AMD RYZEN ™ 7 9800X 3D Desktop Processor (8-core/16-thread, 104MB cache, up to 5.2 GHz max boost)

I’m using the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D in a new AM5 build and it’s been excellent so far, especially for gaming. Paired with a high-end GPU, it just flies – frame times are smooth, 1% lows are noticeably better than my previous CPU, and heavy titles feel more consistent, not just “higher FPS on paper.” The big selling point is obviously the 3D V-Cache, and it really shows in CPU-heavy or open-world games. Load times and general responsiveness in Windows are also snappy, and it handles background tasks, recording and browsing while gaming without any drama. Thermals and power consumption are very reasonable for the performance. With a decent air or AIO cooler and a good case, temps stay under control and noise levels are easy to keep low. Setup on AM5 was straightforward – drop it in, update BIOS, enable EXPO for RAM and you’re basically done. If you’re building a gaming-focused rig and want one of the best “plug in and enjoy” CPUs without spending crazy flagship money, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a brilliant choice.

The performance jump in games was noticeable right away. Frame rates are super smooth, and it handles more demanding titles without breaking a sweat. The 3D cache really seems to make a difference, especially in CPU-heavy games. It also handles multitasking really well. I can game, stream, and have a bunch of stuff open in the background without things slowing down. Temps have been solid with a decent cooler, and it’s been completely stable so far. Installation was straightforward, dropped right into my AM5 board with no issues. Overall, this chip feels like a beast for gaming and everyday use. Definitely happy with the upgrade.

Perfectly paired with a Lian Li Hydroshift 360S :) I've been using this CPU for around 11 months now and I can definitely say that this is a beast! It will handle any game you throw at it, especially CPU intensive games such as: CS2 & VALORANT. I haven't had a single issue considering that I bought it at £415 in used condition at the time which is now selling at around £400 brand new and I can wholeheartedly say that it is worth every penny. This AMD chip doesn't have pins on the processor so it's super easy and convenient to install, just make sure you have the correct motherboard to pair with it. I currently have it paired alongside an AMD Radeon 9070 XT and the combo is fantastic in every game you throw at it. It's certainly the best CPU at the moment as of 22/02/2026.

Upgraded to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and it’s been flawless so far. Installation was straightforward, boots first time with no problems, and performance is excellent in both gaming and general workloads. Temperatures are stable and everything runs smoothly. Very happy with the purchase does exactly what it should.

