Get ready to turbocharge your gaming rig because the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is about to make waves as the new monarch of processors! Straight from the excitement of CES 2026, AMD rolls out an amped-up iteration of its already stellar Ryzen 7 9800X3D, promising even more power and speed for gaming enthusiasts.
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D kicks things up a gear with an invigorating out-of-the-box overclock, catapulting its Max Turbo Boost to a sizzling 5.6GHz. That’s right, this bad boy is clocking in at a whopping 7% faster than its predecessor's already impressive 5.2GHz! What does that mean for you? More frames per second, smoother gameplay, and a competitive edge that’ll keep you ahead of the competition. This beast is set to go toe-to-toe with most other CPUs found in gaming PCs and come out on top!
But let's not get carried away. Aside from its mind-blowing clock speeds, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D keeps the fundamentals rock solid. It still boasts 8 cores, 16 threads, and a hefty 104MB of 3D V-Cache, just like the 9800X3D. Impressively, it maintains the same 120W TDP, despite its newfound power boost, meaning it’s a powerhouse without the extra power draw. So sure, while it leaves the 9800X3D in the dust in terms of speed, don't rush to upgrade if you're already in love with your current powerhouse.
For gamers who’ve been biding their time, this might be the moment to pounce. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the better pick for squeezing out extra juice from your game time—albeit a marginal one. Pricing details are still under wraps, leaving us all hanging on tenterhooks to see just where this superchip will land on the value spectrum. And with RAM prices riding high, budget-conscious gamers will want to stay alert.
But don't despair if the 9850X3D ends up out of reach—AMD plans to keep the stellar 9800X3D in circulation, potentially opening the door to some sweet deals on this slightly lesser but still formidable CPU.
Here’s a quick spec rundown, so you can see just what kind of gaming firepower you’re dealing with:
- AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D Specs: CPUs: 8 Cores, Threads: 16, Max Boost: 5.6GHz, Cache: 104MB, TDP: 120W
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Specs: CPUs: 8 Cores, Threads: 16, Max Boost: 5.2GHz, Cache: 104MB, TDP: 120W
Stay tuned as we wait for AMD to drop the pricing—let's see if this juggernaut of a chip will be the centerpiece of your next gaming masterpiece!
Jackie Thomas, the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and your go-to guru for PC components, leads this charge! Follow her adventures on Twitter @Jackiecobra.