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'Best' New CPU for me?

Chazaxl

Chazaxl

Chazaxl

Associate
Joined
2 Feb 2010
Posts
228
Hi,

Within reason, budget is not too much of a constraint but certainly not a 'money is no object' scenario.

My aging i7 6000 series machine has stood me well but struggling with this silly game (which I like) called Factorio, the factory must grow.

I am fortunate that I can buy my next PC via my business, so there are some tax and VAT advantages, hence willing to buy smartly.

I was going to pull the trigger on the 7950X3D when it came out but the reviews were a bit 'Meh' and lots of complaints about needing to fiddle to get the best out of it. I dont have time to fiddle. The 7800X3D seems to hit the sweetspot.

I do game, but I use the machine for lot of other stuff too CAD etc. I dont generally do stuff like video production etc, so not too fussed about effciency there. The Intel 13900 appeals as an 'all rounder' but I cant get past how inefficient it is (150W vs 75W of the Ryzen).

So, if budget wasnt a major concern but still buying smartly, what would you go for? The machine will likely be matched to a 4090. I intend using the machine for a good number of years in the same way that my I7 6000 series with 1080 GTX has served me.

Thanks
 
For that game, it loves AMD X3D cpus. All the problems with the 7950x3d have been fixed now. I do think the 7800x3d is the sweet spot. The question I would ask is does your CAD software use more than 16 threads.
 
Yep, but wont be the only game. At the moment its limited on one server I play on as the map gets really busy. For CAD, will check, Fusion 360. I also do some Music stuff, Studio 1. I dont need the 'best' but dont want to paint myself into a corner either.

Thanks for your info.
 
Interesting, Fusion seems to be single CPU for most things, only some advanced features do any multithreading. So on that basis, it feels like speed is as important as core / thread counts. EDIT, I'm confusing myself. Cores != Threads. But yes, my understanding is that Fusion 360 if often limited to single cores.
 
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Do you need MT performance for your productivity work?

I like the 13900K but can't get past the power consumption and its using a mixture of big and little cores to get its MT performance with some complications as you pointed out.

To me the 7950X makes more sense, half the power which in this climate of high electric prices will be noticeable and i've had a CPU in the past that was radiating more than 200 watts in to my room and it is like sitting next to a space heater, not nice in the summer, the 13900K can pull up to 300 watts, that's just stupid.
The 7950X just works without any of that potential weird behaviour as it just 16 big cores and the IOH is on the chip, where its supposed to be, quite often IMO people create their own problem with it by trying to shoot for 8000MT/s ram overclocks, because people can do that on the Intel CPU's, the Ryzen CPU's can't, if you just leave it alone with a lighter overclock on the RAM its rock solid.
Having said that AMD have just released firmware to sort that out, people are reporting up to 9000MT/s with it.

New Agesa released 1.0.0.7B, massive memory speed boost for Ryzen 7000 on AM5, up to 8200MT/s now stable on Ryzen!

The new agesa is rolling out A few people have downloaded the new bios and found that memory is now stable at far higher clocks than before Couple people with x670 boards are reporting their system is stable with DDR5-8200...
forums.overclockers.co.uk forums.overclockers.co.uk


If you don't need the MT performance the 7800X3D is the fastest thing on earth for gaming, or if you don't mess about with it the 7950X3D has that while also being very good at MT, a bit down on the 13900K / 7950X because its a little lower clocked, but still very good.

Also, the AM5 platform will be supported for 1 or 2 more generations and the next one, Zen 5 is an architectural rework and leaks suggest its again significantly faster, not like Intel 14'th gen which is 13'th gen rebranded and clocked for EVEN MOOOOARRRR POWAAARRRR. honestly IMO these things are getting silly.
 
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From your listed requirements the only CPU I would recommend for you is the 7800X3D. If you were regularly going to using software that can fully utilise 16cores then I would go with the 7950X/7950X3D but a lot of CAD programs can either now leverage GPU's or are low threaded.
 
