AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs 7800X3D: What’s the Difference?

AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology has been hailed as one of the best features to have if you’re building a gaming PC. With their 7000-series chips, AMD expanded this technology to 3 separate models: the 7800X3D, the 7900X3D, and the 7950X3D. Today, we’ll compare the 5800X3D against its successor, the 7800X3D.

Here’s a spec sheet for those interested in the nitty-gritty details:

As expected, the 7800X3D clean sweeps the 5800X3D on paper, boasting improved specs in every category with just a slight bump in TDP to its predecessor. How is that reflected in the price gap, though?

At launch, both the 5800X3D and 7800X3D shared the retail price of $449 USD. With the 9000-series chips overshadowing previous generations, AMD has been reducing the prices of their previous-gen chips. Today, the 5800X3D will cost you $359 USD, and the 7800X3D $419 USD, bringing the price gap down to $60 USD.

As expected, the 7800X3D outperforms the 5800X3D in most multi-threaded tasks like video rendering, but as a CPU intended for gaming PC builds, it would be a shame not to discuss gaming performance.

The concept of 3D V-Cache is simple: slap a bunch of extra cache on top of the CPU die so the chip has faster access to more data during time-intensive tasks like frame processing. For the 5800X3D and 7800X3D, this upgrade is simple enough - all 8 cores benefit from the extra cache, and you’ll see improved 8-core gaming performance.

For educational purpose, the 5800X3D and 7800X3D excel in gaming vs 7900X3D, which features a dual-chiplet design. The 3D V-Cache only affects one chipset, translating to gaming performance suffering as less cores are getting the benefit of the extra cache despite having more cache on paper. So while the 7900X3D may have more cache on paper, it doesn't really affect the chip’s performance.

These questions and answers will help you decide:

• Do you already have an AM4 motherboard? If you already have an AM4 motherboard, the 5800X3D is a worthy CPU option, whether it's a new build or just an upgrade. Despite its age, the 5800X3D still holds its weight quite well in performance with modern titles.
• Are you building a completely new system? If you are building a completely new system, it'd be recommended to attain an AM5 motherboard and go with the 7800X3D, as this would be more future-proof. AM5 will still be supported for years to come, so you'll be able to upgrade to another AM5 CPU in the future.
• Are you on a strict budget? You would be better off buying the 5800X3D for pure gaming performance, as the price of the 5800X3D along with a compatible motherboard would be notably cheaper than an AM5 motherboard with a 7800X3D.
• Are you performing any multithreaded tasks? If multithreaded tasks are a significant portion of your PC build's purpose, such as rendering or photo/video editing, then the 7800X3D will have a slight edge here thanks to its larger L2 cache and higher clock speeds.

Regardless of whichever CPU you choose, just make sure to grab an appropriate cooler to ensure prolonged peak performance. Any of the CORSAIR AIOs or our A115 Air Cooler will easily be up to the task.