Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a cornerstone of the global chip supply, accounting for roughly 70% of the world's foundry production (and more if you're talking only about the most cutting-edge semiconductors).

Considering the Taiwanese firm supplies tech giants like NVIDIA, Qualcomm, AMD, and Apple with chips, if there's one company that I don't want to see discuss price increases, it's TSMC.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. In a recent interview with the BBC, TSMC's Chief Financial Officer, Wendell Huang, cited inflation as a reason why the chip maker could be forced to hike prices.

The good news, at least for now, is that TSMC won't be hiking prices (if at all) in the same way that memory manufacturers have been doing for the last couple of years as AI's appetite grows.

Huang explicitly said that TSMC would not suddenly raise prices "fourfold, fivefold" for customers despite inflation causing the company's costs to increase.

TSMC is a publicly traded company, and so it rides the markets with plenty of pressure from shareholders. Indeed, earlier in the day, before the BBC interviewed Huang, TSMC's Chairman and CEO, CC Wei, reportedly told investors that he'd like to mirror his firm's competition and raise prices accordingly.

This is in line with a May report from Commercial Times suggesting that TSMC is planning a 2026 price hike of up to 15% on its 3nm products, some of the most advanced in the world.

TSMC is undoubtedly under a lot of pressure to deliver a lot of chips to some of the most valuable companies in the world, and its impressive stock price reflects that demand.

TSMC has a duty to maximize returns for its investors, and considering it's essentially working at maximum capacity in all of its operational foundries, it only makes sense, from a fiduciary standpoint, to raise prices.

The question of whether or not the AI revolution is a bubble doesn't seem to be playing a role in TSMC's operation. Huang told the BBC that "these [AI] companies are financially very strong with a lot of financial resources, so we believe that they're able to continue to invest."

Windows Central's take on rising TSMC prices

Although TSMC has not committed entirely to a price hike, it seems inevitable that the firm will eventually have to start charging more for its services. What would this move look like across the rest of the tech industry?

Considering TSMC's dominance, particularly in the world's most advanced chips, companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Qualcomm would immediately be forced to either absorb the raised costs or pass those costs on to customers. I don't want to make any assumptions, but you can probably guess which avenue is more attractive to shareholders.

And I don't think these effects would be felt only in AI markets. Everything from phones to PCs to automobiles with a chip inside would go up in price. Do note that NVIDIA's new RTX Spark platform, announced at Computex 2026 and coming to the Surface Laptop Ultra, is manufactured on TSMC's 3nm process node

Considering how much almost everything already costs in the tech world, this news doesn't give me hope for the future of affordability. It's but another step toward the end of personal PCs, a once-upon-a-time "conspiracy theory" that's not so much of a conspiracy anymore.

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With workloads getting more demanding and games requiring more horsepower, upgrading your PC with top-grade CPUs is more vital than ever... provided they weren't so expensive thanks to the ongoing memory crisis raising component prices to absurd levels.

Fortunately, one of AMD's top-rated CPUs, the Ryzen 9 7900X, has managed to slip past these inflated price hikes with a big 45% discount, reducing its listing price from $549.99 to $309.86 at Amazon.

Alternative discounts

• $323.99 at Best Buy (was $549.99)
• $329.99 at Newegg (was $549.99)
• $339.99 at Walmart (was $398.99)

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X?

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is equipped with 12 Cores with 24 Threads, a max clock speed of 5.6GHz (compared to 5GHz), and 12MB L2 plus 64MB L3 cache memory.

With these specs, this CPU will ensure that your PC will have zero issues powering through heavy-duty productivity tasks like being knee-deep in video editing, creating massive spreadsheets, streaming video calls, opening dozens of web browser tabs, and more.

It's also fairly capable of putting out great performance rates for PC gaming. According to our colleagues at Tom's Hardware, when they reviewed the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, this CPU, paired with an RTX 3090, was able to run demanding AAA titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 at around 186FPS on average, Hitman 3 at around 188.3FPS on average, and Far Cry 6 at around 178FPS on average.

The only real issues regarding this CPU are that it won't work on PCs that don't have an AM5 motherboard, forcing PC users using older motherboards to upgrade, and its overtuned listing price of $549.99.

However, with this 45% discount at Amazon, you won't have to worry about the latter issue and enjoy plowing through a day's work at the office, so you can clock out early and play your favorite PC games with smooth framerates.

FAQ

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Amazon isn't waiting for Memorial Day on May 25, 2026, to host its stockpiled discounts as it has now opened its Memorial Day Sales event, reducing the price on various electronics like computing components.

One such component on sale is the Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 270K Plus, a highly powerful CPU for productivity and mid-range gaming that's now available at a 22% discount for $279.99 at Amazon.

Why buy the Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 270K Plus?

The Intel Core Ultra 7 278K Plus CPU has a fair number of selling points in its favor for enhancing productivity efficiency. It features 24-core threads (8 Performance-cores + 16 Efficient-cores) that provide whatever rig it's installed in faster multi-thread performance rates.

It can support DDR5 RAM up to 7,200 MT/s, so it ensures high processing speeds for your PC, and it has a base clock speed of 3.7GHz and a max clock speed of 5.5GHz to help boost your PC's performance rates while loading applications and user input responsiveness.

In short, this CPU will ensure that your PC will have no issue writing up mountains of reports and spreadsheets in Microsoft Office programs, booting up, or loading internet pages.

