Most gaming processors make big promises, but finding one that delivers isn't as easy as it should be. One of the few that does deliver is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. So, when I heard that AMD is launching a successor for it, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, I was very interested in testing it. While its predecessor is a solid choice for gamers, this new CPU takes a fresh architectural approach which aims to improve performance and efficiency. Its specs on paper look promising, but we've all been burned before by hardware that couldn't live up to the hype. So I put the Ryzen 7 9800X3D through its paces in real-world conditions, testing its limits in the latest games and benchmarks to see how it handles everything from intense gaming sessions to multitasking workloads. If you're wondering whether AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is worth your hard-earned money or is just another overhyped piece of hardware, this review gives you the facts about what it can (and can't) do:

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Who is it good for?

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a great fit if:

• You’re after top-notch gaming performance
• You’re building a new PC
• You’re prepared to invest in a premium gaming setup

Pros and cons

These are AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s strengths:

• Outstanding gaming performance
• Well-rounded performance for productivity, content creation, and other non-gaming oriented tasks
• Architectural improvements over its predecessor
• Relatively efficient power usage and heat output

There are also a couple of downsides:

• The launch price ($479) is higher than that of its predecessor

Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a compelling mid-range desktop processor that excels in gaming performance, thanks to its innovative second-generation 3D V-Cache technology now positioned beneath the CPU cores. This processor also includes higher base and boost clocks, marking a notable improvement in performance over its predecessor, especially in tasks not related to gaming.. The tests I've run confirm that AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D represents the best choice of the year for gamers and a capable option for users who prioritize gaming performance, but also need multitasking abilities for content creation and productivity work. If you're building a new gaming PC, and want to enjoy access to all the latest technologies like DDR5 memory support and PCI-Express 5, this is the processor for you!

Unboxing the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Packaged similarly to other Ryzen 9000 models, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D arrives in a simple, minimal box. It lets you take a peek at the CPU itself, and it promotes AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, which makes this processor deliver excellent performance in gaming.

The packaging for AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Inside the packaging, you’ll find the processor, a sticker, the installation manual, and warranty information.

What's inside the box

The packaging looks good, and the unpacking experience is very straightforward. Keep in mind, though, that just like other recent AMD processors, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D doesn’t come with a cooler. You’ll need to budget one when building a new computer.

Hardware specifications

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a mid-range desktop processor from AMD’s new Ryzen 9000 series, using the latest Zen 5 architecture. This setup makes it faster than the previous Zen 4 generation by about 16%, even at similar clock speeds. A big reason for this boost is its advanced 4nm manufacturing process, which not only improves performance, but also helps control heat and improve power efficiency.

A closeup of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D features eight cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.7 GHz and a boost clock of up to 5.2 GHz (200 MHz more than the previous Ryzen 7 7800X3D), all while maintaining a TDP of 120W. This is an identical TDP to that of its predecessor, so we should get more performance for the same power consumption, which sounds great. To keep its temperature in check, AMD recommends a 240 - 280 mm liquid cooler.

This processor comes with 8 cores and 16 execution threads

For memory, it supports DDR5 RAM at 5600 megatransfers per second (MT/s) out of the box, but it’s easy to overclock with AMD EXPO, with 6000 MT/s being the best balance of performance and price. The CPU also features 8 MB of L2 cache and 96 MB of L3 cache! Mind yourself, this is 2nd Gen AMD 3D V-cache. Unlike the first generation, the 2nd Gen AMD 3D V-cache is located below, not above the processor cores. While it may not sound significant, this means that the main heat source, which is represented by the Zen 5 cores, is now directly interfaced with the cooling solution. As the 3D V-cache is not affected as much by the temperature as the processor cores, the latter can stay cooler and allows for higher clocks. That’s why the Ryzen 7 9800X3D can have a base clock 500 MHz higher and a boost clock 200 MHz higher than the previous Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Details about the memory shown in Task Manager

The CPU uses the same AM5 socket as the Ryzen 7000 series, so it works with a wide range of AM5 motherboards (A620, X670E, X670, B650E, B650, X870E, X870, B840, B850 chipsets). It supports PCIe 5.0, with 28 lanes (24 of them usable) for fast data transfer between essential hardware components. It also offers several USB ports, including four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10 Gbps) and one USB 2.0 (480Mbps) port.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D specs in CPU-Z

Last but not least, the 9800X3D also includes integrated AMD Radeon Graphics with two cores running at a maximum frequency of 2200 MHz, supporting USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode. For more details, you can visit its official AMD webpage.

