AMD has recently launched its new processor, the Ryzen 7 7800 X3D, which has 8 cores and 16 threads for multitasking and high-performance computing. With a base clock speed of 4.2 GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.0 GHz, this processor can handle any task with ease. The Ryzen 7 7800 X3D is based on AMD’s 7nm Zen 4 architecture, which improves its efficiency, stability, and performance compared to its predecessors. It also has a larger L3 cache size of (+64MB), which boosts its gaming and creation capabilities. The Ryzen 7 7800 X3D uses AMD’s innovative 3D V-Cache technology, which stacks cache memory on top of a CPU chiplet, and it is expected to have two CCD’s inside, with one of them having 64MB X3D cache enabled. This makes it a formidable processor that will appeal to both gamers and creators. The Ryzen 7 7800 X3D will be released on April 8, along with AMD’s other processors, the 16-core 7950X3D and the 12-core 7900X3D. These processors are designed to rival Intel’s “Raptor Lake” Core i9-13900K and Core i7-13700K processors, respectively, but the Ryzen 7 7800 X3D offers a more affordable option for those who don’t need as many cores.
AMD’s Zen 4 CPU core architecture will power a range of products, from desktop and mobile processors to server chips. Zen 4 promises to deliver higher performance and efficiency than Zen 3, with more cores, cache, and clock speeds. Zen 4 will be used in Ryzen 7000 desktop CPUs (Raphael), high-end mobile CPUs (Dragon Range), thin & light mobile CPUs (Phoenix), and Epyc 7004 server CPUs (Genoa and Bergamo). AMD has been competing well with Intel in both single and multi-threaded performance, but Intel still has an edge in high clock speeds, which can benefit some games. Zen 4 aims to close that gap by boosting the turbo frequencies up to 5.5 GHz. Zen 4 will also reduce the latencies between cores and chiplets by using a single CCX per CCD, with eight cores each. The L2 cache per core will also be doubled from 512KB to 1MB, and the L3 cache per CCD will be 32 MB. A TLB (translation look-aside buffer) is a cache that stores the most recent translations from virtual memory to physical memory. Zen 4 will have larger TLBs for the L1 and L2 caches, which can improve memory access speed. Zen 4 will continue to use a chiplet design, with up to two CCDs and one I/O die per chip. The standard Zen 4 lineup will have up to 12 CCDs, 96 cores, and 192 threads1. A variant of Zen 4, called Zen 4c, will have smaller cores with lower power and cache, but more cores per chiplet. Zen 4c will be used in Epyc server processors codenamed Bergamo, which will have up to 128 cores and 256 threads2.
AMD’s 7000X3D processor series features a new technology called 3D V-Cache, which adds an extra layer of cache memory on top of the CPU chiplet. This increases the amount of cache available for each core, which can improve performance and efficiency. The flagship Ryzen 9 7950X3D has 16 cores and a total of 144 MB of cache (L2+L3), with 64 MB of 3D V-Cache on one chiplet. The other chiplet has a standard 32 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D can boost up to 5.7 GHz, matching its non-X3D counterpart.
What does this mean?
Cache memory is a fast and small type of memory that stores frequently used data and instructions. It helps reduce the latency and bandwidth needed to access the main memory (RAM). Having more cache can speed up tasks that use a lot of data, such as gaming, rendering, or encoding. AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology uses a vertical stacking method to add more cache on top of the CPU chiplet, without increasing the die size or shrinking the logic circuits. This allows AMD to fit more cache in the same space, and also reduces the distance between the cache and the cores.
How does it work?
AMD’s 7000X3D processor series uses a chiplet design, which means each CPU has multiple chiplets that communicate with each other through an I/O die. Each chiplet has two CCDs (core complex dies), which contain the CPU cores and cache. In the X3D series, one of the CCDs has an extra layer of cache on top of it, while the other CCD is normal. The CCD with the 3D V-Cache has slower cores than the normal CCD, but more cache. The normal CCD has faster cores but less cache. This creates a trade-off between speed and capacity. AMD’s chipset drivers and Windows features help balance this trade-off by assigning different tasks to different cores, depending on their needs. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D and lower models do not have this trade-off, as they only use one CCD with 3D V-Cache.
What are the benefits?
AMD claims that its 3D V-Cache technology can boost gaming performance by up to 15% on average, compared to its non-X3D counterparts. This is because games tend to use a lot of data that can benefit from more cache. For example, in Watch Dogs Legion, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D achieved 211 fps, which was 15% faster than the Intel Core i9-13900K and only slightly slower than the Ryzen 9 7950X3D5. AMD also says that its X3D series has lower power consumption than its non-X3D series, despite having more cache. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D has a TDP (thermal design power) of 120 watts, which is lower than the Ryzen 9 7950X’s 170 watts1. However, it can still use up to 162 watts for short bursts of performance
We tested AMD’s new Ryzen 7000X3D processors using an X670E motherboard and 2x16GB G.skill Trident Z5 NEO DIMMs at 6000 MHz in Expo mode. We measured different aspects of performance to see how well the Ryzen 7000X3D processors performed.