AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review in 2026: is it still good for gaming? · Doxlore

ReviewsAMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D AMD

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review in 2026: is it still good for gaming?

Posted 2h ago

The 9800X3D was the easy answer for a gaming PC for over a year. The 9850X3D has now arrived, and RAM prices went crazy. Here is how that changes things.

Our score: 9 / 10

At a glance

Spec	Detail
Released	November 7, 2024
Launch price	$479
Cores	8 cores, 16 threads (Zen 5)
Speed	4.7 GHz base, up to 5.2 GHz
Cache	96MB L3 with 3D V-Cache under the cores
Power	120W TDP
Socket	AM5 (DDR5 only)
Overclocking	Fully unlocked

Yes, it is still one of the best gaming CPUs

Nothing released since has made the Ryzen 7 9800X3D slow. It is still at or near the top of every gaming chart, and it will not hold back any graphics card you can buy today, including an RTX 5090.

The big idea behind the X3D chips is extra cache memory stacked on the chip. Games love fast access to that memory, so these CPUs push higher and steadier frame rates than chips with more cores.

With the 9800X3D, AMD moved that extra cache under the cores instead of on top. That let the cores run cooler and faster, and it is why this was the first X3D chip you could fully overclock.

9800X3D vs 9850X3D

AMD launched the Ryzen 7 9850X3D in early 2026 at $499. It is basically a faster tuned version of the same chip. Reviews put it only a few percent ahead in games, and in many games you will not see any gap at all.

So the rule is simple. If the 9850X3D costs $20 or $30 more, buy it for a new build. If you find the 9800X3D on sale for noticeably less, buy that and put the savings toward your graphics card. If you already own a 9800X3D, do not upgrade.

The real problem in 2026 is RAM

AM5 only supports DDR5, and DDR5 prices shot up in late 2025 and 2026. Memory makers moved factories to AI server memory, and a normal 32GB kit now costs several times what it did in mid 2025.

That changes the budget for the whole build. A 9800X3D paired with a mid-range GPU and 32GB of RAM can cost more than you expect. Some prebuilt PCs are now better value than building your own, because system builders bought memory in bulk earlier.

If you are on a tight budget, 32GB is still the right target for gaming. Do not drop to 16GB to save money on a CPU this fast.

When the CPU matters less

At 4K, or with a mid-range card like an RTX 5070, your graphics card sets the frame rate most of the time. A cheaper chip like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D or even a Ryzen 5 will feel almost the same in many games.

The 9800X3D shines with a high-end GPU, at 1080p or 1440p with a high refresh monitor, and in CPU-heavy games like strategy, simulation and big online shooters.

Cooling and platform

It is an efficient chip. A good tower air cooler is enough, and you do not need a big liquid cooler unless you plan to overclock hard. For a motherboard, a B650 or B850 board is plenty. X870 boards add features like USB4, but not gaming speed.

AM5 is also a good platform to buy into. AMD has kept older boards working with new chips through BIOS updates, so there is a clear upgrade path later.

The good and the bad

What works

Still one of the fastest gaming CPUs you can buy
Runs cool and draws sensible power
Fully unlocked for overclocking
Works on affordable B650 and B850 boards

What doesn’t

DDR5 prices make the full build expensive in 2026
The 9850X3D is a little faster for a small price gap
Only 8 cores, so heavy video and 3D work are better on bigger chips

Who it’s for

Buy it if you are building a high-end gaming PC and it costs less than the 9850X3D.

Skip it if you already have a 7800X3D, or you game at 4K on a mid-range card, where the CPU barely matters.

Alternatives worth a look

Ryzen 7 9850X3D, a few percent faster for a small premium.
Ryzen 7 7800X3D, still a great gaming chip for less.
Ryzen 9 9950X3D, for people who game and also do heavy multi-core work.

The verdict: Still a top gaming CPU in 2026. Just plan your budget around RAM, not the chip.

