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AMD’s new gaming processor is “a slam dunk on Intel” — here’s where you can buy it

Umito November 7, 2024

What you need to know

AMD has officially launched the Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor using the Zen 5 architecture.
The new processor features AMD 3D V-Cache technology which significantly improves gaming performance.
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is now available for purchase starting at $479, which is $30 more than its predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

The highly anticipated Ryzen 7 9800X3D has officially launched after months of rumors and speculation. It comes just after the AMD standard Ryzen 9000 desktop chipsreleased in August 2024, which editor Ben Wilson reviewed favorably.

Wilson too reviewed the new Ryzen 7 9800X3Dcalling it the “best gaming processor” and awarding it the Windows Central Best Award. And this despite a higher launch price ($30) than that of the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D, still available today.

I still expect to see more Ryzen 9000

November 7, 9:03 a.m. EST: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is already sold out on Newegg. Amazon, Best Buy and B&H still hold shares.

The best offers at the start of Black Friday

“Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming processor”

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor in motherboard socket Best Windows Central Award

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D installed in the motherboard used for testing. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

This should not come as much of a surprise to those who have followed the latest Zen5 rumors that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has surpassed its predecessor to become the best new processor for PC gamers.

Editor-in-Chief Ben Wilson tested the 9800X3D using a MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi motherboard, Liquid freezer III 360 cooler, and G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5 RAM. In his Ryzen 7 9800X3D reviewhe declared:

“Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU, politely dethroning its predecessor as the new king of the mountain as a cache-hungry monster. However, it doesn’t win any awards for productivity. It’s not worth installing in a PC that spends most of its time crunching numbers in Microsoft Office and Teams from the 9900X and 9950X dominate this category, but it’s a much better choice for gamers than anything in Intel’s modern productivity-focused offerings.

Unfortunately, those who will benefit the most will have to spend a significant amount of money on a new motherboard and RAM upgrades, making the 9800X3D MSRP hike cost just over $30. Still, this is the new meta for PC gaming, and nothing else can dispute its ability to deliver monstrous FPS numbers if you can pair it with a capable GPU to enjoy the latest loaded AAA titles visual luxury.

Like its predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D, this is a processor intended primarily for gaming. Its productivity scores, as Wilson states, are not exceptional, even lagging behind the Ultra 5 245K core in a bunch of productivity criteria. Here is an overview of the results.

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AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D benchmark results graph for Geekbench 6 — Geekbench 6 tests the CPU’s synthetic burst performance.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

As expected, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s performance absolutely shines in gaming. As you can see below, it is well ahead of Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 285K flagship product for demanding games. This is despite the Core Ultra 9 having more cores, more threads, a higher clock speed and a higher TDP.

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Graph of AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D benchmark results for various PC games — AMD’s 9800X3D edges out Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K in most FPS games, with unusual data in Forza Horizon 5 likely caused by temporary bugs.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

Wilson also pulled a number of real-world benchmarks from the games listed in the table above for a better idea of where performance lies. These are some of the most demanding games on the market right now, but it’s clear that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has no problem running them.

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AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D benchmark test in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 game benchmark data.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

Noteworthy metrics include the Ryzen 7 9800X3D achieving a 52% performance increase in Cyberpunk 2077, as well as a 43% performance increase in Far Cry 6. Even the new Call of Duty Black Ops 6 achieves a 41% increase. compared to Intel’s Core Ultra. 9,285K.

Is it worth upgrading to Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is undoubtedly tempting for all serious PC gamers. I know I’ve had my eye on the new chip since the rumors began, and based on the positive reviews, I intend to come up with a PC upgrade plan.

I’m coming from a Ryzen 7 5800X chip, a few generations old now. In fact, it uses an old AM4 motherboard socket and DDR4 RAM, which means I will have to upgrade the motherboard and memory when I change chips. If you’re working with a Ryzen 5000 chip, you’ll need to do the same. Whether or not this makes financial sense at the moment, only you can say. If you want to upgrade to the new Zen 5 chip, take a look at best motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to help you get started.

If you’re already working with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, chances are you don’t really see the need to upgrade to the 9800X3D. Your upgrade path will be easier with the 7800X3D using the AM5 socket and DDR5 RAM, but the $479 MSRP for the 9800X3D definitely seems a bit high when your 7800X3D is still so powerful.

Here’s a quick look at the Ryzen 9800X3D and 7800X3D specs.

Drag to scroll horizontally

Header Cell – Column 0	AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores/wires	8 / 16	8 / 16
TDP	120W	120W
Basic clock	4.7GHz	4.2GHz
Increase clock	5.2GHz	5GHz
Unlocked for overclocking?	Yes	No
Architecture	Zen5	Zen4
Socket	AM5	AM5
L1 cache	640 KB	512 KB
L2 cache	8 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	96 MB	96 MB

Where to buy the Ryzen 7 9800X3D

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is now available for purchase at major online retailers like Best Buy, Newegg, B&H, and Amazon.

You’re looking at the same introductory price of $479 across all retailers, and that should stay for now. It’s still possible that the price of the new processor could drop for Black Friday or Cyber Monday if discounted inventory remains.

If you’re buying at launch, here are the retailers currently offering the chip for $479.

Are there any PCs pre-built with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

I expect to see many pre-built gaming PCs having the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as their centerpiece, but by the time the chip launches, your options are very limited.

I’ll keep this article updated with any new pre-built PCs using the 9800X3D processor that I spot on launch day and beyond.

Is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D still available for purchase?

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D in box Best Windows Central Award

The AMD Ryzen 7800X3D remains a great option for gaming PCs, although its current high price makes the 9800X3D even better. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

Yes, the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still available for purchase. However, it is more expensive today than at launch. In some countries, including Canada where I live, this is virtually impossible to find. This is a testament to its enduring power and popularity.

With the best price I can find hovering around $476 at Amazon – or around $570 at Newegg and Walmart – you might as well buy the new Ryzen 7 9800X3D for around the same price.

My recommendation changes if the price of 7800X3D suddenly drops after the launch of 9800X3D. There will also be Black Friday and Cyber Monday in a few weeks, which is usually a great opportunity to save a lot on PC parts and upgrades.

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AMD’s new gaming processor is “a slam dunk on Intel” — here’s where you can buy it

What you need to know

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