The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is now formally with us. PC Gamer’s {hardware} command and conquerer Dave’s been testing it for some time and reckons it is “the brand new king of gaming CPUs”. That a lot we anticipated or at the very least hoped for given its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, held the crown for the longest time. Now, we’re seeing simply how far it may be pushed, and the reply is way certainly.
Asus China’s GM Tony Yu has proven (through Wccftech) the 9800X3D reaching a whopping 6.9 GHz at simply over 100 W and attaining—at factors—over 1,000 fps in CS2 and Valorant at max settings. That’s 1080p, after all, however these are esports titles and we like our frames greater than our pixels for aggressive gaming.
The principal takeaway is not the body charges achieved, although, good as they’re; the principle takeaway is that 6.9 GHz overclock. For reference, the 9800X3D comes with a inventory base clock of 4.7 GHz and a lift of 5.2 GHz, in order that’s a 1.7 GHz enhance over the increase clock.
What’s essential about that is that the 9800X3D is the primary unlocked 3D V-Cache CPU from AMD. Previous-gen X3D processors had the V-Cache sitting on prime of the chips which might forestall enough warmth switch for cooling when overclocking, so the chip was stored locked. You may overclock them considerably by messing with PBO, however you could not get a lot out of them.
With the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, nonetheless, the cores sit proudly on prime of their V-Cache, leaving the IHS comparatively flush in opposition to the silicon beneath. This means higher warmth switch for cooling, which has in the end meant an X3D CPU that is lastly unlocked for overclocking. Plus, clock speeds basically, even with out handbook overclocks, can now creep greater.
Given we have by no means been in a position to correctly overclock an X3D chip, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D actually is the primary time we’re seeing what X3D tech is able to when no holds are barred. It’s clearly value noting this overclock was hit utilizing liquid nitrogen, although simply from our personal messing round with the overclocking capabilities of the brand new Ryzen chip ourselves, we have managed to get it virtually secure at 5.6 GHz, and rock stable at 5.57 GHz. That’s with out stepping into the curve optimizer shenanigans, both, although clearly with solely 400 MHz on prime of the usual 5.2 GHz increase clock you are not seeing a lot in the way in which of body charge will increase and much more energy being required.
But nonetheless, judging by these overclocks, that is fairly spectacular stuff, which is saying one thing for a chip that, even with none overclocks, already handily bests different non-X3D 9000-series chips and Intel Arrow Lake ones in gaming efficiency.
Speaking of which, now that we all know the Ryzen 7 9800X3D can overclock so nicely, there actually is not any motive to go for Arrow Lake for gaming. Although, I suppose there would not be a motive to anyway, given the Ryzen 7 9800X3D performs petter, runs cooler, and consumes much less energy. This latter level is the one factor that Arrow Lake had going for it previous to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which has now taken it away. Big oof.
Maybe not a lot for Intel, however it’s thrilling instances for the remainder of us. An X3D chip overclocked by 1.7 GHz, who’d have thunk it?
