Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Opteron 246
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Opteron 246
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Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 246
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($486) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) / 5 nm, 6 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (SledgeHammer (2003−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($486) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Opteron 246
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,323 points. Launch price was $699.
Opteron 246
The Opteron 246 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Agosto 2003 (22 years ago). It is based on the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 940. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 538 points. Launch price was $109.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Opteron 246 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D has 15 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D versus 2 GHz on the Opteron 246 — a 96.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Opteron 246 uses SledgeHammer (2003−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D scores 62,323 against the Opteron 246's 538 — a 196.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs 0 kB on the Opteron 246.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+1500% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 5.7 GHz+185% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 128 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB |
| Process | 5 nm, 6 nm-96% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) | SledgeHammer (2003−2005) |
| PassMark | 62,323+11484% | 538 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 38,581 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,926 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 19,643 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Opteron 246 uses 940 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM5 | 940 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-5200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Ryzen 9 7950X3D) / not specified (Opteron 246). The Ryzen 9 7950X3D includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Opteron 246 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 7950X3D rivals Core i9-13900K.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7950X3D | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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