Built on the Zen 5 architecture and powered by 2nd Gen AMD 3D V-Cache technology, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor debuted today. With a new on-chip memory solution, the 64MB cache is now positioned beneath the processor, placing the core complex die (CCD) closer to the cooling system. AMD claims this design helps achieve high clock rates, resulting in an average 8% gaming performance improvement over its previous generation. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D also delivers an average of 20% faster performance than the competition. This placement change is expected to improve overclocking potential, and AMD notes it’s the first fully unlocked X3D processor, allowing users to push its performance further.
In AMD’s testing, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D achieved double-digit performance gains in Star Wars Outlaws, with noticeable improvements in minimum frame rates. In The Last of Us Part 1, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D matched the competition’s average frame rate but delivered a 31% higher 1% low frame rate. The result is a smoother experience with less stutter.
The processor includes eight Zen 5 cores and 16 threads, with a 4.7 GHz base clock and a 5.2 GHz max boost clock—the highest on any X3D chipset to date. The TDP is rated at 120W, and the 104MB total cache is designed to meet gamers’ performance needs.
In announcing the new X3D processor, AMD also confirmed partnerships with game developers such as Activision, Saber Interactive, and 11 bit Studios. AMD is the exclusive CPU, GPU, and APU partner for Call of Duty and will also collaborate on marketing with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Frostpunk 2.
The AMD Ryzen 9800X3D will be available on November 7 for $479. The company has a strong opportunity to capture additional market share, given Intel’s recent challenges with its 13th and 14th-gen processors. I recently had to warranty my i9-14900K after experiencing frequent crashes that rendered my gaming PC unusable.
