Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs. Core i7-12700KF: Best CPU For Gamers

Today we’re taking one more take a look at the Ryzen 7 5800X3D with a giant 40 recreation benchmark, however this time as an alternative of evaluating it to Intel’s flagship, the Core i9-12900K and even the KS mannequin, we have ready a shootout towards the rather more smart Core i7-12700KF.

For a overwhelming majority of avid gamers, the 12700KF is a extra good selection as a result of at simply $370 you are basically getting i9-12900K efficiency for almost a 40% low cost. That saving is essential for just a few causes. First and foremost, it is cash it can save you or spend elsewhere in your new construct, and within the battle with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, AMD claims their high-end gaming resolution is no less than 40% cheaper when factoring in the price of the CPU together with all the platform.

So you may assume, why did not we begin with the 12700KF because it’s extra of an apples to apples comparability by way of pricing? The cause is that AMD claimed of their press launch and advertising and marketing materials that the 5800X3D is now the world’s quickest gaming desktop processor. According to our personal testing, relying on the way you configure the 12900K and the video games you utilize, that’s technically right, although we would argue it is one of many world’s quickest gaming processors because it mainly matches the 12900K and KS throughout a variety of video games… greater than the 20 AMD examined anyway.

Our preliminary testing got down to examine AMD’s claims, and to evaluate the 5800X3D from the “final gaming CPU” angle. Now, for these of you in search of high-end efficiency, but additionally care about getting probably the most bang to your buck, it is time to see how AMD’s V-Cache creation stacks as much as what we really feel is one of the best worth high-end possibility from Intel, the Core i7-12700KF, so let’s get into it.

For testing the Core i7 processor we’re utilizing the MSI Z690 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 motherboard, whereas the Ryzen 7 5800X3D has been examined on the MSI X570S Carbon Max WiFi, and we have additionally included the usual 5800X CPU for reference.

Instead of utilizing tremendous costly DDR5 reminiscence with the 12700KF, which does not make sense from a worth standpoint, each CPUs have been paired with DDR4-3800 CL16 reminiscence. Not solely is that this an apples to apples comparability, however we expect it is a extra lifelike configuration. Other take a look at system notes to pay attention to, we ran assessments utilizing Resizable BAR enabled on the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti.

Benchmarks

Starting with Valorant, we see that the 5800X and 12700KF are evenly matched, with the unique Ryzen 7 CPU solely profitable by just a few %. That being the case, the 5800X3D was as much as 28% quicker at 1080p when wanting on the 1% lows and even at 4K maintained a 22% margin. A transparent win for the 5800X3D, although we’re undecided what number of of you’ll discover the distinction, however I’ll depart that as much as the professional avid gamers amongst you to determine.

Interesting testing with Cities Skylines sees the 12700KF matching the 5800X3D, making it 18% quicker than the usual 5800X. A strong outcome right here for the Core i7 half, extra so when you think about how less expensive it’s than the 3D mannequin.

Another recreation the place the 12700KF performs very well is StarCraft II the place it mainly matched the 5800X3D, which is spectacular given the 3D model was over 50% quicker than the usual mannequin.

Apex Legends is fairly effectively GPU restricted in our testing with these high-end CPUs as all can drive effectively over 200 fps at 1080p utilizing the RTX 3090 Ti. The 12700KF does seem to take a seat between the 2 Ryzen 7 processors and if you happen to require not more than 260 fps on common, then any of those CPUs will work simply effective.

Dying Light 2 is not precisely a CPU heavy recreation and as an motion role-playing, survival horror it would not precisely require lots of of frames per second, so 160 fps at 1080p might be sufficient and it was actually sufficient to match the 5800X3D, although the 1% lows have been 8% decrease. Still comparable efficiency general.

The 5800X and 12700KF are neck and neck in Rainbow Six Siege, with each simply shy of 530 fps on common at 1080p, making the 5800X3D as much as 13% quicker at this decision. By the time we hit 1440p we’re solely GPU certain with the RTX 3090 Ti, so it is arduous to say how helpful the efficiency benefit supplied by the V-Cache is.

Moving on to Battlefield V, the Core i7-12700KF finds itself positioned between the 5800X3D and 5800X. At 1080p it improved common body charge efficiency by 22% over the 5800X, whereas trailing the 3D mannequin by a 13% margin. So we would say a powerful outcome general for the 12700KF.

Next now we have F1 2021, the place the 12700KF finds itself between the 5800X and 5800X3D as soon as once more, although it’s nearer to the non-3D mannequin, beating it by a 12% margin for the 1% lows at 1080p whereas it was 20% slower than the 5800X3D. While slower than the V-Cache enabled mannequin, all CPUs pushed effectively over 200 fps.

Halo Infinite does play higher on the 12700KF against the 5800X, we’re taking a look at a large 31% enhance in 1% lows at 1080p, permitting the Core i7 processor to roughly match the 5800X3D, so outcome for Intel.

The 12700KF additionally matched the 5800X3D in Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1080p earlier than turning into solely GPU restricted at 1440p and 4K. We’re taking a look at a 13% enchancment in 1% lows at 1080p, making the Core i7 processor simply 3% slower than the 5800X3D.

