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Shehryar Khan

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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AMD and Intel have been working hard to push the limitations of gaming performance to their limits, but how do their efforts match up in real-world gaming? To find out, follow our testing of the Core i9 14900K vs Ryzen 9 7900X3D.

Key Takeaways

• The Ryzen 9 7900X3D comes in at 5% slower than the Core i9 14900K in terms of average framerates, according to our tests performed at 1080p, while it comes around 13% lower in terms of 1% lows.
• The Core i9 14900K used around 14% more power than the Ryzen 9 7900X3D on average in our gaming tests at around 129 watts, while the Ryzen had a power consumption of around 100 watts.
• The Ryzen 9 7900X3D is around $80 cheaper than the Core i9 14900K.

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Ryzen 9 7900X3D supports 12 cores, totalling 24 threads. The i9 14900K, however, has different types of cores incorporated into its architecture. It uses 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores that compile to make 32 threads.
2. Clock Speeds: The Ryzen has a frequency range from 4.4GHz to 5.6GHz, whereas the i9 14900K can boost from 2.4GHz on its efficiency cores to around 6GHz on its performance cores.
3. Process Node: Intel has once again stuck with the 10nm manufacturing process for the 14th generation of their processors, whereas AMD has started using 5nm processing nodes in the 7000 series of Ryzen processors.
4. TDP: The PL2 TDP of the i9 14900K is 253 watts, while the Ryzen 9 7900X3D can go all the way up to 162 watts.
5. L3 Cache: The headline feature for the Ryzen 7900X3D is its 128MB L3 cache. The i9, in contrast, only comes with 36MB of cache.

Benchmarks

There is no better way to understand the gaming performance of these processors than to gauge their performance in real-world gaming scenarios. To push these chips to their limits, we have created a setup that only leaves the processor as the possible benchmark. The specifications of the test rig are mentioned below:

• CPU – Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Core i9 14900K
• RAM – 2x16GB DDR5 6200MHz
• SSD – Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus G 2TB
• GPU – Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
• CPU Cooler – Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360
• Motherboard – ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus 
• Operating System – Windows 11
• Resolution – 1080p

Cyberpunk 2077

• Intel’s efforts proved worthy in our test of Cyberpunk 2077, with an average framerate of 115 FPS, while the Ryzen has an average of only 112 FPS. This established a difference of 8% off the bat.
• 1% lows fell to around 89 FPS on the Intel processor, while the Ryzen was treading water with its minimum framerate of 83 FPS. This came out to be a 7% difference between the two processors.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• Our test of AC Valhalla reduced the difference between our two processors, with the i9 getting an average of around 115 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 came around at 108 FPS on average. Here, the difference was around 6.5%.
• 1% lows suffered on our Ryzen 9 7900X3D, hanging around 80 FPS, while the i9 14900K had minimum framerates closer to around 92 FPS. The difference in lows came down to around 15% in this title.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• The difference between our two contenders remained stagnant in our RDR2 test, with average framerates of around 144 FPS on the i9, while the Ryzen 9 had a framerate of around 135 FPS on average. This game gave a 6.6% advantage to the Intel processor.
• The 1% lows were once again treading water on the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, with minimums of around 75 FPS, while the Core i9 had minimums closer to 88 FPS. The stutters on the Ryzen made the i9 feel much smoother in comparison. The difference in lows shot up to 17% in this game.

Watch Dogs Legion

• Testing Watch Dogs Legion on both processes gave similar averages. The i9 showcased an average of around 121 FPS in our tests, whereas the Ryzen 9 had a performance of around 117 FPS. There was only a 3.4% difference in average framerate between our two competitors in this Ubisoft title.
• 1% lows continued to be weak on the Ryzen processor, hanging around 85 FPS, while the i9 came across with minimums of around 98 FPS. This difference came out to be a staggering 15%.

Horizon Zero Dawn

• The performance of these chips came close in our test of Horizon Zero Dawn as well, with the i9 averaging around 134 FPS, while the Ryzen was not very far behind with a framerate of 130 FPS. Only a 3% difference was measured in the averages of this game by our tests.
• The i9 has 1% lows around 110 FPS, while the Ryzen dipped down to around 98 FPS in our benchmark run of this game. The Intel processor was at an advantage of 12% in this test.