0 comments

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review: the gaming CPU decision is over

The fastest gaming chip, now overclockable and cooler-running. There is no reason to consider anything else for a gaming build. Our score: 9.5 / 10 AMD moved the cache By putting the 3D V-Cache below the cores on the 9800X3D, AMD solved the last complaints about the X3D line: higher clock speeds, better thermals, and full overclocking support. The result It is the fastest CPU in games, full stop, and efficient enough to pair with a mid-range air cooler. For a gaming PC in 2026, this is simply the default choice. The good and the bad What works Fastest gaming CPU available Now fully overclockable Runs cooler than previous X3D chips Efficient under load What doesn’t Premium price for an 8-core chip Overkill if you only do productivity work Requires an AM5 platform Who it’s for Buy it if you are building or upgrading a gaming PC and want the best, period. Skip it if your workload is heavily multi-threaded productivity, where a 12- or 16-core chip serves better. Alternatives worth a look Ryzen 9 9950X3D, for people who game and do heavy multi-core work. Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the previous champ, cheaper now. The verdict: The uncontested gaming CPU. If the build is for games, this is the chip. Sources AMD

Sep 6, 2026Read discussion

ReviewsAMD Radeon RX 9070 XT AMD

AMD RX 9070 XT review: the card that reset expectations

Much-improved ray tracing, FSR 4, 16GB of VRAM, and a $599 price that makes Nvidia’s mid-range look expensive. Our score: 9 / 10 RDNA 4 fixed the weak spots AMD’s two long-standing problems were ray-tracing performance and upscaling quality. The RX 9070 XT addresses both: ray tracing is now genuinely competitive, and FSR 4 closes the gap to DLSS enough that it stopped being a reason to avoid Radeon. The price is the weapon At $599 with 16GB of VRAM, it undercuts the comparable Nvidia cards while matching or beating them in raster, and it forced Nvidia to respond on pricing. The good and the bad What works Competitive ray tracing at last FSR 4 is a big step up 16GB VRAM at the price Strong rasterisation value What doesn’t Still behind Nvidia on the heaviest ray-traced workloads FSR 4 game support still growing Availability was tight at launch Who it’s for Buy it if you want the best 1440p-to-4K value and do not need Nvidia’s CUDA ecosystem. Skip it if you rely on CUDA for work, or you want the absolute best path-tracing performance. Alternatives worth a look RTX 5070 Ti, the Nvidia rival, pricier, better RT and CUDA. RX 9070, a bit slower, a bit cheaper. The verdict: The card that made the mid-range a real contest again. Sources AMD

Sep 6, 2026Read discussion

ReviewsTP-Link Archer BE800 TP-Link Deco BE85+1

TP-Link Archer BE800 review in 2026: is this Wi-Fi 7 router still worth it?

Photo: TP-Link Deutschland via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 When the BE800 came out, almost nothing could use Wi-Fi 7. In 2026 your phone and laptop probably can, and the router costs far less. That makes it a much better buy. Our score: 8.5 / 10 At a glance Spec Detail Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), tri-band BE19000 Bands 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz with 320MHz channels Wired ports 1x 10Gbps, 1x 10Gbps SFP+/RJ45 combo, 4x 2.5Gbps USB 1x USB 3.0 Extras EasyMesh, HomeShield, LED dot matrix screen Launch price Around $599 Price in 2026 Often around $350 What changed since launch Early reviews said the same thing. The Archer BE800 was fast, but you had no Wi-Fi 7 devices to use it with. That is no longer true. Most flagship phones from the last two years, and many new laptops and tablets, support Wi-Fi 7. The price has also dropped a lot. It launched close to $600 and now often sells for around $350. At that price, it is one of the best value high-end routers you can buy. The ports are the real reason to buy it This router has two 10Gbps ports. One is a combo port that takes either a normal Ethernet cable or an SFP+ module for fibre. The other four ports are 2.5Gbps. If you have internet faster than 1Gbps, a NAS, or a desktop with a fast network card, this matters more than the Wi-Fi. Many cheaper routers still top out at a single 2.5Gbps port. If your internet plan is 500Mbps and you only use Wi-Fi, you will not use most of this. Wi-Fi 7 in plain words Wi-Fi 7 adds three useful things. Wider 320MHz channels on 6GHz for very fast speeds close to the router. 4K-QAM, which packs more data into the same signal. And Multi-Link Operation, which lets a device use more than one band at the same time for a steadier connection. In real homes, the biggest gain is less lag and fewer drops when many devices are busy. The very top speeds only show up in the same room, because 6GHz does not go through walls well. Software and updates Early firmware had stability problems, and TP-Link fixed a lot of them in the first months. It has kept updating the router since. A 2026 update added features like VPN Merge and extended guest and IoT networks across EasyMesh. The Tether app is easy to use. Some advanced security and parental control tools sit behind the paid HomeShield subscription, which is annoying on a router this expensive. The basics work fine without it. Size and that LED screen It is a big, tall box. Give it a shelf out in the open, not a cupboard, or you will lose range. The front LED screen can show the time, weather or little animations. It is a gimmick, but it is a fun one, and you can turn it off. If your home is big or has thick walls, one router may not be enough. The BE800 supports EasyMesh, so you can add a mesh unit later, but a full mesh kit like the Deco BE85 covers large homes better from day one. The good and the bad What works Two 10Gbps ports plus four 2.5Gbps ports Full Wi-Fi 7 feature set Much cheaper than at launch Firmware keeps getting updates Wi-Fi 7 devices are now common What doesn’t Large and needs open shelf space Some features need a HomeShield subscription 6GHz speed drops quickly through walls Overkill for slower internet plans Who it’s for Buy it if you have multi-gig internet, a NAS or wired desktops, and want one strong router for a medium-sized home. Skip it if your internet is under 1Gbps and your home is small. A cheaper Wi-Fi 7 router will feel the same. Alternatives worth a look TP-Link Deco BE85, a mesh system for big homes. Netgear Nighthawk RS700S, similar performance, usually more expensive. The verdict: Better in 2026 than at launch. Wi-Fi 7 devices are finally here, and the price is finally right.