It's not too shabby when it comes to PC gaming either.

According to our friends, Tom's Hardware's review of the Intel Core Ultra 7 278K Plus, it was able to help a PC run high-end games like DOOM: The Dark Ages, Monster Hunter Wilds, Final Fantasy XIV, and Cyberpunk 2077 at around 60fps or even 100fps, thanks to its Intel Binary Optimization Tool (iBOT).

So, if you're looking to boost your rig's performance primarily for professional activities while having some extra horsepower for PC gaming on the side, then you can't do worse than the Intel Core Ultra 7 278K Plus CPU, especially now that its $357.12 MSRP is chopped by 22% for $279.99 at Amazon.

FAQ

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE (05/13/2026)

AMD is a pioneer in the field of PC gaming components. Many of its CPUs have helped our desktops run games at their full potential for smoother gameplay and backing up GPUs with prettier visuals than home consoles.

One such CPU that lives up to AMD's lofty pedigree is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which is currently on sale with a 16% discount for $419.99 at Newegg if you use this special promo code "SSF6798" during checkout.

On top of that, Newegg is offering a Corsair CX750M power supply worth $64.99 as a bonus gift along with this discount for the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, so you can give your computer extra power to run its new CPU for free.

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The AMD Ryzen 9800X3D is an unstoppable CPU that trades processing power for productivity tasks, so it can focus all its power into empowering your rig for PC gaming, especially when paired with a high-end GPU.

With its 8 cores, 16 threads, 4.7 GHz base clock speeds, 5.2 GHz max clock speeds of 5.2 GHz, and second-generation 3D V-Cache with 96GB of memory (all built on AMD's Zen 5 architecture), this CPU can crush the specification requirements of any PC game thrown at it.

For example, our senior editor, Ben Wilson, confirmed during his review of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D that a PC outfitted with this CPU and an NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU was able to run graphically demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 at 266fps, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 305fps, Forza Horizon 5 at 387fps, and Black Myth: Wukong at 145fps.

In fact, it managed to run games with greater framerates than some of its competitors, like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. The latter of which, by the way, has a more expensive MSRP of $599.99, which makes you realize that the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has better value if it's able to run games with a lower MSRP of $501.49 at Newegg.

So, if you're building a PC rig purely for gaming and want the most framerates possible for smoother, more input-accurate gameplay, then the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which is now 12% off at Newegg (don't forget to use the "SSF6798" promo code to drop it further to 16%), is a must-have for hardcore PC gamers.

Alternative discounts

• $439.99 at Amazon (was $479.99)
• $439.99 at Walmart (was $479.99)

FAQ

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With PC games in the AAA range requiring more and more power from our PCs, it's imperative to upgrade them with CPUs that can help them run these spec-hungry games at optimal graphical settings.

The AMD Ryzen 7800X3D is one such CPU, as its specs are built purely with high-end PC gaming in mind, and it's now on sale for $324.99 at Amazon as part of Amazon's Gaming Week sale.

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D?

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is built with 8-cores, 16-threads, a 120W base TDP, a base clock speed of 4.2GHz, a max clock speed of 5.0GHz, and an L3 Cache with 96GB of Memory.

With these specs, this CPU absolutely dominates most PC gaming specs thrown at it. Case in point being my colleague, Ben Wilson's review of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, he was able to run games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider at over 250+ fps with an RTX 4090 using high graphical settings with ease.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D also features superb power management to keep its temperature from rising out of control, and compatibility with the Ryzen Master app that will allow it to overclock for an extra performance boost.

The only downsides of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D are that its AM5 sockets are not compatible with DDR4 RAM. Plus, its performance rates when it comes to productivity tasks, and apps are underwhelmingly slow compared to most of Intel's CPUs.

Then again, this CPU was never targeting apps from Microsoft Office or explicitly designed for creating art in Adobe Photoshop. The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D was meant to help your PC run the best PC games on the market with as many gameplay-enhancing framerates as possible.

In that regard, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D succeeds with gusto and at a surprisingly reasonable MSRP of $449.99, as other similarly powerful, all-rounder CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D run for much higher prices of $699.00.

However, with Amazon Gaming Week's 28% discount for $324.99 at Amazon, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is now one of the most affordable, high-end PC gaming components around that's worth every penny.

FAQ

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Amazon Gaming Week has begun, and it's already bringing some generous discounts to items that are essential to enjoy PC gaming with the smoothest framerates and resolutions possible.

Fortunately, one of our favorite CPUs for gaming just so happens to be on sale for this event, and it's none other than the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which is now available with an 8% discount for $439.99 at Amazon.

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The AMD Ryzen 9800X3D is one of the best overall PC gaming CPUs you can install in your PC and bring out its GPU's greatest performance, whether it's an RTX 4060 or an RTX 4070.

It can do this because the AMD Ryzen 9800X3D is outfitted with 8-cores, 16-threads, a base clock speed of 4.7GHz, a max clock speed of 5.2 GHz, and a second-generation 3D V-Cache with 96GB of memory, all built on AMD's Zen 5 architecture.

This allows a PC with a Ryzen 9800X3D to improve its performance significantly for gaming and achieve high framerates for more enjoyable and stable gameplay.

One of our tech experts, Ben Wilson, tested this CPU on several demanding AAA PC games during his review for the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and discovered it could help a PC easily reach 266fps in Cyberpunk 2077, 305fps in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and 387fps in Forza Horizon 5 when paired with an RTX 4090.

