AMD Ryzen 7 2700E vs AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT Comparison

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700E and the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT are both 8-core, 16-thread desktop processors built for the AMD Socket AM4 platform, but they represent two distinct generations of AMD silicon. The 2700E is part of the 2000 series, built on the Zen architecture with the codename "Zen" and the production label "Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge)". The 3800XT belongs to the 3000 series and uses the Zen 2 architecture with the codename "Matisse 2" and the production label "Zen 2 (Matisse)". This architectural leap is the single most important differentiator between the two parts.

The manufacturing process tells the story clearly. The 2700E is fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 192 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. The 3800XT moves to a 7 nm process at TSMC, shrinking the die to 74 mm² while reducing transistor count to 3,800 million. The smaller process node allows the 3800XT to pack more performance per transistor and run at higher clock speeds within a modest power envelope increase.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The 2700E has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the 3800XT runs at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boosts to 4.70 GHz. That is a 1.00 GHz higher base clock and a 0.70 GHz higher boost clock for the 3800XT. The power draw reflects this: the 2700E is rated at 65 W TDP, while the 3800XT is rated at 105 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies are also different. The 2700E has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The 3800XT reduces L1 to 64 KB per core, keeps L2 at 512 KB per core, but doubles the shared L3 cache to 32 MB. The larger L3 pool on the 3800XT is a direct result of the Zen 2 chiplet design and gives it a significant advantage in workloads that benefit from larger working sets residing on-die.

Memory support is DDR4 dual-channel for both, but the 3800XT lists a memory bandwidth figure of 51.2 GB/s, while the 2700E does not have a recorded bandwidth number in the database. The 3800XT also supports PCIe Gen 4, while the 2700E does not list a PCIe generation. Neither processor has integrated graphics, and both lack ECC memory support. The 3800XT has an unlocked multiplier, making it more flexible for overclocking, while the 2700E does not. The 3800XT has a recorded part number (100-100000279WOF) and a launch MSRP of $399.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT wins every head-to-head comparison recorded in the database. Out of two direct comparisons, the 3800XT takes both. The 2700E records zero wins. This is not a close contest, and the data does not reveal any workload category where the 2700E comes out ahead.

The 3800XT is the stronger choice for single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. Its higher base and boost clocks, combined with the architectural efficiency of Zen 2, give it a clear edge in tasks that depend on per-core performance. The single-core Cinebench results confirm this: the 3800XT scores 219 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 177 for the 2700E, a 19.2% advantage.

The 3800XT also dominates in multi-threaded rendering workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2230 against 1255 for the 2700E, a 43.7% lead. This gap is larger than the single-core difference, which suggests that the 3800XT's combination of higher clocks, larger L3 cache, and more efficient core design scales better across all 16 threads.

The 2700E, by contrast, offers no benchmark wins in the recorded data. Its only distinguishing feature in the database is its lower 65 W TDP, which makes it the more power-efficient part on paper. For users who prioritize lower power draw over maximum performance, the 2700E is the more conservative choice, but the recorded benchmarks show no performance scenario where it beats the 3800XT.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: choose the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT unless power consumption is the absolute priority. The 3800XT wins every benchmark comparison in the database, and its wins are not marginal. A 43.7% lead in multi-core Cinebench R15 and a 19.2% lead in single-core Cinebench R15 are decisive margins that will translate into real-world performance differences in rendering, compilation, and general desktop responsiveness.

The 2700E is a 65 W part with a 2.80 GHz base clock and a 4.00 GHz boost clock. Its benchmark scores place it in the 55th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 3603. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 (average score 3608, 0.1% ahead), the Intel Xeon E-2286G (average score 3610, 0.2% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 (average score 3613, 0.3% ahead), and the Intel Xeon E-2276G (average score 3614, 0.3% ahead). The 2700E sits in a tight cluster of CPUs with similar average scores, all within 0.3% of each other.

