CPU options for virtual reality applications include the CPUs9700X or 9800X3D.
CPU options for virtual reality applications include the CPUs9700X or 9800X3D.
I'm evaluating my CPU options for the 5070 Ti. The price gap between the 9700X and 9800X3D is currently 155 USD. It's unclear if that difference justifies the upgrade, especially considering your needs for VR sim racing and VRChat. You also use Unity and Blender occasionally for avatar work, and you're thinking about thermal performance for a Thermaltake build. If accurate, newer 9000 Series chips offer better thermal efficiency compared to older generations.
Are you constructing a new PC from the ground up or enhancing current parts? It seems the $150 increase could be worth considering if you haven’t already purchased it. The X3D offers a noticeable improvement thanks to its cache, while the 9700X is already quite powerful, so the difference won’t be drastic. If you can spare the funds, go for it—thermal management shouldn’t be overly challenging as long as you have a solid cooler and properly configured fans.
I’m creating a completely new setup starting from a 5800X and AM4 platform. It’s a bit late to make changes, but I still need my PSU and CPU. The cooling should work—360mm AIO with a few extra fans should suffice.
I upgraded from a 7700x to a 9800X3D using an overclocked RTX 4080, and noticed a slight boost in frame rates across most games. In Hell Let Loose I actually gained around 70 frames. It seems the cache helped a lot. The biggest change was that the low frame numbers jumped up noticeably—both 1% and 0.1% were much higher on the new model, making gameplay feel smoother overall. I’m playing at 1440p at 240hz and 3440 x 1440 at 144hz in my simrig. Upgrading made no sense to me, but it’s easy to keep cool with a Deepcool AK620 running at 30% speed. I even sold my 7700x for its retail value, which really eased the decision.
The 360mm AIO handles the cooling well for the 9800X3D. I use a compact dual air cooler running at 30% speed, and it’s kept at a stable temperature. The chip has been boosted to 5.6Ghz from the original 5.25Ghz stock, and there have been no temperature problems.
It's obvious, simracing titles appreciate the boost from X3D CPUs, and smooth performance is crucial, particularly in VR simracing. But only when the cost isn't a problem.