AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D

AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X3D was a truly exceptional CPU, with gaming performance that exceeded that of other Ryzen 5000 CPUs thanks to its unique 3D V-Cache. Its first two successors, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 7900X3D, have arrived with the same magic, bringing 3D V-Cache to the Ryzen 7000 family for the first time.

A third CPU, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is scheduled to make its debut this April.

SINCE THEIR creation, Ryzen CPUs have made use of a chiplet architecture. The low- to mid-range Ryzens employ a single chiplet of up to eight cores, while the high-end Ryzen CPUs use two chiplets. This design is carried over into the latest Ryzen 9 7950X3D. But this CPU also has an important distinction that sets it apart - an asymmetrical design. This means that while one of its chiplets has been given the 3D V-Cache upgrade at the expense of a slight reduction in maximum frequency, the other chiplet has kept the smaller cache size and frequency of the Ryzen 9 7950X that it is based on.

While the asymmetrical design of the computer processor may seem unusual and have some drawbacks, there are also clear advantages. Having just one 3D V-Cache chiplet makes manufacturing easier and more cost-effective compared to having two. Additionally, applications that don't require a larger cache, such as games, can utilise the higher frequencies on the cores that do not use 3D V-Cache. These cores are primarily used for programs that benefit from a larger cache like games.

But how does 3D V-Cache works? Well, through the new chipset drivers, 3D V-Cache will automatically optimise performance depending on a workload. The driver will be able to dynamically allocate which core is to be used by the Windows OS. In other words, if the workload is cache-sensitive, the operating system will be modified to prioritise cores with 3D V-Cache. If frequency is more important, cores with higher frequency will be chosen instead.