AMD mentions unreleased gaming-optimized Ryzen 7 9850X3D — could be the next fastest gaming CPU ever

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Things can only get better.

Ryzen 7000 CPU
(Image credit: AMD)

AMD has quietly listed the Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor in its 'Drivers and Downloads' section (via Gray). With this official mention, the existence of the product is all but confirmed, and if the new CPU does exist, it could be the next best processor for gamers in this generation of CPUs.

AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor with eight cores running at up to 5.20 GHz with a 96MB last level cache already offers formidable performance in games. It has even inspired our Editor-in-Chief to call it the best gaming CPU. A higher product number almost certainly means higher performance, unless we are dealing with an OEM-specific SKU designed for a particular system.

To that end, if Ryzen 7 9850X3D really arrives, we can expect a fine-tuned variant of the existing architecture — same 8 cores/16 threads and a large stacked L3 cache — but with enhanced boosting behavior and higher peak clock speeds when cooling allows. This would likely yield higher single-threaded performance and slightly improved responsiveness in workloads that care about latency or light-threaded bursts (e.g. gaming, UI tasks, light editing).

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Anton Shilov
Anton Shilov
Contributing Writer

Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.

7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • vanadiel007
    It could also have increase X3D cache and other increased cache levels. Those alone could increase performance, without noticeably impacting thermals.
    Reply
  • usertests
    vanadiel007 said:
    It could also have increase X3D cache and other increased cache levels. Those alone could increase performance, without noticeably impacting thermals.
    Extremely unlikely.

    We've seen a leak that it will turbo to 5.6 GHz instead of 5.2 GHz. That's about the most you should expect, and not terrible for a simple refresh.
    Reply
  • ezst036
    Admin said:
    unless we are dealing with an OEM-specific SKU designed for a particular system.
    If it is an OEM, hopefully it doesn't turn out to be Lenovo. To my knowledge Lenovo locks their AMD CPUs so they can only work in Lenovo systems.(and possibly locked to a specific Lenovo motherboard model number)
    Reply
  • Thunder64
    vanadiel007 said:
    It could also have increase X3D cache and other increased cache levels. Those alone could increase performance, without noticeably impacting thermals.

    L1 is too close to the core to add mor without a significant redesign. L2 is more flexible but no way the put in the effort for a simple refresh. X3D was said to allow up to 4 stacks, but so far all we have seen is one so I doubt that changes. Like usertests said it will likely just be a clock bump.

    ezst036 said:
    If it is an OEM, hopefully it doesn't turn out to be Lenovo. To my knowledge Lenovo locks their AMD CPUs so they can only work in Lenovo systems.(and possibly locked to a specific Lenovo motherboard model number)

    I vaguely remember this story. I thought that the backlash was bad enough that they stopped doing it. It doesn't get more anti-consumer than that.
    Reply
  • Elusive Ruse
    This puts the 900 (12/24) line in more of a silly spot; the 12 core offering hasn’t been relevant since 5900X. With the popularity of the 5800X3D/7800X3D/9800X3D CPUs marking them recognisable by gamers, I can see AMD turning the 10800 and consequently 10800X3D into a single CCD 12 core gaming behemoth with good multicore performance and retire the 900.
    Reply
  • ezst036
    Thunder64 said:
    I vaguely remember this story. I thought that the backlash was bad enough that they stopped doing it. It doesn't get more anti-consumer than that.
    I do hope they have stopped platform locking CPUs, I do not have any further/updated information if they changed policy.
    Reply
  • vanadiel007
    usertests said:
    Extremely unlikely.

    We've seen a leak that it will turbo to 5.6 GHz instead of 5.2 GHz. That's about the most you should expect, and not terrible for a simple refresh.

    Just remember, they flipped the X3D stack to the bottom of the die starting with the 9800X3D. It would not be far fetched to be able to increase the stack and stack it "higher" much easier, as it now does not affect the distance between the die and housing when you increase the height of the stack.
    Reply