The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D Makes The Best Gaming CPU Just a Little Bit Better

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is already the champion gaming processor retired close now, but AMD is pursuing up with a mid-generation refresh astatine CES 2026, with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D.

This caller gaming processor is virtually the aforesaid arsenic the existing 9800X3D, but with a important out-of-the-box overclock, with a Max Turbo Boost of 5.6GHz for the 9850X3D, compared to 5.2GHz connected the archetypal processor. That's astir a 7% boost to timepiece speeds, which should marque this processor clasp a decent borderline implicit astir different CPUs you'll find successful a gaming PC.

The timepiece velocity is astir the lone happening changing, though. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D inactive has 8 cores and 16 threads and the aforesaid 104MB of 3D V-Cache. It besides has the aforesaid 120W TDP, contempt its higher timepiece speed. So portion the 9850X3D will beryllium faster than the 9800X3D, it won't beryllium by capable to person anyone that already has a 9th-generation Ryzen spot to upgrade.

However, for anyone that hasn't made the upgrade yet, this caller processor volition beryllium amended for gaming than the original, if adjacent conscionable by a small bit. AMD hasn't shared pricing accusation connected this processor yet, though, truthful it remains to beryllium seen whether oregon not this spot volition beryllium a amended value. But with however RAM keeps getting much expensive, I wouldn't clasp my breath.

Luckily, adjacent though AMD is fundamentally replacing the 9800X3D, Team Red volition proceed to merchantability the archetypal spot – truthful adjacent if the 9850X3D is mode much expensive, you mightiness beryllium capable to get a woody connected the somewhat slower CPU.

I went up and listed retired the specs of some the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D below.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor astatine IGN and the PC components queen. You tin travel her @Jackiecobra