Which is better for gaming?

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, by a wide margin. Its 96 MB L3 cache and 8 cores put it among the fastest gaming CPUs available, while the 4-core i7-7700K struggles in current titles.

Can I put the 9800X3D in an old LGA1151 board?

No. The 9800X3D uses AM5 and needs a DDR5 AM5 motherboard. The i7-7700K uses LGA1151 and DDR4, so the two are not interchangeable.

Is the i7-7700K still worth buying?

Only as a cheap replacement for a broken chip in an existing LGA1151 system. For a new build it is a dead end with no upgrade path.

Does the 9800X3D need a new cooler?

It ships without a cooler and draws 120 W, so plan on a solid air or 240 mm liquid cooler. The 7700K at 91 W is easier to cool but also ships without a cooler.

Which supports more memory?

The 9800X3D supports up to 192 GB of DDR5 with ECC. The i7-7700K caps at 64 GB of DDR4-2400 without ECC.

Is the renewed 7700K reliable?

Renewed chips are tested and resold, but they are 2017 parts with no manufacturer warranty beyond the seller's. Check the return window before buying.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs Intel Core i7-7700K

These are not close competitors. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a current AM5 gaming CPU with 8 cores, 16 threads and 96 MB of L3 cache; the i7-7700K is a 2017 quad-core on a dead LGA1151 platform, sold renewed. Buy the 9800X3D for any new build or gaming upgrade. The 7700K only makes sense as a cheap drop-in replacement for an existing LGA1151 board. No prices were given for either product, so compare live store prices before buying.

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