At the moment, we’re following up with our testing from final week, which in contrast AMD’s Ryzen 7 3700X with the Core i9-9900K. Each CPUs acquired our advice again within the day – the 9900K as an uncompromising top-tier gaming CPU, and the 3700X for its distinctive worth, not simply in gaming but in addition in core-heavy productiveness duties. It actually was a superb all-rounder for these on a price range.
Provided that, these CPUs weren’t actually in direct competitors; on the time, AMD had no direct rival to the Core i9 in gaming. Nonetheless, for many avid gamers, we steered the 3700X or, ideally, the extra inexpensive Ryzen 5 3600 as a substitute, as they weren’t solely considerably inexpensive, however the AM4 platform they required was set to assist a future technology of CPUs. In distinction, Intel’s LGA1151 platform was successfully lifeless, with the 9900K being the top of the street.
Not too long ago, a reader posted a query: How do the 3700X and 9900K evaluate immediately, and the way does the 9900K stack up in opposition to the 5800X3D?
It is an attention-grabbing query and an important comparability to look again on.
On one hand, one might have invested $600 on the Core i9-9900K for the very best gaming efficiency 2018/2019 needed to provide, or, alternatively, spend half that quantity, typically even much less, on the 3700X.
Regardless of the huge worth distinction, the 3700X wasn’t a lot slower in gaming and persistently delivered extremely playable efficiency, making it an apparent alternative for a lot of.
Unexpected on the time was that buying the 3700X in 2019 – or actually any AM4 processor as much as that time – would will let you improve to the 5800X3D some 3 years later utilizing the identical motherboard, for $450, which isn’t grime low cost, however was nonetheless more cost effective than the 9900K.
Furthermore, for those who might wait longer, some 5 months after launch, the 5800X3D’s worth dropped to $330, the unique worth of the 3700X.
On the identical time, Intel’s Core i7-12700KF was retailing for $380, and to improve, 9900K house owners would require a brand new Z690 motherboard, with first rate choices priced round $200, bringing the full improve price to roughly $580 (assuming you caught along with your present DDR4 reminiscence). Nevertheless, utilizing DDR4 typically resulted within the 12700KF performing slower than the 5800X3D, so the platform improve would not essentially internet you further efficiency.
In fact, for those who opted for a Core i9-12900K at $620, a $200 Z690 motherboard, and for example, extravagantly, $150 for DDR5 reminiscence, that may quantity to $970. These keen to dump $1,000 on platform upgrades each few years do not care about worth, which is the camp most unique 9900K house owners would have been in, so this is not to say 9900K patrons did it improper, it is only a look again at how the assorted choices have performed out.
The place the “you probably did it improper” debates would possibly emerge is when evaluating the Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 7 3700X in opposition to the extra inexpensive Ninth-gen Core collection components. However maybe that is a dialogue for one more time.
So, now in late 2023, with a extra highly effective GPU just like the RTX 4090 and a slew of recent titles, how do the 5800X3D and 9900K evaluate? Each CPUs have been paired with 32GB of dual-rank DDR4-3600 CL14 reminiscence, the newest BIOS updates have been utilized, and we’re, in fact, operating Home windows 11. Let’s delve into it…
Benchmarks
Beginning with Assassin’s Creed Mirage, we beforehand discovered that this was one of many few titles the place the 3700X and 9900K have been very related, sometimes delivering between 110-120 fps. Now, fairly remarkably, we’re taking a look at an enormous 56% efficiency uplift from the Core i9 to the 5800X3D, because the 3D V-Cache half propelled the RTX 4090 to 184 fps.
Even at 1440p, we’re observing a 52% improve in efficiency, with the 5800X3D delivering a really high-refresh-rate expertise. Then at 4K, we’re nonetheless seeing a 21% improve, rendering 132 fps, marking a major enchancment total from the 5800X3D.
These outcomes additionally spotlight why utilizing an RTX 4090 to check the 9900K and 3700X is not a problem as many inexperienced PC customers would possibly declare. It’s because the outcomes are closely CPU-limited, which is the purpose, and thus we might see related outcomes from these older CPUs utilizing a a lot slower GPU. Nevertheless, a slower GPU would obscure any enchancment provided by the sooner 5800X3D, which might utterly negate the aim of a CPU efficiency investigation.
