In early 2023, AMD launched a processor that many reviewers would name the quickest processor for gaming on the earth—the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads but in addition contains a secret weapon: 128MB of L3 Cache.
Now, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D brings that very same cache to laptops just like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17. It doesn’t impress in each benchmark, however players will find it irresistible.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023)
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 is a top-of-the-line gaming laptop with a 3D V-Cache CPU that pulls forward of the pack.
AMD says cache is king
Credit:
Reviewed / Matthew S. Smith
The cache inside your pc’s processor can dictate velocity and processing instances.
Ok, however let’s again up: cache? What do you imply, cache? I solely introduced my debit card!
Don’t really feel unhealthy if the time period doesn’t ring a bell. All processors have cache, and its impression on efficiency can at instances be vital, however processor producers not often discuss it. Expensive processors are likely to have extra, inexpensive processors are likely to have much less, and that’s normally the place the story ends.
AMD’s 3D V-Cache tosses that playbook within the bin. It’s a new packaging know-how (a neater method of claiming “the manufacturing methods used to construct chips”) that layers additional cache on high of the prevailing cache for optimum density in a given space. Think of it like a pastrami sandwich. Sure, all that meat nonetheless suits between two slices of bread, however you solely want one look to see that it’s a actual intestine bomb. The know-how was beforehand unique to AMD’s desktop processors just like the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, however it’s now out there in a laptop.
The Ryzen 9 7945HX3D delivers a hefty 128MB of L3 Cache. That’s a two-fold improve over the vanilla Ryzen 9 7945HX, which doesn’t use 3D V-Cache and has 64MB of L3 Cache. This comparability undersells the 7945HX3D as a result of its predecessor already had a lot of cache. The mid-range AMD Ryzen 7735HS has simply 16MB of L3 Cache, whereas Intel’s Core i9-13980HK has 36MB of L3 Cache.
Think of cache like RAM however devoted solely to your CPU. Information saved within the cache is bodily situated on the CPU and stored instantly out there, so it may be reached extra quickly. That’s necessary, because the velocity at which a CPU can entry the information it must course of is a widespread bottleneck. More cache means fewer labor-intensive journeys again to system reminiscence.
With that transient primer on cache out of the way in which, it’s time to get into the benchmarks. We examined the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX and AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D within the 2023 Asus ROG Strix Scar 17. Processor apart, the laptops have been in any other case similar: each had an Nvidia RTX 4090 cellular graphics card, 32GB of DDR5 reminiscence, and a 1TB NVMe PCIe4 NVMe solid-state drive.
A CPU benchmark battle fought to a standstill
Credit:
Reviewed / Matthew S. Smith
The Ryzen 9 7945HX3D did not win in each benchmark, however it pulled forward of the pack in a majority of video games.
The apparent option to benchmark a laptop processor is a artificial processor benchmark and, to be extra particular, one which’s closely multi-threaded (that means it will possibly have interaction most, or all, of the cores and threads on the processor on the similar time). So, what do such benchmarks reveal?
The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX reached a rating of 15499 in Geekbench 6, which elevated to a rating of 16667 on the brand new AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D. That’s a roughly 7% enchancment. It’s a small distinction, however one which signifies a slight edge for the brand new 7945HX3D.
Moving into Cinebench R23, nevertheless, the outcomes are nearer. The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX scored 31735 within the multi-core take a look at, incomes a slight edge over the 7945HX3D, which scored 31295. That’s a bonus of only one.4 p.c in favor of the older processor—a sensible tie since random variances may simply account for a hole this small.
Next up is Blender, the place every laptop rendered the Barbershop take a look at scene utilizing solely the CPU. This take a look at flipped the outcomes, with the older AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX finishing the duty in 720 seconds in comparison with the 7945HX3D’s results of 784 seconds. That’s a practically 9 p.c win in favor of the processor with out 3D V-Cache.