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Chazaxl said:
My aging i7 6000 series machine has stood me well but struggling with this silly game (which I like) called Factorio, the factory must grow.
Click to expand...

eeii said:
For that game, it loves AMD X3D cpus. All the problems with the 7950x3d have been fixed now. I do think the 7800x3d is the sweet spot. The question I would ask is does your CAD software use more than 16 threads.
Click to expand...

If your primary reason for upgrading is this game and eeii is correct and you prefer a power efficient CPU, then I think the choice is clear (7800X3D or 7950X3D). If you want a middle ground, I'd consider the 7900 non-X, as it got good reviews for efficient it is:

www.youtube.com

Crazy Good Efficiency: AMD Ryzen 9 7900 CPU Benchmarks & Thermals

Sponsor: Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut thermal paste (on Amazon - https://geni.us/JMVNtOE ) & Hydronaut for water cooling (Amazon - https://geni.us/Fsray )This re...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
It’s not much of an issue switch between dies on the 7950X3D TBH. It works and you don’t have to fiddle with anything.
 
I can see why he's not too sure about the 7950X3D....

The 7800X3D is so fast its not even funny but because the 3D cache resides on only one of the two CCD's on the 7950X3D its a different story, i did read around brifly and apparently of you add Factorio to the MS Game Bar it fixes this problem and the 7950X3D performance like the 7800X3D.

Bpwm0qQ.jpg
 
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humbug said:
I can see why he's not too sure about the 7950X3D....

The 7800X3D is so fast its not even funny but because the 3D cache resides on only one of the two CCD's on the 7950X3D its a different story, i did read around brifly and apparently of you add Factorio to the MS Game Bar it fixes this problem and the 7950X3D performance like the 7800X3D.

Bpwm0qQ.jpg
Click to expand...

It really is bonkers how much work you can get out of a 7800X3D and at 75~ watts.
 
Factorio is the driver here - its what my current PC cant keep up with however I'm not buying just for it. As long as any of the CPUs I buy can play without an issue, then anything is fine. I'm leaning towards the 7950 X3D. It offers me more HP and as long as its not going to be a 'niche' CPU that I need to mess with to get stuff to work, then I'm happy to go this route.

My 'man cave' where my PC is is not heated. So in the winter, having 300W extra is nice. In the summer however, wow, what a struggle, even on my current setup. But yes, Id rather not have to pay the power cost and only pay when I need heating (with a heater).
 
Chazaxl said:
Factorio is the driver here - its what my current PC cant keep up with however I'm not buying just for it. As long as any of the CPUs I buy can play without an issue, then anything is fine. I'm leaning towards the 7950 X3D. It offers me more HP and as long as its not going to be a 'niche' CPU that I need to mess with to get stuff to work, then I'm happy to go this route.

My 'man cave' where my PC is is not heated. So in the winter, having 300W extra is nice. In the summer however, wow, what a struggle, even on my current setup. But yes, Id rather not have to pay the power cost and only pay when I need heating (with a heater).
Click to expand...

You should look at the X3D thread for @LtMatt posts. He’s put a lot effort in with the 7950X3D and is somewhat of an expert.
 
Thanks. For info, I used to Overclock many many moons ago (Celeron 300 to 450, amazing value). I dont care about it today. Too much faf and time. I just want it to work and be reliable :-)
 
Buy the 7800X3D and expect to upgrade to the 7950X3D2 (with extra cache on both CCDs) when it comes out. (A Gamers Nexus video showed a 5950X3D2 prototype.)
 
£200 ish difference (quick check) recently between 7950X3D and 7800X3D. Suppose I could always resell that at the time but as I get older, im less faffed about fiddling.
 
Thanks all. Ill likely go for the 7950X3D. Just a timing question now for the spend, will likely go prebuilt, enough building / faffing in the past.
 
humbug said:
I can see why he's not too sure about the 7950X3D....

The 7800X3D is so fast its not even funny but because the 3D cache resides on only one of the two CCD's on the 7950X3D its a different story, i did read around brifly and apparently of you add Factorio to the MS Game Bar it fixes this problem and the 7950X3D performance like the 7800X3D.

Bpwm0qQ.jpg
Click to expand...
Is this game free? I could give it a go on my 7950X3D.
 
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