Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D: Which one is a better option for gaming?

Best CPUs for gaming
Which one would be the right pick between Intel Core i9-13900K and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D(Image via Amazon/AMD,Intel)

The Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D battle is fierce. Both are high-performance CPUs and deliver almost a similar type of performance. However, both take drastically different approaches to delivering top-tier performance. The unique strengths of these two processors can leave you in a whirlwind of indecision when selecting one for your next high-end build.

To help you make an informed choice, we will take a closer look at various aspects of these chips and determine which one is superior.

Note: Some parts of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer’s opinion.


Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D: Specs

Top-end CPU from Intel (Image via IndiaMart/Intel)
Top-end CPU from Intel (Image via IndiaMart/Intel)

To have a rough idea about the capabilities of these CPUs, let’s look at their key hardware specifications.

Specification

Intel Core i9-13900K

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Architecture

Raptor Lake

Zen 4

Cores

8P + 16E

16

Base frequency

3.0Ghz (P) || 2.2Ghz (E)*

4.2Ghz

Boost frequency

5.4GHz (P) || 4.3GHz (E)

5.7GHz

Threads

16P + 16E

32

L1 cache

80K (per core)

64K (per core)

L2 cache

2MB (per core)

1MB (per core)

L3 cache

36MB (shared)

128MB (shared)

Fabrication process

10nm

5nm

TDP

125W

120W

Memory support

DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200

DDR5-5200

PCIe

5.0

5.0

Price

Available at $463**

Available at $499**

(*P: Performance, E: Efficiency. || **Price at which these chips are currently available at a third-party store. They are subject to change based on the available offers or discounts.)

Both processors are based on different technologies, with the Team Blue option using Raptor Lake architecture with a hybrid cores (performance and efficiency) model. Meanwhile, the Zen 4-based AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D has only 16 performance cores in total.

Although other specs aren’t far off, the biggest difference can be seen in TDP and L3 cache. The CPU from AMD is fabricated on a 5nm process compared to 10nm of its counterpart.

If you look at the cache, the Intel processor comes with way less L3 cache memory. To be precise, the option from Team Red has around 3.5x more L3 cache, and there is a reason behind it: The Ryzen 9 7950X3D utilizes second-gen 3D V-Cache, a technology that enhances cache memory size by adding an additional layer. The L3 cache of its non-3D variant is also just 64MB.


Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D: Performance comparison

Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D

By now, you've likely got a feel for what these chips can do. However, on-paper specifications are only good for the rough estimation. To get a clear picture, let's check how they perform in real-world scenarios.


Synthetic tests

Let’s start our comparison with some synthetic tests. Below, you can check how both processors perform in Cinebench R23, GeekBench v6, and PassMark test. Data is sourced from Nano Review.

Tests

Intel Core i9-13900K

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)

2066 (+2%)

2033

Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)

37123 (+2%)

36283

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

3036 (+1%)

3011

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

21267 (+5%)

20257

Passmark CPU (Single-Core)

4631 (12%)

4143

Passmark CPU (Multi-Core)

59290

62470 (5%)

As seen in the table, the Intel processor is better in almost every test. However, the difference is very marginal. So, I assume you would see almost similar performance with both chips.


Gaming benchmark

To get more insight into the Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D comparison, I have compiled the average FPS of both CPUs in some popular titles. Data is sourced from the Testing Games YouTube channel.

Games

Intel Core i9-13900K

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Microsoft Flight Simulator

117

124 (+6%)

Hogwarts Legacy

73

78 (+7%)

CoD Warfare 2

192 (+2%)

189

Cyberpunk 2077

145 (+3%)

140

Horizon Zero Dawn

219

269 (+22%)

Hitman 3

260

270 (+4%)

God of War

255 (+4%)

243

Forza Horizon 5

308 (+1%)

304

Spider-Man

125 (+5%)

118

The Witcher 3

86

92 (+7%)

The results are quite interesting. Both processors outperform each other in the same number of games, so it’s quite hard to decide the superior one. Both have performed incredibly well. I also took an average of all games, and the results are quite very close at 178 (Intel) and 182 (AMD).


Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D: Final verdict

Comparing two top-class CPUs (Image via YouTube/STS)
Comparing two top-class CPUs (Image via YouTube/STS)

In the Intel Core i9-13900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D battle, neither emerges as superior. Both CPUs are excellent and will deliver a smooth experience. However, there are a few differentations that might help you in selecting the ideal pick for you.

If you want to get a top-notch gaming performance with power efficiency, the Ryzen processor will be better. However, the overall cost will be high due to motherboard and memory pricing. If you are building a PC that you might also use for productivity work along with gaming, Intel is the better choice.


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