AMD‘s highly anticipated Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 7900X3D CPUs are now available. Reviews for the 7950X3D processor went live a few days ago. I have read several review articles and watched some reviews on YouTube. And the 7950X3D received positive feedback from the review community overall. Most of you might ask which is the fastest and best gaming CPU you can buy today. Is it AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D or Intel’s Core i9-13900K? In this article, let’s discuss the best gaming CPU, including the pros and cons of Intel and AMD’s offering.
Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D – The TL;DR
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Core i9-13900K are two very different CPUs. Although they have the same function and can do the same workload, both CPUs are different in many ways. AMD’s Ryzen 7950X3D CPU is based on a chiplet design, with one CCD having the 3D V-cache. It features 16 cores and 32 threads with a maximum boost clock speed of up to 5.7GHz. It also has a massive 128MB L3 cache and a TDP of 120W. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D comes with a launch price of $699, while the Ryzen 9 7900X3D retails for $599.
On the other hand, Intel’s Core i9 13900K features a “big.little” or “big-bigger” design. It means that the Raptor Lake CPUs feature Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores). In the Core i9-13900K’s case, it has a total of 24 cores, of which 8 are P-cores, and 16 are E-cores. It also has 32 threads but only 36MB of L3 cache. The P-cores and E-cores behave differently. The P-Cores can clock up to 5.8GHz, while the E-cores have a maximum boost clock speed of up to 4.3GHz. Intel’s flagship special edition Core i9-13900KS can clock up to 6GHz with two of its P-cores. Price-wise, the Core i9-13900K launched at $589, while the KS special edition variant retails for $699.
AMD Ryzen 9 7000X3D and Intel Core i9-13900K(S) Specifications
| Specifications | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Ryzen 9 7900X3D | Core i9-13900KS | Core i9-13900K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 4 | Raptor Lake | Raptor Lake |
| Fab Process | 5nm | 5nm | 10 nm | 10 nm |
| Socket | AM5 | AM5 | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Cores | 16 | 12 | 24 (8P + 16E) | 24 (8P + 16E) |
| Threads | 32 | 24 | 32 | 32 |
| Max Boost | 5.7 GHz | 5.6 GHz | 6 GHz (P-cores) / 4.3 GHz (E-cores) | 5.8 GHz (P-cores) / 4.3 GHz (E-cores) |
| Base Clock | 4.2 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 3.2 GHz (P-cores) / 2.4 GHz (E-cores) | 3 GHz (P-cores) / 2.2 GHz (E-cores) |
| L2 Cache | 16MB | 12MB | 32MB | 32MB |
| L3 Cache | 128MB | 128MB | 36MB | 36MB |
| iGPU | Radeon iGPU 2 Core | Radeon iGPU 2 Core | UHD Graphics 770 | UHD Graphics 770 |
| TDP | 120W TDP | 120W TDP | 150 W | 125 W |
| Memory Support | DDR5-5200 | DDR5-5200 | DDR5-5600 / DDR4-3200 | DDR5-5600 / DDR4-3200 |
| Launch Price | $699 | $599 | $699 | $589 |
Check the latest pricing and availability:
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is available on Amazon.com here or Newegg.com here.
Intel Core i9 13900K is available on Amazon.com here or Newegg.com here.
How Fast Is the Ryzen 9 7950X3D Compared To The Core i9-13900K?
Based on the various reviews I have read and watched, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the new fastest gaming CPU currently available in the market. That’s really something new since Intel has held the title of having the best gaming CPU for several years. It was only disrupted when AMD released the Ryzen 7 5800X3D; and now, with the 7950X3D, Intel’s Core i9 13900K has been dethroned.
While AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D outperformed the Core i9-13900KS and 13900K, the performance difference wasn’t night and day. On average, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is around 5% faster than the Core i9-13900K(S). Other review sites show that the 7950X3D can be approximately 10% to 13% faster than the Core i9-13900K(S). So, it depends on the testing methodology, the games, and the system setup.
