AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D - Review

It may not be time for the release of Zen 4 cores and new Ryzen processors, but it is certainly the right time to summarize the possibilities and reach the zenith when it comes to the current Ryzen 5000 series with Zen 3 cores.

1. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
2. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D - Features
3. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D - Performance
4. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D - Conclusion 

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

While we are waiting for the new generation of AMD Ryzen processors based on Zen 4 cores, PCIe Gen5 standard, and DDR5 memory, AMD has decided to fill this period with a special, we would say collector's item that is a jewel in the Zen 3 model line. This is a technological demonstration of what the existing Ryzen 5000 series can do.

But as AMD said, we want to be clear at the outset - the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the only of its kind at the moment and is a "purebred" gaming processor. So, it was designed primarily to achieve better gaming performance and not demanding processing jobs such as. creation of demanding content, rendering, and similar jobs.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D - Features

The essence of gaming access and performance optimization of this processor lies in the additional L3 memory for data caching. On the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, in addition to the standard 32 MB L3 cache, a special layer of silicon has been added with an additional 64 MB L3 cache memory, which is designated as 3D V-Cache, so that this copy exclusively has a total of 96 MB of tertiary cache desktop processor.

Why so much cache memory? The essence is in the flow of data, whether it's just playing or your random actions that require loading new textures and models, animations, or sound effects. The benefit of 3D V-Cache memory is much faster random data access. Faster data access means less latency and shorter response times, less waiting for an operation to be performed, which ultimately results in higher average FPS in games.

Unlike games, classic "productivity" applications pull a predictable series of bytes of data that the prediction mechanisms in the processor itself, easily find and load. Hence, they do not need a larger cache memory, as in the case of random access to data where the probability is lower, so they need a larger amount of data to be transferred to the cache memory, which increases the probability of finding the appropriate data.

AMD with the implementation of 3D V-Cache memory provides an average of 15% better performance in games when compared to the "ordinary" Ryzen 7 5800X model. Otherwise, the rest of the characteristics are very similar. Ryzen 7 5800X3D has 8 cores that perform 16 "threads". The cores run at a 200 MHz lower clock speed compared to the regular Ryzen 7 5800X version, ie 3.4 GHz as much as the base clock speed and 4.5 GHz in maximum "Boost" mode. It is made in a 7nm production process and consumes an average of about 105W of electricity.

For the new Ryzen 7 5800X3D to be recognized by the motherboard and otherwise run on the same series of boards as the previous Ryzen 5000 models, you need to update the BIOS to the latest version containing AGESA code in version 1.2.0.6.b and newer before installing the processor. The factory cooler does not come in the packaging of the processor but it is necessary to get a suitable cooler - an air cooler with a large body or even better, an efficient water cooling system.

Such a move by AMD is not accidental since the processor heats up as expected due to the additional layer of silicon that covers the chip. Hence, it is very sensitive to the presence of good cooling. In connection with the previous, there is also the fact that the Ryzen 7 5800X does not support overclocking in terms of the allowed change of the operating frequency multiplier as in the "ordinary" Ryzen 7 5800X model. Instead, a factory PBO system is set up, and to achieve at times a maximum of 4500 MHz on individual cores, you will have to make an effort to choose a cooler.

Also, in the BIOS of the board, you will not find those advanced sub-options for fine-tuning the PBO system of automatic overclocking, but only the basic ones, so you can't affect the frequency outside the frame set by AMD. The good side is that the possibility of using fast RAM modules is left, so with some good DDR4-3600 CL16 or faster, you can easily bring the performance of the new processor to its maximum.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D - Performance

The main question is, how does it all work in real situations of playing and working?

Test system:

MB:	MSI X570 Godlike
CPU:	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
RAM:	32GB (2x16GB) GSkill 3600 CL16 2R
VGA:	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 TI
SSD:	500GB Western Digital SN850 M.2
	ADATA SU400 480GB SATA
Case:	Cooler Master MasterBox 540
PSU:	Cooler Master MVE Gold 1050 - V2
Driver:	AMD Chipset 3.08.17.735
OS:	Windows 11

Since AMD claims that the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the fastest gaming processor today, we compared it to the classic Ryzen 7 5800X model in the factory but also sharpened PBO parameters. Of course, there was also a measure of speed and power with the Intel Core i9 12900K competition - the uncrowned king of gaming performance. Finally, there is the Ryzen processor from which it all began.

Performance: 

As you can see, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is not the fastest in every single game, but it is among the fastest on almost every occasion and is equal to the processors it compares to. In a large number of cases, it is faster and significantly so, and even more important is the curiosity with a significantly lower operating frequency. Hence, in the end, we can say that the claim about the fastest gaming processor is a well-founded formulation.

Another question is whether the realized advantage is worth an additional $ 100, and even more at some sellers compared to the classic Ryzen 7 5800X model, which in some cases when you fine-tune its PBO2 parameters, is very close to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D model, certain situations and prestige, where we primarily mean games that use the power of the core at high operating frequencies. There are also those situations like gamers who only play CS: GO and for which there is no better solution than the Intel Core model.

In the test of more demanding application software, as AMD itself pointed out, due to the higher frequency of working cores, the classic Ryzen 7 5800X is a faster solution.

Application performance:

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is still one of the best and most cost-effective processors in its class if you look at the value for money, both in applications and games. On the other hand, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a dedicated gaming processor and there is no doubt about that. AMD has offered us two excellent solutions, each within its scope of purpose, and all that remains for us is to choose the appropriate solution in accordance with the budget and needs.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D - Conclusion

In any case, AMD conducted a successful technical demonstration and proved that, in general, it has the fastest gaming processor today, and more importantly, it achieved the crown of the processor architecture, which confirmed its dominance in the high-performance desktop processor market.

Those who will say that it only bought time until the release of the Ryzen 7000 series and Zen 4 generation, may not be wrong, but that once again speaks of the superiority of the current AMD architecture because they obviously have the luxury to miss a whole generation like Intel Alder Lake and practically do not move a finger. This is just a realistic confirmation of how superior they have been so far in the period of measuring power and speed with Intel Core competition.

Until the release of the new generation of CPUs, one thing is for sure - AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is one of the fastest gaming processors today!