AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT and Ryzen 7 3800XT CPU Review

1. Ryzen 9 3900XT & Ryzen 7 3800XT: Zen 2 Boosted2. All-Core and Boost Operating Frequencies3. Manual Overclocking - 4.6GHz Achieved!4. Testing Methodology5. CPU Tests: Cinebench R20 & Blender6. CPU Tests: 7-Zip Decompression & Compression7. CPU Tests: Handbrake H264 & H2658. Memory Tests: Memory Bandwidth and Latency9. Gaming: Red Dead Redemption 210. Gaming: Shadow of the Tomb Raider11. Gaming: The Division 212. Technical: Power Draw, Efficiency, Temperatures13. Value: Cinebench Performance per £14. Closing Thoughts15. View All Pages

While the new Ryzen 9 3900XT and Ryzen 7 3800XT processors may appear to be AMD’s way of bragging about their performance leadership in the desktop CPU market, they bring forth solid improvements to Zen 2’s biggest weakness – operating frequencies. Higher boost clock residency is good to see and the ability to push to 4.6GHz for all-core overclocking is highly positive.

Overall performance throughout testing was pretty much as expected. The Ryzen 9 3900XT is the same as the 3900X for heavy all-core loads as the Precision Boost 2 limits inhibit higher boost clocks. Lighter loads and less demanding tasks, however, see solid single-digit percentage improvements for the new 12-core XT part.

The Ryzen 7 3800XT and its eight processor cores have relatively less trouble with the advanced PB2 shackles. The new part, therefore, offers higher all-core, lightly threaded, and single-threaded performance versus the incumbent eight-core Zen 2 chips.

Versus the Intel 10^th Gen competitors, the 3800XT tends to be a little quicker than the identically priced Core i7-10700K, while the 3900XT comfortably outperforms the more expensive Core i9-10900K. Of course, that is outside of high refresh rate gaming where Intel and the high frequency, Skylake-based architecture continues to lead the market.

AMD suggests that these new, optimised ‘XT’ parts are for enthusiasts who will pay for the higher performance and operating frequencies that they bring versus their Ryzen 3000X siblings. It is clear to see that potential Zen 2 buyers who will overclock their CPU will be impressed by the 150-300MHz higher frequency capability of the XT chips.

Of course, the value point is somewhat difficult to analyse. Technically, the Ryzen 7 3800XT is the same MSRP as the Ryzen 7 3800X at $399 USD. But, in reality, the eight-core Ryzen 7 3800X is available for around £330 in the UK, making it about £60 cheaper than the expected £390-400 3800XT retail price. The 3800XT cost increase versus the slower, but still overclockable, eight-core Ryzen 7 3700X is around £100.

A similar observation is made with the Ryzen 9 3900XT. It shares the $499 USD MSRP with the original Ryzen 9 3900X. But the 3900X is currently available for around £440 in the UK while the 3900XT is expected to come in at £499.99.

Currently, I think a £60 increase for the XT parts is a little on the steep side. And the Ryzen 7 3800XT pricing at around £390-400 is very close to the £440 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X, albeit with latter missing the XT benefits. I do, however, understand that many users who will overclock their CPU will be justifiably willing to pay for the XT improvements. Plus, AMD has made it clear that the MSRPs are technically the same, so there is reasonable hope that the retailer pricing gap between X and XT parts will close following launch.

The XT processors’ enhanced clock speed behaviour and overclocking capability go some way to addressing one of Ryzen 3000 and Zen 2’s biggest drawbacks versus Intel competition, and that is good to see. Let’s hope the retail pricing gap closes sooner rather later, as it hopefully should, based on the identical MSRPs.

Overall, I am happy with the Ryzen 3000XT improvements brought about by AMD. Early AM4 adopters now have improved drop-in upgrade choices, and Zen 2’s competitive position versus Intel 10^th Gen is reaffirmed.

The Ryzen 7 3800XT MSRP is $399 USD and the Ryzen 9 3900XT MSRP is $499 USD. The Ryzen 7 3800XT is currently available for £398.99 and the Ryzen 9 3900XT is currently available for £499.99 at Overclockers UK.

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Pros:

• Better boost clock residency on both CPUs.
• Improved all-core, heavily loaded clock speed from the 3800XT.
• Strong overclocking capability – 150-300MHz improvements versus Ryzen 3000X.
• Same AM4 platform and Zen 2 features.
• Drop-in upgrade for many current AM4 users.
• Same MSRPs as their Ryzen 3000X siblings.
• Highly competitive versus the Intel alternatives.

Cons:

• No Wraith CPU cooler but the same MSRP as Ryzen 3000X is a minor inconvenience.
• Current retail pricing gap needs to close, and hopefully will, given the attractive 3800X and 3900X pricing.
• Ryzen 7 3800XT available for closer to Ryzen 9 3900X than Ryzen 7 3700X pricing may be tough to justify.

KitGuru says: Better boost frequencies, higher overclocking headroom, and the same MSRPs. The Ryzen 7 3800XT and Ryzen 9 3900XT are good additions to AMD's Zen 2 product stack.

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