Question RTX 5090 4K Gaming build - Core Ultra 265K tuned vs 9800X3D - Talk me out of or for returning my 265K parts and getting 9800X3D parts at microcenter

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Wolverine2349

Senior member
Oct 9, 2022
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When someone make a bad choice he often try to find any urban legend or hearsay
to justify his buys.

Computerbase use a 9800X3D to test GPUs, and that s for a reason, notice the RAM speed for each CPU :



I had a better experience with Raptor Lake HT off 5.5P, 4.3E 4.7 ring than 9800X3D in stability responsiveness.

I used it for a couple of months but the degradation fears made me rethink it.

Now my choice for staying intel is well Arrow Lake is not the Raptor Lake 8 + 16 die which has the defective degradation issues that could rear its ugly head at anytime and still the intel chipset and driver feel smoothness and stability feel.

Or am I thinking it wrong and Arrow Lake at chipset, firmware and driver levels is nothing at all like Raptor Lake even if the Arrow Lake 15th Gen silicon is assuredly far more reliable than the 8 + 16 B0 RPL stepping??
 

Abwx

Lifer
Apr 2, 2011
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I dont know exactly what are the eventual issues with ARL, what is sure is that RPL
had an advantage due to the monolithic die, so even with lower perf/Hz and lower clocked RAM it could rival ARL in gaming as showed by Computerbase graphs, that being said the X3D are in category above not only in perfs but also for their lower power comsumption.

Now if you want to keep an Intel CPU so good for you if it perform accordingly with
your expectations.
 
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Elfear

Diamond Member
May 30, 2004
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At 4k the CPU generally doesn't make a big difference so you likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two for most games (small sample below).


1757018525229.png

However, there are some outliers where the X3D chip does extremely well even at 4k Ultra with a 5090. If you want to give AMD another shot, it will be the better gaming chip.

1757018630999.png
 

Thunder 57

Diamond Member
Aug 19, 2007
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I kind of prefer intel.

Though in reality is Intel's situation now as bad as AMD's was with Bulldozer in CPUs?

Some have mentioned that on other blogs. Some say not even close??

Of course AMD was way worse financially with Bulldozer than Intel is now. But how baout just raw top end CPU performance. While AMD wins is the gap as bad as Intel vs Bulldozer 10-13 years ago?

Intel is nowhere near AMD Bulldozer levels of bad. They have that going for them. Their future is still pretty bleak at the moment though IMHO but we have to see how how 18A and Nova Lake turn out. I am less than optimistic based on recent (and not so recent) history.
 

Wolverine2349

Senior member
Oct 9, 2022
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Intel is nowhere near AMD Bulldozer levels of bad. They have that going for them. Their future is still pretty bleak at the moment though IMHO but we have to see how how 18A and Nova Lake turn out. I am less than optimistic based on recent (and not so recent) history.

Are you referring to their financial situation, desktop CPU performance overall or both? I assume both?

Though future yeah kind of does look bleak. I hear their foundry business is struggling and thinking of selling it off.

I know intel wants to build its own CPUs, bit sometimes just need to swallow pride and let TSMC do it. TSMC is just ahead now. Do what you know will work.

They did build Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake on TSMC, but only because their own fabs were not ready o they had no choice.
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
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Aug 22, 2001
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Intel is nowhere near AMD Bulldozer levels of bad.
For gaming it is. Where do you think the comparison came from? People looked at the gap in release reviews, then dug up Bulldozer reviews. If you look at 40 games, and not the obfuscating geomean, it's brutal. It shares other traits; you won't be putting anything substantially faster in the board, it is a one and done. You also need a good board and fast ram to fully leverage it. And the trifecta is that the previous gen outperforms it in some areas.
 

Thunder 57

Diamond Member
Aug 19, 2007
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Are you referring to their financial situation, desktop CPU performance overall or both? I assume both?

Though future yeah kind of does look bleak. I hear their foundry business is struggling and thinking of selling it off.

I know intel wants to build its own CPUs, bit sometimes just need to swallow pride and let TSMC do it. TSMC is just ahead now. Do what you know will work.

They did build Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake on TSMC, but only because their own fabs were not ready o they had no choice.

Their desktop situation outside of gaming isn't bad. Their financial situation though is crap. I am no financial expert but I don't see them in any better shape there than AMD during the Bulldozer days. That's the problem. One of many.
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
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Though future yeah kind of does look bleak. I hear their foundry business is struggling and thinking of selling it off.
Which is why they can use your $$$ more than ever. Having a brand preference you should not even be considering the competition, ride or die. :D
 

Wolverine2349

Senior member
Oct 9, 2022
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For gaming it is. Where do you think the comparison came from? People looked at the gap in release reviews, then dug up Bulldozer reviews. If you look at 40 games, and not the obfuscating geomean, it's brutal. It shares other traits; you won't be putting anything substantially faster in the board, it is a one and done. You also need a good board and fast ram to fully leverage it. And the trifecta is that the previous gen outperforms it in some areas.

Is it though. I read the German article translated to English and they had the 265K recommended 3rd behind only 9800X3D and 7800X3D as upper middle class with 9800X3D and 7800X3D in a class of their own.
 

Abwx

Lifer
Apr 2, 2011
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Is it though. I read the German article translated to English and they had the 265K recommended 3rd behind only 9800X3D and 7800X3D as upper middle class with 9800X3D and 7800X3D in a class of their own.
Because they take account of the price, you have noticed that those Computerbase CPUs roundups include price comparisons, for that matter in the APU department they recommend the 8600G wich is nowhere as performing as a comparatively overpriced 8700G.
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
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If these summary charts by 3Dcenter.org are taken for gaming, Arrowlake and non-X3D Zen5 7/9 parts have not much in between them although as expected 9800X3D & 9950X3D are in a league of their own.
It is why in retail, the 9800X3D and 7800X3D dominate sales.

