AMD launched the Ryzen 7 5800X3D in 2022, bringing to market the world’s first processor with 3D V-Cache. It’s still one of the best gaming CPUs available in 2023, offering credible competition to AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series and Intel’s Raptor Lake processors. However, it is no longer alone, with the newer Ryzen 7000 series 3D VCache processors poised to offer even better gaming performance.
With AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 generation now launched, here’s everything you need to know about 3D V-Cache.
What is AMD 3D V-Cache?
AMD
AMD 3D V-Cache is a packaging technology that stacks additional cache layers on the CPU. It sounds complex, and from an engineering perspective it is, but it’s not hard to understand what AMD’s technology does. Instead of placing the cache next to the processor, as has traditionally been done, AMD stacks the cache on top to squeeze more onto the chip.
It’s a different way to place a processor, and thanks to advances in the way CPU manufacturers put components on a chip, AMD is able to squeeze in more cache without creating a massive CPU. Originally, 3D V-Cache was limited to the 8-core CPU in the 5800X3D, however, with the Ryzen 7000 generation, AMD introduced the 8-core 7800X3D, 12-core 7900X3D and 16-core 7950X3D.
However, this is not the whole picture. While those higher-end CPUs have more than eight cores, 3D V-Cache only applies to one of their compound cores (CCD). In the case of the 7900X3D, it has six cores with 3D V-Cache available, with a lower boost clock, while the other CCD does not have 3D V-Cache, but can run at higher frequencies. The same goes for the 7950X3D, which has eight cores with 3D V-Cache and eight cores running at a higher boost clock.
The idea is to prioritize gaming while still having high-speed cores available for tasks that require clocks more than cache. That’s part of the reason why AMD was able to deliver higher productivity in certain applications with these CPUs, at least according to first-party test numbers. It also claims to have worked extensively with Microsoft and game developers to ensure that the unique layout needs of such a CPU are met and tailored so that games and applications can best take advantage of these intriguing CPUs.
How does 3D V-Cache work?
Your processor has three levels of cache, the lowest being the L3 or level 3 cache. Each level of cache is smaller in size but faster in speed, acting as a memory chain for your processor to serve instructions as needed.
Think of caching as a supply chain. Your RAM is like a national warehouse, L3 cache is a regional distribution center, and so on through L2 and L1 cache. For 3D V-Cache, we’re talking about an additional L3 cache, the slowest level on your CPU. But it’s only relatively slow — each layer of cache is still significantly faster than your hard drive or RAM.
More L3 cache allows the processor to stream and store more instructions, reducing the number of times instructions need to be fetched from RAM. With the 5800X3D running at lower clocks due to 3D V-Cache voltage limitations and temperature thresholds, it performed great in games, but some tasks suffered. With the Ryzen 7000 3D V-Cache CPU offering high clock speeds on some cores and V-Cache on others, AMD hopes to have solved that problem.
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Why does AMD use 3D V-Cache?
There are several reasons why AMD would prefer to build an entire line of chips with extra cache instead of putting more cache into the CPU itself, which has been the norm up until this point. For starters, 3D V-Cache is more customizable and can be optionally added to processors that would really benefit from it. Although the extra cache is used outside of games, there are many programs that don’t benefit from a larger cache, including benchmarks like Cinebench R23.
Cache is also problematic for CPU production. One of the key aspects of making a CPU is the process or node, which determines the performance, energy efficiency and transistor density characteristics. Newer nodes allow physically smaller transistors and therefore more compact processors, but cache memory is much more difficult to shrink than other components in a CPU, such as cores. Since the cache doesn’t benefit from being in the most modern nodes, it may be cheaper to just build the cache chip on an older and cheaper node.
Which CPUs have 3D V-Cache?
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AMD originally launched the 5800X3D in 2022. This latest generation Zen 3 CPU has eight cores and 96MB of L3 cache thanks to an additional 64MB of 3D V-Cache. This has now been joined by the new generation 7800X3D, 7900X3D and 7950X3D.
| AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D | AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D | AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D | |
| Cores | 16 | 12 | 8 | 8 |
| neither | 32 | 24 | 16 | 16 |
| L2 cache | 16 MB | 12 MB | 8 MB | 4 MB |
| L3 cache | 128 MB | 128 MB | 96 MB | 96 MB |
| Basic class | Up to 4.2 GHz | Up to 4.4 GHz | Up to 4.4 GHz | Up to 3.4 GHz |
| Turn up the clock | Up to 5.7 GHz | Up to 5.6 GHz | Up to 5 GHz | Up to 4.5 GHz |
| TDP | 120 W | 120 W | 120 W | 105 W |
AMD managed to have extra cores with this generation of 3D V-Cache CPUs, although only half of them on each of the top two chips have it available. This makes the 7900X3D an interesting CPU, as it only has six cores with 3D V-Cache available, while both the 7800X3D and 7950X3D have eight.
CPUs from this generation also operate at higher clock speeds in all segments, although the highest frequencies will be reserved for cores without 3D V-Cache. There are still sacrifices in clock speed, as evidenced by the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
AMD allowed for some measure of overclocking with this generation, which was not the case with the 5800X3D. AMD has enabled Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) and AMD’s Curve Optimizer, which together should help enthusiasts raise clock speeds and lower voltages by a small margin — although AMD said it doesn’t expect huge gains with these features.
The thermal design power (TDP) is the same on all CPUs, which may mean that there is additional room for overclocking on non-3D V-Cache cores and that these chips could be the most efficient of their generation.
3D V-Cache performance
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AMD originally debuted 3D V-Cache on the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and as you can read in our Ryzen 7 5800X3D review, it outperformed gaming performance at the time. Now, AMD has new Ryzen 7000 3D V-Cache CPUs, and they repeat what we saw in the previous generation.
The flagship Ryzen 9 7950X3D promises the best of both worlds with superior gaming and productivity performance. It mostly succeeds in its goal, even if it falls a little behind Intel’s Core i9-13900K in some productivity benchmarks, as you can read in our Ryzen 9 7950X3D review.
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However, the main problem with this chip is its price. At $700 and often selling for $800 or more, it’s easily the most expensive mainstream CPU you can buy. Moreover, AMD’s newer Ryzen 7 7800X3D is just as fast when it comes to gaming.
You can read our Ryzen 7 7800X3D review for a full performance breakdown, but overall, the cheaper processor is just as fast as AMD’s latest flagship. In some games, such as Far Cry 6 and F1 22, it is even slightly faster.
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Cutting to the chase with Intel, Team Blue currently doesn’t have a good answer for 3D V-Cache, at least in games. Outside of that area, 3D V-Cache chips struggle a bit due to the load imposed by the cache.
A packaging revolution?
AMD
AMD made a big deal when it launched 3D V-Cache, and for good reason. The 5800X3D was able to go with much more powerful processors, and the next-gen Ryzen 7000 variants look poised to steal the gaming crown from Intel, even with their rumored 6Ghz 13900KS waiting at the door.
It’s not yet clear if this is technology that will benefit anyone who deserves to be part of mainstream CPU lines, but it’s clear that gaming has a big boost. 3D V-Cache technology also acts as a great mid-generation refresh for AMD processors, helping it stay one step ahead of the competition — even if it doesn’t encourage gamers to be early adopters of new AMD hardware.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn