If you're considering joining the AMD ecosystem for your next PC upgrade, the timing couldn't be better. Currently, AMD's flagship Zen 5 "X3D" processors—the Ryzen 9 9800X3D and the Ryzen 9 9950X3D—are in stock and shipping from Amazon. They're also on sale with discounts of roughly $25 to $30, an even better deal than what was offered during Prime Day. These represent AMD's premier gaming CPUs. From a value-for-performance perspective, the 9800X3D is the top pick for dedicated gaming systems, while the 9950X3D takes the lead for content creation and multitasking workloads.
Top Pick for Gamers: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 Desktop Processor
$479.00 Save 5% $452.99 at Amazon
For a gaming PC, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers exceptional value, delivering gaming performance nearly on par with the more costly 9900X3D and 9950X3D models. This processor features a max boost clock of 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of combined L2 and L3 cache. While it capably handles multitasking, rendering, and creative work, its core count means it isn't as potent for heavy productivity as the 9950X3D. Nevertheless, for gaming performance at this price, it's an absolute powerhouse.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers incredible gaming performance, making it a more compelling choice than recent alternatives like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. If you're building a system with a high-end graphics card, the 9800X3D is arguably the best way to maximize the potential of your GPU."
Top Pick for Creators: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D AM5 Desktop Processor
$699.00 Save 6% $656.95 at Amazon
For creative professionals who also demand the best gaming performance available, this is the clear choice. The new 9950X3D boasts a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of L2-L3 cache. In gaming, it's only marginally faster than the 9800X3D. However, for productivity applications, it significantly outperforms both the 9800X3D and 9900X3D, as well as any competing Intel processor.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D may be the most powerful gaming CPU currently available, but that doesn't automatically make it the best choice for everyone. Most users will find the much more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D at $479 perfectly sufficient. The 9950X3D is really geared toward gamers who also use demanding creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, with the latter seeing performance gains of around 15% over the 9800X3D."
