AMD has officially announced the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, a new 8-core, 16-thread Zen 5 desktop processor that builds directly on the existing X3D formula. Rather than introducing a new architecture, AMD is treating this chip as a frequency-focused step up from the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, aiming to squeeze out more performance by running at higher clocks while keeping everything else familiar.
On paper, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D looks very close to its predecessor. It retains the same 104MB of total cache when you combine L2 and L3, thanks to AMD’s stacked 3D V-Cache design. The TDP also stays at 120W, and the chip continues to target the Socket AM5 platform.
The key change is frequency. AMD lists a maximum boost clock of up to 5.6GHz, which is a 400MHz increase over the 5.2GHz boost on the 9800X3D. That extra headroom is where AMD expects the new part to separate itself, especially in scenarios where games can take advantage of higher single-core speeds alongside the large cache.
Memory support remains unchanged as well. The 9850X3D supports DDR5 with AMD EXPO profiles, and AMD is clearly pushing the message that this is a drop-in upgrade for existing AM5 systems rather than a reason to rebuild from scratch.
AMD says both the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and 9800X3D will stay in the lineup, giving buyers a choice depending on price and performance needs. In its own gaming benchmarks, AMD positions the 9850X3D slightly above the 9800X3D when compared to Intel’s current flagship.
Using the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K as a 100% baseline, AMD claims an average gaming uplift of 27% for the 9850X3D across more than 35 games at 1080p with high detail settings. Under the same conditions, the 9800X3D averages a 24% lead.
Looking at individual titles helps explain the source of the difference. In Battlefield 6, both chips land at the same relative result, suggesting the higher clocks don’t move the needle there. In more CPU-sensitive titles, the gap opens slightly. Counter-Strike 2 rises from 140% on the 9800X3D to 148% on the 9850X3D. Hogwarts Legacy moves from 140% to 146%, while Baldur’s Gate 3 jumps from 153% to 160%. In each case, the Intel chip remains the 100% reference point in AMD’s charts.
Outside of games, the picture is more mixed. Against the same Intel baseline, AMD’s slides show the Ryzen 7 parts trailing in some heavily threaded or rendering-focused workloads. In V-Ray, the 9800X3D sits at 64%, and the 9850X3D improves slightly to 66%. Cinebench 2024 single-thread results show a bigger swing, with the older chip at 93% and the newer one reaching 99%.
In other tests, AMD’s chips come out ahead. Geekbench single-core scores land at 101% for the 9800X3D and 107% for the 9850X3D. PCMark 10 Extended shows similar gains at 109% and 111%. In PugetBench for Creators Photoshop, the numbers are more decisive, with AMD quoting 128% for the 9800X3D and 132% for the 9850X3D.
The pattern is consistent with what X3D chips have shown before. They shine in latency-sensitive and gaming-heavy workloads, while some traditional compute benchmarks still favour higher core counts or different architectures.
From a platform perspective, nothing changes. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D sticks with AM5 and follows the same general X3D tuning approach as the previous generation. Reports tied to Zen 5 X3D CPUs indicate that standard AMD tools, including Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimiser, are available. Multiplier overclocking support is also expected to carry over, though X3D parts are still more constrained than non-V-Cache chips.
AMD lists the Ryzen 7 9850X3D as arriving in Q1 2026. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, and there’s no MSRP in the current slide deck. AMD also hasn’t said anything about a higher-end 16-core X3D option, and there was no mention of a Ryzen 9 9950X3D2.
For now, the message is straightforward. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D isn’t a radical shift. It’s a faster-tuned version of a proven design, aimed at squeezing a bit more performance out of Zen 5 and 3D V-Cache without forcing users onto a new platform. Whether that extra clock speed is worth the eventual price will be the real question once the chip actually hits shelves.
Higher clocks, same X3D foundation
On paper, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D looks very close to its predecessor. It retains the same 104MB of total cache when you combine L2 and L3, thanks to AMD’s stacked 3D V-Cache design. The TDP also stays at 120W, and the chip continues to target the Socket AM5 platform.
The key change is frequency. AMD lists a maximum boost clock of up to 5.6GHz, which is a 400MHz increase over the 5.2GHz boost on the 9800X3D. That extra headroom is where AMD expects the new part to separate itself, especially in scenarios where games can take advantage of higher single-core speeds alongside the large cache.
Memory support remains unchanged as well. The 9850X3D supports DDR5 with AMD EXPO profiles, and AMD is clearly pushing the message that this is a drop-in upgrade for existing AM5 systems rather than a reason to rebuild from scratch.
Gaming performance claims
AMD says both the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and 9800X3D will stay in the lineup, giving buyers a choice depending on price and performance needs. In its own gaming benchmarks, AMD positions the 9850X3D slightly above the 9800X3D when compared to Intel’s current flagship.
Using the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K as a 100% baseline, AMD claims an average gaming uplift of 27% for the 9850X3D across more than 35 games at 1080p with high detail settings. Under the same conditions, the 9800X3D averages a 24% lead.
Looking at individual titles helps explain the source of the difference. In Battlefield 6, both chips land at the same relative result, suggesting the higher clocks don’t move the needle there. In more CPU-sensitive titles, the gap opens slightly. Counter-Strike 2 rises from 140% on the 9800X3D to 148% on the 9850X3D. Hogwarts Legacy moves from 140% to 146%, while Baldur’s Gate 3 jumps from 153% to 160%. In each case, the Intel chip remains the 100% reference point in AMD’s charts.
Mixed results outside gaming
Outside of games, the picture is more mixed. Against the same Intel baseline, AMD’s slides show the Ryzen 7 parts trailing in some heavily threaded or rendering-focused workloads. In V-Ray, the 9800X3D sits at 64%, and the 9850X3D improves slightly to 66%. Cinebench 2024 single-thread results show a bigger swing, with the older chip at 93% and the newer one reaching 99%.
In other tests, AMD’s chips come out ahead. Geekbench single-core scores land at 101% for the 9800X3D and 107% for the 9850X3D. PCMark 10 Extended shows similar gains at 109% and 111%. In PugetBench for Creators Photoshop, the numbers are more decisive, with AMD quoting 128% for the 9800X3D and 132% for the 9850X3D.
The pattern is consistent with what X3D chips have shown before. They shine in latency-sensitive and gaming-heavy workloads, while some traditional compute benchmarks still favour higher core counts or different architectures.
Platform and tuning
From a platform perspective, nothing changes. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D sticks with AM5 and follows the same general X3D tuning approach as the previous generation. Reports tied to Zen 5 X3D CPUs indicate that standard AMD tools, including Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimiser, are available. Multiplier overclocking support is also expected to carry over, though X3D parts are still more constrained than non-V-Cache chips.
Availability and what’s missing
AMD lists the Ryzen 7 9850X3D as arriving in Q1 2026. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, and there’s no MSRP in the current slide deck. AMD also hasn’t said anything about a higher-end 16-core X3D option, and there was no mention of a Ryzen 9 9950X3D2.
For now, the message is straightforward. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D isn’t a radical shift. It’s a faster-tuned version of a proven design, aimed at squeezing a bit more performance out of Zen 5 and 3D V-Cache without forcing users onto a new platform. Whether that extra clock speed is worth the eventual price will be the real question once the chip actually hits shelves.