Cyberpunk was a way more favorable title for the 9900K, as right here it is a important 27% sooner than the 3700X, which is advantageous for the Core i9. Nevertheless, 3700X customers who improve to the 5800X3D will see a considerable 31% efficiency improve over the 9900K, providing a real high-refresh-rate expertise in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty with 142 fps at 1080p and 141 fps at 1440p.
Subsequent up, we have now Horizon Zero Dawn, the place the 9900K was as much as 11% sooner than the 3700X. Nevertheless, the 5800X3D was a major 28% sooner than the 9900K, displaying that the AM4 platform had extra longevity than Intel’s LGA1151. Even at 1440p, we’re taking a look at as much as 27% extra efficiency after which a extra modest 12% acquire at 4K.
The Far Cry 6 outcomes are much like these seen in Murderer’s Creed Mirage, in that the 3700X and 9900K are very aggressive. Nevertheless, the 5800X3D far surpasses the 9900K, delivering 50% extra efficiency at 1080p and 1440p, and was even as much as 22% sooner at 4K.
Transferring on to F1 23, this can be a title the place the 9900K carried out very nicely relative to the 3700X, providing a major 28% efficiency increase at 1080p, reaching 170 fps – a really spectacular outcome for the older i9. Nevertheless, the 5800X3D simply outperforms the 9900K, providing an extra 28% in efficiency, reaching 218 fps on common, which is a 61% improve over the 3700X.
For Assetto Corsa Competizione, the 9900K was restricted to 111 fps, which was fairly spectacular in comparison with the 3700X, marking it 23% sooner, though it did price nearly twice as a lot. But, when the 5800X3D is launched into the comparability, it’s an unbelievable 58% sooner, permitting for 175 fps on common, and even at 4K, it was nonetheless 51% sooner.
When testing with Watch Dogs: Legion, each the 9900K and 3700X fell in need of 100 fps. Nevertheless, with the 5800X3D put in, we’re now seeing an nearly 60% efficiency improve, hitting 155 fps on common at 1080p, after which a 60% improve at 1440p. Even at 4K, the 5800X3D was nonetheless 26% sooner than the 9900K.
Subsequent, we have now A Plague Story: Requiem, the place the 9900K is 21% sooner than the 3700X, marking a substantial efficiency uplift. Nevertheless, it isn’t as substantial because the 32% efficiency benefit the 5800X3D enjoys over the 9900K. Then at 1440p, the 5800X3D was 30% sooner than the 9900K, although that margin diminished to simply 5% on the GPU-limited 4K decision.
The 9900K was notably sooner than the 3700X in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, delivering 22% extra frames at 1080p, and the 5800X3D improved upon that by an additional 35%, averaging 140 fps. At 1440p, the 5800X3D was 34% sooner than the 9900K, although we turn out to be closely GPU-limited at 4K.
Like Watch Canines: Legion, Baldur’s Gate 3 is one other sport the place the older 3700X and 9900K have been unable to hit 100 fps, regardless of the RTX 4090’s capabilities. With the 5800X3D put in, efficiency was boosted to over 140 fps, a considerable 54% improve over the 9900K.
The 3700X and 9900K delivered related efficiency in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, however the 5800X3D was nonetheless 36% sooner than the 9900K at 1080p, 11% sooner at 1440p, and 6% sooner at 4K.
Resident Evil 4 is one other title the place the older CPUs fell in need of 100 fps, which means the 5800X3D was 54% sooner than the 9900K at 1080p, 51% sooner at 1440p, and a formidable 33% sooner at 4K.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider, whereas an older title, stays CPU-demanding. Each the 3700X and 9900K carried out nicely, with the Intel CPU 16% sooner, averaging 159 fps at 1080p. Nevertheless, the 5800X3D was a powerhouse, producing 269 fps, an nearly 70% improve over the 9900K, underscoring the AM4 platform’s capabilities.
The Callisto Protocol, a a lot newer title, confirmed related margins to Tomb Raider. At 1080p, the 9900K was 16% sooner than the 3700X, however the 5800X3D was 41% sooner than the 9900K – a major margin, although not as giant as in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
In Complete Conflict: Warhammer III, the 9900K was simply 7% sooner than the 3700X at 1080p, with each CPUs delivering wonderful efficiency. Nonetheless, the 5800X3D was 47% sooner than the 9900K, outputting 253 fps on common.
