PC Build: 13900K vs 7950X

[WT4DX]

I'm looking at two different CPUs for a PC build for the radio station, and specifically for the ANAN. Both are probably overkill, and it's probably a moot point with our application. But with that said, these are the two that are currently under consideration.

The first being the Intel Core i9-13900K, and the second being the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. There are a ton of YouTube videos on this comparison, and the results vary between the two depending upon the application.

The thread count is the same on both (32), but the core architecture between the 13900k and the 7950X is different. The 13900K has 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, and the 7950X has 16 performance cores. So is one better than the other?

The Intel CPU does require more power in comparison to the AMD.

Another consideration is upgradability. The next to be released Intel 14th Gen. CPU will have a new socket, and thus the need for a new mother board if one were to upgrade. Conversely, the AM5 socket for the 7950X and the like will be supported through 2025.

What are your opinions between these two CPUs, and I'm open to any other suggestions?

73,
Tem
WT4DX

[Joe]

I went through the same decision some time back. I upgraded from a 5950x which I still need to part with. I went with the intel 13900kf as upgraded the video card as well. The 13900 had a bit better performance ratings but not by much, you will want to look at good cooling options. All of these CPU’s run pretty hot but that is their design. I am very pleased with the 13900kf would build again for sure. In all honesty, the cpu usage percentage is pretty much the same as the 5950x which is probably due to both having the same thread count which I believe Thetis counts on. With Thetis running along with other programs - visual studio, wavenode, surfing the internet; I see around 1 to 4% cpu load. You really can’t go wrong either way.

73’s
Joe
WD5Y

[w-u-2-o]

Given that choice, I'd go for the Ryzen for the cores and the upgrade path.

[W4WMT]

I am suspicious of these new Intel performance cores and efficiency cores. Is there going to be some Windows API that allows applications to specify that certain threads get first dibs on a performance core at thread creation time? Otherwise, our quasi-realtime streaming threads in ChannelMaster may find themselves poking along on one of the efficiency cores. If the Windows CLR thread scheduler is counting on heuristics to figure out how to assign cores, I think that would backfire, because while the ChannelMaster streaming threads don't eat up a bunch of CPU cycles, they damn sure can't afford to wait around for a core to be assigned to them. IMHO, the jury is still out on this performance/efficiency core business.

73, Bryan

[Joe]

As I said, I believe you can’t go wrong either way. For me, I checked out many reviews / performance tests and went with the 13900kf. I have been using this cpu for around six months or so and very pleased with the performance. Either choice you will be very pleased, more than likely the results will be overkill for Thetis to be honest. I just enjoy building PCs when I can. Hopefully the technology will be a boost for SDR (Thetis). The main thing with either build, be sure to invest in good cooler.

73’s
Joe
WD5Y

[WT4DX]

Joe,

On your current PC, what cooler and GPU are you running?

73,
Tem
WT4DX

[Joe]

Tem,
I’m running an RX 6700 xt 12gb video card, a deepcool mesh digital case with a deepcool LT 720 cooler. Honestly the 13900 runs at idle around 32 deg C and seldom tops out at around 73 deg C peaks, designed for up to 100 deg C. The 5950x did run warmer but I also had a 240 mm cooler there. I do not overclock would be useless to me. I do have memory xmp enabled in bios. I googled around and got some pretty good prices on the build parts. I was thinking of the 7950x possibly because of motherboard cpu socket life-time, newness, etc. but to be honest when a new build takes place, normally you replace motherboard as well because the bios chipset has been upgraded, etc., just my thoughts.

73’s
Joe
WD5Y

[WT4DX]

It appears that Intel is coming out with a new and rebranded CPU sooner than later.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel ... amds-ryzen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX7phy_LzyU

73,
Tem
WT4DX