Editor`s Note

After weighing the pros and cons, if gaming is your priority, I recommend investing a bit more for the i9 14900K. Despite some drawbacks, its consistent gaming performance makes it a worthwhile choice over the Ryzen 9 7900X3D. But you can find more information on how the Ryzen 9 7900X3D performs against the i9-13900K in another detailed review on our website.

– Shehryar Khan

Overall Gaming Performance

Now that we’ve accumulated the performance of these processors in a handful of games, this part of the comparison will evaluate the overall performance of the Core i9 14900K vs Ryzen 9 7900X3D.

Framerate

Throughout our tests, the i9 14900K kept a solid lead over the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, with an overall average framerate of 127 FPS. The Ryzen was a few steps behind, with an average of 121 FPS. This came out to a median difference of around 5% between the average framerates of these processors.

The 1% lows, however, were all over the place for the Ryzen 9 7900X3D. On average, they touched 84 FPS, while the i9 14900K gave average minimums of around 95 FPS. The cumulative difference between the lows of both processors came out to around 13%. This stands in stark contrast to the difference in averages.

The 1% lows arguably make the biggest difference in your gaming experience, as the hitches in the gaming performance are more noticeable than the smoothness of one processor over the other. We will bear this in mind in our final evaluation of both processors.

Winner: Intel’s Core-i9 14900K

Temperatures

The i9 14900K had an average peak temperature of around 77°C in our testing, while the Ryzen stood at an average peak of around close to 73°C. The i9 14900K affirmed the rumours of it running hot in our tests.

The temperatures of both processors are subject to change depending on your room temperature, cooling solution, and case ventilation. Bearing that in mind, do not expect the same numbers in temperatures as you see here if you choose to purchase either processor.

But if you start facing high temperatures, you can always use our detailed guide on the topic of How To Lower CPU Temperature.

Winner: AMD’s Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Power Consumption

The extra bit of performance from the 14900K came at a disproportionately large difference in power, with the processor averaging a power consumption of around 129 watts. The Ryzen 7900X3D is one of the most power-efficient processors for gaming, averaging a power consumption of around 100 watts on average in our tests.

The i9 consumed around 29% more power for only 5% more performance on average, which can be attributed to its high number of cores. The fact that the 14900K uses an older manufacturing process does not help save its case either. Both factors ultimately lead to power waste and a larger carbon footprint.

Moreover, if you want to get more information on power consumption, you should read our detailed guide on Gaming PC Power Usage.

Winner: AMD’s Ryzen 9 7900X3D

Price And Availability

The i9 14900K has a current price of around $579, which is a hefty price to pay considering that the Ryzen 9 7900X3D can be bought for around $500 at Amazon at the moment. This means that the i9 is significantly more expensive than the Ryzen.

As for availability, these processors should be stocked up at most big computer parts stores around the globe.

What We Recommend

Having examined the ins and outs of these processors, this part of the comparison will weigh out the good and bad parts of both chips. 

Starting with the i9 14900K, it provides class-leading performance, but it has its caveats. Admittedly, most consumers do not care about these problems, but they do weigh in. First and foremost, it does not offer a substantial improvement over its predecessor. The added headaches of the higher power consumption and temperatures are no good things either.

Moving on to the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, it performs excellently for the power it consumes, but it is not the best at anything it does, despite being one of the highest-tier processors AMD sells. For starters, it is equal, if not lower, to the gaming performance of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D while being more expensive. It also doesn’t perform as well in productivity tasks as Intel processors with enormous core counts.

If we had to recommend a single processor for gaming out of the, we would tell you to shill out a little extra money for the i9 14900K, as the consistent gaming performance is worth it.

Pros And Cons

More From Ryzen 9 7900X3D

• Core i9-13900KS Vs Ryzen 9 7900X3D
• Ryzen 9 7900X3D Vs Core i7-13700K
• i9-13900KF Vs Ryzen 9 7900X3D

More From 14900K

• Core i9-14900K Vs Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Shehryar Khan

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com