It certainly crushes similar, more expensive rivals like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (which has an MSRP of $599.99) in the gaming performance department, that's for sure.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is no slouch when it comes to productivity performance, either, as it features decent multi-core and single-core processing speed that make it around 21-22% faster than its predecessor, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

On top of that, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is compatible with most AM5 CPU coolers without needing you to go hunt down new adapters for it to work, saving some of your budget in the process.

The only real issue is that if you're upgrading your PC's CPU from a Ryzen 5000X3D series CPU, you will need to acquire a new motherboard with DDR5 RAM to install the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Also, its pricey MSRP of $479.99 doesn't help matters either if you're conscious about your budget when buying PC upgrades. Fortunately, the pricing is somewhat lessened with this 8% discount for $439.99 at Amazon, giving you a chance to own this stellar PC component for less.

FAQ

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Games and accessories aren't the only things on sale for Amazon's Gaming Week sale; Amazon is also hosting discounts on special components that will help your PC rig run the best PC games at their maximum graphical and performance potential.

One such component is the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, a high-end CPU for both gaming and workplace environments, which is now on sale with an 18% discount for $573.99 at Amazon.

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D?

The reasons why the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is powerful is because it's equipped with a 3D V-Cache, 16-Cores, 32 Threads, a 144MB Cache Memory (specifically 128MB L3 and 16MB L2 Memory), a base clock speed of 4.3 GHz, and a max clock speed of 5.7GHz.

As you can see from the benchmark tests above, all this tech allows the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D to stand above most of its competition in terms of processing power and multitasking heavy-duty productivity assignments and/or content creation projects with ease.

These performance rates also translate to PC gaming. Our tests from our review on the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D showed it can help PCs run demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, and Monster Hunter Wilds at high framerates near or well above 60fps on high graphical settings.

The only real technical issue with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is that its energy-thirsty 170W base TDP requires advanced cooling systems like an AIO liquid cooler to keep from overheating.

Plus, it has a rather pricy MSRP of $699.99, making it less valuable than other alternative AMD CPUs dedicated to specific needs with similar performance rates and lower prices, like the purely gaming AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU.

However, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D's pricing issue has been mitigated just for this week, as Amazon Gaming Week has reduced it from $699.99 to $573.99, making it more palatable for users looking to upgrade their rig with the best performance rates possible for PC gaming and work.

FAQ

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Processors are basically the crux of an entire gaming PC, needed to pair with a capable GPU and memory to run video games at their full potential and with smooth framerates for better gameplay, and they don't get much better than the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

This gaming powerhouse processor with 3D V-Cache has just reached its lowest price yet, now available for $419.95 on Amazon.

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is capable of helping PCs run graphically demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 5 with insanely high framerates when paired with suitable GPUs, compared to Intel's CPUs.

The only real downsides are that you might need a new AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM if you are upgrading from AM4 systems, and its steep MSRP of $479.99 is $30 more expensive than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

However, its pricing issue has temporarily subsided due to Amazon's Spring Sale for 13%, which is the biggest discount the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has had so far. So, if you're thirsting for an upgrade to help you achieve peak PC gaming graphics, this $419.95 bargain on Amazon is now the best time to do it.

FAQ

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Intel is back in the desktop CPU space with another generational refresh, expanding on its Core Ultra 200S "Arrow Lake" processors. A technical duo of the new Core Ultra 200S Plus chips aims to surpass the likes of its last-gen Core Ultra 5 245K and Core Ultra 9 285K — though it's dropping the Ultra 9 variant this time around — and the company wants to appeal to PC gamers again. So, will it work?

Where can you buy Core Ultra 200S Plus?

There aren't many placeholder retail pages for each processor's March 26 launch at the time of writing, but Newegg lists the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, presumably at MSRP. It's the same for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus at Newegg. I don't see any reason to doubt that Amazon will list the U7 270K Plus at the same price (if stock is healthy enough) alongside similar Amazon listings for the U5 250K Plus — but I'll update this section whenever I spot some confirmed listings with availability.

What type of motherboard do you need?

Both of the new Core Ultra 200S Plus processors require motherboards with an LGA 1851 socket, which, like most modern examples, has pins on the board rather than on the CPU. You'll need an 800 Series motherboard to use the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus or Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, with an entry-level H810, mid-range B860, or high-end Z890 chipset.

For example, I used Gigabyte's $199.99 – $289.99 Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE motherboard, with the lower price usually tied to sales events. It's a sample that the company provided for previous testing, and one that's likely overkill at its full MSRP, but a great deal for $200. Otherwise, something like MSI's $178.99 – $189.99 PRO B860M-A WIFI is a slightly more affordable option.

CPU coolers are a little more forgiving, as last-gen LGA 1700 brackets are broadly compatible with the new LGA 1851 socket, though a few considerations apply per individual brands. In my case, my personal choice of ARCTIC coolers includes contact frames, like in the $129.99 Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, which makes the installation process a little easier.

Testing the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus

The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus leads Intel's marketing for the new 200S Plus processor series, so it makes sense to start at the top. $289 – $299 for a 24-core, 24-thread processor clocking up to 5.5 GHz puts it up against the likes of AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X with its own 12/24-core/thread count and 5.6 GHz max clock speed, but at a much lower MSRP — and still lower than current $373.81 listings for the 9900X on Amazon, etc.