The second final recreation that we will take a look at is The Outer Worlds and that is one the place the 5800X3D was as much as 57% quicker than the 5800X. The 12700KF is far quicker than the 5800X, besides the 5800X3D nonetheless managed to spice up 1% lows by 19% at 1080p and was even as much as 17% quicker at 1440p.

Last up now we have Death Stranding and right here the Intel CPUs behave fairly oddly, delivering comparatively sturdy 1% low efficiency with weak common body charge efficiency. As a outcome the 12700KF was 4% quicker than the 5800X at 1080p when taking a look at 1% lows, however 14% slower for the typical body charge. This meant the 5800X3D was as much as 31% quicker than the Core i7 processor. Of course, it is a single participant recreation, so pumping out over 160 fps in our testing at 1080p is probably going greater than ample for this title.

Performance Summary

We’ve simply checked out a bit of over a dozen of the video games examined, however with 40 in whole there’s much more knowledge to go over, so let’s check out the breakdown graphs overlaying the 1080p, 1440p and 4K resolutions.

At 1080p, utilizing the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D was simply 8% quicker than the Core i7-12700KF on common, although it was as a lot as 33% quicker, seen in Death Stranding. There have been 14 video games the place the margin exceeded 10% in favor of the 5800X3D with only a single recreation the place the 5800X3D was slower by a 5% margin or larger.

With each CPUs utilizing DDR4-3600 CL16 reminiscence, the 5800X3D is the quicker gaming processor, however that margin is sort of small for probably the most half.

At the extra in style 1440p decision for high-end gaming, the CPU performs much less of a job as video games develop into extra GPU certain, even with an RTX 3090 Ti. Here the 5800X3D was simply 5% quicker on common, with simply 7 video games the place we observe double digit margins.

As anticipated, at 4K the 5800X3D was simply 1% quicker on common and now the overwhelming majority of the video games examined have been solely GPU certain.

For these of you , the 5800X and 12700KF have been evenly matched general. The Ryzen 7 CPU was a bit slower, although solely by a 5% margin on common. There have been simply 10 video games the place the 5800X was slower by a ten% margin or larger, after which only a single instance the place it was quicker by a double digit margin (Death Stranding). Then there have been 17 video games the place the margin between the 2 was 5% or much less in both path which we deem a tie.

The Best Gaming CPU?

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D is with out query one of many high gaming CPUs, however does it really make sense to purchase one when in comparison with extra competitively priced choices such because the Core i7-12700KF? Well, let’s discover that…

Right now the Core i7-12700KF will set you again $370, whereas the non-Okay model which delivers mainly the identical out of the field efficiency proven on this evaluate prices $310.

Motherboard pricing on the Intel aspect is a matter, with respectable Z690 choices beginning at $200. The MSI Pro Z690-P might be bought for $170, although that is nonetheless costly for what it’s. Those choosing the non-Okay mannequin are most likely higher off going B660 and the most suitable choice in that area is the MSI Pro B660M-A WiFi for $150. That means the 12700KF with an reasonably priced Z690 board will set you again $540, whereas the 12700F with B660 board is available in at $460.

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D is supposed to be $450, however proper now’s out of inventory in all places. All retailers are itemizing it for $450, however with no inventory you will must cope with a third social gathering vendor who has tacked on an additional $50. But let’s give AMD the advantage of the doubt and say the 5800X3D is $450 within the hope that inventory ranges will enhance — although now we have to say we’re not very assured.

Going with a greatest case state of affairs for AMD, the 5800X3D is $450 whereas an honest X570 board prices $180 making this a $630 combo. You may additionally go along with a funds B550, one thing just like the MSI B550M Pro-VDH WiFi for $120, decreasing the bundle price to $570, however that is a compromise we would not prefer to take with such a premium CPU.

So assuming you do get the 5800X3D for $450, it might price you 17% greater than the 12700KF combo and we expect that is a justifiable expense. The i7-12700F on a B660 board is tough to beat at $460 as that is a 15% low cost from the 12700KF combo for no noticeable efficiency distinction out of the field. That can be going up towards the brand new $300 5700X, and you may throw that on a B550 board for a combo price of $420, and at that time they’re very evenly matched… no less than for gaming.

What We Learned

Based on the performance-value comparability above, the final word takeaway is that there is no clear winner… however, you do get just a few glorious choices which can be true high selections.

If AMD can really meet the demand for the 5800X3D, it is aggressive with the 12700KF by way of worth, whereas the opposite Ryzen 7 components cowl off the 12700F. But if you happen to’re not simply gaming along with your PC, then the Core i7-12700 sequence turns into much more interesting because it typically gives a lot better efficiency than Zen 3-based Ryzen 7 processors.

The greatest technique to break it down is that this…

If you wish to construct a high-end gaming system with the purpose of receiving one of the best efficiency potential with out going overboard on the price of stuff like reminiscence, then the 5800X3D is the best way to go. However, if you happen to’re merely after a powerful gaming CPU that is additionally nice for normal use and productiveness, then we would say the 12700 variants are higher all-rounders.

The extra reasonably priced 5700X is a pleasant addition to the Ryzen lineup, even when it arrived a tad too late, however even then the 12700F goes to be the higher worth possibility given it is quicker for gaming and far quicker for many productiveness purposes, whether or not they’re single or multi-core.