Performance: 35 out of 40 / 88%
The Ryzen 7 3800X really can go toe to toe with Intel’s latest and greatest 8 core offering. The only areas that it needs work on is thermally related… as the way in which they boost core frequencies is mostly limited by temperatures. As such the end result is lower frequencies than Intel can reach. Thankfully, the Ryzen 7 3800X is still a potent powerhouse. One that may not be right for every scenario but one that will never be less than optimal either. It really is a turning point for AMD. One where Intel will have to hustle to garner mainstream sales that were once ‘a given’.
Ease of Use: 19 out of 20 / 95%
Just like the Ryzen 5 3600X we reviewed previously, precision Boost 2 works marvelously well… and does its ‘magic’ seamlessly and automatically. Mix in a dramatically improved memory controller, though we still recommend Samsung b-dies for optimal results, and the end result is an extremely easy to use CPU. If PBO and autoOC were enabled ‘automagically’ instead of manually it would be darn near perfect.
Innovation: 20 out of 20 / 100%
Thanks to Zen 2, the Ryzen 7 3800X is rewriting the rules for mainstream buyers. Gone are the days of “Intel for performance” and “AMD for value”. In their place is a simple one: either option will provide more power than the average buyer will need, and both are great processors with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Value: 18 out of 20 / 90%
AMD’s Ryzen 7 3800X really has a lot going for it in the value department when compared to its Intel counterpart. For slightly less money, buyers get a rather good ‘stock’ CPU cooler, basically all the performance it has to offer unlocked via a press of a button or two, PCIe 4.0 ‘future proofing’, all but assured multi-generational motherboard compatibility… buyers even get more performance than most people can fully harness. The only fly in the ointment is the Ryzen 7 3700X does exist and for enthusiasts the hundred dollars savings may indeed make for an even better value. Yes, AMD’s main value competition in this corner of the market is not Intel… it is AMD’s other Ryzen CPU’s.
Final Score: 92 out 100 / 92%
The Ryzen 7 3800X proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that AMD is out innovating the R’n’D behemoth that is called Intel. In a rather short period of time AMD has gone from trailing, to parity, to actually leading Intel in the mainstream marketplace… all on a mere fraction of Intel’s budget. We can just imagine what AMD could accomplish if they too could drop a billion a year on research.
