Core i5-1038NG7 vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D

CPU

GPU

Core i5-1038NG7

4 Cores8 Thrd28 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2020

Similar parts

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Ryzen 7 7800X3D

8 Cores16 Thrd120 WWMax: 5 GHz2023

Ryzen family

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Core i5-1038NG7 vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D Performance Spectrum

Core i5-1038NG7

4 / 8

8,823

0.0%

34,293

+288.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i5-1038NG7 vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-1038NG7 vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-1038NG7

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 120W, a 92W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7800X3D across 37 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,823 vs 34,293).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1344 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 7800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +134.7% higher average FPS across 37 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1344 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $449 MSRP, while Core i5-1038NG7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌328.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 28W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 7800X3D better than Core i5-1038NG7?

Yes. Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 134.7% average FPS lead across 37 shared CPU game tests in our data, 288.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 134.7% more average FPS across 37 shared CPU game tests. It also has a clear cache advantage at 96 MB versus 6 MB.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the stronger fit. You are getting 288.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 1500% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 6 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 7800X3D comes in at an unclear MSRP at $449 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 134.7% average FPS lead across 37 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (76.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 7 7800X3D makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1344, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 96 MB L3 cache instead of 6 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 4/8. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-1038NG7 vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-1038NG7

The Core i5-1038NG7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Ice Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1344. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-3733. Passmark benchmark score: 8,823 points. Launch price was $320.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 34,293 points. Launch price was $449.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-1038NG7 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i5-1038NG7 versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — a 27.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D (base: 2 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core i5-1038NG7 uses the Ice Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1038NG7 scores 8,823 against the Ryzen 7 7800X3D's 34,293 — a 118.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,250 vs 2,700, a 73.4% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-1038NG7 vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Feature	Core i5-1038NG7	Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	5 GHz+32%
Base Clock	2 GHz	4.4 GHz+120%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	96 MB (total)+1500%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	10 nm	5 nm-50%
Architecture	Ice Lake-U (2019−2020)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	8,823	34,293+289%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,250	2,700+116%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	15,000

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1038NG7 uses the FCBGA1344 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR4-3733 on the Core i5-1038NG7 versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D supports 39.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-1038NG7) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 7800X3D) — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-1038NG7	Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Socket	FCBGA1344	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR4-3733	DDR5-5200+39%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	28+75%

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1038NG7) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 7800X3D). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Core i5-1038NG7) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 7 7800X3D) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1038NG7 targets Premium Laptop, Ryzen 7 7800X3D targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-1038NG7 rivals Ryzen 7 4800U; Ryzen 7 7800X3D rivals Intel Core i7-14700K.

Feature	Core i5-1038NG7	Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Iris Plus Graphics G7	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Premium Laptop	Gaming