Like the 7950X3D and 7900X3D, these brand-new X3D chips integrate a set of AMD’s CPU chiplets, one that has the additional 64MB of cache stacked below it and one that does not. For the 7950X3D, you get 8 cores with additional cache and 8 without; for the 7900X3D, you get 8 cores with additional cache and 4 without.

It’s up to AMD’s chipset software application to choose what type of apps get to work on each sort of CPU core. Non-gaming work focus on the regular CPU cores, which are usually efficient in somewhat greater peak clock speeds, while video games that benefit disproportionately from the additional cache are worked on those cores rather. AMD’s software application can “park” the non-V-Cache CPU cores when you’re playing video games to guarantee they’re not mistakenly being operated on less-suitable CPU cores.

We didn’t have problems with this core parking innovation when we at first evaluated the 7950X3D and 7900X3D, and AMD has actually gradually made enhancements ever since to ensure that core parking is working effectively. The brand-new 9000-series X3D chips ought to gain from that work, too. To get the very best outcomes, AMD formally advises a fresh and totally upgraded Windows set up, together with the latest BIOS for your motherboard and the latest AMD chipset chauffeurs; switching out another Ryzen CPU for an X3D design (or vice versa) without re-installing Windows can periodically result in CPUs being parked (or not parked) when they are expected to be (or not expected to be).