I originally did a new build back in June 2025 knowing I would do a few upgrades when prices were right. This was to replace an 8500G so a hefty upgrade. It was down to either the 7800X3D or the 9800X3D. Both are near identical in specs apart from marginally faster clock speeds on the 9800X3D along with the its newer Zen 5 architect. What swung it for me was the price - Only £50 more for the newer 9800X3D at the time of purchase!! Yep - £50 more for the newer, more efficient CPU!! Go figure eh?! Main (Useful feature): PCIe 5.0 support 24 x useable PCIe lanes + 8 useable PCIe lanes (via the chipset ~ m/b dependant) 96MB L3 cache (with 3D V-cache) Installing the CPU was as easy as removing the old one and slotting this one straight in. Finesse is still required or you'll liable to damage the motherboard CPU pins! They recommend using an AIO cooler or better - So I went for a Heatsink/Fan! THIS IS IMPORTANT - Having the case down on its side so the motherboard was flat, I applied thermal paste and then Attached the Heatsink/Fans. The PC was then powered on & not moved for around half an hour whilst doing the usual checks. Happy with the Thermals, I then powered it down & left it for another 5 minutes before moving the Case back into it's proper upright position. I've found that if I don't do this, after a few days I always end up with some weird hotspots on the CPU where the thermal paste has "shifted" and hasn't coated the chip uniformly & of an Even thickness! I'm going to assume that it's something to do with the initial heating/cooling/bonding cycle between the CPU/Paste/Cooler & of course, GRAVITY. Whether you choose to or not is up to you - I've found I always get better thermals doing it this way. You're also "supposed" to remove the motherboard from the case before swapping the CPU but how many of us do that?! So with that done, how has it performed? Considering this is a Heatsink/Fan setup I was expecting my idle temps to be around the high 30's to high 40's range.. What I'm actually getting is temps in the low 30's, even going as low as 28. Under full load, temps seem quite happy around the 60 - 65 degrees margin. It will sometimes go as high as 72 then slowly drop back into the low 60's. And Sometimes it seems quite happy chugging along under full load in the 50's though this seems to be very task specific. Under full load the important cores clock speed ranges were going from 5 - 5.2ghz. This is with HWinfo running in the background & viewing its reported high/low values! Power consumption - The CPU is rated @ max 120WTDP under full load. I seem to cap out around 105W under full load with idle fluctuating from lows of 29W to sudden spikes of 50W. Power wise & actually under load, it will draw anywhere from 90 watts to a maximum of 162 watts (Package Power Tracking) depending on what you're doing (gaming, rendering, etc) - Just be aware of this as you may need a beefier PSU if you're already close to the limits. I did disable the CPU iGPU in the Bios pretty much straight away as it's not needed and this will also help with the thermals. Apart from checking PBO was enabled and changing the DDR5 to an XMP/EXPO profile, NO other Bios settings were changed. Everything else is set on default. One thing I've noticed is that whenever you start any program the CPU temp will suddenly "Spike" up a few degrees to & then immediately return to its previous temp - it in no way affects the system performance yet is something I'll keep a close eye on. The 9800X3D is definitely a noticeable improvement. Games & the whole system seems a lot more "snappier" from the previous CPU I was using. I've also noticed that CPU utilization seems to only hover around the 40% mark with games. Trying some large MMO's, it's gone as high as 70% but that's about it. Cinebench will push it to 99% utilization and I expect if you're into editing, etc. that'll keep the numbers high. Everything is running as it should with completely acceptable temperatures & Zero Throttling. I still have 8 x PCIe lanes free from the CPU & another 8 x PCIe lanes from the chipset before Bifurcation & PCIe Lane splitting/sharing kicks in. So plenty of room for a better spec GPU plus other future upgrades. Worth the purchase? For me, Yes. But then look at my old CPU! For those running a lower end CPU it's definitely worth the upgrade if the price stays around £400 mark. Are you going to get the same results as me? Probably not. Some will be better, some worse. FINAL NOTE: If you are a Windows user MAKE sure the O/S Power Plan is set to "Balanced" and NOT "Performance". This is only applicable for "X3D" CPUs. Why you ask? High Performance mode can sometimes force the system to use the faster, non-X3D cores which means you'll actually end up with worse FPS & latency whilst gaming as you wont be using the V-cache! AMD optimizations also work much better in balanced mode. PS: (added Feb 2026) And for Overclocking? Or should I say undervolting? I have mine at a stable 5.45ghz which can hold the boost indefinitely & peaks at around 75 degrees Temp (though still does the weird temp jump on starting any program!) This DOES requires quite a few Bios setting changes & having your Cooling solution setup correctly. I've attached another Photo with HWinfo temps & power draw so you can compare between stock and tweaked values. I strongly recommend you do a web search for more details on how to do this if this is your thing. Anyhow, 5 out of 5 stars

The 7800x3d was amazing but had one flaw and that was thermal temperature. The 9800x3D not only solves that problem giving you reliable performance and durability but also has managed to give you even better performance when it comes to gaming I have seen a drastic improvement in newer titles and that will be due to the 3D cache this CPU offers it definitely has Gamers in mind I am seeing and increase of almost 40% sometimes even double compared to when I was running the 5700x in terms of compatibility this will help push any pc in performance be that you are using a mid range or high end card even some low end cards like the intel arc this CPU truly does it all. Was very easy to install especially with the little diagram on the cpu to match with your motherboard.

Upgraded from an i9-9900K and the difference is night and day. I didn't realize how much my old CPU was bottlenecking my GPU until I installed this. Micro-stutters are completely gone, minimum frame rates are way higher, and everything feels instantly responsive. Yes, buying new DDR5 RAM and a Motherboard is a pain, but this CPU will easily last me another 5+ years just like the 9900K did. 10/10.

At time of writing I’ve had this CPU for around 6 months. Installation is easy, in my case I got a recent motherboard so didn’t even need to do a BIOS update to get the CPU to be recognised. I paired this with a good quality air cooler and it’s been easy to keep temperatures comfortably cool. Because it’s a recent CPU and is pretty efficient, you can do that without creating a ton of fan noise. The performance has been superb, it’s expensive for sure but it’s handled everything I’ve thrown at it so far with very consistent framerates. Ultimately, your mileage may vary depending on what you pair it with, so be sure to research beforehand and pick a GPU and other components that compliment it well.