AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D: the new king of gaming you don’t need
29/1/2026
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D trumps the previous best gaming CPU, the 9800X3D. But is it anything more than a display of power? The international reviews reveal: it’s complicated.
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is technically identical to its predecessor. Same Zen 5 architecture, same 3D V-Cache, same design. The true difference lies in its binning: AMD has picked out the best chips and given them higher clock rates. The 9850X3D clocks at up to 5.62 gigahertz (GHz) in single-core mode, around eight per cent higher than the 9800X3D. In multi-core mode, it’s an increase of two per cent.
Minimally faster for productivity
For general applications, there are only minor differences. Techspot measures only two per cent more performance in Cinebench 2024, 7-Zip ends up with between 1.5 and four per cent. Techpowerup comes to a similar 2.2 per cent in its application average, with single-core workloads benefiting more at five to seven per cent.
However, X3D chips are designed for gaming. The performance increase looks better here.
Gaming: better, but not substantial
For gaming, the 9850X3D is between 2.5 and five per cent ahead of the 9800X3D, depending on your resolution. Techspot arrived at four to five per cent better performance in CPU-limited scenarios, Computerbase (article in German) confirms an average of five per cent. At 4K with an RTX 5090, the advantage shrinks to 0.5 to three per cent.
As Techpowerup summarises: «[…], it’s still impressive to see that AMD managed to squeeze a bit more performance out of their architecture.»
Compared to the competition, the X3D’s dominance remains untouched: neither the Core i9-14900K nor the Core Ultra 9 285K come close to the CPU.
Power draw: the price of speed
But a higher clock rate takes its toll. Using The Last of Us as an example, Techspot measured a 24 per cent higher power draw compared to the 9800X3D. However, this only results in five per cent more performance. Techpowerup arrives at similar figures. The average power consumption increases from 80 to 100 watts (W). However, the reviewer put this into perspective for their test: the new AMD CPU is more efficient than the competition.
The old price question
The recommended retail price (RRP) for the new 9850X3D is 30 euros or francs higher than that of the 9800X3D. Techpowerup thinks that’s fair. In reality, however, the price difference will likely be higher. As Computerbase puts it, the 9800X3D is currently available below its RRP.
Who’s the CPU for?
Techspot summarises it well: «AMD has taken the world’s fastest gaming processor and made it slightly faster. For those who demand the absolute best gaming performance, the 9850X3D will be appealing. For everyone else, it’s largely unnecessary.» The target group’s clear: FPS hunters who want the absolute maximum and are prepared to pay for it.
Computerbase sees the 9850X3D as a «display of power AMD wants to use to keep prices high».
Verdict: unnecessarily good
Unlike Intel’s absurd KS models, the 9850X3D isn’t a bad product. It’s faster, draws moderately more power and costs only a little more. But it doesn’t solve any problem the 9800X3D hasn’t already solved.
Header image: Screenshot YouTube / Gear Seekers
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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