My friend and I built nearly identical PCs using the same RTX 3070 and DDR5-6000 memory. The main difference is the processor: I have a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, while my friend has a Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Despite having the newer CPU, I'm seeing occasional lag and stuttering, and my 3DMark score was about 3040 compared with my friend's 3119. Both systems have EXPO enabled, but our motherboards are different: mine is an ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi, while my friend uses an ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi. Temperatures appear normal, and my GPU was even slightly cooler during the benchmark. What could explain the lower score, and what should I check?
4 Answers
The different motherboards could account for some of the difference, but a gap like this may also come from power or thermal limits. Run a CPU-only benchmark while monitoring CPU temperature, package power, clock speeds, and whether thermal or power throttling is occurring. PBO settings and a poorly tuned BIOS profile can also affect the result.
First, make sure the latest AMD chipset drivers and motherboard BIOS are installed. BIOS versions can make a noticeable difference with newer Ryzen processors, especially on older AM5 boards. Also verify that EXPO is actually applying the expected memory speed and timings rather than just being selected in the BIOS.
Cooling should still be checked under sustained load, even if the system seems fine during normal use. Confirm that the cooler is mounted properly and that the CPU maintains its expected boost clocks. A mild negative curve optimizer or undervolt can sometimes reduce temperatures and prevent throttling, but it’s better to identify the actual limitation first.
Make sure the comparison is truly CPU-limited. A 3DMark score can be affected by the graphics card, driver version, background processes, and GPU clocks. Your friend’s RTX 3070 might have a factory or manual overclock while yours is running at stock settings. Compare the individual CPU and graphics sub-scores, then run a separate CPU benchmark to isolate the processor.
A ZenTimings screenshot would help confirm the memory frequency, timings, and fabric settings. It’s worth checking those instead of assuming EXPO applied correctly.