The Ryzen 9 7950X is the flagship model in the AMD Ryzen 7000 series, and its gaming performance is second only to the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Logically, its most fair competitor is the Intel Core i9-13900K.
However, now that Intel’s 14th generation Core I CPUs have been released, the latest Core i7-14700K’s gaming performance can roughly match that of the Core i9-13900K. So, in the battle of Ryzen 9 7950X vs. Core i7-14700K, whose gaming performance is stronger? Does the traditional view that “Intel processors have stronger productivity performance, and AMD processors have stronger gaming performance” still apply?
This comparison is very meaningful because the market prices of these two processors are currently quite close for those interested.
1. Parameter Comparison
The Ryzen 9 7950X was released on September 27, 2022, using TSMC’s 5-nanometer process, with 16 cores and 32 threads, a 1MB L1 cache, a 16MB L2 cache, and a 64MB L3 cache.
Its base clock speed is 4.5 GHz, with a maximum boost clock of 5.7 GHz, a default TDP of 170W, and a suggested retail price of $699, with the current market price of around 3600 Chinese Yuan.
The Core i7-14700K was released on October 17, 2023, using a 10-nanometer process, with 8 big cores, and 12 small cores, totaling 20 cores and 28 threads. It has a base clock speed of 3.4GHz, a maximum boost clock of 5.5GHz, and a maximum Turbo Boost frequency of 5.6GHz.
The L2 cache is 28MB, with a 33MB smart cache, a standard power consumption of 125W, and a maximum power consumption of 253W. Its suggested retail price is $409, with the current market price just above 3500 Chinese Yuan.
2. Baseline Performance Comparison
According to the results of testing on the Cinebench R24 platform, there isn’t a significant difference in performance between these two processors. The Core i7-14700K scored 131 points in single-core performance and 2021 points in multi-core performance, while the Ryzen 9 7950X scored 125 points in single-core performance and 2185 points in multi-core performance.
Based on these scores, the Core i7-14700K’s single-core performance is 5% higher than the Ryzen 9 7950X, while its multi-core performance is 8% lower. So, in the context of gaming, how do these processors perform, and who comes out on top?
3. Test Platform Configuration
The main configurations are as follows:
The Core i7-14700K is paired with an MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk motherboard, while the Ryzen 9 7950X is paired with an MSI MAG X670E Tomahawk motherboard. The other components are the same: 32GB DDR5 memory, a GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, and a 1TB Samsung 980 PRO SSD.
4. Gaming Benchmarks
The following six games were tested, all at 1440P resolution with the highest quality settings. In the images that follow, the left side represents the Core i7-14700K platform, and the right side represents the Ryzen 9 7950X platform.
– Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
On the Core i7-14700K platform, the average frame rate is 117 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 58 FPS, and a frame time of 9.0ms. CPU usage is at 23%, with a temperature of 76 degrees. Memory usage is 11.2GB, GPU usage is 99%, and the temperature is 75 degrees.
On the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, the average frame rate is 92 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 51 FPS, and a frame time of 10.2ms. CPU usage is at 15%, with a temperature of 61 degrees. Memory usage is 12.8GB, GPU usage is 95%, and the temperature is 73 degrees.
In this game, the Core i7-14700K platform has 8% higher CPU usage, 1.6GB lower memory usage, and 4% higher GPU usage compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X platform. In terms of average frame rate, the Core i7-14700K platform is 25 FPS higher than the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, with 7 FPS higher minimum instantaneous frame rate. Frame time is slightly lower, but the difference is negligible. Overall, the performance is noticeably better, although the processor temperature is 15 degrees higher.
– Watch Dogs: Legion
On the Core i7-14700K platform, the average frame rate is 114 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 85 FPS, and a frame time of 9.6ms. CPU usage is at 22%, with a temperature of 72 degrees. Memory usage is 13.4GB, GPU usage is 99%, and the temperature is 72 degrees.
On the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, the average frame rate is 102 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 48 FPS, and a frame time of 14.4ms. CPU usage is at 24%, with a temperature of 53 degrees. Memory usage is 14.2GB, GPU usage is 72%, and the temperature is 64 degrees.
In this game, the Core i7-14700K platform has 2% lower CPU usage, 0.8GB lower memory usage, and 22% higher GPU usage compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X platform. In terms of average frame rate, the Core i7-14700K platform is 12 FPS higher than the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, with 37 FPS higher minimum instantaneous frame rate. The frame time is nearly 5ms lower, indicating significantly better game stability, although the temperature is 19 degrees higher.
– Cyberpunk 2077
On the Core i7-14700K platform, the average frame rate was 120 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 54 FPS, a frame time of 9.8ms, CPU usage at 46%, a temperature of 83 degrees, memory usage of 13.4GB, GPU usage at 99%, and a temperature of 72 degrees.
