
RAM: 64Gb (2×32) DDR5 5200MHz
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MAN-MADE Epic Veneno
Video card: GeForce RTX 3090
Processor: Intel Core i9-13900KF
RAM: 64Gb (2×32) DDR5 5200MHz
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Summing up
When choosing a gaming processor in the first place, you need to decide on the games for which the computer is purchased. Some games are better optimized for Intel processors, there are titles in which solutions from AMD perform better, and there are quite a few games where processors from both companies demonstrate approximately equal performance.
For a gamer who does not plan to do streaming or other tasks that require increased processing power of the processor, a Ryzen 7 or Core i7-level chip will be enough. Their stock is enough for several years of trouble-free play in the most demanding new items.
Equally important is the choice of video card.
It makes no sense to spend a significant amount on a powerful processor if it will not work in combination with a high-end graphics card and vice versa. In the MAN-MADE catalog you will find a large selection of processors from budget to top-end, which will provide maximum performance for every dollar invested.
See also:
How many CPU cores do you need to play games?
Best graphics cards for 2K gaming
The best video cards for 4K gaming
Custom water cooling systems
Assembling a gaming computer in 2023
TOP-7. The best processors for games. June 2023. Rating!
Author Evgeny Vasilyev Reading 6 min Views 120 Published
Updated
Hello everyone! In this review, I will offer my TOP processors for gaming assemblies in different price segments.
Contents
- Intel Core i3-12100F
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Intel Core i5-12400F
- AMD Ryzen 5 560 0
- Intel Core i5-13600KF
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- Intel Core i7 -13700KF
Intel Core i3-12100F
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Architecture: AlderLake-S
- Lithography: 10 nm
- Number of cores: 4
- Number of threads: 8
- Base clock: 3.3 GHz
- TurboBoost frequency: 4.3 GHz
- Free multiplier: no
- Integrated graphics: no
- TDP: 58W
The Intel Core i3-12100F is currently one of the best options for building a budget PC from scratch.
This processor offers 4 cores and 8 threads with frequencies up to 4.3 GHz. In terms of performance in games, it is somewhere at the level of the 6-core i5-12400, however, it is inferior to it in work tasks due to fewer threads. But on the other hand, the i3-12100F has one important advantage — even at peak loads it has a very modest power consumption. This allows it to work on any motherboard, even on the most budget models with the H610 chipset without heatsinks in the VRM zone. Yes, and it has minimal cooling requirements. Any cooler that can take 90 W of heat, it will cope with it without problems, providing a comfortable temperature regime.
When it comes to gaming performance, the 12th Gen Intel Core i3 is enough for any project in FullHD resolution, as long as you have the right graphics card. And here, too, there is an important point — the processor supports PCI-E 4.0, which means that all modern video cards will work well with it.
And when the performance gets low, you can upgrade to the i5-12400F or i5-13400F without changing your motherboard, even if it’s the cheapest motherboard.
True, in this case, cooling should be taken with a small margin. Ideally, a tower cooler with 3 heat pipes.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Socket: AM4
- Architecture: Zen 3 (Cezanne)
- Lithography: 7 nm
- Number of cores: 6
- Number of threads: 12
- Base clock: 3.9 GHz
- TurboBoost frequency: 4.4 GHz
- Free multiplier: yes
- Integrated graphics: yes (AMD RadeonVega 7)
- TDP: 65W
The
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is a great choice for a gaming build without a discrete graphics card. After all, this processor has an integrated graphics core RadeonVega 7, which in terms of performance is not far behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. This means that it will cope with modern games in FullHD resolution, however, with low graphics settings. Well, if there is support for FSR, then the situation will be even better.
The processor itself offers 6 cores and 12 threads on the still current Zen 3 architecture.
Turbo boost — up to 4.4 GHz. In this case, there is the possibility of manual overclocking. In terms of its characteristics, the Ryzen 5 5600G is similar to the regular Ryzen 5 5600, which I will talk about a little later, but with three important differences. First, it has integrated graphics. Secondly, it does not support PCI-E 4.0, which should be taken into account in the future if you decide to purchase a discrete graphics card. And thirdly, it only has 16 MB of L3 cache, while the Ryzen 5 5600 without the G index has twice as much — 32 MB. As a result, in terms of processor performance, the Ryzen 5 5600G lags somewhere between 15-20%.
I also note that the integrated graphics use RAM as video memory. And the higher its frequency, the more powerful the insertion will be. Ideally, take a set of two brackets with an XMP profile at 3600 MHz. But if such kits are very expensive, then you can also focus on 3200 MHz.
Intel Core i5-12400F
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Architecture: AlderLake-S
- Lithography: 10 nm
- Number of cores: 6
- Number of threads: 12
- Base clock: 2.
5 GHz - TurboBoost frequency: 4.4 GHz
- Free multiplier: no
- Integrated graphics: no
- TDP: 65W
The
Intel Core i5-12400F is an excellent gaming processor that offers more performance headroom than the i3-12100F due to 6 cores, 12 threads and turbo boost up to 4.4 GHz. It will be enough for all games in Full HD or even in 2K resolution without focusing on the video card for another 3-4 years — and this is at least. It is still quite cold, so it is not very demanding on the cooler and motherboard, but it is still better to focus on models with B660 or B760 chipsets and heatsinks in the VRM zone so that the processor delivers the maximum level of performance.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
- Socket: AM4
- Architecture: Zen 3 (Vermeer)
- Lithography: 7 nm
- Number of cores: 6
- Number of threads: 12
- Base clock: 3.5 GHz
- TurboBoost frequency: 4.
4 GHz - Free multiplier: yes
- Integrated graphics: no
- TDP: 65W
AMD Ryzen 5 5600 processor is about equal in performance with i5-12400F, because it offers the same 6 cores, 12 threads and boost up to 4.4 GHz. Its power consumption is identical. The only important difference is the presence of an unlocked multiplier, which allows you to manually control the voltage and frequencies. For this processor, it is best to take a motherboard based on the B550 chipset to get PCI-E 4.0 support and a tower cooler with at least 3 heat pipes.
Intel Core i5-13600KF
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Architecture: RaptorLake-S
- Lithography: 10 nm
- Number of cores: 14 (6 performance, 8 energy efficient)
- Number of threads: 20
- Base clock: 3.5/2.6 GHz
- TurboBoost frequency: 5.1/3.9 GHz
- Free multiplier: yes
- Integrated graphics: no
- TDP: 125W
If you’re planning on playing in 2K or 4K, you might want to look into the Intel Core i5-13600KF.
As tests show, this is one of the best processors in terms of price and performance in games, which is not much inferior to the much more expensive i9-13900K. It already has 14 cores with a new architecture, which is why only 6 of them are productive, and the remaining 8 are energy efficient. Only productive cores have a division into two threads, so there are 20 threads in total.
If you plan to use the processor without overclocking, then a good tower cooler will suffice, but with overclocking it is best to take a three-section dropsy.
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- Socket: AM5
- Architecture: Zen 4 (Raphael)
- Lithography: 5 nm
- Number of cores: 8
- Number of threads: 16
- Base clock: 4.5 GHz
- TurboBoost frequency: 5.4 GHz
- Free multiplier: yes
- Integrated graphics: yes (AMD Radeon Graphics)
- TDP: 105W
The Ryzen 7 7700X is an 8-core processor from AMD based on the new Zen 4 architecture.
In terms of gaming performance, it is slightly inferior to the previously proposed i5-13600KF, but it has two important advantages. Firstly, he shows himself better in work tasks. And secondly, such an assembly has a greater margin for the future, because for the next few years AMD will release a processor on socket AM5, which means that you do not have to change the motherboard and cooling.
Ryzen 7 7700X supports overclocking, but even a good tower cooler can handle it, which means you can save on dropsy.
Intel Core i7-13700KF
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Architecture: RaptorLake-S
- Lithography: 10 nm
- Number of cores: 24 (8 performance, 8 energy efficient)
- Number of threads: 32
- Base clock: 3.4/2.5 GHz
- TurboBoost frequency: 5.4/4.2 GHz
- Free multiplier: yes
- Integrated graphics: no
- TDP: 125W
The main difference between the Intel Core i5-13600KF and i7-13700KF is the increased number of productive cores — 8 versus 6, and as a result, the increased number of threads — 24 versus 20.