Has anyone tested it with mid-range GPUs to see if there's much of a benefit for anyone who isn't running a beefy 3080 or a Ti card?
With mid range GPUs, you don't need a 5800X3D.
A $200 12400 / 5600 is more than enough to max out a 3060 and at most times a 3070:
https://www.techspot.com/review/2448-amd-ryzen-5600-vs-intel-core-i5-12400f/
3080 and up will see benefits from a 5800X3D, though that will also depend on your resolution and game settings.
I think as a general rule of thumb - for a mid range GPU, its best pair it with a mid range CPU.
I was planning to get one, since AMD enabled this tempting upgrade path for B350 chipset owners like me (currently running a Ryzen 1700). However, after seeing it losing to the vanilla 5800X in productivity applications — and in code compilation in particular (I am a programmer) — I changed my mind and now have the 5950X on my wish list instead, besides another 2 x 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. However, then I saw these Microsoft Flight Simulator results from Linus Tech Tips' review (although I am not a gamer, I am a veteran ex-flight-simmer, considering rekindling my interest). It shows an awesome 41% gain in average frame rate over the vanilla 5800X! That is even 22% beyond Intel's flagship, the 12900KS — whose average frame rate sits around 5800X3Ds 1% slowest frames. Wow!
View attachment 60061
It seems to do mighty fine in MSFS! Very impressive. But if compilation performance is important to you I still would get the 5950X over it. I'll think you'll appreciate the much better compile times, after all time is money
I've played around with FS a bit just flying over my own city, and if there is a game you really don't need 100fps for, it is this one (RTS games also apply here). Unless you're right up close to the ground, the terrain moves so gradually underneath you that even at 60fps the experience is surreal (with max settings and HDR).
Do keep in mind those results are at 1080P and would naturally bunch up at higher res. I'd argue that MSFS is one of those games that requires a 1440P panel at a minimum to truly appreciate the graphics, FHD doesn't do it justice. It looks truly stunning on my 3440x1440 ultrawide. I might have to try it on my 4K OLED TV!