Verdict
AMD takes the gaming efficiency crown once more, with the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D persevering with the corporate’s run of “fastest gaming CPU in the world” titles. The efficiency uplift is not at all times large right here, however it’s undoubtedly noticeable, and solely comes with a small bump in value. The 3D V-Cache tech on this CPU additionally helps cut back the impression of slower RAM, probably saving you what would at the moment be a pricey RAM improve. Still, that is an costly CPU for simply eight cores, so it is not such an apparent selection until gaming body charges is your sole focus.
Pros
- Chart-topping gaming efficiency
- Solid total efficiency
- Impressively cool-working and energy frugal
Cons
- Only eight cores
- Only barely quicker than 9800X3D
- Expensive
With the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D having sat on the pinnacle of the gaming CPU mountain for over a 12 months now, it was about time AMD actually shook issues up and launched a barnstorming new processor to indicate it is nonetheless the CPU maker to beat. But as an alternative, we obtained the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, an an identical CPU however with a peak clock velocity that is simply over 7% quicker than earlier than. And, you already know what, that’s sufficient, and it nonetheless makes this the best choice for PC avid gamers.
What makes this the brand new finest gaming CPU round isn’t just that AMD’s newest Zen 5 processor is a tiny bit quicker than earlier than, however that AMD has solely charged a teeny weeny bit extra for that further velocity. Many avid gamers will not see the profit, however if you happen to completely need the most effective chip to maximise your body charge, that is it, and you will not be paying a wild markup in comparison with barely slower choices.
Specs
| AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D specs | |
| Cores | 8 |
| Threads | 16 |
| Peak increase clock | 5.6GHz |
| Base clock | 4.7GHz |
| L2 cache | 8MB |
| L3 cache | 96MB (32MB on-chip, 64MB 3D V-cache) |
| TDP | 120W |
| Architecture | AMD Zen 5 |
| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 |
There may be very little to unpack with regards to the specs of the AMD Ryzen 7 98050X3D. It actually is simply the Ryzen 7 9800X3D with a barely larger clock velocity. Both chips have a base clock of 4.7GHz, however whereas the 9800X3D tops out at 5.2GHz, the 9850X3D pushes on to five.6GHz. That’s it. That’s the distinction: a 7.6% improve in peak clock velocity.
While which may not sound like a lot of a change, the 7.6% clock velocity improve has not less than the potential to make for a reasonably direct improve in body charges in conditions the place a recreation is strongly single-thread CPU-restricted. Games akin to CS2 which can be run with fundamental element settings at a whole lot of FPS might see notable beneficial properties.
As for the remainder of this chip’s specs, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is an eight-core CPU meant to be used in AM5 motherboards alongside DDR5 reminiscence, and it is based mostly on AMD’s Zen 5 structure that debuted in August 2024. Under its heatspreader cowl, it makes use of a single eight-core chiplet die (CCD), which is the half that does all of the processing, alongside an IO die, which offers with capabilities akin to communication with the PCIe bus and USB units.
Crucially, beneath the CCD is a second slice of silicon containing 64MB of additional cache. It’s this further 3D V-Cache chip that offers this chip the X3D a part of its identify, and which makes it so good for gaming. The further stash of quick cache means the CPU does not have to entry comparatively gradual RAM as typically as typical CPUs.
Not solely can this typically profit body charges, however it will also be useful for methods which have slower RAM, as the additional cache reduces the CPU’s dependence on having quick reminiscence entry. That makes these chips probably best for anybody caught with barely older, slower DDR5, however who does not wish to pay the at the moment vastly inflated costs for a RAM improve.
As with different latest AMD CPUs, and in contrast to Intel’s present Arrow Lake CPUs, such because the Core Ultra 7 265K, the eight cores on this CPU can every course of two app threads directly (by way of a way often known as Simultaneous Multi Threading [SMT]), successfully making this CPU seem to your system like a 16-core processor and rushing up multi-threaded duties. It’s not as highly effective as a true 16-core chip, however it’s a helpful velocity bonus in comparison with a strict eight-core/eight-thread CPU.
