AMD offers a wide range of desktop CPUs in its Ryzen series, many of which have very similar naming. The Ryzen 7 5800XT and Ryzen 7 5800X3D are just one example, but they have very different capabilities. Let’s take a look.
| Processor | Core Architecture | Cores | Threads | L1 Cache | L2 Cache | L3 Cache | Boost Clock | Base Clock | Overclocking | Maximum Memory Capacity |
Default TDP |
| Ryzen 7 5800XT | Zen 3 | 8 | 16 | 512 KB | 4 MB | 32 MB | Up to 4.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz | Unlocked | 128 GB | 105W |
| Ryzen 7 5800X3D | Zen 3 w/3D V-Cache | 8 | 16 | 512 KB | 4 MB | 96 MB | Up to 4.5 GHz | 3.4 GHz | Locked | 128 GB | 105W |
The Ryzen 7 5800XT and 5800X3D share very similar specs. However, the Ryzen 7 5800XT offers a higher base and max boost clock of 3.8 GHz and 4.7 GHz respectively compared to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D’s 3.4 GHz and 4.5GHz. The Ryzen 7 5800XT also has the upper hand when it comes to overclocking as the older 5800X3D doesn’t officially support overclocking. The only other noticeable difference at first glance is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D’s larger L3 cache which comes in the form of 3D v-cache that is stacked on top of the CPU which we’ll touch on shortly.
The Ryzen 7 5800XT and 5800X3D share very similar specifications and differ in base / boost clocks, the ability to overclock, and the amount of L3 cache. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D was introduced in 2022 with a MSRP of $449 and can often be found for a sale price between $329 and $349 at the time of writing.
The 5800XT is a newer release as part of AMD’s effort to support the legacy AM4 platform and is available at an MSRP of $249, making it a more enticing option for those that are not quite ready to jump to a more modern platform.
Here’s the big one: Performance. Considering just the base and boost clocks of the two processors, the Ryzen 7 5800XT has the advantage with a 400 MHz and 200 MHz lead in base and boost clocks respectively over the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. The 5800XT’s ability to overclock could increase the gap between the two processors substantially.
However, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D has a trick up its sleeve, 3D v-cache. Taking the place of traditional L3 cache on a CPU, the 5800X3D has a sizable lead in terms of sheer capacity with 96MB of L3 cache vs the 5800XT’s 32MB. This allows the 5800X3D to chew through larger amounts of data before having to communicate with RAM, providing a boost to gaming performance when compared to systems without 3D v-cache at similar clockspeeds.
If you’re shopping for a drop-in upgrade for your AM4 system, the Ryzen 7 5800XT seems like the better deal considering its price and performance out of the box.
The Ryzen 7 5800X3D was a great chip when it came out, but if you intend on overclocking or don’t plan on taking advantage of the expanded L3 cache, the 5800XT is more likely to suit your needs.
Regardless of the CPU you’re going for, you’ll need to keep it cool, so take a look at our vast selection of CPU cooling options. Air, AIO, or custom cooling? We have it all.
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