Ryzen 7 9850X3D shows up in Geekbench
A new batch of leaked benchmarks has given us an early look at the upcoming AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor. Two Geekbench results from mid November have surfaced, revealing how this chip stacks up against the current Ryzen 7 9800X3D. While these are early numbers and not final, they already paint an interesting picture for PC gamers and hardware enthusiasts.
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is part of AMDs 3D V Cache lineup that targets gaming performance. These chips use extra stacked cache to boost frame rates, especially in CPU bound titles. That makes any improvement in single core performance especially important for gamers.
Single core gains and multi core quirks
According to the leaked Geekbench runs, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D posts higher single core scores than the existing 9800X3D. That is exactly what you want to see if you care about gaming performance. Many modern games still lean heavily on a few cores, so stronger single core numbers usually translate into smoother gameplay, higher average frames, and better 1 percent lows.
The chip reportedly boosts up to 5.6 GHz, which matches earlier expectations for its maximum boost clock. That boost helps explain the higher single core result. For gamers running high refresh monitors or competitive esports titles, this extra clock speed combined with 3D V Cache could offer a very real uplift over the 9800X3D.
On the other hand, the multi threaded scores tell a different story. In these early tests, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D actually trails the 9800X3D in multi core performance. That sounds strange at first, but there are a few reasons you should not panic or read too much into this yet:
- Pre release silicon can behave differently from final retail chips.
- Motherboard BIOS and firmware might not be fully tuned for the new CPU.
- Windows scheduler behavior can change with updates and driver revisions.
- Geekbench is only one synthetic test and not the full story.
In other words, the multi core deficit right now is a red flag to watch, not a final verdict on the processors capabilities. For workloads that hit many cores such as heavy content creation or compiling code, we will need to see more mature benchmarks to really judge the 9850X3D.
Slow memory is holding it back
One of the most important details from these leaks is the memory configuration. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D was tested with DDR5 running at only 4800 MT per second. For modern Ryzen platforms that is slow memory. Most gaming and enthusiast builds today run at least DDR5 5600 to 6000, and tuned kits often go even higher.
Memory speed and timings can have a big impact on benchmark results. On AMD Ryzen in particular, memory frequency affects the Infinity Fabric and overall latency, which in turn influences both CPU performance and gaming frame rates. Running at 4800 MT per second almost guarantees that these early scores are not showing the chips true potential.
That means two things for anyone planning a new gaming PC build:
- The real world performance of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D should be better than what these early Geekbench runs suggest, especially once paired with faster DDR5 memory.
- If you buy this CPU, investing in a decent DDR5 kit with good speeds and timings will be worth it, particularly for high refresh gaming.
We can expect reviewers to test the chip with more realistic memory settings once it officially launches. At that point, we will have a much clearer view of how it compares not only to the 9800X3D but also to competing Intel chips in both games and productivity workloads.
What this means for PC gamers
Even from this limited information, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is shaping up to be a promising option for gamers who want strong CPU performance without going all in on a top tier flagship. The higher single core scores and 5.6 GHz boost look good for gaming, especially when combined with AMDs proven 3D V Cache approach.
The weaker multi core result in Geekbench is worth keeping an eye on, but it is likely influenced by the slow DDR5 4800 memory and early platform support. For most gamers who mainly care about frame rates in titles like Counter Strike, Valorant, Fortnite, or big AAA games where the GPU is usually the main limit, single core performance and cache matter more.
If you are planning a new build or an upgrade path, the safe move is to wait for launch day reviews with proper memory and final BIOS. Those reviews will show how the 9850X3D behaves in real games, at different resolutions, and with popular GPUs. Still, these early leaks suggest that AMD is once again pushing its gaming focused X3D lineup forward, and the 9850X3D could end up as a very solid heart for a mid to high end gaming rig.
Original article and image: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amds-imminent-ryzen-7-9850x3d-chip-shows-up-on-geekbench-with-5-6-ghz-boost-clocks-scores-slightly-lower-than-9800x3d-in-multi-core-tests-higher-in-single-core