On the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, the average frame rate was 96 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 53 FPS, a frame time of 9.8ms, CPU usage at 33%, a temperature of 60 degrees, memory usage of 10.8GB, GPU usage at 93%, and a temperature of 70 degrees.
In this game, the Core i7-14700K platform had 13% higher CPU usage than its competitor, 2.6GB higher memory usage, and 6% higher GPU usage. The overall situation was similar to the first game.
In terms of average frame rate, the Core i7-14700K platform was 24 FPS higher than the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, with minimum instantaneous frame rates and frame times being essentially equal, but with a temperature that was 15 degrees higher.
– Red Dead Redemption 2
On the Core i7-14700K platform, the average frame rate is 136 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 80 FPS, and a frame time of 4.0ms. CPU usage is at 26%, with a temperature of 70 degrees. Memory usage is 12.6GB, GPU usage is 95%, and the temperature is 71 degrees.
On the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, the average frame rate is 123 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 78 FPS, and a frame time of 7.0ms. CPU usage is at 15%, with a temperature of 56 degrees. Memory usage is 15.8GB, GPU usage is 94%, and the temperature is 78 degrees.
In this game, the Core i7-14700K platform has 11% higher CPU usage compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X platform. The memory usage is 3.2GB lower, and the GPU usage is roughly the same. This shows that both processors are utilizing the graphics card to its maximum potential, and the competition is primarily based on the raw processing power of the CPUs. In terms of average frame rate, the Core i7-14700K platform is 13 FPS higher, with nearly equal minimum instantaneous frame rates, and a 3ms lower frame time. Overall, it maintains a slight lead, but the temperature is 14 degrees higher.
– God of War
On the Core i7-14700K platform, the average frame rate is 123 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 105 FPS, and a frame time of 8.2ms. CPU usage is at 28%, with a temperature of 72 degrees. Memory usage is 10.5GB, GPU usage is 99%, and the temperature is 73 degrees.
On the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, the average frame rate is 108 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 71 FPS, and a frame time of 9.5ms. CPU usage is at 17%, with a temperature of 57 degrees. Memory usage is 14.3GB, GPU usage is 98%, and the temperature is 77 degrees.
In this game, the Core i7-14700K platform has 11% higher CPU usage compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X platform. It also uses nearly 4GB less memory, while GPU usage is almost identical. Overall, this scenario is similar to the previous one. In terms of average frame rate, the Core i7-14700K platform is 15 FPS higher, with a 34 FPS higher minimum instantaneous frame rate. The frame time difference is not significant, and it maintains a slight overall lead, although the temperature is 15 degrees higher.
– Horizon Zero Dawn
On the Core i7-14700K platform, the average frame rate is 153 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 48 FPS, and a frame time of 6.5ms. CPU usage is at 38%, with a temperature of 77 degrees. Memory usage is 12.8GB, GPU usage is 98%, and the temperature is 72 degrees.
On the Ryzen 9 7950X platform, the average frame rate is 143 FPS, with a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 61 FPS, and a frame time of 6.8ms. CPU usage is at 50%, with a temperature of 65 degrees. Memory usage is 13.2GB, GPU usage is 98%, and the temperature is 75 degrees.
In this game, the Core i7-14700K platform has 12% lower CPU usage compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X platform. Memory usage is 0.4GB less, and GPU usage is identical. It’s quite clear that the Core i7-14700K platform is at a disadvantage, with equal GPU usage, but lower CPU usage and memory consumption. In terms of average frame rate, the Core i7-14700K platform is 10 FPS higher, with 13 FPS lower minimum instantaneous frame rate. The frame time is nearly the same, and it still maintains a slight lead, although the temperature is 12 degrees higher.
5. Comparison Conclusion
Overall, the performance of the Ryzen 9 7950X platform is somewhat awkward. In most cases, it utilizes the GPU to a lesser extent than the Core i7-14700K platform. Its final gaming performance consistently falls slightly behind its counterpart, generally by about 10-20 frames. Additionally, the Core i7-14700K tends to run about ten degrees hotter.
The actual situation contradicts the traditional view that “Intel processors have stronger productivity performance, and AMD processors have stronger gaming performance.” This perspective does not apply here.
In conclusion, the Core i7-14700K is a more compelling choice than the Ryzen 9 7950X. It better leverages the hardware performance of the graphics card and the entire platform, resulting in a stronger overall gaming experience. AMD is under considerable pressure, and it’s expected that the entire Ryzen 7000 series, including the Ryzen 9 7950X, may see further price reductions in the future.
Related:
[…] AMD vs Intel: Ryzen 9 7950X vs Core i7 14700K Gaming […]
[…] AMD vs Intel: Ryzen 9 7950X vs Core i7 14700K Gaming […]