Somewhat comically, Intel pits the U7 270K against AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X, which now sells for around the same price when it's on sale. With today's listings, you could buy a 9700X for $299.65 at Amazon. It's part of why Intel can claim Core Ultra 200S Plus offers "up to 2x performance for creators versus competition", rather than a closer, apples-to-apples comparison.

Running my usual gamut of CPU-centric benchmarks saw a mix of expected results and caveats. Overall, the consensus is very similar to when I tested the Core Ultra 9 285K: Intel hits the top of the board in Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024, but AMD pulls ahead in 7-Zip's compression and decompression tests. The goal was always to deliver "significant boosts to multithread performance", and you can clearly see that in synthetic benchmark tests like these.

However, it's important to remember that the U9 285K launched with a $589 – $599 MSRP. That means Intel is beating its own high-end Arrow Lake chips with a refresh that saves you $300. Considerations like these are where the performance-per-dollar appeal hits the hardest, and I'm left rethinking which desktop CPUs to recommend to creators. If the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus maintains sensible pricing, then this could be a spectacular win for Intel.

Testing the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus

For another $100 saving, you could pick up the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus with an 18/18-core/thread count and a 5.3 GHz max clock speed, albeit with the same 125W base TDP. Here, current comparisons to AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 9 9900X show much closer results in benchmark testing, but Intel's $189 – $199 MSRP still stands out for its phenomenal value.

If you were budgeting for that amount, you'd be looking at $189 – $279 for a Ryzen 5 9600X — a respectable entry-level CPU that I praised when it launched. Still, unless you have an unwaivering attachment to AMD's chipset and AM5 motherboards, it'll be overshadowed by the Ultra 5 250K Plus and its generous, more appealing pricing.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus appear in new, affordable pre-built gaming PCs, regardless of whether Intel Binary Optimization makes a big difference on that front. So many gamers are moonlighting as creators that its appeal for video creation will likely carry over, at least in a much bigger way than the Core Ultra 5 245K tried to be.

Ultimately, this chip is the one that backs up Intel's claims against its competition, as it aggressively tackles AMD's Ryzen 9000 Series with an admirable move towards value for money. It's especially important as your average PC gamer is repeatedly beaten over the head by the ongoing memory and storage crisis; you might only need to commit to a new motherboard.

What is the Intel Binary Optimization Tool?

Putting value aside for a moment, Intel's marketing for the Core Ultra 200S Plus calls them the "fastest desktop gaming processors [it] has ever built". Besides the raw speed upgrades and support for 7200 – 8000+ MT/s memory speeds, this new Intel Binary Optimization Tool (IBOT) is part of what makes the new 200S Plus desktop (and 200HX Plus mobile) processors so interesting.

I had a chat with Rob Hallock, Intel's VP/GM for the Enthusiast Channel Business, to summarize that IBOT is essentially an x86 translation layer that identifies and reorders unnecessary steps of compiled machine code, such as error handlers, without ever editing the original human-written source.

So, if the Core Ultra 200S Plus processors can change the order that they process code, then they can focus on handling the instructions that a game needs processing more urgently, leading to better performance in specific games — a list of which is relatively modest right now, but Intel says it will "continue to explore titles both new and old".

Does IBOT make a difference?

For critical context, Intel's internal testing rig was a Windows 11 25H2 desktop running a third-party (PNY) variant of NVIDIA's top-end GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card — that's currently the best consumer graphics card in the world. It's pretty clear that high-end gaming PCs are where most of the IBOT benefits will be apparent, and even then, an average gain of +8% probably won't be very noticeable.

Out of curiosity, I also tested Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider with a few entry-level (and older) NVIDIA graphics cards. There wasn't any difference in FPS — and I didn't expect any, given the GPU bottleneck — but I had to know. So, yes, it can make a difference on a powerful rig with a defined list of single-player titles, and more should come, but it isn't a magic wand for every PC game.

Multiplayer games are currently not supported, but Intel says it will "work hand-in-hand with devs to ensure enthusiasts can benefit from this technology while enjoying anti-cheat protection". So, while the Core Ultra 200S Plus series is budget-friendly, that isn't necessarily the category that would see the greatest benefits of Intel Binary Optimization — at least not in the earliest days.

I'll check in on these processors in the near future to see how updates might affect the Intel Application Optimization (APO) app and the Intel Platform Performance Package (IPPP) it belongs to, which is an all-in-one package of libraries and frameworks that simplifies new PC builds with IBOT. Acronyms.

Should you buy a Core Ultra 200S Plus processor?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're migrating from another gaming/creation PC

✅ You have a limited budget

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You already bought into Core Ultra 200S

Pushing on with Intel Application Optimization is admirable, and as an Arc gaming fan, the Binary Optimization Tool certainly feels promising, but Intel should be lauded primarily for its pricing here. These Core Ultra 200S Plus chips offer tremendous performance at prices that so severely undercut their rivals to a point that it almost feels unsustainable (but hopefully not).

If you already have DDR5 RAM and solid-state storage, you won't have to cough up too much cash for a migration to LGA 1851 motherboards and a multi-generationally compatible CPU cooler. Otherwise, starting from absolute zero will still sting — a little less than some competitors at these prices, but sting nonetheless.

