The FPS Review Weekender: Ryzen 7 7700X3D Divides the Press, We Review the New ASRock CHALLENGER White, Plus 8 More

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By David Schroth

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The Ryzen 7 7700X3D embargo lifted Wednesday and immediately generated the most contested CPU verdict of the year, with gaming-focused outlets largely positive and everyone running a price calculator pointing at the 7800X3D sitting $20 higher on the shelf. Rick Patterson also dropped a full review of ASRock’s new entry-level AM5 CHALLENGER WiFi White this week, and TechPowerUp delivered the first Western review of a YMTC-backed Gen 5 NVMe, making storage the quieter storyline of a CPU-dominated week.

AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D

Written reviews:

Video reviews:

Consensus summary: The 7700X3D is a downclocked 7800X3D at $329: same eight Zen 4 cores, same 96 MB of stacked 3D V-Cache, same 120W TDP, but a 4.5 GHz boost ceiling versus the 7800X3D’s 5.0 GHz. AMD’s internal data shows the chip delivers roughly four percent better gaming performance than the non-X3D 7700X, while Guru3D’s independent testing pegs the 7800X3D at about nine percent ahead in gaming despite identical cache architecture. TechPowerUp, HotHardware, XDA, and WCCFTech reached broadly positive verdicts centered on its gaming-per-dollar case against Intel’s Core Ultra 7 270K Plus; Tom’s Hardware and KitGuru were harsher on value grounds, with Tom’s noting the 7800X3D streets for only about $20 more and offers approximately double the multi-threaded headroom. US availability at launch is Newegg-exclusive with a $49 coupon bringing it to $280, for now..

FPS Review take: We published a standalone editorial yesterday digging into the split reception and who the 7700X3D is actually for: AMD’s New $330 Gaming CPU Has a $20 Problem Called the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Short version: good chip, rough pricing context. We covered the original Computex announcement back in May if you want AMD’s PR words.

ASRock X870 CHALLENGER WiFi White

Written reviews:

Consensus summary: The CHALLENGER series is ASRock’s entry-level AM5 gaming line, positioned below the Steel Legend, Phantom Gaming RIPTIDE, Phantom Gaming NOVA, and Taichi tiers. The X870 version of the CHALLENGER arrived in February 2026 as the mid-range step in a lineup that started on B850 in mid-2025, and the White colorway is the most recent addition.

FPS Review take: This is our own review and the right starting point if you are considering ASRock’s AM5 value lineup. A solid week to look at the full ASRock AM5 spectrum: Rick covered the entry tier here, and TechPowerUp covered the flagship Taichi White this week as well (see below).

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 10th Anniversary Edition

Written reviews:

Video reviews:

Consensus summary: The 10th Anniversary Edition is functionally identical to the original Ryzen 7 5800X3D: eight Zen 3 cores, 96 MB of 3D V-Cache, and AM4 compatibility going back to 400-series boards. The Anniversary SKU uses AMD’s newer second-generation cache-stacking process rather than the original, which required a meaningful engineering effort per AMD’s own engineering team, and the package now includes a Carbice Ice Pad thermal interface. TechSpot’s fresh evaluation confirms the chip still performs impressively for AM4 owners, including matching the Ryzen 5 7500F in several gaming tests and trailing Intel’s Core Ultra 5 250K Plus by only four percent. Both outlets reach the same conclusion: a compelling drop-in upgrade for existing AM4 system owners at $349, but a hard recommendation to justify for anyone building from scratch on a platform that requires DDR4.

FPS Review take: We covered both the 7700X3D and 5800X3D Anniversary announcements at Computex as part of AMD’s dual-platform value push. The case for the Anniversary Edition is cleaner than it looks: if you already have a B550 or X570 board and decent DDR4, this is still one of the fastest gaming processors you can drop into that system for a single-SKU purchase.

ASRock X870E Taichi White

Written reviews:

Consensus summary: The X870E Taichi White is the flagship tier of the ASRock AM5 lineup and, notably, the first all-white Taichi board ever produced. TechPowerUp finds the launch price holding at $450 (WCCFTech lists $439.99), unchanged from its predecessor despite adding 10 Gbps Ethernet, a larger 512 Mbit/64 MB BIOS chip, and a more extensive white color scheme that extends across the full board surface. TweakTown used this board as the test platform for their 7700X3D review this week, which speaks to its positioning as the natural companion for enthusiast AM5 builds. The remaining concern both outlets raise is the continued existence of the older Taichi at discounted prices, which makes the refresh recommendation conditional on how much the new features matter to a given builder.

FPS Review take: A natural companion to Rick’s CHALLENGER WiFi White review this week: the CHALLENGER covers ASRock’s entry AM5 tier and the Taichi White covers the top. If you are planning an AM5 build and trying to place ASRock’s lineup in context, reading both reviews together this week gives you the full picture. Rick’s CHALLENGER review is the place to start for budget-conscious builders.

