Intel Core i7 5820K 6-core LGA2011
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core AM5
What Buyers Say
Intel Core i7 5820K 6-core LGA2011
The Intel Core i7-5820K is widely praised as an outstanding value in the high-end CPU market, offering six cores and twelve threads at a price far below its more expensive siblings. Users consistently report excellent overclocking potential, with many achieving stable speeds of 4.4 GHz or higher on air or liquid cooling. The processor handles demanding games, streaming, and content creation with ease, though buyers must note it requires an LGA 2011-v3 motherboard and DDR4 RAM, and does not include a stock cooler. The main drawback is the limited 28 PCIe lanes, which can restrict multi-GPU and storage configurations, but for most users this is not a significant issue.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core AM5
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is widely celebrated as the best gaming CPU on the market, delivering massive frame rate boosts, improved 1% lows, and excellent thermal efficiency. Users upgrading from older Intel or AMD chips report transformative gains in CPU-intensive games and smoother multitasking. The main caution is to avoid paying above MSRP due to scalper pricing, and to ensure a compatible AM5 motherboard with a BIOS update. Overall, it is a top-tier choice for gamers seeking peak performance.
Pros
- Best gaming performance on the market
- Massive frame rate boosts in CPU-heavy games
- Excellent thermal efficiency and cool operation
- Improved 1% lows for smoother gameplay
- Great upgrade from older Intel and AMD chips
Cons
- Scalper pricing above MSRP
- No included cooler in the box
- Requires BIOS update on older AM5 motherboards
- Limited availability and stock issues
- OEM version lacks original box and accessories
Scores
Specifications
| Intel Core i7 5820K | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| Brand | Intel | AMD |
| Series | Core i7 | Ryzen 7 |
| Model | 5820K | 9800X3D |
| Codename | Haswell-E | Granite Ridge |
| Class | desktop | desktop |
| Process | 22 | 4★ |
| Cores & Clocks | ||
| Cores | 6 | 8★ |
| P-cores | — | 8★ |
| Threads | 12 | 16★ |
| Base Clock | ||
| Boost Clock | ||
| Cache | ||
| L2 Cache | 1.5 | 8★ |
| L3 Cache | 15 | 96★ |
| Performance | ||
| PassMark Multi | ||
| PassMark Single | ||
| Memory | ||
| Memory Type | DDR4 | DDR5★ |
| Max Speed | ||
| Channels | 4★ | 2 |
| Max Memory | ||
| ECC | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Platform & Power | ||
| Socket | LGA 2011-v3 | AM5 |
| PCIe | 3.0 | 5.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | 28 |
| TDP | 140 | 120★ |
| Max Turbo Power | — | 200★ |
| Unlocked | ✓ | ✓ |
| Graphics & AI | ||
| Integrated Graphics | — | AMD Radeon Graphics |
Pros & Cons
Intel Core i7 5820K 6-core LGA2011
- Strong social proof (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong platform (80th percentile)80th %ile
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core AM5
- Strong feature (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong social proof (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong single thread (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong platform (95th percentile)95th %ile
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 6 of 6 usage categories and 16 of 27 specs.