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AMD is in good company at MWC Barcelona (formerly Mobile World Congress) this year, even if that company is mostly focusing on the enterprise scene rather than average consumers like me. Just like its Ryzen PRO 8000/8040 Series desktop processors from 2024, and the Ryzen AI PRO 300 mobile chips that followed later that year, it's announcing another AI PRO range for 2026.

Unsurprisingly, it's moving into "the AI PC era for business" with a bump up to AMD Ryzen AI PRO 400 Series mobile and desktop processors, including a new Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 475 mobile workstation chip with an XDNA 2 NPU handling AI tasks on Windows with up to 60 TOPS of local processing power.

That's far above the 40 TOPS requirement for a Copilot+ PC certification. On the desktop side, businesses will be able to get their hands on a new range of Zen 5 processors that hit a slightly lower 50 TOPS with their own NPU chiplet, which is still much higher than its previous-gen, consumer-grade Ryzen 8000G desktop APUs, which ran at around 16 TOPS.

If this all sounds familiar to those waiting for AMD's Ryzen AI 400 Series, codenamed 'Gorgon Point', that's for a good reason. These are essentially the same chips as the consumer side, but with an added layer of enterprise-grade security, remote management add-ons, and stability guarantees. So, regular folk will still get the 60 TOPS XDNA 2-based NPU on consumer-grade laptops this year with current-gen, RDNA 3.5-based Radeon 800M Series graphics chiplets.

What exactly is AMD launching?

Again, these processors are built for AMD's commercial audience, but it's always interesting to see what it's doing with its Zen 5 architecture — now delivering 6 mobile chips and 3 desktop chips (technically 6 if you count the energy-efficient 'GE' variants). It's the mobile workstation (laptop) side that earns the 60 TOPS NPU for local AI work, paired with LPDDR5X memory clocked up to 8355 MT/s.

The Ryzen AI PRO desktop chips stick with AMD's '5 PRO' and '7 PRO' rankings, leaving the '9 PRO' and '9 HX PRO' to the mobile side. That, and the trio of APUs comes with 65W TDP as standard, while the lower-power 'GE' models stick to 35W. Each processor uses the same 50 TOPS NPU, which is a big jump from previous-generation desktop chips like the Ryzen 7 8700G I tested in 2024.

🗨️ Anyone out there using these chips?

On the bright side, it's not like I'll never see these chips in real life, as enterprise-grade PCs from the likes of Lenovo, HP, Dell, ASUS, and Acer will start appearing in Q2 2026. Realistically, they'll only get a passing glance from me at trade shows, but again, it's interesting to see what AMD does on both the consumer and commercial sides.

That, and local AI is more interesting to me than anything in the cloud — shout out to Blender, Audacity, and Davinci Resolve for actually making practical use out of NPUs. The good news is that Ryzen AI 400 Series consumer laptops (and mini PCs) are set to launch earlier in Q1 2026, and you can believe I'll be putting on my polite email-writing hat when those samples start appearing.

I'm wondering if any of our readers use processors like these in their professional lives. And if not, would you like to?

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Trying to buy CPU upgrades for your PC can be an expensive endeavour, even without this ongoing RAM crisis driving up prices across the board.

Fortunately, there exist plenty of budget-friendly CPUs out there to help you save money if you're upgrading older hardware or working for a low-end PC meant for casual use rather than hardcore gaming or heavy productivity.

Like the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X CPU that's now on sale with a 34% discount for $184.99 at Amazon.

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X in 2026?

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X packs a fair amount of processing power for a low-end CPU, as its specs include 8 Cores, 16 Threads, a base TDP of 65W, a base clock speed of 3.9GHz, a max clock speed of 5.4GHz, and a L3 cache with 32MB.

With these features, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X features strong single-core performance rates when browsing the internet, running common apps like Microsoft Office with speeds comparable to Intel's 13th Gen Core i5-13600K CPU, with little to no bottleneck.

It's even useful for PC gaming, as our tech expert Ben Wilson stated in his review of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, that its performance is almost on par with the gaming-centric Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU.

However, when it comes to AI-related tasks, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is not ideal as it doesn't include a dedicated neural processing unit to help an AI PC run AI-centric programs or research the net via Copilot+.

Additionally, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's multi-core performance is somewhat lacking compared to its last-gen predecessor, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X.

Other than those foibles, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is still a fantastic hardware upgrade for budget-conscious PC builders that we consider the "best affordable AMD CPU" in our best PC CPUs for RTX 4080 list, especially now that its $277.99 MSRP has been downsized by 34% to $184.99 at Amazon.

FAQ

You can build your PC with the best graphics cards in the world, but they won't do jack if they're not paired with a suitable CPU to help prevent bottlenecks that will tank their performance.

One of our favorite CPUs that will do this job nicely is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which is now on sale for a limited time 14% discount at Amazon for $386.99 instead of it's original MSRP of $449.00.

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 7800X3D in 2026?

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the best CPUs for the NVIDIA RTX 4080 that we've ever covered on Windows Central.

This small but mighty PC component is built with 8 cores, 16 threads, a 96MB 3D V‑Cache, a base/max clock speed of 4.2GHz/5.0GHz, and a 120W TDP.

With these specs combined, it will help your PC run graphically-intensive games at high, consistent framerates for smoother gameplay, even when put under workload-induced heat pressure of around 80°C, with barely any need to be cooled down by fans.

