The world’s best gaming CPU launches today – here’s where to find the 9800X3D
Enthusiasts take note; the new best CPU for gaming is out, but it’s selling fast. Here’s what you need to know.
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What you need to know
The much-anticipated Ryzen 7 9800X3D has officially launched following months of rumors and speculation. It comes on the heels of AMD’s standardRyzen 9000 desktop chips, released in August 2024, which Senior Editor Ben Wilson favorably reviewed.
Wilson alsoreviewed the new Ryzen 7 9800X3D, calling it “the best gaming CPU” and handing it a Windows Central Best Award. That’s despite a higher launch price (by $30) than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D predecessor, which is still available today.
I’m still expecting to see more Ryzen 9000 X3D chips to launch in the future, but I’d be surprised if the 9800X3D doesn’t remain the most popular choice for gamers for a long time.
November 8, 9:10 AM EST:The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is back in stock at Amazon but remains unavailable at Newegg, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. Pre-built custom PCs featuring the chip are still available; details below. — Ben Wilson
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
AMD’s new $479 Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers a second-gen 3D V-Cache that pushes gaming performance beyond even the stellar Ryzen 7 7800X3D predecessor. If you want the absolute best processor for PC gaming, there’s really no other option.
👉Available at:Best Buy|Newegg|Amazon|B&H
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“Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU”
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who’s been following the latestZen 5rumors that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has surpassed its predecessor to become the best new CPU for PC gamers.
Senior Editor Ben Wilson tested the 9800X3D using anMSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFimotherboard,Liquid Freezer III 360cooler, andG.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5RAM. In hisRyzen 7 9800X3D review, he stated:
“Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU, politely dethroning its predecessor as the new king of the hill as a cache-heavy monster. However, it’s not winning any awards for productivity. It isn’t worth installing into a PC that spends most of its time crunching numbers in Microsoft Office and Teams since the9900X and 9950Xdominate that category, but it’s a far better pick for gamers than anything from Intel’s modern productivity-centric offerings.
Unfortunately, those who’ll benefit most will need to spend a sizeable amount of cash on anew motherboardand RAM upgrades, making the 9800X3D MSRP hike sting a little more than a cute $30. Nevertheless, this is the new meta for PC gaming, and nothing else can challenge its ability to deliver monstrous FPS counts if you can pair it with a capable GPU to enjoy the latest AAA titles loaded with visual luxuries.”
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Like the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D, this is a processor intended mainly for gaming. Its productivity scores, as Wilson states, aren’t exceptional, falling behind even theCore Ultra 5 245Kin a bunch of productivity benchmarks. Here’s a look at the results.
As expected, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s performance absolutely shines in games. As you can see below, it pulls far ahead ofIntel’s latest Core Ultra 9 285Kflagship in demanding games. That’s despite the Core Ultra 9 having more cores, more threads, a higher clock speed, and a higher TDP.
Wilson also pulled a bunch of real-world benchmarks from the games listed in the chart above for a better idea of where performance lies. These are some of the most demanding games out there right now, but it’s clear that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has no problems running them.
Standout metrics include the Ryzen 7 9800X3D reaching a 52% performance increase in Cyberpunk 2077, as well as a 43% increase to performance in Far Cry 6. Even the new Call of Duty Black Ops 6 hits a 41% increase compared to Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K.
Is it worth upgrading to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is undoubtedly tempting for any serious PC gamers. I know I’ve had my eye on the new chip since rumors began, and based on the positive reviews I plan on putting together a PC upgrade plan.
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I’m coming from a Ryzen 7 5800X chip, which is now a few generations old. In fact, it’s using an older AM4 motherboard socket and DDR4 RAM, which means I’ll need to upgrade the motherboard and memory when I make the chip change. If you’re working with a Ryzen 5000 chip, you’ll need to do the same. Whether or not that makes financial sense right now only you can say. If you are looking to upgrade to the new Zen 5 chip, have a look attop motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3Dto get you started.
If you’re already working with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, chances are you don’t see much need to upgrade to the 9800X3D. Your upgrade path will be easier due to the 7800X3D using the AM5 socket and DDR5 RAM, but the $479 MSRP for the 9800X3D no doubt seems a bit steep when your 7800X3D is still so potent.
Here’s a quick look at the Ryzen 9800X3D and 7800X3D specifications.
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 $479 launch price across retailers, and that’s expected to stick for the time being. It’s always within the realm of possibility that the new CPU will drop in price for Black Friday or Cyber Monday if there’s any stock left to discount.
If you’re buying at launch, here are the retailers currently offering the chip at $479.
Are there pre-built PCs with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
I’m expecting to see plenty of pre-built gaming PCs have the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as a centerpiece, but at the time of the chip’s launch, your options are limited. With the standalone CPUs now sold out everywhere I look, a pre-built might be your next best option.
I first spotted a couple of custom PCs from iBuyPower. There areset models starting at $2,099, but you can configure them with a ton of different hardware centered around the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Thelowest price I could configure was $1,346, and there’s almost no limit to what you can add if your budget allows.
iBuyPower AMD Ryzen X3D Pro
A massive collection of configuration options allows you to build your PC from the screws up, and it’s all centered around the new AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU.
👉See at iBuyPower.com
CyberPowerPC is so far the only other builder I spotted featuring the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. There are six pre-builts available at the time of writing, each with a different case and liquid cooler.Prices start at $1,685for the 9800X3D, RTX 4060 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
👉See CyberPowerPC’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D pre-built PCs
Is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D still available to buy?
Yes, the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still available to buy. It is, however, more expensive now than it was at launch. In some countries, including Canada where I’m located, it’s practically impossible to find. That’s a testament to its lasting 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 newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D for about the same price.
My recommendation changes if the price of the 7800X3D suddenly drops following the 9800X3D launch. There’s also Black Friday and Cyber Monday heading our way in a few weeks, which is usually a great opportunity to save significantly on PC parts and upgrades.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D remains a killer option for gamers, though its popularity has caused prices to spike in the lead-up to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s launch. If prices should fall below those of the newer chip, I strongly recommend it as an alternative. The best price at the time of writing is at Amazon ($476).
👉Available at:Amazon|Walmart|Newegg
Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.