Samsung 990 2TB NVMe SSD

Written reviews:

Consensus summary: The Samsung 990 (not 990 Pro) is a new QLC-based Gen 4 SSD aimed at the budget tier below the 990 Pro, priced at $269.99 for 1 TB and $529.99 for the 2 TB model reviewed. All four outlets who reviewed at embargo lift on July 14 land in a similar place: it is a capable mainstream Gen 4 drive with Samsung’s typical build quality and software support, but the QLC NAND produces mediocre efficiency relative to the TLC-based 990 Pro, and the pricing leaves it squeezed from both sides: the 990 Pro is close enough in price to raise the question of why, and newer Gen 5 options are increasingly accessible at similar dollar figures. PCPerspective and StorageReview note the drive makes most sense for Gen 4 platforms, SFF builds, or laptops where thermal headroom is a constraint.

FPS Review take: Samsung releasing a QLC Gen 4 budget SKU in mid-2026 is worth a raised eyebrow given where the storage market is sitting price-wise, and the multi-outlet embargo structure confirms this is a planned product launch rather than a quiet SKU addition. The pricing is the gap to watch as it settles over the next few weeks.

Zhitai TiPlus 9100 1 TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD

Written reviews:

Consensus summary: Zhitai is the consumer brand of YMTC, China’s largest domestic NAND manufacturer, and the TiPlus 9100 is its first PCIe 5.0 consumer SSD, using YMTC’s own Xtacking 4.0 267-layer TLC NAND paired with what TechPowerUp’s analysis identifies as a Maxio MAP1802 DRAM-less controller. TechPowerUp gives it a strong verdict: sequential reads reach 12,000 MB/s, sustained writes continue at a solid 2 GB/s after the SLC cache exhausts, and power efficiency is among the best they have tested at the Gen 5 tier. TechPowerUp notes this review is also the debut of their overhauled 2026 real-world test suite, making it a benchmark reference point going forward.

FPS Review take: YMTC has been in the news throughout 2026 for trade policy reasons, and the TiPlus 9100 is an interesting product to watch for Western PC builders. A DRAM-less Gen 5 drive that competes with established Gen 4 flagships in many scenarios and does so with better efficiency than most of its Gen 5 peers is a meaningful data point regardless of brand politics.

Team Group T-Force GA PRO Gen5 2 TB NVMe SSD

Written reviews:

Consensus summary: The T-Force GA PRO Gen5 is positioned as an entry point into PCIe 5.0 storage for builders who want Gen 5 bandwidth without paying flagship Gen 5 prices, with the 2 TB capacity the review target. WCCFTech’s evaluation found specs tuned to deliver strong sequential performance at a competitive price point relative to other budget Gen 5 options, with the expected trade-offs in sustained write endurance compared to DRAM-equipped competitors at the same speed tier.

FPS Review take: Between the Samsung 990 (budget Gen 4), the T-Force GA PRO (budget Gen 5), and the Zhitai TiPlus 9100 (efficient DRAM-less Gen 5), this week produced a reference sweep of the mainstream storage market in mid-2026. If you are spec’ing a new AM5 build around any of the AM5 CPUs reviewed this week, comparing all three gives you a picture of where the value line sits.

ASRock Phantom Gaming and Steel Legend 360 LCD AIO Coolers

Written reviews:

Consensus summary: Tom’s Hardware reviewed both ASRock’s Phantom Gaming 360 LCD and Steel Legend 360 LCD in a single evaluation, calling it “an impressive cooling debut” for the company’s first integrated-display AIO lineup. Both units feature pump-head LCD displays targeting the same segment as similar offerings from ASUS, MSI, and Cooler Master. Tom’s Hardware found thermal and acoustic performance competitive within the display-AIO category, with the two tiers differentiated primarily by aesthetics and RGB implementation rather than cooling outcome.

FPS Review take: The AIO LCD market has gotten crowded fast, but Tom’s Hardware’s review gives buyers an independent data point on ASRock’s entry into it.

Cooler Master HAF II 500

Written reviews:

Consensus summary: Tom’s Hardware calls the HAF II 500 a proper successor to the original High Air Flow chassis legacy, delivering on the brand name with impressive airflow metrics in testing alongside a roomy, well-organized interior. The HAF name carries real nostalgia weight for builders who were in the hobby in the mid-2000s, and Tom’s Hardware finds the performance justifies the revival rather than treating the name as a marketing badge.

FPS Review take: The HAF name is one of those brands that earns a nod of respect from this audience. If Tom’s Hardware’s testing holds up, this is a case worth watching for readers who prioritize airflow over aesthetics in a mid-tower build.

MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi II

Written reviews:

Consensus summary: Tom’s Hardware finds the Z890 Tomahawk WiFi II a modest refresh of the well-regarded original, trimming a few features while bringing the price down slightly. For Intel LGA1851 Arrow Lake builders at the mainstream enthusiast tier, the Tomahawk has been a reliable recommendation, and this revision does not change that profile meaningfully in either direction.

FPS Review take: Rick reviewed the MSI Z890 Gaming Plus WiFi 6E in June for context on MSI’s Intel 800-series lineup. Arrow Lake has been overshadowed by AMD’s AM5 activity this week, but the Tomahawk remains the sensible default reference for Z890 buyers who want proven platform coverage at a reasonable price.

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David Schroth
David is a computer hardware enthusiast that has been tinkering with computer hardware for the past 25 years and writing reviews for more than ten years. He's the Founder and Editor in Chief of The FPS Review.

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