Hey, everyone! I'm torn between the 9700X and the 7800X3D for gaming. My focus is on AAA titles at 1440p, with 4K possibly later on, and I love CPU-intensive games like *Jurassic World Evolution 2* and *Planet Zoo*. I'm currently using a 9700X, which runs at decent temps, but I'm considering switching to the 7800X3D for an extra 70 € from Amazon. However, I've heard the 7800X3D gets pretty hot, and since I live in a place that's hot in summer and I don't have AC, I'm concerned about temperatures. I need to know the temp differences during gaming and idle between the two CPUs in my small form factor build. Here's what I've got in my setup: a Lian Li A4 H20 case, ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi motherboard, Cooler Master ML240 Atmos CPU cooler, an RTX 3080 (with plans to upgrade), and 32GB of 6000 MHz RAM. Any insights would be appreciated!
4 Answers
I have a 9800X3D with a Thermalright Phantom Spirit cooler, and it runs cool in my Lian Li case—around 40° C idle, 50° C while gaming. I love the performance in games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Warzone, so I’d lean towards the 7800X3D! It really shines in titles that can utilize the cache well, so if those are your jam, it might be worth the switch.
The 7800X3D tends to run hotter due to its design. It's got extra cache, which insulates the heat, making it less efficient at cooling compared to the 9700X. What matters is if you're hitting thermal limits while gaming—in normal scenarios, it shouldn't be an issue. Just keep it within operational temps, and you'll be fine. And with a 240mm cooler, you should manage the heat well regardless.
Thanks for clarifying that! So, it's about how efficient the cooling setup can handle the heat rather than just the raw temp number, huh?
The TDP difference is another thing to look at: 7800X3D has a TDP of 120W compared to 9700X's 65W. While idle temps aren't everything, think about noise levels too—SFF builds can get loud with powerful cooling. Overall, if you keep your loads in check, either CPU should work fine in your setup.
From various tests, sure, the 7800X3D runs hotter, but how game-intensive your session is will affect temps. With a good AIO cooler like yours, it should be manageable. If your GPU is maxed out in games, you might not notice a big difference in gameplay when switching CPUs, so consider that alongside your decision.
Exactly! The design of the 7800X3D means it runs hotter, but it's also been power limited, so it doesn't generate as much heat. The key is that as long as your cooling is adequate, the actual temperature difference may not impact your gaming experience much.