We may earn a commission when you buy through links in our articles. Learn more

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D overclocked to impressive 5.4GHz

The Ryzen 7800X3D isn't meant to be overclocked and is limited to 5GHz but one YouTuber has already found a workaround to get more performance.

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D overclocked to 5.4GHz

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a fantastic CPU for gaming thanks to its massive 64MB 3D V-Cache, but one thing it isn’t supposed to be good for is overclocking. Despite this, YouTuber SkatterBencher has managed to push the new AMD Ryzen CPU beyond its default clock speed of 5GHz all the way up to 5.4GHz, without having to resort to sub-zero cooling solutions.

This feat is particularly impressive as unlike most AMD Ryzen CPUs, the 7800X3D doesn’t have manual overclocking enabled. Instead, only limited automatic overclocking can be done via AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) and Curve Optimizer technologies.

The reason for this limitation is the extra 3D V-Cache chip that sits on top of the 7800X3D’s CCD. While this cache chips unlocks PC gaming performance, it also adds its own heat to the CPU and blocks dissipation of heat generated in the CCD. As such, risking even more heat being generated by user overclocking and harming the GPU, wasn’t a route AMD wanted to take.

So how did SkatterBencher achieve this seemingly impossible feat? By using an external clock generator, which is sadly a niche feature of only certain high-end motherboards. In particular, SkatterBencher used an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E motherboard, which he combined with EK custom loop water cooling to ensure temperatures were kept as low as possible.

You can see the full process of how the extra speed was obtained in the video below, but be sure to proceed with caution if you do attempt to overclock the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D or try to overclock any of the other X3D chips – they’re all similarly limited.

YouTube Thumbnail

Read our full AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D review to get the complete picture of this intriguing CPU’s performance. Great for games but limited elsewhere, it’s an intriguing option.