Details about the integrated graphics

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers solid specs, but the most noticeable improvement over the previous generation is the significantly higher clocks. This is made possible by the improvements AMD has made to the 3D V-cache which now resides below the CPU cores instead of on top of them, allowing the processor’s cores to stay cooler.

Using the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

I was eager to see how the Ryzen 7 9800X3D performs as soon as I got my hands on it. For starters, I have to say that setting it up in my test PC was about as straightforward as putting a computer together gets.🙂 Here’s the setup I used for testing:

• Motherboard: ASRock X870E Taichi
• Cooler: ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 ARGB
• Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000
• Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
• Storage: Samsung 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD 1TB
• Monitor: ASUS ROG Strix XG32UQ (4K UHD)
• PSU: Seasonic Focus GX-1000

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D in the desktop PC used for testing

Using the test computer powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D felt smooth and responsive, especially for tasks that demanded high processing power. For example, when launching applications, navigating multiple browser tabs, or working with Office software, the processor’s strong multi-core performance provided an excellent experience. I’ve witnessed zero lags, even when switching between multiple applications like my web browser to Word/Excel, Discord, and others. Windows 11 handles background tasks well, and the processor’s high thread count helps split up these jobs, so the overall experience remains smooth at all times.

Using the computer I've built with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Where the Ryzen 7 9800X3D really shines is in tasks that benefit from its advanced cache, and that’s mainly gaming! The 3D V-Cache technology in this processor noticeably reduces load times and improves frame rates in games that are heavy on CPU usage. This means less waiting, smoother gameplay, and less performance drops in CPU-intensive scenarios, like high-action scenes or scenes with many complex objects. Combined with a good graphics card, gaming on a computer equipped with this processor is great.

Gaming on the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is one of the most powerful desktop processors for gaming available today. In my experience, it handles any game with ease, and I’m pretty sure it can manage just about anything else you throw at it too.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs. Ryzen 7 9700X vs. Ryzen 9 9900X: Performance comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a high-performing processor designed for gaming, first and foremost. To see how it fares in real life, I benchmarked it and compared its performance with that of other processors, including the high-end Ryzen 9 9900X, the mid-range Ryzen 7 9700X, and the previous generation AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Productivity benchmarks

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D performed admirably in CPU-Z’s single-threaded test, outpacing the older Ryzen 7 7800X3D by over 11%. Still, it’s surpassed by the Ryzen 7 9700X by around 3%. While the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a strong candidate for everyday tasks that depend heavily on single-thread performance, the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 9 9900X have an edge thanks to their higher clocks.

Benchmark results in CPU-Z Single Thread

In CPU-Z’s multi-threaded test, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D demonstrates a significant improvement in performance (19 - 20%) over the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, although the Ryzen 9 9900X ultimately leads thanks to its greater core and thread count. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, however, proves to be a very capable performer in applications that can use multi-threading optimally.

Benchmark results in CPU-Z Multi Thread

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D also shows superior performance over both the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 7 7800X3D in Cinebench 2024, with noticeable performance margins of approximately 18% and 23% respectively. While not as powerful as the Ryzen 9 9900X in this demanding rendering benchmark, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s efficiency in handling rendering tasks highlights its suitability for users looking for high performance in content creation.

Benchmark results in Cinebench 2024

The Blender benchmark underlines the Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s advantage over the Ryzen 7 9700X, showing a 25% faster rendering time! The same is valid when comparing 9800X3D’s performance to the older 7800X3D, in which case the generational performance improvement is close to 27%! However, the Ryzen 9 9900X again maintains a significant lead thanks to its additional cores and threads. Still, Ryzen 7 9800X3D has the rendering abilities to make it an appealing choice for users who occasionally dabble in 3D work and don’t have the budget for more expensive processors.

Benchmark results in Blender 4.2.0

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D takes the second place in general productivity tasks in PCMark 10, behind the Ryzen 9 9900X, yet surpassing the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The differences in performance for the Ryzen 9000 series processors are marginal, less than 1%. However, the performance increase from the previous-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D is close to 9%. While all these processors are highly capable of general tasks, such as document editing, media creation, and browsing, the generational advancement is evident.

