Ever since AMD launched Zen, all CPUs primarily based on the structure have proven that they’re particularly delicate to reminiscence velocity, in addition to different timings. Utilizing quicker RAM might give a large enhance in gaming efficiency, particularly in circumstances the place the sport may be very CPU-demanding.
So it is time to see how the Ryzen 9 7950X3D fares when utilizing quite a lot of reminiscence kits, with totally different bandwidths and latencies.
Zen and its DRAM Sensitivity
After we carried out such a take a look at with the Ryzen 5 5900X, within the video games that tasked the CPU essentially the most, going from normal DDR4-3200 CL14 to manually tweaked DDR4-4000 CL16, the typical body price elevated by as a lot as 16%.
It is no totally different with the present Zen 4 structure, with the Ryzen 7 7700X being extraordinarily delicate to reminiscence bandwidth and latency, seeing on common 17% greater gaming performance utilizing DDR5-6000 CL30 versus DDR5-5200 CL40. This is a matter for AMD, as Intel’s Raptor Lake structure is not almost as delicate to reminiscence speeds and timings.
The perfect answer to this was found when AMD launched the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, the primary mannequin to make use of a further 64 MB of L3 cache, stacked on high of the usual 32 MB, giving an infinite whole of 96 MB.
In testing, we discovered that going from DDR4-3200 to DDR4-3800 (a 19% enhance in velocity) solely improved efficiency by 2%, on common. We did discover that in additional demanding video games, the margin could possibly be as excessive as 5%, however that is nonetheless not a lot of a distinction.
The rationale for the 5800X3D exhibiting such a small enchancment was fully right down to the bigger L3 cache. The additional capability reduces how usually the CPU has to tug knowledge out of the comparatively sluggish system reminiscence, which is why quicker RAM did not make an enormous distinction.
After all, this is not a everlasting repair for Zen’s DRAM challenge as video games proceed to grow to be an increasing number of demanding, but it surely does imply the 3D V-Cache mannequin will all the time have a major benefit, although it is going to nonetheless proceed to learn from quicker reminiscence.
And all of this ought to be true for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, because it too has 64 MB of additional L3 cache. Its attainable reminiscence efficiency could also be much less related in the mean time when in comparison with the 7950X, however with out query, you may nonetheless need the most effective reminiscence attainable.
So let’s have a look at how reminiscence scaling differs between Zen 4 and Zen 4 3D V-Cache in right this moment’s video games. For all the testing, we used a GeForce GTX 4090 at 1080p, Home windows 11, and Resizable BAR was enabled. The Ryzen processors have been paired with the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master and the Core i9-13900K with the MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi.
Gaming Benchmarks
First up we have now Watch Canines Legion and right here the 7950X3D noticed a ten% enhance in efficiency from the bottom spec DDR5-5200 CL40 reminiscence to our DDR5-6000 CL30 take a look at reminiscence. That is nonetheless fairly a big efficiency uplift, particularly given the 13900K noticed only a 2% enhance, although apparently efficiency fell away rather more sharply when pairing the Intel CPU with DDR5-4800.
Nonetheless, when in comparison with the 7700X, the 3D V-Cache enabled 7950X did scale by a much smaller margin, because the 7700X noticed a 19% efficiency enchancment when upgrading from 5200 to low-latency 6000 reminiscence. So it is a clear signal that the bigger L3 cache helps to reduce Zen 4’s reliance on reminiscence efficiency.
We have recognized that Horizon Zero Daybreak is not a really reminiscence delicate title for some time and these outcomes simply verify that, with Intel’s i9-13900K scaling by simply 4%. The 7700X noticed only a 7% enhance when upgrading from DDR5-5200 to 6000, by far one of many smallest efficiency uplifts we noticed for that CPU.
That margin was halved with the 7950X3D, to only 3%, once more offering extra clear proof that the 3D V-Cache half is much much less reliant on system reminiscence and far nearer to the scaling conduct of the Raptor Lake CPU.
As we have seen throughout a number of opinions, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a really CPU-demanding title that noticed efficiency slashed on the 7700X when utilizing slower reminiscence. The DDR5-6000 CL30 outcomes have been 18% quicker than 5200 CL40, for instance, and that is a major efficiency distinction for RAM to make.
The identical reminiscence noticed the Core i9 efficiency enhance by a mere 3%, a tiny efficiency distinction that was considerably replicated by the 3D V-Cache enabled 7950X3D, which noticed only a 5% enchancment when shifting from 5200 to 6000 reminiscence.