Hogwarts Legacy did not carry out nicely on the 3700X, and the 9900K did not fare a lot better, averaging simply 46 fps. Nonetheless, the 9900K was 15% sooner than the 3700X, and the 5800X3D’s 30% efficiency increase was important, making 60 fps achievable and drastically enhancing the gaming expertise.
In Starfield, the efficiency features have been modest, with the 5800X3D being simply 13% sooner than the 9900K, a good enchancment however not as giant because the 40%+ features we have seen in different titles.
For The Last of Us, the 9900K was 15% sooner than the 3700X at 1080p, permitting for a mean of 114 fps. The 5800X3D managed a mean of 139 fps, making it 22% sooner than the 9900K, contributing to a greater high-refresh-rate expertise.
Each the 3700X and 9900K delivered extremely playable efficiency in Halo Infinite, with the Intel CPU roughly 12% sooner at 1080p and 1440p. The 5800X3D eclipsed these outcomes with a mean of 215 fps, making it 42% sooner than the 9900K at 1080p and 33% sooner at 1440p.
In Hitman 3, the 3700X and 9900K have been carefully matched, with only a 5% efficiency benefit for the Intel processor. Nonetheless, the 5800X3D excelled, averaging 195 fps at 1080p, a 35% improve over the 9900K.
Lastly, in Spider-Man Remastered, the 9900K considerably outperformed the 3700X, providing 26% extra efficiency at 1080p, averaging 110 fps. But, the 5800X3D surpassed that, offering a 31% increase and reaching 144 fps on common, delivering a superior high-refresh-rate expertise.
Efficiency Abstract
So we have examined the 21 video games examined, and it appears fairly clear that the 5800X3D affords AM4 house owners a major improve over one thing just like the 3700X, and it’s significantly sooner than the 9900K. However let’s decide exactly how a lot sooner it was throughout the video games examined, starting with the 1080p knowledge.
At 1080p, utilizing the RTX 4090, we discovered that the 5800X3D was, on common, 41% sooner than the Core i9-9900K, which is a outstanding efficiency distinction. Actually, within the least spectacular case, the 5800X3D was 21% sooner, and there are 7 examples the place it was over 50% sooner.
Even at 1440p, the 5800X3D was, on common, 35% sooner than the 9900K, with the overwhelming majority of titles seeing a 20% acquire or extra, and once more, there have been 7 video games the place the 5800X3D was greater than 50% sooner.
Lastly, at 4K, the 5800X3D was 16% sooner than the 9900K. It is necessary to notice that, on common, the 3700X was simply 13% slower than the 9900K at 1080p.
What We Realized
As we have mentioned from the beginning, we do not consider there was essentially a proper or improper solution to method these purchases. For those who needed the very best of the very best again in 2018 and will afford the 9900K, then it might have made sense to take action. Hopefully, your funds did not take a success through the years and by the point extra processing energy was wanted, one thing just like the 12900K or maybe the 7800X3D was inside attain.
Then again, for those who needed robust gaming efficiency with extremely playable body charges in all of your favourite video games, then the extra inexpensive Ryzen processors provided excellent worth. Actually, the true worth of Ryzen was not totally realized till the discharge of the 5000 collection, significantly the 3D V-Cache mannequin, because the 5800X3D proved to be exceptionally aggressive, particularly on the $330 worth level that it has principally maintained.
The worth of AM4 is plain; upgrading from the 3700X to the 5800X3D was a fast and easy course of, with the full funding amounting to barely greater than the preliminary worth of the 9900K, although you might have bought the 3700X to recoup a number of the price. All issues thought-about, by 2023, for roughly the identical monetary outlay, the AM4 platform is providing a mean of 40% extra efficiency when CPU-limited, in keeping with our most up-to-date testing. We reckon that is fairly spectacular.
Tell us what you concentrate on the AM4 improve path. Would you wish to see AMD replicate this success with AM5? Do you assume Intel must assist extra generations on the identical socket?
And which platform would you could have invested in, figuring out what now? You’ll want to tell us within the remark part under, and we’ll try your suggestions. For now, we’re accomplished with this one, and we hope you loved the look again.
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