ReviewsMicrosoft Surface Pro (11th Edition)Microsoft Qualcomm

Surface Pro 11 review in 2026: specs, release date and is it still worth it?

Photo: Kyu3a via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 The Surface Pro 11 was the first Surface Pro that really worked. In 2026 there is a faster model, but it costs a lot more, and that helps the older one. Our score: 8 / 10 At a glance Spec Detail Full name Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC, 11th Edition Announced May 20, 2024 Released June 18, 2024 Display 13-inch, 2880 x 1920, 120Hz, LCD or OLED Chip Snapdragon X Plus or Snapdragon X Elite Memory 16GB or 32GB RAM, 256GB to 1TB removable SSD Ports 2x USB4 (USB-C), Surface Connect Weight About 895 g without keyboard Launch price $999 (X Plus, LCD), $1,499 (X Elite, OLED) Why this Surface Pro mattered Surface Pros always had the same problem. They were lovely tablets that ran hot, had short battery life, and cost a lot once you added a keyboard. The Surface Pro 11 fixed the first two by moving to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips. It stays cool, it has no fan noise worth talking about, and it lasts a full work day on one charge. Microsoft rates it for up to 14 hours of video. That is the main reason people still search for it two years later. Specs that still hold up The 13-inch screen is sharp and runs at 120Hz. Get the OLED version if you can. It has true blacks and much better HDR, and it makes the device feel far more expensive than the LCD model. The Snapdragon X Plus is fine for office work, browsing and video calls. The X Elite has more cores and is worth it if you edit photos or keep a lot of apps open. Both come with 16GB of RAM, which is still the right amount in 2026. You also get Wi-Fi 7, a very good 1440p front camera, and an SSD you can swap out yourself. What you do not get is a headphone jack, and there are only two USB-C ports. Windows on Arm is in better shape now When the Pro 11 launched, some apps simply would not run. That list is much shorter in 2026. Microsoft’s Prism emulator now handles AVX and AVX2, which many creative apps and games need, and more anti-cheat systems support Arm, so games like Fortnite now run. Some things still break. Older printer and scanner drivers, some VPN and security tools, and games with kernel anti-cheat like Valorant can still fail. Check the apps you rely on before you buy. Surface Pro 11 vs the 2026 Surface Pro In June 2026, Microsoft released a new 13-inch Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 chips. It is faster, especially in graphics, and can be ordered with up to 64GB of RAM. It also starts at $1,499, which is $500 more than the Pro 11 did. There is also the smaller 12-inch Surface Pro from 2025. It is cheaper, but its screen is 90Hz and lower resolution, and it drops the Surface Connect port. For most people, a discounted Surface Pro 11 with the OLED screen is the sweet spot. You get 90 percent of the experience for far less. The keyboard is still sold separately This has not changed and it probably never will. The Flex Keyboard is excellent, and it works both attached and detached, but it launched at around $350, or $450 with the Slim Pen. Look for bundles. A Surface Pro without a keyboard is just an expensive tablet. The good and the bad What works Long battery life and quiet running OLED option is gorgeous Great front camera for calls App support on Arm has improved a lot since launch Much cheaper than the 2026 model What doesn’t Keyboard costs extra Only two USB-C ports and no headphone jack Some games, drivers and security tools still do not work Awkward to use on your lap Who it’s for Buy it if you want a light Windows tablet that becomes a real laptop, and you can get it on sale with a keyboard. Skip it if you only ever use it as a laptop. A Surface Laptop 7 costs less and includes a keyboard. Alternatives worth a look Surface Pro (2026, Snapdragon X2), faster, but much more expensive. Surface Laptop 7, same chips in a normal laptop body. iPad Air (M3) with Magic Keyboard, a better tablet, a more limited computer. The verdict: Still the best value Surface Pro in 2026. Buy the OLED model on discount and budget for the keyboard.