If you dispense with geomean the 9700X is a better pick than 265K for gaming. And you get a live platform - https://www.techspot.com/review/3026-core-ultra-7-vs-ryzen-5-cpu-gpu-scaling/
Because they take account of the price, you have noticed that those Computerbase CPUs roundups include price comparisons, for that matter in the APU department they recommend the 8600G which is nowhere as performing as a comparatively overpriced 8700G.
Yeah, context is key.
 
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Schmide

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I'm going to guess you're not cleaning your OS when doing these upgrades and your just feels better is you not doing the operations needed to get a new platform up and running correctly.
 

Wolverine2349

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Oct 9, 2022
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I'm going to guess you're not cleaning your OS when doing these upgrades and your just feels better is you not doing the operations needed to get a new platform up and running correctly.

I always do a clean install of Windows for every new build. Always.

I even use NTLite to integrate chipset drivers and disable unnecessary bloat. But not too much as to not break functionality.
 

Wolverine2349

Senior member
Oct 9, 2022
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So are you updating chipset drivers ?

I always use latest when doing clean install of Windows which I always and I mean always do when switching to different Windows version or parting out a build. Otherwise usually no, Video card drivers yes I do update

Is it so important that chipset drivers are updated on AMD platform all the time?
 

Schmide

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It's important on all platforms. The scheduler was redesigned last fall and updated a few times.

You running on out of date drivers invalidates all your criticism or praise for any platform.

/thread
 
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Wolverine2349

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Oct 9, 2022
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It's important on all platforms. The scheduler was redesigned last fall and updated a few times.

You running on out of date drivers invalidates all your criticism or praise for any platform.

/thread

Did they change anything in 2025. I often notice motherboard chipset drivers are older than the ones on AMD website. I often do clean installs with latest chipset drivers every 6 months or so.
 

Schmide

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Mar 7, 2002
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The point is moot. If you noticed anything and didn't update, that's on you. If you did all that then complained and made up FUD, that's even worse.

Edit: If you went so far as to sell your rig before doing basic housekeeping. I really really feel sorry for you.
 

Wolverine2349

Senior member
Oct 9, 2022
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The point is moot. If you noticed anything and didn't update, that's on you. If you did all that then complained and made up FUD, that's even worse.

Edit: If you went so far as to sell your rig before doing basic housekeeping. I really really feel sorry for you.


I do check for chipset driver updates on AMD website. They have them maybe once every 4 to 6 months. If I am having issues I will update them. I had the latest at the time of said issues.

Unlike video cards chipset drivers are not updated even close to as often from either Intel or AMD
 

Schmide

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While nVidia updates drivers at a much better cadence, AMD does update often. Since all the changes last year new chipset drivers come out every 6 weeks or so. Display ever 1-3 months.

Probably the best thing that comes from updating drivers frequently, it keeps windows from doing their often out of order driver updates.

Edit: You do do windows updates?

Edit2: I hate to ask about BIOS?
 

Wolverine2349

Senior member
Oct 9, 2022
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While nVidia updates drivers at a much better cadence, AMD does update often. Since all the changes last year new chipset drivers come out every 6 weeks or so. Display ever 1-3 months.

Probably the best thing that comes from updating drivers frequently, it keeps windows from doing their often out of order driver updates.

Edit: You do do windows updates?

Edit2: I hate to ask about BIOS?

Very cautious with Windows updates as they often turn settings back into something you do not wnat or break things.

I manually apply them and will absolutely do an update to address a bug.

BIOS updates I do but not always when newest is released. Often times it warns you unless issues do not update BIOS.

I was always on latest BIOS when the issues were occurring

TBH, the 7800X3D was actually very smooth experience. I had decided I wanted more than 8 cores and sold it waiting for Arrow Lake thinking it would be more better and fix RPL issues in gaming.

I had sold 7800X3D parts early October 2024 then Arrow Lake comes and oh boy benchmarks showed it worse sometimes modestly so than Raptor Lake.

Then knew 9800X3D coming soon and thought well 8 cores more powerful and now unlocked can overclock better. Guess back to 8 cores.

So went to 9800X3D and TBH it was worse than 7800X3D in terms of weirdness on desktop and stutters and such.

Yeah I guess I could go back to 7800X3D, but that is weaker by 15% IPC Zen 4 cores and still only 8.
 

Wolverine2349

Senior member
Oct 9, 2022
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Oh and BTW just as I type this after putting together whole Core Ultra 265K system and try to power it on now it will not meaning maybe fate had it I go back to AMD chip anyways lol.

Or did PSU decide to crap out,

I updated my PSU back in March to 1200W for RTX 5090 and its an NZXT C1200 Gold and did so with recommendation form Aris reviews Hardware Busters.

But it was working fine on other 9800X3D build and Raptor Lake build. Not sure if it coincidentally crapped out or the Core Ultra 265K mobo is bad.

I have an MSI Ai1000P gonna test it with now.

I also went with C1200 as I wanted something with updated 12PHWR 6+2 maybe now called I forget connector for reliability and safety and single rail not multi rail switchable that you have to use the stupid MSI or Corsair software to switch LMAO so relegated that to test bench Ryzen 5600T.

Edit oops had reset and power switch backwards. First tie did that in a long time lol.
 
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511

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Congratulations you got a decent processor that doesn't lead in gaming but is capable and way faster than 9800X3D 🤣 in non gaming workloads.
 
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gdansk

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and way faster than 9800X3D
If one can convince a single X3D CCD to run at 250 251W they might be closer than one expects.
I'd try it but I don't have sufficient cooling and I still don't think 5500MHz would be enough.