This comparatively modest core depend means this is not an absolute multi-thread processing monster, however it additionally comes with the benefit of a comparatively low energy consumption. Rated to simply 120W thermal design energy (TDP), will probably be fairly pleased with the “best for most” selection on our greatest CPU cooler information, which is the $35 Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB.
How we check
I’ve put the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D by our regular benchmark suite, mounting it an Asus X870E ROG Crosshair Hero motherboard. All the CPU check rigs use the identical 32GB of (2 x 16GB) G.Skill TridentZ 5 Neo RGB 6,000MHz, CL28 RAM, in addition to a 2TB PCIe 5 SSD, Corsair H100x 240mm AIO cooler, Corsair RM1000x Shift PSU, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition graphics card.
All our exams had been carried out utilizing Windows 11 24H2, with the motherboard flashed to the newest BIOS model. The comparability Intel CPU exams within the graphs beneath had been carried out utilizing an Asus Z790 Dark Hero motherboard for LGA1700 CPUs, and an Asus TUF Z890-Plus WiFi was used to check the LGA1851 chips.
Game benchmarks
Diving proper into what’s mainly the de facto normal recreation check of our time, in Cyberpunk 2077 this CPU leapt straight in at prime spot, beating the 9800X3D by a 3%. This was with the sport working at 1080p utilizing the ray tracing Ultra preset, and with DLSS upscaling set to Quality. It’s a small lead however a bigger margin than the 9800X3D loved over the 7800X3D, and it equals the benefit that chip had over the 9950X3D.
Meanwhile, the closest Intel competitor stays the now three-12 months-previous Core i9 14900K, with the newest-era Intel Core Ultra 265K lagging effectively behind. Crucially, whereas we’re solely working at 1080p, that is nonetheless a principally GPU-sure check, because of the usage of ray tracing, so these outcomes aren’t some excessive CPU-sure outlier.
In reality, the hole closes barely once we have a look at our check with out ray tracing and utilizing simply the High high quality preset, though this time we aren’t participating DLSS. Here, the body charges all leap as much as over 200fps, and the hole between backside and prime is simply 13%, or 27fps. Crucially, the 9850X3D stays on prime, with all of AMD’s X3D chips dominating the highest of the chart.
Our subsequent recreation check is Total War: Warhammer 3, and right here we see a fairly topsy-turvy set of outcomes. In the extra demanding Mirrors of Madness check, the 9850X3D comes up with an honest sufficient lead over the 9800X3D, which is carefully adopted by the 9950X3D. There’s then a notable step right down to the 14900K and the remainder of the pack.
However, within the much less demanding Battle check, the 9850X3D unusually lags behind, even when the margin is simply 10fps, or 5%. In reality, this complete chart is somewhat peculiar, because the 14900K sits proper on the backside of the chart, but the 9950X3D and 9800X3D nonetheless carry out solidly. Overall, although, the margins are advantageous sufficient that the majority avid gamers should not quibble over this check.
Moving on to F1 24, and we once more see the 9850X3D slip barely, because it is available in simply behind the 9950X3D, by a single body per second, or lower than 1%. Otherwise, it is a tight run race, and the 9850X3D is the second quickest CPU we have ever examined on this recreation, although once more it is solely a single fps forward of the 9800X3D.
As for an extremely-excessive body charge recreation, akin to CS2, the 9850X3D pulls out a noticeable lead over the 9800X3D, with the previous’s 567fps being 5.8% quicker than the 536fps of the 9800X3D. It’s unlikely to imply the distinction between profitable and dropping most rounds, however might simply sneak that tiniest benefit now and again.
Application benchmarks
Looking at software benchmarks, the 9850X3D delivers barely stronger efficiency than I anticipated within the Cinebench R24 single-core check. It pulled out a 5% lead over the 9950X3D and a full 9% over the 9800X3D, that are each outcomes which can be forward of the clock velocity improve of this CPU over these fashions.
As we might anticipate, although, the 9850X3D is much much less of a heavyweight with regards to multi-threaded workloads. Its eight cores merely cannot compete with the 16 of the 7950X3D and 9950X3D or the 20 cores of the Intel Core Ultra 265K. As we have seen above, this has minimal impression for gaming however, if you happen to’re repeatedly utilizing apps that do some critical quantity crunching, akin to encoding video, working native AI, or the like, there are many different extra highly effective selections.
