AMD is releasing an improved version of one of its best desktop processors, but I’m more excited about what this means for other X3D models.
AMD has truly claimed ownership of the desktop CPU market throughout 2025, making repeated gains over Intel in Steam hardware surveys each month. At CES, the brand appears to be doubling down on its gaming PC momentum, as it was just announced that a new variant of one of its most popular processors is about to launch.
The new processor is an improved version of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. It’s called the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, and while it shares the same architecture and core specs as the original, it speeds up the boost clock from 5.2GHz to 5.6GHz, putting it on par with the Ryzen 9 9900X, and actually faster than the Ryzen 9 9900X3D.
Picture 1 of 2
As impressive as this increase in performance for gaming tasks is, I have to admit that not much has changed to really get me excited. For most, that might be enough of a performance boost to justify a half-step product, but it seems like an excuse to charge more for what is almost exactly the same processor.
What excites me more The impending arrival of the 9850X3D is about the ripple effect it will have on pricing for the existing Ryzen 9000 Series portfolio. With a new competitor on the shelves getting more attention, it’s much more likely that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D will now see more frequent price drops, as well as potentially deeper discounts from its $479/$449 launch price.
Also remember that this adds even more value for money to all AM5 motherboards, as it shows that AMD is committed to supporting its platforms with new products that consumers can upgrade to. We now have the AMD Ryzen 7000 family, the initial X3D lineup, the Ryzen 8000G product stack, the 9000 series, and now an even broader portfolio of Ryzen 9000 X3D options, which unlock even higher performance.
Meanwhile, Intel’s first batch of Core Ultra desktop processors still don’t appear to be gaining much traction after a weak launch, and with all the rumors suggesting an even newer motherboard socket is also in the works, you can see why AMD is enjoying the processors’ time in the spotlight.
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D will apparently be available in Q1 2026, but AMD has yet to share a specific launch date or price for the new processor.
To learn more about PCs, visit best graphics cardTHE best computer speakersand the best RAM for gaming.