Benchmark results in PCMark 10

I’ve seen the same in web-based tasks, where the Ryzen 7 9800X3D matches closely with the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 9 9900X, but overshadows the older Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Just like in PCMark 10, the differences between the Ryzen 9000 processors revealed by the JetStream benchmark are marginal, below 1%, showing that these CPUs are fast and efficient for everyday internet use. If you consider the Ryzen 7 7800X3D as the starting point, the performance increase is significant, going over 18%!

Benchmark results in JetStream 2.2

In 7-Zip’s benchmark, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D compresses data around 14% faster than the Ryzen 7 9700X and about 12% faster than the previous-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Benchmark results in 7-Zip Compression

Its decompression speed is also notably better than the one I measured for the Ryzen 7 9700X (almost 17%) and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D (about 11%), holding the second rank just below the Ryzen 9 9900X. This performance boost in data handling makes the Ryzen 7 9800X3D a good choice for those who need to frequently work with compressed files.

Benchmark results in 7-Zip Decompression

Overall, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D performs exceptionally well in productivity and content creation tasks. Moreover, after looking at the charts, I can say that the 9800X3D is significantly better than the previous-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D in such activities.

Gaming benchmarks

For gaming, I evaluated the CPU at 1080p resolution with low graphics settings to minimize any limitations caused by the graphics card, testing demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Remnant II, and Horizon Forbidden West, all paired with an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT.

To enjoy the complete experience offered by Cyberpunk 2077, a powerful processor is just as essential as a high-end graphics card. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D fits the bill perfectly, delivering a significant 15-16% fps boost over the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 9 9900X. Compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D however, the frame rate increased by only one unit, translating in a meager 0.38% boost. Both X3D processors might have had the potential for even greater performance, but it appears that my graphics card became a limiting factor in this scenario.

Benchmark results in Cyberpunk 2077

I then benchmarked the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D with Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a game that demands high hardware performance. The results I got with all processors were very similar, with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D showing only a marginal 1.16% performance increase - too little to be considered a significant improvement. Compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the frame rate boost was even smaller, 1 fps or 0.38%. Both X3D processors could likely have performed better, but it seems that my graphics card held them back in this case too.

Benchmark results in Assassin's Creed Mirage

In Remnant II, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivered the highest frame rate among the CPUs I tested. The increase was meaningful, with gains ranging between 6% and 13%. The previous-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D ranked second, with the new Ryzen 7 9800X3D offering a performance boost of about 2.87%.

Benchmark results in Remnant II

The improvement compared to the other Zen 5 processors was significant in Horizon Forbidden West, where the CPU’s additional cache memory made a huge difference. The performance increase with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D ranged between 12 and 21%! However, compared to the older Ryzen 7 7800X3D, I only got 2 frames per second more, which translates into a boost of only 1.2%.

Benchmark results in Horizon Forbidden West

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D achieved the second-highest score in 3DMark, outperformed by the Ryzen 9 9900X because of its higher core count. However, the 9800X3D proved a performer notably stronger than the Ryzen 7 9700X, getting a score that was over 11% higher. Moreover, it was even faster than the previous-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D, with a score increase of almost 25%! In translation, it is a processor ready to tackle any game, no matter how demanding it is.

Benchmark results in 3DMark CPU Profile Max Threads

In conclusion, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers impressive gaming performance that will undoubtedly satisfy fans. This is a high-quality processor with all the abilities required to earn its place in the PC gaming hall of fame.

Temperature and power consumption

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D hits a peak temperature of around 84°C (183.2°F), which is a bit higher than what you’d see with the Ryzen 9 9900X or the Ryzen 7 9700X. It’s also significantly hotter than the older Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Still, considering the performance this CPU offers, it’s a reasonable value. Keep in mind though, an air cooler might struggle to keep it cool, and AMD recommends going with a liquid cooler to handle the heat more effectively.

Peak temperatures recorded

Its power consumption is not modest, but it’s not over the top either. At 148 Watts, it consumes more power than the older Ryzen 7 7800X3D or the current generation AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, but it can also deliver more performance.

Highest power draw

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D runs a hotter and draws more power than other Ryzen 9000 CPUs or the previous-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D, but it’s a worthwhile trade-off for the performance boost it delivers.

What’s your opinion about the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

As you can see, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers great performance in all kinds of tasks, especially in gaming. Moreover, it comes with big improvements over the previous generation Ryzen 7 7800X3D in areas like multitasking, 3D content creation, and productivity workloads. What do you think? Are you considering getting one? Do you feel it’s worth upgrading from a Ryzen 7 7800X3D? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!