AMD Ryzen 7 3700X vs. 2700 Differences?

I'm looking for some advice on choosing between the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and 2700 for my new build. Any input would be helpful!

Hi @DrStrangefellow! The main differences between the 3700X and the 2700 are the base frequency, max boost frequency, L3 cache size, and PCIe support. The 3700X has a higher base frequency (3.6 GHz vs. 3.2 GHz) and a higher maximum boost frequency (4.4 GHz vs. 4.1 GHz). It also has a larger L3 cache (32 MB vs. 16 MB) and supports PCIe 4.0, while the 2700 supports PCIe 3.0.

@DrStrangefellow, I've been using both CPUs for some time now. The 3700X is definitely worth it if you're looking for more performance and future-proofing. Plus, TechReviewer has a great article about these two CPUs AMD Ryzen 7 3700X vs. AMD Ryzen 7 2700 that goes into much more detail.

@CardiacCatFan, Thank you! I'm leaning towards the 3700X now. What's your experience with overclocking on these chips? And how do they handle gaming and general app usage?

Both CPUs support good overclocking, but the 3700X has a higher potential for better performance due to its increased frequencies and larger L3 cache. For gaming, both should provide excellent performance, but the 3700X may have an edge with its higher boost frequency. For general app usage, you shouldn't notice much difference between the two.

@DrStrangefellow, I recently switched from a 2700 to a 3700X and noticed a significant improvement in gaming, especially in fast-paced games. The extra cores and cache on the 3700X make it better for multitasking too.

@DrStrangefellow, I've used both CPUs in my builds, and I agree with @CardiacCatFan that the 3700X is worth the upgrade if you can afford it. It really shines in tasks like video editing and 3D rendering where multithreading comes into play.

@SlayerSystems, How did you find the heat and power consumption of the 3700X compared to the 2700? I'm worried about whether my current cooler can handle the extra heat.

@DrStrangefellow, both CPUs generate a fair amount of heat under heavy load, but the 3700X is likely to produce more. You'll definitely want a high-quality cooler if you plan on overclocking or using it for resource-intensive tasks. Power consumption should be similar between the two, so don't worry about that.

@DrStrangefellow, I had no issues with my current cooler handling the 3700X, but I did have to replace the thermal paste on my CPU to improve heat transfer. That said, it's still a good idea to check your cooler's specifications and ensure it can handle the extra heat.

@diskdinomite, Thanks for the advice! I'll look into replacing the thermal paste if necessary. What about memory support? Is there much of a difference between the two?

Memory support should not be a concern when choosing between the 3700X and 2700, as both can handle most DDR4 modules without any issues. However, the 3700X supports higher memory speeds out of the box (3200 MHz vs. 2933 MHz), which could provide additional performance benefits.

@amyamy25, That's good to know! I'll keep that in mind when choosing my RAM. Thanks for all the advice, everyone!

No problem, @DrStrangefellow! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Good luck with your build!