Ryzen 9 3900x vs ryzen 7 3700x: high-end sibling duel

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is one of the leading processors of this new generation. Although it is not the most powerful in numbers, it has some very good characteristics for a very low price. To put it in context, it will have an approximate price of € 330 , that is, about € 50 less than the best Core i7 on the market and € 180 less than the famous i9-9900k.

Although it is not the best processor that AMD offers us, it is very well optimized for gaming. This is why this processor is placed at a very attractive point for some users who are struggling in this fine line of quality / price.

If you want to know more about its characteristics, here you can know them:

Architecture: Zen 2 Compatible Socket: AM4 Heatsink: Yes (Wraith Prism with RGB LED) Integrated Graphics: No Number of CPU Cores: 8 Number of Threads: 16 Base Clock Rate: 3.6 GHz Boost Clock Rate: 4.4 GHz Cache Total L2: 4MB Total L3 Cache: 32MB Transistor Size: 7nm Recommended RAM Frequency: DDR4-3200 Default TDP / TDP: 65W Approximate Price: € 330

As you can see, it is not a processor that stands out especially for its gross power. However, if we think we have it for such a low price, the topic becomes much more relevant.

It should be mentioned that it lacks integrated graphics, although it is not very important, and that it will bring a cooling system signed by AMD itself.

On the other hand, we will have enough cores and threads (although not many games take advantage of it 100%) , good clock frequencies and enough cache memory. In fact, AMD advertises the latter quite a bit since, according to its research, this cache memory mattress greatly benefits video games.

Also, as a cherry on the cake, it supports good RAM frequencies and has a fairly low TDP . Neither of these two characteristics are especially relevant for an average user, but they are sections that determine the purchase of one component or the other.

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

On the other hand, we have the Ryzen 9 3900X, possibly the next king of this generation.

We have already covered this processor in numerous news and if you want to know our ideas about it, here is the review of the Ryzen 9 3900X.

It is a powerful processor , efficient and, above all, very powerful, since it is designed for the highest levels of users. If you want to edit content, it's an excellent option, although if you want to play, it's not a bad bet either.

In case you want to know the specifications more closely here you have them:

Architecture: Zen 2 Compatible Socket: AM4 Heatsink: Yes (Wraith Prism with RGB LED) Integrated Graphics: No Number of CPU Cores: 12 Number of Threads: 24 Base Clock Rate: 3.8 GHz Boost Clock Rate: 4.6 GHz Cache Total L2: 6 MB Total L3 Cache: 64 MB Transistor Size: 7nm Recommended RAM Frequency: DDR4-3200 TDP / Default TDP: 105W Approximate price: € 500

Not surprisingly, it's like a steroid version of the Ryzen 7 3700X . It has more cores, higher frequencies, more cache memory and a higher TDP . Also, like its younger brother, it lacks integrated graphics and comes with a fairly efficient in-house heatsink.

All this power comes compacted with a higher price, although it is not something exorbitant. As we have seen in the comparison against the Core i9-9900k, this processor offers you the best performance for an acceptable price.

Although, without further delay, let's go to the topic that concerns us.

Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 7 3700X

Honestly, the comparison is pretty pointless to the curious mind. It is evident from all sides that the Ryzen 9 3900X is far superior to the Ryzen 7 3700X , which we see only by looking at its specifications.

We've already talked about it several times, but the number of threads and cores, the base and boost frequencies, and the more generous cache is somewhat relevant. Although it does not determine that it works better according to which programs, we can affirm that it will work better for content creation and other programs that limit the processor.

If you accompany the Ryzen 9 3900X with a good amount of RAM and good graphics, 4K editing and other heavy tasks can become much easier.

For its part, the Ryzen 7 3700X offers us a very good power in both single-core and multi-core and is more thought for gaming. It is a high-end processor that, without hesitation, is capable of surpassing its older brother when it is proposed in certain programs, especially in video games.

Of course, since they are two processors from the same company, we expect similar deals for both. This is why both components lack integrated graphics and carry AMD Wraith Prism with RGB LED cooling .

On the one hand, removing the graphics makes the piece slightly cheaper and, in addition, with such powerful processors it is essential to have a powerful graphics. On the other hand, the solution that AMD offers us to refrigerate is not the best, but it is a good quality one.

Not for nothing, let's analyze the differences between both processors from the point of view of the data.

Synthetic Benchmark: Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 7 3700X

Despite its higher base power, the Ryzen 7 3700X offers us a good display of strength. However, as we would expect, most tests are dominated by the Ryzen 9 3900X.

As we can see, in these first tests both processors work at a good pace, thus obtaining very good results. It must be emphasized that both processors tend to stay on top, beating many other processors both from Intel and from AMD itself.

In the following tests, the Ryzen 7 3700X still lags behind its older brother, but is always one or two places behind. Likewise, on some occasions, the smaller processor is capable of outperforming even other known processors such as the i9-9900k or i7-8700k.