Additionally, for these of you questioning if scaling is one way or the other totally different between single and twin CCD Zen 4 processors, the reply is not any. Right here you’ll be able to see that the body price and reminiscence scaling efficiency is just about similar between the 7950X and 7700X.
We really ran the 7950X by means of various video games, however the total image was no totally different, therefore why we solely included the outcomes from essentially the most reminiscence delicate recreation in our benchmark lineup.
We witnessed a really comparable efficiency pattern in The Riftbreaker as effectively — right here the 19300K was only one p.c quicker when utilizing the 6000 reminiscence whereas the 7700X gained a large 17% within the common body price.
Nonetheless, the 7950X3D noticed a mere 2% uplift, clearly exhibiting how little the 3D V-cache half depends on reminiscence efficiency, in comparison with the usual Zen 4 mannequin.
A Plague Story: Requiem is a recreation that critically hundreds up the CPU, and that is yet one more instance the place the 7700X actually struggled with excessive latency, low bandwidth reminiscence, seeing an virtually 20% uplift when shifting from 5200 to 6000.
The i9-13900K improved by simply 3%, whereas the 7950X3D gained a 6% uplift — twice that of the Core i9, however roughly 3 times lower than the 7700X.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is one other extremely CPU-demanding recreation, and on this instance, the Ryzen 7 7700X picked up a large 21% efficiency enchancment when shifting from DDR5-5200 to 6000 reminiscence. The 13900K, however, noticed only a 4% uplift, once more proving that Zen 4 is considerably extra reminiscence delicate.
The brand new 7950X3D skilled a scant 2% enhance, making it much less reminiscence delicate than even the 13900K on this instance. Although similar to the Intel processor, efficiency did drop off with DDR5-4800, one thing we did not see as a lot of with the 7700X, the place its efficiency appeared to backside out a lot sooner.
Final up we have now The Callisto Protocol and right here the 13900K gained 5% in common body price when upgrading from 5200 to 6000 reminiscence, whereas the 7700X noticed a way more substantial 14% enchancment.
In the meantime, the 7950X3D lowered that margin to only 7%, half that of the 7700X and remarkably much like the 13900K.
7 Recreation Common
Now when evaluating the general efficiency throughout the 7 video games examined, on common the Core i9-13900K noticed only a 3% efficiency enchancment when shifting from DDR5-5200 to DDR5-6000 reminiscence, whereas the Ryzen 7 7700X gained a much more substantial 17%.
The rise for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, although, was solely 4% when going from 5200 to 6000 reminiscence, so a really comparable margin to that of the 13900K, and once more highlights simply how a lot much less reliant on RAM clocks and timings these 3D V-Cache components are when in comparison with the usual fashions.
It is value noting that AMD’s Zen 4 processors do not sometimes work with reminiscence units a lot quicker than DDR5-6000. That reminiscence is ok for all the present era of CPUs, offering the motherboard’s BIOS is so as, although some will do 6200 and the perfect silicon will probably be steady at 6400, however that is the max velocity.
We solely wish to benchmark circumstances that each one silicon can help, which is why we max out at DDR5-7200 for Raptor Lake and DDR5-6000 for Zen 4.
What Does This All Inform Us?
Simply as we discovered with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, Zen 4 3D V-Cache CPUs are far much less reminiscence delicate when in comparison with the usual fashions. The excellent news is you may run into fewer memory-related efficiency points with the 7950X3D when in comparison with the 7950X or some other Zen 4 half with out 3D V-Cache.
The dangerous information, in case you can name it that, is that none of this actually issues as we do not suggest you pair an costly AM5 processor with something aside from DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence, because it ensures the most effective efficiency for Zen 4 now, and sooner or later.
Not solely that, however premium DDR5 reminiscence is now very inexpensive — cheaper than an X670 motherboard and less expensive than a CPU just like the 7950X3D, so why hassle saving a couple of bucks on reminiscence?
For instance, the most cost effective DDR5-5200 32GB set, a Team T-Force Vulcan CL40 equipment, prices round $120. For a further $10, although, you should buy G.Skill’s Flare X5 DDR5-6000 CL36 equipment and simply one other $5 can get you G.Talent’s Ripjaws S5 DDR5-6000 CL32 equipment.
The premium G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence we use for testing presently prices $155, $60 greater than base spec DDR5-5200 reminiscence, but it surely’s whole a no brainer.
Do your self a favor and get the good things, no matter whether or not or not you purchase a 3D V-Cache half.
