The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Intel Core i9-13900K Rivalry
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Intel Core i9-13900K rivalry is a battle of flagships for the highest-end of the gaming market, but the chips take drastically different approaches to serving up leading performance. The Core i9-13900K wields Intel’s 13th-Gen Raptor Lake x86 hybrid architecture to square off against AMD’s chiplet-based Zen 4 Ryzen 7000 chips, but AMD has a trick up its sleeve — the Second-Gen 3D V-Cache tech, which fuses on a 3D-stacked cache chiplet atop the processor to deliver market-leading gaming performance.
These two fundamentally different approaches have shaken up the list of the best CPUs for gaming, but each approach has its respective strengths. AMD’s $699 Ryzen 9 7950X3D is geared specifically for gamers looking to blast through CPU-limited games while still having the threaded heft of 16 cores that remain competitive in the heaviest of productivity workloads. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D does lag competitors in some productivity apps due to the tradeoffs associated with the 3D chip-stacking tech, and it doesn’t accelerate all games equally. However, one thing is certain — it is the fastest gaming chip on the market.
The $589 Intel Core i9-13900K is Intel’s fastest gaming processor, and while it isn’t quite as fast as AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D in gaming, it has a much friendlier price tag and serves up ultra-competitive performance in both gaming and productivity apps. Intel also continues to support DDR4 memory to offer a less-expensive path for builders, lowering the bar for entry to flagship performance even further. Meanwhile, AMD’s decision to support only DDR5 has proven to be a pricing pain point.
The different strengths of these two chips make for a difficult decision if you’re looking to pick one for your next high-end build. Let’s dive in and see how they stack up.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D: The Fastest Gaming Chip
AMD’s $699 Ryzen 9 7950X3D comes packing sixteen Zen 4 cores and the company’s second-gen 3D V-Cache tech that unlocks 128MB of L3 cache, a combo that delivers the fastest gaming performance available on the market. The 7950X3D has the same underlying design as the Ryzen 9 7950X with a central I/O die and two eight-core compute chiplets that provide a total of 16 cores and 32 threads.
Unlike the standard 7950X, one of the 7950X3D’s compute chiplets comes with an additional 3D-stacked L3 cache and boosts to 5.25 GHz. Meanwhile, the ‘standard’ compute chiplet without cache boosts to 5.7 GHz, the same as the standard 7950X. Despite the lower frequency, the cache-equipped chiplet provides the best performance for games, while the faster chiplet is best for productivity applications. As such, AMD designed an innovative new driver that helps steer threads for different types of workloads to the correct chiplet.
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D brings all of the amenities we would expect from a modern processor, including support for DDR5, PCIe 5.0, and the latest USB connectivity standards. AMD has also added integrated graphics for a basic display out for the first time, which is a plus if you need to troubleshoot.
The 7950X3D sips power — it has a base TPD of 120W and a max 162W PPT, which is 68W lower than the 170W/230W rating for the standard 7950X. The lower power threshold will result in less performance in heavy applications, but you’ll still need to plan for a 240mm to 280mm AIO (or better) for the best performance.
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D requires an AM5 motherboard, so pricey DDR5 memory is the only option. Unfortunately, DDR5 continues to be much more expensive than DDR4 memory. Granted, that pricing pressure isn’t as much of a consideration at the high end, but you should factor it into your purchasing decision. The AM5 platform is new, so the Ryzen 7000 chips aren’t backward compatible with older AM4 motherboards. However, AMD will support the AM5 platform until 2025+.
AMD only allowed overclocking the memory and Infinity Fabric for the previous-gen 5800X3D, but the 7950X3D also adds support for both the auto-overclocking Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) and the Curve Optimizer. Unfortunately, AMD still doesn’t allow direct frequency overclocking due to a voltage limitation for one of the chiplets.
Intel Core i9-13900K: The Fastest Flagship
Intel’s $589 sixteen-core Core i9-13900K comes with eight hyper-threaded P-cores and 16 single-threaded E-cores, for a total of 32 threads. That’s an increase of eight additional E-cores over the previous-gen Core i9-12900K, equating to more threaded horsepower. You can also save some cash with the $564 Core i9-13900KF, which has identical specs but lacks the integrated GPU.