For example, according to one of our tech experts, Ben Wilson's review of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, he tested it with a computer outfitted with an NVIDIA GeForce 4090 to see how well it could run the graphically demanding Cyberpunk 2077.

The result is that Ben Wilson was able to run the game at 1080p resolutions with a framerate of 251 fps while having ultra ray tracing present. Wilson then activated DLSS frame generation for another test, and Cyberpunk 2077 was able to run at a consistent 144Hz at max graphical settings during dialog, exploration, and combat encounters.

The only major drawbacks of the AMD Ryzen 7 78000X3D are that its performance is underwhelming when running productivity apps and that it's incompatible with DDR4 RAM memory options.

Aside from that, this is a great PC gaming hardware upgrade for folks looking to stick with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4000 series in the wake of the RTX 5000 becoming more expensive thanks to the RAM crisis and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090s disappearing from US stores.

While its processing power isn't as huge as the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still a solid choice for upgrading your PC's performance while running games, while costing less thanks to Amazon's 14% discount for $386.99.

FAQ

Processors like AMD's new Ryzen 7 9850X3D spark up conversations about binning and the broader concepts of silicon manufacturing that essentially make this a "super" 9800X3D, but most gamers don't care about the specifics. For most, they want to know why the "50" in its name means it costs $30-40 more.

But that's really what this is. It's the tuned-up version, or the "shiny" edition, if we borrow some gaming verbiage. Before we ever had a sneak peek into its specs, I knew this was never going to appeal to people who already bought a 9800X3D, but it's going to change the conversation for people who were considering one. Let's see where it lands in my testing.

How much does the Ryzen 7 9850X3D cost?

This review was made possible thanks to review samples provided by AMD. The companies had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

The 9850X3D now stands as the fourth chip of its kind in AMD's Zen 5 Ryzen 9000 Series, alongside the 9800X3D, 9900X3D, and 9950X3D.

AMD's Ryzen 7 9850X3D specs are almost identical to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D APU (SoC), with the same core/thread count, L3 cache size, and 120W TDP.

It's launching at $499 MSRP, which is $20 higher than the 9800X3D started at, for a 400 MHz bump to its maximum clock speed.

However, the 9800X3D has dropped to $469 since its November 2024 launch, widening the gap with the 9850X3D's launch price to $30.

Surging component prices driven by AI demand might prevent the gap from widening further, as the 9800X3D has recently only seen increased value when retailers bundled it with compatible motherboards and RAM.

How fast is the Ryzen 7 9850X3D?

Besides its impressive single-core performance, there weren't any other surprises from the Ryzen 7 9850X3D in my usual testing gauntlet, and it placed about 5% higher than the 9800X3D in synthetic productivity benchmarks. The creator-centric Ryzen 9 9900X still pulls ahead, currently selling for $382 at Newegg, proving the 9900X is a bargain for anyone who isn't explicitly interested in building a gaming rig first.

My results show a nice 25-30% lead for the Ryzen 7 9850X3D over the last-gen gaming hero, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which still sells for $399 at Newegg when the 7800X3D is discounted. If you're already bored with that chip, you could sell it and upgrade to the 9850X3D if you really wanted to, but Ryzen 5000 Series enthusiast owners will see the best gaming upgrades by jumping "two" generations (never mind the 8000G).

Is the Ryzen 7 9850X3D good for gaming?

AMD still officially pits the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and 9850X3D against Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K, which is an absolute productivity monster with a price hovering around $579.98 at Newegg right now, but the 285K disappoints in gaming tests. To that end, it almost feels cruel to compare when Intel doesn't necessarily have a modern horse in the desktop gaming race, and the 13th/14th Gen Core i9 crashes soured its previous generations.

As for the 9800X3D vs. 9850X3D conversation, AMD's in-house tests show a 3% average uplift, with Baldur's Gate 3 and Counter-Strike 2 enjoying the best improvements while Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are barely noticeable. Given the productivity scores I collected a couple of days before the 9850X3D's release slightly exceeded AMD's reference scores, there's no reason for me to doubt its gaming charts, but future testing can clarify.

So yes, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is great for gaming. In fact, it's basically trying to usurp its binned sibling's throne as the new best gaming CPU, but that position will be decided by ongoing pricing between it and the 9800X3D. These chip refreshes are always strange to explain to newcomers, and the 9850X3D especially so, since you're only really getting a 400MHz bump over the 9800X3D, but the price is right (for now).

Should you buy the Ryzen 7 9850X3D?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're building a high-end gaming PC

✅ You're upgrading from an older AM4 build

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You already have a Ryzen 7 9800X3D

❌ You're still on a high-end 7000 Series CPU

AMD's Ryzen 7 9850X3D is almost a 9800X3D 2.0, a special edition of sorts that gives you slightly better performance at a modest price. I predict the gap will remain worth it for a while, but the later months of 2026 might see that change, especially if enterprise AI continues to gouge prices for the everyday PC gamer. For now, it's easy to recommend over the 9800X3D, because I doubt anyone building a system around this chip is worried about spending an extra $30.

However, I tentatively stand by my darling 9800X3D as my editor's choice, keeping all my fingers crossed for some genuine price drops as the 9850X3D slides in to try and take its place. More choices are great for us builders; it's just that these two are so close that it's hard to separate them. If you're upgrading from a Ryzen 7 5800X3D or an Intel Core i5-13/14600K, then go for the 9850X3D — just prepare for a shock when you need a new motherboard and RAM.

