Skip to main content

AMD’s upcoming CPU could offer bonkers gaming performance

A fake and real AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D side by side.
HWBusters

AMD’s Zen 5 architecture has been a popular choice for gamers due to its outstanding performance and 3D V-Cache capacity, and now a leak suggests Zen 7 could double down on that through a new “3D Core.” According to YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead, “[AMD] is moving toward a lot of official variants.”

AMD reportedly plans to launch a single overall architecture, divided into different product categories, including the expected lineup: Classic Cores, Dense Cores, Efficiency Cores, and Low-Power Cores. The 3D Core is the latest addition, and it is said to “require full cache chiplets” that “seem to be leading to profound performance increases.”

Recommended Videos

To be clear, this is two generations away. Zen 7 isn’t likely to arrive until 2027 or 2028, as AMD Zen 6 isn’t here yet. That means you’ll have to wait a while yet to upgrade your rig, but when the time comes, it could offer a truly generational performance boost. Moore’s Law is Dead hints that each Zen 7 3D Core will have its own cache chiplet, rather than a single chiplet for the entire block.

The discussion of the Zen 7 chip starts at 52:48.

He didn’t share many more details about the architecture, but said he is still verifying information and lining up details for a larger reveal yet to come. Moore’s Law is Dead said AMD will continue to use the latest node, as well.

Before you get too excited, remember that much of this information is speculation. Leaks for hardware — especially something like a chipset that’s still several years away — are typically not entirely accurate. If the rumors play out as expected, then AMD could set itself up to lead the gaming hardware market for a long time to come, although the cost of these chips is expected to rise versus current options like the Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9.

Patrick Hearn
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Watch out — there are fake AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs on Amazon
A fake and real AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D side by side.

Buying one of the best processors from a retailer like Amazon seems like a safe bet, but that isn't always the case. A hardware reviewer just bought an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU on Amazon only to find out that it was fake. The box looked convincing enough, but the hardware found inside had nothing to do with the beastly CPU you'd expect to find. The worst part? I found fake listings on Amazon right now for that same CPU.

Crmaris from HWBusters is the unlucky shopper. He needed an extra Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU for testing purposes, so he ordered one from Amazon Germany. The reviewer claims that the CPU was sold directly by Amazon and was brand new, which should imply that it'd arrive in good condition.

Read more
AMD ramps up gaming performance with new X3D CPUs, and they’re almost here
AMD Ryzen 9000 CPU

If you're waiting for a chance to upgrade your gaming rig, you don't have to wait much longer. AMD announced that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Ryzen 9 9900X3D will hit store shelves on March 12 for $699 and $599, respectively. First unveiled at CES 2025, these two processors promise huge gains in performance for gamers wanting the best frame rates and visuals they can possibly get.

AMD describes the Ryzen 9 9950X3D as the "ultimate 16-core desktop CPU," and while there might be a bit of hyperbole involved, this is an undeniably powerful piece of hardware. Its 16 cores give it 32 Threads, and it comes with a base clock speed of 4.3GHz that can boost up to 5.7GHz. It also sports a 144MB cache and uses an admittedly high 170W TDP.

Read more
AMD’s RX 9070 XT could soon cost a lot more than it does now
An Asus RX 9070 XT TUF GPU.

After the way Nvidia's RTX 50-series ended up being called a "paper launch," many breathed a sigh of relief when AMD's RX 9000 series appeared on the shelves in much larger quantities. However, once this initial shipment is sold, AMD could face the same problem as the rest of the best graphics cards: Price hikes, price hikes everywhere.

The cards officially hit the shelves yesterday, and many were spotted far above the recommended list price (MSRP), with some overclocked models priced at up to $250 more than the $600 starting price. However, AMD spoke several times about working with its partners to ensure wide availability at MSRP, and indeed, many retailers had some models up for sale. Those MSRP cards were only around for a short time, though, and they might never come back, according to retailers.

Read more