PC Gamer91
Crowned the fastest gaming CPU and the chip to build a new gaming PC around.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
10 expert reviews#2 of 5 processors
Image: AMD9/10critics
recommend
recommend
Best for the fastest gaming frame rates
Critics’ consensus
10 professional reviewers tested the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and 9 recommend it. Most praised: speed and ports and connectivity. Most common complaint: price.
Reviewed by PC Gamer, Windows Central, Tom's Hardware and 7 more
The catch: Multi-core work is weaker than the 9900X and 9950X, and 7800X3D owners gain little.
One critic disagrees
Scores run from 70 to 918 printed scores, 2 estimated · printed scores only: 86PCMag's review has no printed score; we read it as 70/100. The other 9 average 89.
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What do critics say about the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
Windows Central90
The best gaming CPU you can buy and a clear win over Intel's gaming chips.
Tom's Hardware90
Benchmark page showing the chip decisively ahead of the 7800X3D and Intel rivals across many games.
TechRadar90
Called the best processor release of the year thanks to strong gaming, solid general performance and low power use.
Club38690
Club386 calls this the best gaming CPU available, with enough multi-core strength to avoid the usual X3D productivity penalty.
KitGuru90
KitGuru finds the second-generation V-Cache design a clear winner, with superb out-of-the-box gaming results and modest heat and power use.
Digital Trends80
Uncontested as the best gaming processor, with much better productivity than earlier X3D parts.
PCMag70
It leads in low-settings 1080p gaming but is costly and draws plenty of power.
Eurogamer89est.
Called the fastest gaming CPU the reviewer has tested, with its redesigned cache layout giving cooler running and a well-rounded chip.
The Verge89est.
The best gaming CPU, with around 8 percent faster gaming and large productivity gains over the 7800X3D.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
What critics praise most
Speed7 of 10
Ports and connectivity2 of 10
What critics dislike most
Price5 of 10
Alternatives
Not sure about the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
Photo coming
Best overall
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D89
11 reviews · broad agreementPhoto coming
Best for lots of cores for the money
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus81
4 reviews · broad agreementPhoto coming
Best for gamers who want a little more than the 9800X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D80
8 reviews · critics split
Image: IntelCommon questions
Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D worth it?
Most critics think so: 9 of 10 recommend it. Multi-core work is weaker than the 9900X and 9950X, and 7800X3D owners gain little.
Do critics agree about the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
One critic disagrees: scores range from 70 (PCMag) to 91 (PC Gamer), a spread of 21 points across 10 reviews. PCMag's review has no printed score; we read it as 70/100. The other 9 average 89.
What do critics dislike about the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
Price (5 of 10 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (critic score 89), best overall.