Intel still uses the ‘Intel 7’ process node for Raptor Lake but leveraged a newer revision of the silicon to push clock speeds higher while improving power efficiency. The P-cores come with a 3.0 GHz base, but, more importantly, a 5.8 GHz boost that’s a whopping 600 MHz increase over the prior gen. Meanwhile, the E-cores now have a 3.0 GHz base (+600 MHz) and stretch up to 4.3 GHz (+400 MHz), meaning that not only do you get more E-cores, but you also get more out of each core.
The Core i9-13900K is also equipped with 32MB of L3 cache and 36MB of L2 and drops into existing 600-series motherboards or the new 700-series models. The chip comes with the integrated UHD Graphics 770 engine with 32 EUs that boost up to 1.65 GHz.
Intel’s chips now have a Processor Base Power (PBP) value instead of a TDP metric, and a secondary Maximum Turbo Power (MTP) value that denotes the highest power level during boost activity. The 13900K comes with 125W PBP (base) and 253W MTP (peak) power ratings, but be aware that the chip can always operate at the 253W MTP when it is under load, though the actual power use will vary with application intensity.
Intel allows full overclockability, but only when you pair the chip with a Z-series motherboard.
Connectivity and Platform Considerations: A Tie
The Core i9-13900K vs Ryzen 9 7950X3D battle yields a tie in this category. Both chips support DDR5 and the PCIe 5.0 interface, meaning neither has an inherent connectivity advantage.
Intel has the advantage of backward compatibility for DDR4 and the 600-series chipset, enabling lower-cost memory and motherboards for value seekers (caveats apply). Intel also has its Raptor Lake Refresh chips on the horizon, meaning there will be one more generation of upgrades for the LGA 1700 platform.
AMD’s new AM5 platform only supports pricey DDR5 and carries a premium over the Intel motherboard ecosystem, but it does afford extended forward compatibility — AMD plans on supporting the AM5 platform until 2025+.
Gaming Performance: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Wins
As usual, we’re testing with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 to reduce GPU-imposed bottlenecks as much as possible, but differences will shrink with lesser cards or higher resolutions.
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D lives up to its billing as the fastest gaming chip in the world, beating out Intel’s flagship by impressive margins in some titles. We also see the 7950X3D take a big lead in the geometric mean of our test suite, but be aware that the 3D V-Cache doesn’t accelerate all titles equally. Therefore, you should also look at the individual game benchmarks to assess the overall trend.
In our testing, the $699 Ryzen 9 7950X3D is 12% faster than the $589 Core i9-13900K at 1080p gaming at stock settings, and 9% faster when the chips are overclocked. The latter score is discouraging for Intel — the 13900K consumes far more power yet still can’t beat the 7950X3D.
Moving over to 1440p pushes the bottleneck more towards the GPU, so the difference between the chips shrinks. For example, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is 8% faster than the Core i9-13900K at 1440p, and that shrinks to a 3% difference after both chips are overclocked.
It’s logical to assume that most high-end gaming systems will use higher-resolution monitors, so the differences could be slight, but the 7950X3D will give you more headroom for future GPU upgrades.
Productivity Performance: Intel Core i9-13900K Wins
We can boil down performance in productivity apps into two broad categories: single- and multi-threaded.
In single-threaded work, the Core i9-13900K is 17% faster than the standard Ryzen 9 7950X3D configuration. Notably, the PBO UV config narrows the 13900K’s lead in single-threaded work to 11%.
In multi-threaded work, the $589 Core i9-13900K is 4% faster than the $699 Ryzen 9 7950X3D at stock settings, and a mere 1% faster after overclocking. Both of these chips serve up plenty of performance in this type of work, but if gaming isn’t as important and you’re looking for the utmost performance in threaded apps, the standard Ryzen 9 7950X is the better choice.
