AMD has officially unveiled the Ryzen 7 9850X3D at CES 2026. This CPU is a refined version of the acclaimed 9800X3D, boasting higher clock speeds. The 9850X3D has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks and has been featured in numerous leaks, including those from Dell and AMD itself.
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D maintains the same architecture as its predecessor, with an 8-core, 16-thread configuration and a substantial 96MB L3 cache that enhances gaming performance. With superior binning, this new CPU can achieve clock speeds of 5.6GHz, an increase from the 5.2GHz offered by the 9800X3D, while still operating at a 120W thermal design power (TDP).
This represents an almost 8% boost in clock speed, positioning the 9850X3D as the fastest gaming CPU in AMD's lineup and potentially across the market. Although AMD's 16-core 9950X3D can reach 5.7GHz, it does so with a core complex (CCD) that lacks the additional L3 cache, while its 3D V-cache CCD typically operates around 5.5GHz. Thus, the 9850X3D is expected to perform comparably to or better than the 9950X3D in frequency-sensitive situations.
In terms of performance gains, users should anticipate modest improvements. AMD's estimates indicate a gaming performance increase of approximately 3-6%, varying by title, while productivity performance is expected to rise around 5%. Overclocking may yield additional potential, given the enhanced binning; however, significant performance miracles should not be expected.
Pricing details for the 9850X3D have yet to be disclosed, leaving comparisons to the $480 9800X3D open-ended. With the 9900X3D priced at $600 and the 9950X3D at $700, it is likely that the 9850X3D will be priced between $500 and $600 to ensure a competitive positioning within AMD's offering. AMD has confirmed that the 9800X3D will remain available at its current price.
