AMD Reportedly Prepping Cheaper Ryzen 7 7700X3D CPU, Could Discontinue 7800X3D

X3D processors are incredibly popular amongst gamers - in fact, nearly 40 percent of AMD Ryzen owners that responded to our recent website poll said that they used a Ryzen 5000X3D, 7000X3D or 9000X3D-series CPU instead of a cheaper non-X3D equivalent. Given that, it's no surprise to see AMD is reportedly prepping a new, cheaper alternative to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the Ryzen 7 7700X3D.

The leak comes from long-time hardware leaker chi11eddog on Twitter, who succinctly reports the key specs of the chip - including a 120W TDP, eight-core and 16-thread design and 96MB L3 cache allocation.

The final bit of info is the only divergence from the existing 7800X3D, with the 7700X3D having a base clock of 4.0GHz and boost clock of 4.5GHz - a shade slower than the 4.2GHz base and 5.0GHz boost of the 7800X3D. However, given how opportunistically AMD processors boost when thermals and power allow, I'm guessing that we'll see the usual small (two-to-three percent) differential between the 7700X3D and 7800X3D.

If this leak is on the money, then there are two big questions. How much will the new CPU cost versus the £300/$375 7800X3D? And does the arrival of the 7700X3D precipitate waning supply of the 7800X3D, in the same way that we saw the 5700X3D precede the 5800X3D going out of stock worldwide?

Looking back to the release of the 5700X3D, that processor retailed for $250 versus the 5800X3D's contemporary price of ~$320. If we see a similar differential for the 7700X3D versus the 7800X3D, that could see the new X3D CPU cost $300/£240, which would be a pretty incredible deal - and offer a meaningful choice versus the $420/£370 Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

The answer to the second question is likely to be, sadly, yes. If the 7700X3D doesn't offer offer a significant performance difference versus the 7800X3D, it doesn't really make sense for AMD to keep both in stock for the long haul. I'd expect the 7700X3D to arrive and the 7800X3D to depart nine months to a year later, if past AMD behaviour is anything to go by.

But what do you make of this rumour? Would you consider a cheaper Ryzen 7800X3D alternative, or are you waiting for next-generation AMD processors? Let us know in the comments below, and feel free to answer the poll with your current CPU if you haven't already.