2026 and beyond is going to be a rough time for PC gamers as rising prices for CPUs will make upgrading desktop PCs possibly an unaffordable affair.

Luckily, some CPUs are still getting discounts despite these price hikes, such as the Ryzen 9 9900X, which is being sold with a 22% discount for $389.99 at Amazon.

Why should you buy the 9900X?

Our Senior Editor and desktop CPU enthusiast, Ben Wilson, has it on good authority that AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X is one of the best CPUs around, at least second to the extremely powerful (and costly) AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, both of which he awarded a 4.5-star double-feature review to.

This is because the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is packing 12 Cores, 24 Threads, a Max clock of 5.6Ghz, an L3 of 64MB, and a base TDP of 120W.

Essentially, this processor will greatly enhance your computer's raw processing capabilities so that it can run creative apps like Blender and graphically intense video games while streaming them at the same time with no issue.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X scored so high that it even inched past the performance of an Intel Core i7-14700K CPU, while having a cheaper MSRP of $500, as opposed to the 14700K's MSRP of $546.

A price that has gone down even further, thanks to Amazon, as it is now selling it for a much cheaper cost of $389.99.

With the RAM crisis jacking up the prices of every electronic device you can think of, this is a rare opportunity to upgrade your PC's processing power while saving some money that could be used towards other essential PC parts, like buying the best motherboards compatible with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X.

FAQ

The United States government is expected to announce the purchase of a 10% stake in Intel today, according to Bloomberg. The news broke on August 22, 2025. Details have not yet emerged.

Discussions between the government and Intel are said to have focused on a 10% stake being sold in exchange for funding previously allocated to Intel through the CHIPS Act.

Josh Wingrove from Bloomberg broke the news on X. Wingrove worked with Liana Baker from Bloomberg on the story, which is still developing. Bloomberg's Dina Baas assisted on the report.

According to Wingrove, President Trump said there is a deal in place between the government and Intel. Trump recounted an interaction with Intel to the press, stating, "You should pay us 10% of your company, and they said, 'yes.'"

Trump added that "They've agreed to do it and I think it's a great deal for them, and I think it's a great deal."

Trump vs. Intel

The US government acquiring a 10% stake in Intel would be the next major step of a dramatic saga involving the President and the chipmaker.

Just over three weeks ago, Trump took to social media to demand the resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

"The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem," said Trump on Truth Social.

That accusation centered around Tan's relationship with Cadence Design Systems, of which Tan used to be CEO. That company recently pled guilty to "unlawfully exporting semiconductor design tools to a restricted PRC military university," though Tan was not listed in the indictment.

Tan has also reportedly invested in hundreds of Chinese companies, though that fact on its own is not necessarily indicative of a problem. People in Tan's position are often invested in a wide portfolio of companies.

The next day, Tan responded to Trump's letter and reaffirmed his love for the United States. He also discussed his relationship with Cadence Design Systems. The CEO also expressed a desire to meet with Trump.

On August 11, Tan and Trump met and the meeting appeared to go well.

"The meeting was a very interesting one. His success and rise is an amazing story," said Trump. "Mr. Tan and my Cabinet members are going to spend time together, and bring suggestions to me during the next week."

Tan also spoke highly of the meeting.

Bloomberg had previously reported that the Trump administration was interested in purchasing a stake in Intel. That interest now appears to be taking shape, as the chipmaker and the government approach a deal.

Why is Intel selling a stake to the US government?

Intel has had a rough few years. The chipmaker saw its stock drop massively in 2024 and the company reported a net loss of $1.6 billion in a single quarter in that same year.

Former CEO Pat Gelsinger left the company abruptly. During his tenure, Gelsinger pushed a major strategy shift for Intel that focused on manufacturing chips for competitors and other chipmakers. That plan did not pan out, though it's worth noting the IDM 2.0 strategy was cut short.

Following his appointment as CEO, Tan discussed a desire to "restore Intel's position as a world-class products company."

Intel is key to the US government's push for domestic chipmaking. Acquiring a stake in Intel could help secure domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, which are a vital for several industries.

Selling a stake could result in more financial security for Intel while simultaneously providing a way for the US government to better ensure stability of a major chipmaker.

Confirmed details of deal

Late into the night of August 22, Intel confirmed an agreement that sees the US government acquire a stake in Intel. The deal includes the government making an $8.9 billion investment in Intel stock.

The funding consists of $5.7 billion in grants that had previously been awarded to Intel through the CHIPS Act but that have not been paid. A separate $3.2 billion that had been awarded through the Secure Enclave program brings the total to $8.9 billion.

The Secure Enclave program is a national security initiative. The $3.2 billion in funding awarded to Intel was allocated during the Biden administration.

“Intel is excited to welcome the United States of America as a shareholder, helping to create the most advanced chips in the world,” said United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

“As more companies look to invest in America, this administration remains committed to reinforcing our country’s dominance in artificial intelligence while strengthening our national security.”

The terms of the deal see the government purchase 433.3 million primary shares of Intel common stock, resulting in a 9.9% stake in the company.

The government's partial ownership of Intel is passive. The government will not hold a board seat and has agreed to vote in line with the company's Board of Directors on matters that require shareholder approval. Intel notes that there are "limited exceptions" to that agreement, but does not specify further.

