It’s been at the least 5 years since a brand new gaming CPU actually acquired me excited. While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X launched again in August, anybody seeking to construct a devoted gaming PC has been patiently ready for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and for good cause. Its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D stood out for its gaming efficiency, even amongst costlier processors with extra cores. This is due to the distinctive 3D cache design applied in these X3D processors, which permits every CPU to have entry to extra cache with decrease latency than different chips in the marketplace.
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D follows the 7800X3D’s legacy, delivering efficiency leads in practically each gaming take a look at I ran it by means of. So, whereas at $489 it’s considerably costlier than the next-highest processor in AMD’s lineup, it’s price it in the event you’re seeking to construct a high-end gaming PC that may take full benefit of graphics playing cards just like the RTX 4080 Super or Radeon RX 7900 XTX.
Specs and options
On the floor, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D seems so much just like the Ryzen 7 9700X that got here out again in August 2024. They’re each 8-core, 16-thread processors constructed on the Zen 5 structure, with a 5.2GHz increase clock for the 9800X3D and 5.5GHz for the 9700X. The primary distinction between the 2 CPUs is the 3D V-cache on the 9800X3D.
A CPU’s cache is basically super-fast reminiscence that’s positioned on the processor die itself, which permits the chip to entry any information saved there a lot sooner than your system reminiscence. The extra cache a processor has entry to, the much less information it has to retailer in RAM, which is far slower. AMD’s 3D V-Cache expertise takes it to a different degree, by inserting the cache beneath the CCD, or Core Chiplet Die, reasonably than subsequent to it. While we’re speaking about nanometers of distinction, this strategy each permits AMD to incorporate extra cache, whereas additionally chopping down on latency, because the cache is bodily nearer to the cores.
This 3D V-Cache implementation permits the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to have a 96MB L3 cache, in comparison with simply 32MB on the 9700X. That’s a 3x enchancment, and finally ends up being extraordinarily necessary for gaming efficiency.
The last-generation 3D V-Cache took an analogous strategy, however printed the cache on prime of the cores. This grew to become a difficulty as a result of the cores have been additional away from the IHS, or built-in warmth spreader, which led to restricted CPU efficiency on account of thermal points. The 9800X3D avoids that drawback totally, peaking at simply 80°C in my testing. Unfortunately I shouldn’t have a 7800X3D to make a direct comparability, however the Ryzen 7 7700X, constructed on the identical structure, reaches 93°C in the identical take a look at suite.
However, the 9800X3D is a little more power-hungry than the 9700X. In my testing, I discovered the 9800X3D would eat as much as 160.3W of energy when all cores have been pushed in Cinebench. Compared to the 9700X with its 88W of energy.That’s an enormous improve in energy draw. This is probably going on account of AMD taking the brakes off with the 9800X3D, versus its conservative strategy to energy consumption and temperatures with its non-X3D counterpart.
It’s additionally a lot simpler to improve to the 9800X3D than, say, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, due to it being appropriate with the recently-released X870 motherboards in addition to the last-generation X670 platform. AMD has dedicated to the AM5 socket for one more few years, so even if you wish to improve from the 9800X3D later down the road, you shouldn’t must utterly rebuild your PC to do it.
Performance
While I might anticipate any $489 CPU to be quick in video games, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has fairly the legacy to observe, with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D being referred to as among the best gaming CPUs ever. And whereas I don’t have a 7800X3D to check in opposition to, I can let you know that there isn’t any current-generation desktop processor that’s higher for gaming efficiency proper now.
Almost throughout the board, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D outperformed its non-X3D counterpart in gaming. In the 3DMark CPU Profile take a look at, the 9800X3D outperformed the 9700X by 14% within the max threads take a look at, even when it fell behind by 8% within the single-core take a look at. It is price mentioning the 9800X3D was a bit slower within the Speed Way take a look at, scoring 10,050 factors to the 9700X’s 10,180, although that 2% distinction does fall within the margin of error.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero; Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero (9800X3D)
32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo @ 6,000MHz
SSD
1TB PNY CS3140 Gen4x4 NVMe SSD
CPU Cooler
Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme
Cyberpunk 2077 confirmed probably the most drastic efficiency improve, nonetheless. In that recreation, paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 at 1080p Ultra settings with no upscaling, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D managed an unbelievable 240 fps, in comparison with 163 with the 9700X in the identical take a look at. I needed to run this take a look at a number of instances to verify this quantity was proper, as a result of the 9800X3D completely smoked the competitors on this recreation. It even beats the $649 Ryzen 9 9950X by 15%.
Adobe Premiere and Photoshop additionally love CPUs with low latency, so it’s not a shock that the 9800X3D is superior for creatives. In Photoshop particularly, the 9800X3D managed a rating of 11,446, in comparison with the 9700X’s 11,049 factors. In reality, the one current-generation processor that beats this rating is the way more costly Ryzen 9 9950X, with 11,992 factors.
Even in Blender, the bigger quantity of cache permits the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to handle 152 samples per second within the Monster benchmark, an enormous enchancment over the 9700X’s 123 samples in the identical take a look at.
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Motherboard
Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Hero (200S); Asus Prime Z790-A (14th-Gen)
RAM
32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 @ 6,000MHz
SSD
PNY CS3140 1TB Gen 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
CPU Cooler
Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a particularly highly effective gaming processor, and whereas its restricted core depend makes it considerably iffy for creatives, it may nonetheless maintain its personal in professional apps when it must. If you may afford its lofty price ticket, it’s exhausting to think about a greater gaming processor, at the least till the following X3D chips come out – in spite of everything, AMD did launch a Ryzen 9 7950X3D final time round.
For the previous couple of years, it looks like only some processors have prioritized gaming efficiency, particularly after AI has turn into a scorching subject within the tech world. Just take a look at the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, that might have been an unbelievable gaming half, however as a substitute it included a totally pointless NPU, reasonably than pushing for higher latency, and thus higher gaming efficiency. While that processor has its place, the give attention to AI efficiency made it exhausting to suggest to anybody seeking to construct a gaming PC.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC elements queen. You can observe her @Jackiecobra
