WIRED90
An excellent gaming chip with easy overclocking, though gameplay is nearly indistinguishable from the 9800X3D.
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
8 expert reviews#4 of 5 processors
Photo coming
5/8critics
recommend
recommend
Best for gamers who want a little more than the 9800X3D
Critics’ consensus
8 professional reviewers tested the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, and 5 recommend it. Most praised: speed and ease of use. Most common complaint: price.
Reviewed by WIRED, PC Gamer, Back2Gaming and 5 more
The catch: It runs hotter and draws more power for a small gain.
Critics split
Scores run from 60 to 90All 8 scores printed by the outlets
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What do critics say about the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D?
PC Gamer87
Still among the fastest gaming chips available, but the tiny frame-rate gain over the 9800X3D comes with a big jump in power and heat.
Back2Gaming84
Presented as the new top gaming processor, essentially a better-binned 9800X3D with extra boost clock.
Windows Central80
A slightly faster 9800X3D for a few dollars more, which the reviewer finds easy to recommend as long as the price gap stays small.
PCMag80
An excellent processor for competitive, high-refresh gaming, particularly at 1080p, and an easy pick over the 9800X3D for a small extra cost.
Club38680
The fastest gaming processor available, but its lead over the 9800X3D is tiny.
KitGuru75
A slightly faster refresh of the 9800X3D that delivers excellent gaming results and runs cool and frugal.
Tom's Hardware60
It keeps the gaming crown but is a minimal step over the 9800X3D and costs more, so it makes sense mainly for system builders and OEMs rather than upgraders.
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 8
Ease of use2 of 8
What critics dislike most
Price3 of 8
Runs hot2 of 8
Alternatives
Not sure about the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D?
Photo coming
Best overall
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D89
11 reviews · broad agreement
Image: AMDPhoto coming
Best for lots of cores for the money
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus81
4 reviews · broad agreement
Image: IntelCommon questions
Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D worth it?
Critics are divided: 5 of 8 recommend it. It runs hotter and draws more power for a small gain.
Do critics agree about the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D?
Critics split: scores range from 60 (Tom's Hardware) to 90 (WIRED), a spread of 30 points across 8 reviews. Reviewers disagree, so read the individual reviews before buying.
What do critics dislike about the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D?
Price (3 of 8 reviews), Runs hot (2 of 8 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D?
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (critic score 89), best overall.