For example, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D performed remarkably well on games like Horizon Zero Dawn, F1 2021, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, etc. However, its performance in games like CS: Go and Rainbow Six were underwhelming.
Productivity Workload and Power Efficiency
Regarding productivity workload, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is a powerhouse. However, it is slower than the Core i9-13900K or the Ryzen 9 7950X when it comes to productivity workloads. Fortunately, the difference is minimal, and the 7950X3D is just a spitting distance behind.
But what’s really impressive about the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is its power consumption. The Core i9-13900K can reach more than 200W in a full load. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D can operate well at around 100W (give or take), depending on the type of workload or game. There’s just a massive difference in power efficiency between the two CPUs.
Why Choose the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Over Intel’s Core i9-13900K?
Below are the following points on why you should choose the Ryzen 9 7950X3D instead of the Core i9 13900K:
- The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the new fastest gaming CPU in the market.
- It is significantly more power efficient than the Core i9 13900K(S). It’s even more power efficient than the non-X3D Ryzen 9 7950X, though not by a lot.
- It’s an excellent CPU for gaming and productivity.
- AMD’s AM5 is not a dead-end platform, and you can still use the same motherboard in case you need to upgrade to the next better CPU from AMD.
- A DDR5-6000MHz kit with AMD EXPO is enough, and there is no need to spend on a fast but expensive DDR5 memory kit.
On the other hand, it is not all pros for the 7950X3D. There are also cons or things you should consider. For example, the Ryzen 9 7950X (non-X3D) is still the faster CPU when it comes to productivity workload. If you are building a system where productivity and work-related tasks are paramount, the 7950X or Core i9-13900K is the better choice.
Also, some games didn’t benefit or perform well with the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Games like CS: Go, and Rainbow Six performed poorly with the said CPU. Not to mention, the overall gaming performance difference between the 13900K and 7950X3D is not that huge.
Why Choose the Intel Core i9-13900K Over AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D?
On the flip side, here are some reasons why you should consider the Core i9-13900K instead of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D:
- Intel’s Raptor Lake CPUs support DDR4 memory, and motherboards with DDR4 support are cheaper, resulting in a more affordable system cost. However, this will only decrease the potential performance of the Core i9-13900K.
- The Core i9-13900K is currently priced cheaper than the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. The Core i9-13900KF is even more affordable.
- Intel’s CPU can be faster in some games.
- The Efficient-cores are great for non-heavy workloads and consume less power in idle to light load scenarios.
While the Intel Core i9-13900K is still an attractive CPU, there are things that I am concerned about it. It has a higher power consumption than the Ryzen 9 7950X3D in a full load. Although it doesn’t constantly run above 200W, it can reach more than 200W depending on the scenario or workload.
Although not required, pairing the Core i9-13900K with fast memory, like a DDR5-7200 MHz, will offer some performance boost. However, currently, DDR5-7200 memory kits are expensive. And finally, the Z790 is a dead-end platform. There is no upgrade path. You must buy a new motherboard for Intel’s future 14th and 15th gen CPUs. According to reports/rumors, Intel will use a larger LGA socket.
Finally…
At the end of the day, deciding whether to buy an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D or Core i9-13900K is a personal choice. It depends on your needs, budget, and preference. Generally speaking, the Core i9-13900K and Ryzen 9 7950X3D are fast CPUs with minimal performance differences. They can easily play all games, provided you also pair them with a fast graphics card for gaming. Just be mindful of each CPU’s pros and cons. Also, if you are gaming at 4K UHD, which is mostly GPU bound, their performance difference will be so small that it’s virtually negligible.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is available on Amazon.com here or Newegg.com here.
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D is available on Amazon.com here or Newegg.com here.
Intel Core i9 13900K/KS/KF is available on Amazon.com here or Newegg.com here.