The 3800XT also sits in the 55th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 3515. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Atom x7213RE (average score 3520, 0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i3-12300T (average score 3525, 0.3% ahead), the Intel Xeon E-2176G (average score 3502, 0.4% behind), and the Intel Xeon W-2135 (average score 3530, 0.4% behind). Interestingly, the 3800XT has a lower average benchmark score than the 2700E, but this is because the two CPUs have different benchmark suites recorded in the database. The 3800XT's suite includes 3DMark and Geekbench tests that the 2700E does not have, and the head-to-head Cinebench results are the only directly comparable measurements.

For users who need maximum performance in a desktop CPU, the 3800XT is the clear pick. For users who need a lower-power 8-core part, the 2700E is the only option, but they should expect significantly lower performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two direct head-to-head comparisons between the AMD Ryzen 7 2700E and the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT, both in Cinebench workloads.

Cinebench R15 Multi-Core: The 3800XT scores 2230, while the 2700E scores 1255. The delta is 43.7% in favor of the 3800XT. This is the largest margin in the head-to-head set. The 3800XT delivers nearly 78% more multi-core performance than the 2700E. The gap reflects not just the higher clocks (3.80 GHz base versus 2.80 GHz base) but also the architectural improvements in Zen 2, including the doubled L3 cache (32 MB versus 16 MB).

Cinebench R15 Single-Core: The 3800XT scores 219, while the 2700E scores 177. The delta is 19.2% in favor of the 3800XT. This is a smaller but still significant margin. Single-core performance is less dependent on cache and thread scaling, so the 19.2% gap largely comes down to the 0.70 GHz higher boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 4.00 GHz) and the IPC improvements of Zen 2 over the original Zen architecture.

The 3800XT's broader benchmark suite, which is not directly comparable to the 2700E's, provides additional context. In 3DMark, the 3800XT scores 748 single-thread, 1475 for 2 threads, 2795 for 4 threads, 4743 for 8 threads, 6307 for 16 threads, and 6294 for max threads. In Geekbench, it scores 1773 single-core and 8561 multi-core. These scores are not compared to the 2700E because the 2700E has no corresponding records in the database, but they illustrate the 3800XT's scaling behavior: performance increases consistently from 1 to 16 threads, with a slight dip at max threads (6294 versus 6307).

The 2700E's benchmark suite includes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 results. In R20, it scores 738 single-core and 5232 multi-core. In R23, it scores 1758 single-core and 12458 multi-core. These numbers are not directly comparable to the 3800XT because the 3800XT lacks R20 and R23 records, but they show the 2700E's absolute performance level across multiple Cinebench versions.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT is significantly faster. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2230 versus 1255 for the 2700E, a 43.7% advantage.

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT is faster. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 219 versus 177 for the 2700E, a 19.2% advantage.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both are 8-core, 16-thread processors.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The 2700E has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The 3800XT has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: How does the cache differ between the two?

A: The 2700E has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The 3800XT has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 512 KB of L2 cache per core.

Q: What is the TDP of each CPU?

A: The 2700E is rated at 65 W, while the 3800XT is rated at 105 W.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score in the database?

A: The 2700E has an average benchmark score of 3603, while the 3800XT has an average score of 3515. However, the two CPUs have different benchmark suites, and the head-to-head Cinebench results show the 3800XT winning both comparisons.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 2700E | AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT |

|---|---|---|

| Series | 2000 series | 3000 series |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 105 W |

| Architecture | Zen | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Zen | Matisse 2 |

| Generation | Ryzen 7 (Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge)) | Ryzen 7 (Zen 2 (Matisse)) |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 4,800 million | 3,800 million |

| Die Size | 192 mm² | 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 32 MB |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 4 |

| Release Date | 2018-09-18 | 2020-07-06 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | Not recorded | 100-100000279WOF |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $399 |

Both CPUs share the same socket (AMD Socket AM4), memory support (DDR4 dual-channel), memory bus type (dual-channel), market segment (desktop), production status (active), integrated graphics (none), and ECC memory support (false). Neither has a recorded 3D V-Cache option, and both have a total L3 cache field that is null in the database.