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The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is the ideal illustration of what AMD has attempted to deliver for its middle-class customers. In addition to having more power than the chip it is replacing, it also uses less electricity.

Additionally, it delivers a lot of performance for not a lot of money, even though it might not quite equal the capabilities of other AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors like the Ryzen 9 3900X. It builds on the 8-core, 16-thread configuration of the Ryzen 7 2700X and is the perfect CPU for many consumers.

In general, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has a lot going for it, including its performance and low power consumption as well as its extremely affordable price. The most popular CPU is this one. If you’re still not convinced, continue reading our review to learn more about the construction of this processor.

On July 7, 2019, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X went on sale for $329 (£319, AU$519), which places it in the same general pricing range as the Ryzen 7 2700X from the previous iteration. This indicates that at least there aren’t any significant price increases from generation to generation.

However, things become more intriguing when you contrast the Ryzen 7 3700X with its principal rival. The Ryzen 7 3700X has twice the processing threads at a lesser price than the Intel Core i7-9700K, an 8-core CPU with no hyperthreading that costs $374 (£384, AU$595). When it comes to single-core performance, Intel continues to reign supreme, but when it comes to multi-core performance, AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is the real beast.

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Specifications

The Ryzen 7 3700X introduces the Zen 2 architecture, the next generation of AMD CPUs. This particular eight-core circuit features a single 7nm CCD, two fully functional four-core CCX clusters, and a novel mixed-node chiplet design. A single 14nm cIOD I/O die, which houses all of the non-core and I/O functions, shares the AM4 socket space with that one CCD.

AMD’s Infinity Fabric interconnect ensures a constant data flow between each separate chiplet.

This collection of silicon chiplets operates contentedly at a base clock of 3.6GHz and can increase to 4.4GHz when necessary. That’s only marginally faster than the Ryzen 7 2700X’s 3.7GHz base and 4.3GHz boost, which raises some concerns about the viability of the 7nm manufacturing process. You’d be partially correct to believe that based solely on clock speed. Although there hasn’t been a significant increase in clock speed over 12nm parts with this initial generation of 7nm chips—those days are gone—Zen 2 offers more than just increased clock speed.

This chip achieves a delicate balance between quick effectiveness and power efficiency. It really manages to fit inside a 65W TDP being the only X-series processor above the Ryzen 5 3600. All of this is due to the 7nm process node’s substantially higher efficiency compared to its 12nm or 14nm predecessors. This octa-core processor’s total platform power in x264 v5.0 load was merely 148 watts, which is 37% less than what the Ryzen 7 2700X used.

The Zen 2 architecture has been completely redesigned and goes beyond process shrinkage. With Zen 2, AMD has raised IPC by a staggering 15% thanks to several architectural adjustments. Front-end improvements, a twofold increase in floating point speed, and a decrease in the effective latency to memory are notable enhancements.

The revamped hierarchy of the cache is one such adjustment. On the surface, the CCX design looks the same, however the L3 cache has been increased compared to Ryzen 2nd generation processors. The Ryzen 7 3700X has a total cache of 36 MB after adding everything up.

With virtually complete parity to the Ryzen 7 3800X, except from a minor decrease in clock speed, it would seem that the less expensive Ryzen 7 chip may pose a threat to its more powerful sister in the hands of anyone with even a passing familiarity with overclocking.

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Specs

Platform	Boxed Processor
# of CPU Cores	8
Base Clock	3.6GHz
L3 Cache	32MB
Unlocked for Overclocking	Yes
Thermal Solution (MPK)	Wraith PRISM
*OS Support	Windows 11 – 64-Bit EditionWindows 10 – 64-Bit EditionRHEL x86 64-BitUbuntu x86 64-Bit
Product Family	AMD Ryzen™ Processors
# of Threads	16
L1 Cache	512KB
Default TDP	65W
CPU Socket	AM4
Max. Operating Temperature (Tjmax)	95°C
Product Line	AMD Ryzen™ 7 Desktop Processors
Max. Boost Clock	Up to 4.4GHz
L2 Cache	4MB
Processor Technology for CPU Cores	TSMC 7nm FinFET
Thermal Solution (PIB)	Wraith PRISM with RGB LED
Launch Date	7/7/2019

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Performance & Tests

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has a 65W TDP and can do a lot with that relatively low amount of power. With a TDP of 95W, this processor can compete with the Intel Core i9-9900K, a processor that is far more expensive and uses more power.

Our benchmarks serve as the evidence. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X scored 2,087 points in Cinebench R15 compared to the Intel Core i9-99001,873 K’s points.

In addition, the Ryzen 7 3700X outperformed the 9900K in the multi-core test with a staggering 34,515 Geekbench score as opposed to 33,173 for the 9900K. The Ryzen 7 3700X, however, lagged behind the 9900K in the single-core test, getting only 5,590 as opposed to 6,333 for the 9900K.

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an absolute beast when it comes to multi-threaded workloads, especially at this pricing point, according to all of this. You’ll notice a performance increase with the Ryzen 7 3700X if you plan to do some video editing or put together a massive Excel spreadsheet.

However, Intel gains an advantage in gaming, but with a narrower margin than before. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X was able to achieve 118 frames per second in Middle Earth: Shadow of War at 4K, as opposed to the Intel Core i9-9900120 K’s frames per second. By no means is that a significant difference, but it is still a victory for Intel.

However, AMD deserves praise for included the Wraith Spire cooler with the Ryzen 7 3700X. Even during the most demanding tests, the processor temperature was kept around 80 degrees Celsius, despite the fact that it isn’t the world’s most powerful cooler.

Final thoughts on AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 

Ryzen 7 3700X has replaced Ryzen 7 2700X, which has been a significant stride in capturing the performance gaming market. AMD has fixed the issues, completely changed its approach to memory support, and created a device that performs well in the same, cost-effective price range as its predecessor.

The ability to trim a few hundred megahertz here and there has also resulted in significant power savings. The Ryzen 7 3700X’s 65W TDP significantly reduces this chip’s thirst compared to its forerunners. And while the tiny reduction in your electricity cost might not be enough to persuade you on its own, that overhead gives overclockers a bit more freedom to maneuver.

However, the processor is still inferior to Intel in terms of gaming at stock. Higher resolutions tighten the gap, but the Intel i7 9700K continues to be superior in terms of pure processing power, which is what games love the most. But AMD achieving nearly competitive performance with a chip that costs less than the competition is impressive, especially given the quick pace at which it did it. That will undoubtedly attract a larger share of the desktop market.

The AMD CPU has the further benefits of PCIe 4.0 and X570. Additionally, the cooler that comes in the package is a bonus that may significantly lower the costs associated with creating your system. AMD and the Ryzen 7 3700X get a big thumbs up on the bargain front.