At Cinebench it depends on the way we are doing the test. In single-core the older brother takes advantage of Ryzen 7, but not too much. In addition, both are defeated by their competition in Intel in the R15 , but in Cinebench R20 it is the Ryzen 9 that is positioned as leader. The other Ryzen unit remains in third place obtaining scores very similar to the test done with the Ryzen 9 3900X without RAM 3600 Mhz.

On the other hand, in multi-core both processors increase their positions being one of the best components on the list. However, we must take into account the detail that the Ryzen 9 3900X gets enough points from its opponent.

In these last tests we see somewhat more peculiar results . First of all, at Wprime we don't see that clear differentiation that we had at Cinebench . Both single-core and multi-core both components get a similar advantage, that is, there is no jump in multi-core performance.

On the other hand, PCMark 8 is the only test where the Ryzen 7 3700X has been able to knock his brother down. The difference is not excessively large, but it is noticeable.

This gives us a clear picture of which processor is more powerful in brute force, but is this reflected in certain day-to-day tasks? Now we will see the performance of these pieces from the perspective of video games.

Benchmark Gaming (fps): Ryzen 9 3900X vs Ryzen 7 3700X

The gaming world is increasingly relevant in the society in which we live, so it is not strange to see more and more tests around frames. Although the synthetic tests have been very positive for the Ryzen 9 3900X , we may have a pleasant surprise here.

WE RECOMMEND YOU Ryzen 3000 would come with improvements in the IPC and higher frequencies

The work bench with which we have carried out these tests has been the following:

Motherboard: Asus Crosshair VIII Hero RAM Memory: 16GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB Royal DDR4 3600MHz Hard Drive : Corsair MP500 + NVME PCI Express 4.0 Graphics Card: Nvidia RTX 2060 Founders Edition Power Supply: Corsair AX860i

Regarding frames per second, the answer is not as direct as in synthetic tests. Here we see how performance depends a lot on the resolution in which we play the titles.

In 1080p , the Ryzen 7 3700X takes chest in some of the titles and is positioned as the best of these three components. In others, we see how the Ryzen 9 3900X is strictly better. When we move up to 1440p , the data is more fuzzy and where the little one used to win, now the Ryzen 9 3900X is better displayed. Finally, at 4K we can clearly see how the Ryzen 9 3900X is positioned as the best of the duo. The Ryzen 7 is not far behind, but it has lost almost all battles, if we talk about performance.

Here we clearly see how Ryzen 3000 has greatly improved its performance in single-core, allowing it to face Intel processors face to face. Depending on the pocket you have, you will choose one option or the other, obviously, but be sure that both are exceptional for gaming .

Consumption and temperatures

If we look at the consumption that both processors have, we will notice that they follow very similar data graphs. It makes a lot of sense, since both share architecture and the only thing we notice differently are certain numbers in their configuration.

However, if you already know a little about the Zen and Zen 2 micro-architecture , you will know that it is an environment where it is thought in advance that it can be easily expanded .

This is why processors with fewer core counters are not strictly different in structure, but rather contain unused drives. As we know, AMD determines which drive will have cores turned off based on how good the processor's performance is when created.

The power consumed by these two colossi is quite high. Both at rest and with load they result in quite high values and that taking into account the tiny size of their transistors.

Given the generational jump, we would have expected that the processors were not only more powerful, but also more efficient, but it seems that it has been impossible. However, we have to check if this affects the temperatures of the unit.

As we have seen in other comparisons, the two units suffer from high temperatures at rest, but, on the other hand , they enjoy very low temperatures when we submit them to work. Remember that for these tests we have used the stock sink that comes with the processor.

Although it is not particularly relevant, it is a point that deserves our attention. However, the temperatures we obtain will be highly dependent on the cooling solution that we are going to install.

Final conclusions about Ryzen

The resolution of this duel between brothers seems quite clear to us and everything depends on the goals you want to achieve with your team.

If you are looking to have excellent gaming performance and a good user experience, the Ryzen 7 3700X should be your decision. In addition, you can get your hands on content editing, although not at the best level.

On the other hand, if your center of gravity is to be a content creator, the Ryzen 9 3900X is the best option at the moment. With it you can perform a large number of heavy tasks with much more agility. Things like editing high-resolution photos, 4K videos, renders, real-time effects…

Both processors are not especially expensive, for what they offer us, but they do exceed a threshold of money that should not be taken as a joke. That is why, so if you do not have excessive money and prefer to save or invest it in other things, we recommend the Ryzen 7 3700X over its older brother. Simply because we believe it has a better quality / price balance.

And you, what do you think is the best processor in quality / price and why? Do you think Intel will respond to Ryzen 3000 soon? Comment your ideas in the comment box.