AMD has announced the Ryzen 7 9850X3D desktop processor, which will be available in stores starting January 29 at $499. The new processor is positioned as AMD’s fastest gaming chip, replacing the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. The launch follows its official unveiling at CES 2026, and the company has confirmed the pricing and availability across major retailers.
What you need to know about the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D:
- Building on the legacy of the 9800X3D, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D features a +400MHz improvement to the boost clock, making the world’s fastest gaming processor even faster.
- The Ryzen 7 9850X3D provides up to an average 27% gaming performance improvement vs the Intel Core Ultra 9 285k
- Thanks to 2nd Gen 3D V-Cache™ technology, high-frequency memory is not required. Across an average of 30+ games, the FPS difference between DDR5-4800 and DDR5-6000 was <1%.
– AMD
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D retains 8 cores and 16 threads, matching the core configuration of the 9800X3D. Its main upgrade is a higher boost clock of 5.6 GHz, which is 400 MHz above the previous generation. The base clock remains at 4.7 GHz. Other key specifications, including 96 MB of L3 cache and a 120 W TDP, remain unchanged. This ensures that the processor delivers improved performance while maintaining power efficiency and compatibility with existing AM5 platforms.
Built with AMD’s 2nd Gen 3D V-Cache™ technology, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D delivers high gaming performance without requiring ultra-high-frequency memory. Early benchmarks show an average 27% improvement in gaming performance compared with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285k. Across over 30 popular games, performance differences between DDR5-4800 and DDR5-6000 memory modules were minimal, highlighting the efficiency of the 3D V-Cache design.
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is priced $20 higher than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which launched at $479 in November 2024. With strong demand for high-end gaming processors and limited direct competition, AMD expects the new chip to perform well in sales. Pre-orders are now available, and the processor will officially reach retail on January 29.