In a nutshell: these outcomes are a wash. The Ryzen 9 7945HX and 7945HX3D every take a win in a single benchmark, then tie within the third. The wins aren’t vital, both, and it’s exhausting to think about anybody noticing a distinction between these processors exterior of benchmarks.
Gaming is higher with AMD’s 3D V-Cache. Usually.
Credit:
Reviewed / Matthew S. Smith
AMD’s 3D V-Cache processor can supply a higher gaming expertise relying on what’s being performed.
3D V-Cache’s failure to ship a main edge in processor benchmarks isn’t stunning. Adding cache gives much less of a profit when the calculations carried out by the processor are very demanding, and processor benchmarks are designed to be demanding. Games, alternatively, play to the strengths of 3D V-Cache. They usually require a excessive quantity of pretty easy calculations, so the velocity at which information is delivered to the CPU’s cores turns into extra necessary. In idea meaning video games ought to see large positive aspects.
First, the unhealthy information: AMD’s Ryzen 9 7945HX3D suffered a small defeat in two of the 5 video games we examined.
Total War: Warhammer III averaged 151 frames per second (fps) on the older AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, which decreased to a median of 147fps on the brand new 7945HX3D. I used the sport’s marketing campaign benchmark at 1080p decision, extremely element, with the Unlimited Video Memory choice turned on. The vanilla AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX additionally scored a win in Fortnite, the place it averaged 117fps over the 7945HX3D’s common of 111fps. The sport was benchmarked at 1080p decision and epic high quality. All picture scaling and reconstruction options (like AMD FSR and Nvidia DLSS) have been turned off, and the identical is true of all different sport benchmarks talked about right here.
But AMD’s 3D V-Cache struck again in different video games.
The 7945HX averaged 149fps in Cyberpunk 2077 however achieved a barely greater 155fps on the brand new 7945HX3D. The sport was benchmarked at 1080p on the extremely element preset with ray tracing turned off.
Far Cry 6 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider are the place AMD’s 3D V-Cache actually sings. Far Cry 6 averaged an already sturdy 120fps on the 7945HX, however that rose drastically to 158fps on the 7945HX3D. Shadow of the Tomb Raider was radically boosted, too, rising from a median of 205 fps on the 7945HX to 243fps on the 7945HX3D. Both video games have been benchmarked at 1080p decision on the most element preset.
That’s three wins and two losses for the Ryzen 7945HX3D, which can not appear spectacular. But this straightforward abstract isn’t the total story. AMD’s 3D V-Cache processor suffered solely insignificant losses within the two video games the place it fell behind and recouped that with large victories in two of the three video games the place it pulled forward.
The 7945HX3D was 31 p.c faster in Far Cry 6 and 18 p.c faster in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Those wins are vital. In Far Cry 6 it’s the distinction between maximizing the potential of a 120Hz show or a 144Hz show. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider solely the 7945HX3D could make full use of a 240Hz show—and, because it so occurs, a 240Hz show is exactly what the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 ships with.
AMD’s Ryzen 9 7945HX3D is a beautiful improve for players
Credit:
Reviewed / Matthew S. Smith
If you will get your fingers on the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17, you may benefit from the full expertise that the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D has to supply.
The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D is an indeniable win for gaming laptops. Although not faster in each sport, it delivers positive aspects in titles bottlenecked by processor efficiency greater than graphics efficiency. It’s optimum when paired with a high-end GPU just like the Nvidia RTX 4090.
If you’re extra all for work than play, although, the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D could be value skipping. It’s not a lot worse, however it’s not a lot better, and the distinction shall be exhausting to note in precise use.
There’s one ultimate barrier: availability. The AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D is solely out there within the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17. We adored the laptop’s efficiency once we reviewed it late final 12 months, however its measurement and weight will make it a poor selection for many who have to journey or desire a slimmer, extra elegant laptop. But, in case you simply wish to sport, it’s a nice choose.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023)
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 is a top-of-the-line gaming laptop with a 3D V-Cache CPU that pulls forward of the pack.
Prices have been correct on the time this text was revealed however might change over time.
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