ReviewsSony Bravia 9 (2024)Sony

Sony Bravia 9 review in 2026: is it still worth buying now the Bravia 9 II is out?

The Bravia 9 was Sony’s best TV of 2024. Two years on it has a newer, pricier replacement, and that makes the old one a very different buy. Our score: 8.5 / 10 At a glance Spec Detail Panel 4K mini-LED LCD with local dimming, 120Hz Sizes at launch 65, 75 and 85 inches Launch price $3,299 (65"), $4,499 (75"), $5,499 (85") HDR Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG Gaming 2x HDMI 2.1 with 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM Smart TV Google TV Status in 2026 Replaced by the Bravia 9 II, sold off at clearance prices The short answer Yes, the Bravia 9 is still a great TV in 2026. The picture has not got worse just because a new model came out. What changed is the price. If you can find one well below the Bravia 9 II, it is one of the best deals in TVs right now. If the gap is small, spend the extra on the new model. What made it special in the first place Most mini-LED TVs are bright but show halos around bright objects on a dark screen. Sony tuned the Bravia 9 to control its backlight very tightly, so it holds deep blacks while still hitting HDR highlights far above what an OLED can manage. The result is a picture that feels punchy in a sunny living room and still looks controlled at night. Sony’s processing also does a lot of quiet work. Cable TV, YouTube and older 1080p films look cleaner than on most rivals, and motion is smooth without that fake soap opera look. How it holds up two years later Picture quality is still near the top of the LCD world. Next to a 2026 set, the differences are small in normal viewing. The newer TVs mainly win on colour volume at very high brightness and on viewing angles. Google TV is still here and still gets updates, but the menus can feel slow, and the home screen pushes a lot of content you never asked for. A cheap streaming stick fixes that if it bothers you. Gamers should know about one limit that has not changed. Only two of the four HDMI ports support HDMI 2.1, and one of those is also the eARC port for a soundbar. If you have a PS5, an Xbox and a soundbar, you will run out of fast ports. Bravia 9 vs Bravia 9 II The Bravia 9 II uses Sony’s new True RGB backlight. Instead of white or blue LEDs behind a colour filter, it uses red, green and blue LEDs. In simple terms, colours stay rich even at full brightness, where normal mini-LED TVs start to look a bit washed out. That is a real upgrade, but it costs a lot. The 65-inch Bravia 9 II sells for around $3,599. The old Bravia 9 has been cleared out at big discounts, and when you find one, the price gap can be over a thousand dollars. For most people watching films and sport, that money is better spent on a larger screen or a good soundbar. Where OLED still wins In a dark room, an OLED like the LG G4 or Sony’s own Bravia 8 still looks better. Every pixel turns off on its own, so there is zero blooming around subtitles and stars. OLED also looks the same from the side of the couch, while the Bravia 9 loses some contrast off angle. In a bright room, the Bravia 9 is the easier TV to live with. It is much brighter and does not dim itself on bright scenes like OLEDs do. The good and the bad What works Very bright HDR with deep blacks for an LCD Some of the best processing and upscaling in any TV Great for bright living rooms Clearance prices make it far better value than at launch What doesn’t Only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one shared with eARC Some blooming in dark scenes Viewing angles trail OLED Stock is running out, so good deals are hit and miss Who it’s for Buy it if you watch in a bright room and can get it for well under the price of the Bravia 9 II. Skip it if you mostly watch in the dark, or the discount is too small to matter. Get an OLED or the Bravia 9 II instead. Alternatives worth a look Sony Bravia 9 II, better colour at high brightness, much higher price. LG OLED G4, perfect blacks for dark rooms. Samsung QN90D, a cheaper mini-LED that is great for gaming. The verdict: Still a top TV. At clearance prices, it is one of the smartest ways to get a flagship picture in 2026.

ReviewsSamsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G95SD, 2024)LG UltraGear OLED 45GR95QE-B Samsung

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G95SD) review in 2026: the 49-inch OLED two years later

A huge, curved 240Hz OLED that replaces two monitors. It launched at a painful price. In 2026 it often sells for around half, and that is when it makes sense. Our score: 8.5 / 10 At a glance Spec Detail Screen 49-inch QD-OLED, 1800R curve Resolution 5120 x 1440 (32:9) Refresh rate 240Hz, 0.03ms response time HDR VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 Coating Matte "OLED Glare Free" Extras Built-in Tizen smart TV apps and Gaming Hub Burn-in Covered by Samsung’s 3-year warranty in the US Price in 2026 Often around $1,000 to $1,200 on sale What it is like to use The Odyssey OLED G9 is as wide as two 27-inch 1440p monitors placed side by side, with no gap in the middle. The curve wraps around you, so the edges stay easy to see. For work, it is great. You can have a browser, a document and a chat app open side by side, all at a comfortable size. For games that support 32:9, like racing and flight sims, it feels close to sitting in a cockpit. The picture This is an OLED, so every pixel makes its own light. Blacks are truly black, contrast is perfect, and there is no blooming. Motion at 240Hz is very clear, which makes fast games feel sharp. The matte coating was the big change on this 2024 model. Earlier glossy QD-OLED screens reflected everything in the room and made blacks look grey in daylight. The matte finish cuts that down a lot. Blacks look a little less inky than glossy OLED in a dark room, but it is far easier to use with a window behind you. Brightness is fine for SDR work and very good for small HDR highlights. Big bright scenes dim a bit, as they do on all OLED monitors. Burn-in after two years Burn-in is the question everyone asks. With normal mixed use, like games, videos and changing desktop work, it is unlikely to show up for years. Samsung also adds pixel shifting and panel care tools that run when the screen is off. The risk is leaving the same bright, static layout on screen for many hours every day, like a taskbar and spreadsheet at full brightness. Use dark mode, hide the taskbar and let the care cycles run. In the US, Samsung covers burn-in under a 3-year warranty, which takes a lot of the fear away. You need a strong graphics card 5120 x 1440 is almost 90 percent of the pixels of a 4K screen. To play modern games near 240Hz, you need a high-end GPU and upscaling like DLSS or FSR. With a mid-range card, you will still enjoy it, but expect more like 60 to 100fps in big games. Also check that your desk is deep enough. At 49 inches wide, a shallow desk puts the edges too close to your face. G95SD or G93SD Samsung also sells the Odyssey OLED G93SD. It uses the same panel but drops the smart TV apps and Gaming Hub. If you only plug a PC into it, you will not miss those extras, and the G93SD is often cheaper. Buy whichever one costs less on the day. The good and the bad What works Replaces two monitors with one seamless screen Perfect OLED contrast and very clear motion Matte coating handles room light well Burn-in covered by warranty in the US Much cheaper than at launch What doesn’t Needs a powerful GPU for high frame rates Needs a deep, wide desk Not every game supports 32:9 Smart TV features add cost most PC users will not use Who it’s for Buy it if you want one screen for work and sims, have a strong GPU, and can get it for around $1,200 or less. Skip it if you mostly play competitive shooters or games without ultrawide support. A 27-inch 1440p OLED is cheaper and easier to drive. Alternatives worth a look Samsung Odyssey OLED G93SD, same panel without the smart features. LG UltraGear OLED 45GR95QE, 21:9 instead of 32:9, easier to run games on. The verdict: Still the super ultrawide to get in 2026. At the sale prices it now hits, it is finally good value too.

Report this topic

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review in 2026: is it still good for gaming?

At a glance

Yes, it is still one of the best gaming CPUs

9800X3D vs 9850X3D

The real problem in 2026 is RAM

When the CPU matters less

Cooling and platform

The good and the bad

Who it’s for

Alternatives worth a look

0 comments

Similar topics

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review: the gaming CPU decision is over

AMD RX 9070 XT review: the card that reset expectations

TP-Link Archer BE800 review in 2026: is this Wi-Fi 7 router still worth it?

Surface Pro 11 review in 2026: specs, release date and is it still worth it?

Sony Bravia 9 review in 2026: is it still worth buying now the Bravia 9 II is out?

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G95SD) review in 2026: the 49-inch OLED two years later

Similar topics

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review: the gaming CPU decision is over

AMD RX 9070 XT review: the card that reset expectations

TP-Link Archer BE800 review in 2026: is this Wi-Fi 7 router still worth it?

Surface Pro 11 review in 2026: specs, release date and is it still worth it?

Sony Bravia 9 review in 2026: is it still worth buying now the Bravia 9 II is out?

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G95SD) review in 2026: the 49-inch OLED two years later