The Core i9-13900K offers a more balanced profile in both single- and multi-threaded productivity applications than the 7950X3D, delivering solid performance in both disciplines. In contrast, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D remains within striking distance in threaded applications, it loses quite a bit of steam in single-threaded work.
Overclocking: Tie
The payoff for overclocking is extremely limited with today’s high-end chips. Still, both platforms have a wealth of tunable parameters for enthusiasts, their respective overclocking advantages, and a suite of auto-overclocking and software utilities.
AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology prevents direct voltage and frequency manipulations, but AMD has unlocked memory, fabric, Precision Boost Overdrive, and undervolting via the Curve Optimizer, all of which combine to provide plenty of avenues for boosting performance via various tuning techniques.
Intel offers even more overclocking functionality and the highest peak frequencies you can get from direct tuning. However, much of that capability is already exposed right out of the box via the company’s aggressive boosting technologies and sky-high power limits, thus reducing its value to casual overclockers.
Power Efficiency: AMD Wins
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is incredibly power efficient, drawing far less power than either the standard 7950X or the competing Core i9-13900KS, thus delivering superb power efficiency that ranks among the best we’ve ever tested.
Intel has made plenty of progress in reducing its power consumption metrics, but the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is much more power efficient. Not only does the 7950X3D consume far less peak power, but it also delivers more work per unit of power consumed. That results in a win in power consumption, efficiency, and thermal output, ultimately giving you a cooler and quieter system.
Pricing and Platform Cost: Intel Wins
The $589 Core i9-13900K has a lower price tag than the $699 Ryzen 9 7950X3D, but the fps-per-dollar contest is a wash if we only factor in chip pricing. However, the high cost of AMD’s X-series motherboards adds extra cost to your build compared to Intel’s Z790 platform. Additionally, you can opt for a previous-gen Z690 to save even more cash on a 13900K build (be sure to assure BIOS compatibility).
The high price premium for DDR5 memory also continues to be a sticking point even for a higher-tier Ryzen 9 build. You’ll pay nearly twice as much for DDR5 memory than DDR4 memory, and DDR5 is a strict requirement for AMD’s 7950X3D. Overall, these factors combine to make the Ryzen 9 7950X3D a much pricier build, giving the Core i9-13900K the lead in the pricing category.
Conclusion: The Competitive Landscape
The Core i9-13900K vs Ryzen 9 7950X3D battle ends in a four-to-four tie, but the contest isn’t as close as the score implies. In the end, each of these processors has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages depending on your target use case.
If you’re building a no-holds-barred gaming rig and pricing isn’t a concern, the $699 Ryzen 9 7950X3D is your chip. The 7950X3D is 12% faster than the Core i9-13900K in our selection of gaming benchmarks. Of course, that comes with the caveat that its 3D V-Cache tech doesn’t accelerate all games evenly, so the lead could vary depending on your gaming selection.
The $589 Core i9-13900K isn’t as attractive for a gaming-focused build if you’re going with DDR5 memory, but it becomes much more compelling with DDR4 if you’re looking to access flagship-class performance at a lower price point. You will sacrifice a few percentage points of gaming performance with DDR4, but you could save quite a bit of money for other system additives.
For productivity-focused systems, or if you’re generally looking for a solid all-rounder, the Core i9-13900K is the better choice. The 7950X3D holds the advantage in all power consumption metrics, including peak power and efficiency, resulting in more forgiving cooling requirements and a cooler and quieter system.
On the pricing front, the $699 Ryzen 9 7950X3D carries a hefty premium that, combined with the high motherboard and memory pricing, limits it to the highest-end gaming machines. But there will always be performance addicts willing to pay top dollar for the absolute best; for those, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers the fastest gaming performance money can buy.
We also expect that the 7950X3D will see steep discounts over time. Meanwhile, the Core i9-13900K slots in as a more affordable option and a better all-rounder in productivity applications. Those looking for the best value should wait to see how the eight-core $449 Ryzen 7 7800X3D fares when it arrives in April 2023. AMD says it will nearly match the 7950X3D while delivering Core i9-13900K-beating performance at a much lower price point.