Power draw
A final-minute failure of my energy meter means I solely have a contemporary outcome for the 9850X3D, with our different CPUs examined utilizing a distinct meter. As such, the numbers seemingly do not fairly line up, as I’ve the 9850X3D recorded as drawing barely much less energy than the 9800X3D, which does not make a lot sense. The outcomes had been very shut, although, so nonetheless made for a helpful comparability. We can see beneath that the 9800X3D and 9850X3D draw very related quantities of energy throughout a Cinebench R24 multi-thread check.
Likewise, throughout a Cyberpunk check run, the 2 chips had been very shut. This is certainly a fairly energy-hungry chip in comparison with a few of AMD’s barely slower Zen 5 choices, however it’s significantly extra environment friendly than Intel’s quickest competing chips.
Temperature
As we have come to anticipate from AMD’s eight-core X3D CPUs, the 9850X3D is comparatively straightforward CPU to tame, with regards to warmth. Even with all its cores maxed out throughout a Cinebench R24 run, it solely hit 84°C, equalling the 9800X3D. This is with a reasonably highly effective 240mm AIO cooler, however can also be with a sustained all-core load. When we have a look at a barely extra lifelike gaming check, this chip actually reveals how environment friendly it’s.
While enjoying Cyberpunk at our 1080p Ultra ray tracing settings, this CPU hit simply 69°C. That’s a few levels hotter than the 9800X3D however nonetheless a lot manageable and much beneath the ridiculous temperatures of Intel’s quickest gaming chip, the 14900K.
(*7*)
Price
The AMD Ryzen 9 9850X3D value is $499.99 at MSRP, making this an costly eight-core CPU. For context, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X’s launch MSRP was $359.99. However, as a result of X3D is so efficient for gaming, and the 9850X3D is the quickest total gaming CPU on the market proper now, it understandably comes at a premium.
Crucially, whereas the 9800X3D’s value has dropped as little as below $400 throughout some affords, and has repeatedly been below $450, its MSRP remains to be $479, so the 9850X3D solely has a $20 (or 6.4%) premium over that chip. In reality, that is truly ever so barely decrease a rise than the 7.6% clock velocity increase you get with this chip over the 9800X3D, making it technically higher worth based mostly on MSRP. However, the actual-world impact of that further clock velocity is not at all times apparent, and the 9800X3D may be had for barely beneath MSRP.
Alternatives
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
If you are on the lookout for almost the most effective, however do not wish to pay that final further premium for the very newest and best, the 9800X3D remains to be the CPU to get. Right now, it isn’t hitting the low costs we have generally seen over the previous 12 months, however it’s nonetheless available for $469. For the sake of sub-3% body charge beneficial properties in most video games, I’d advocate most avid gamers save their $30 and put it in the direction of one other a part of their system.
Read our full AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review.
Verdict
AMD has finished it once more with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D. The gaming CPU crown stays firmly in place upon an AMD-branded processor, making certain you will get the very best body charges attainable out of your graphics card. So, if you happen to merely need the most effective, it is the one to get.
Along with chart-topping gaming efficiency, the 9850X3D follows within the footsteps of the 9800X3D, 7800X3D, and 5800X3D earlier than it, additionally providing an excellent steadiness of all spherical efficiency, because of packing in eight CPU cores. That’s sufficient to make most multi-tasking a breeze and convey an honest dose of velocity to multi-threaded workloads. Most video games nonetheless do not want eight cores, so in some methods this chip is overkill, however not less than you do not have to fork out for a flagship, monster, many-core CPU just like the 9950X3D or 14900K.
Still, the 9850X3D is undeniably dear, and its benefit over the 9800X3D is usually vanishingly slim, so the older chip is the higher purchase for many, even when the worth distinction is simply small. It’s additionally value allowing for what kinds of video games you play and the way a lot you have a tendency to search out your video games are GPU-restricted. If you are struggling to hit 30fps whereas making an attempt to play at 4K, spend your cash on a quicker GPU, however if you happen to’re already hitting 100fps+ whereas additionally getting stuttering or inconsistent body charge, a quicker CPU could possibly be the cheaper approach to unlock a smoother expertise.
