Cita:
Zen3 (X, 8-core) is ~25-40% faster than Zen2 (X, 8-core) across all kinds of algorithms. We have to give it 10/10 overall!
Despite no major architectural changes over Zen2 (except larger 8-core single CCX layout and thus unified L3 cache), Zen3 manages to be quite a bit faster across legacy and heavily vectorised SIMD algorithms: it beats the competition even with AVX512 and more cores (e.g. 10-core SKL-X). Even streaming algorithms (memory-bound) improve over 20%. We certainly did not expect performance to be this good.
In effect, it is like getting 50% more cores – 8-core Zen3 performs like a 12-core Zen2 (e.g. 3900X) – and thus even a 10-core 10900K cannot compete. Considering you can just “pop it” into an existing AM4 mainboard (requires a BIOS update to support it) it is a massive upgrade from say, original Zen1/Zen+.
If you can afford it – especially in these unprecedented times – it is a “no brainer” upgrade allowing older AM4-based computers to live many, many more years. You don’t really need PCIe4 and its modest improvement (and thus a 500-series board) – that would anyway require costly PCIe4 SSDs and costly GP-GPU upgrade.
Considering Zen2 is ~40% faster than Zen+ (never mind original Ryzen), Zen3 is in effect 2x faster than Zen+ – a 2x (96%) improvement over just 2 generations, while core counts remained the same (unlike Intel that just increased core counts). Also consider you can now get a 16-core/32-threads AM4 CPU (which originally only had 6-core option), it is like having a 32-core/64-thread Ryzen in the same AM4 slot – a 5.3x increase in overall performance.
Cita:
Executive Summary: Zen3 (X, 6-core) is ~15-40% faster than Zen2 (XT, 6-core) across all kinds of algorithms. We’ll give it 9/10.
Despite no major architectural changes (except larger 8-core single CCX layout (2 cores disabled here) and thus unified L3 cache) over Zen2 – Zen3 manages to be quite a bit faster across legacy and heavily vectorised SIMD algorithms, though in the case of the 6-core (aka 5600X) due to its almost identical Turbo compared to old Zen2 (3600XT) – it cannot beat it so soundly as the other siblings have as we’ve seen in the other reviews. The Zen2 XTs performance is just too good!
Still, it is enough to overtake the Intel competition, even the old top-end 8-core i9 9900K which is a massive win – and naturally leaves the older 6-core i7 8700K in the dust.
Again, in effect it is like getting a 8-core CPU for the price of the 6-core and despite of the higher cost vs. older CPUs; it is a big upgrade especially for older AM4 boards likely still using Zen1/Zen+ CPUs (e.g. 1600, 2600 or so). At this level, PCIe3 performance (on 400, 300-series boards) is just fine and you are getting a relatively cheap system that can beat older top-of-the-range systems of the past. [Note: as long as there is a BIOS update available or you can mod one]