NVIDIA's rumored Arm processors are said to be delayed until next year. Now, a new report sheds light on why we'll have to wait for the chips.

According to a report by DigiTimes, NVIDIA and MediaTek are facing delays due to "a combination of delays in Microsoft's operating system roadmap, ongoing chip revisions at Nvidia, and weakening demand in the overall notebook market."

Windows on Arm has come a long way since it was introduced, but there are still limits to the platform. It seems Microsoft will have to iron out some kinks to prepare the way for NVIDIA's Arm chips.

Blame for the delay also falls on NVIDIA's required redesign of the processors, according to the report.

The first wave of NVIDIA Arm chips is expected to target enterprise users. Presumably, consumer and gaming-focused devices would follow.

NVIDIA Arm CPUs: What are they?

NVIDIA's N1-series chips have not been formally announced and are said to be delayed, so we're far from getting benchmarks or firm specs. It's said by Taiwanese outlet UDN that the chips will rival the performance of the RTX 4070 laptop GPU while being much more energy efficient.

Rumors suggest there will be a 65W processor that matches the performance of a 120W RTX 4070 gaming laptop. If that proves true, the N1 series could power slim and powerful gaming laptops that outperform Arm-based PCs powered by Qualcomm chips.

There are also rumors that the chips will have a TDP of 80W or 120W. Needless to say, more information is needed before anyone makes plans to purchase a PC running an NVIDIA Arm chip.

In effect, the introduction of the N1 series would expand the offerings available to consumers on the Arm side of things. Between Qualcomm's range of Snapdragon X chips and a pair of N1 processors, consumers would have a wide range to choose from.

NVIDIA Arm CPUs: Rumors and reports

Rumors of NVIDIA N1X and N1 Arm-based processors have been around for quite some time. When we covered the rumored chips back in January of this year, it was believed that millions of N1X chips would ship in Q4 2025 and that millions of N1 processors would follow in 2026.

That timeline appears to have shifted significantly. But considering that at one point it was believed the NVIDIA Arm-based processors would be here already in July, it's important to take all reports with a grain of salt.

Based on the latest report from DigiTimes, we could see plans change again. With Microsoft's operating system roadmap and NVIDIA's chip revisions in play, things could be fluid for a while.

It's believed that the N1X and N1 chips will be made in partnership with MediaTek. The processors could shake up the computing industry and provide fresh competition for Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple.

The latest reports state that the chips are expected to be ready in late 2026, though that could translate to an announcement at CES 2027.

We could soon see a massive push for AI PC adoption, according to Intel. The tech giant shared the results of a survey of over 5,000 businesses and IT decision makers conducted to gain insight into the adoption of AI PCs.

The survey aimed to determine how much people know about AI PCs and what roadblocks prevent AI PC adoption.

The survey, which was commissioned by Intel, showed that 87% of global businesses are transitioning to AI PCs or plan to transition in the future.

Intel highlighted that many people already rely on AI services, such as real-time translation. However, many AI tools are cloud-based and do not require the end user to have an AI PC.

But the data also suggests that IT workers want local AI capabilities and that those departments have the support of C-suite executives.

What’s holding AI PCs back?

An education gap appears to be a major factor limiting AI PC adoption. According to Intel, only 35% of employees have a "concrete understanding" of the business value of AI. In contrast, over half of leadership team members see the potential brought by AI PCs, the survey results state:

• Among the wider employee base, there’s an education gap around the potential of AI PCs—only 35% of employees are thought to have a concrete understanding of this technology’s business value, so they aren’t likely to be the driving force behind AI PC adoption.
• Conversely, more than half (51%) of leadership team members have a firm understanding of the potential AI PCs bring—this is likely to make them more receptive to the idea of investment.

Honestly, I find those figures shocking. In fact, I'd go as far as to say they are unbelievable.

I don't think that's Intel's fault, however. In my experience — outside of my current place of work — middle and upper management like using buzzwords and feeling like they're on the cutting edge. I would fully expect leaders to confidently proclaim AI is the future, regardless of whether they have any concrete plans for the technology.

Whether those managers genuinely believe the hype or just like being modern is impossible to say.

In my opinion, using a survey to determine how many managers and leaders understand AI is like using a scan of Tinder profiles to determine how many male users are actually 6'0" tall. People lie on surveys (and on dating profiles).

AI and security

Intel's survey revealed that roughly 33% of non-adopters cite security as their biggest concern about AI PCs. In contrast, only 23% of people using AI highlight security as a challenge.

Knowledge is a significant roadblock to AI PC adoption, according to Intel. More specifically, 34% of respondents listed the need for training as the biggest issue.

Notably, 33% of those who use AI PCs have not experienced any issues at all, security-related or otherwise.

PC shipments

Global PC shipments grew 8.4% year-over-year (YoY) in Q2 2025, according to the latest figures from Counterpoint Research. That's the largest YoY increase since 2022, which occurred during the global pandemic that spiked PC demand.

The firm attributes this growth to the upcoming end of Windows 10 support, and early adoption of AI PCs was a key factor in the increase in PC shipments. Global tariffs were also a factor, since retailers have had to build up inventory for later this year.

👉RELATED: Microsoft’s extra year of free Windows 10 security updates feels like a last-minute snooze button

As a reminder, PC shipment figures refer to how many devices were sent out by manufacturers. PC sales (what people actually bought) are a separate metric.

PC shipments generally rise or fall based on projections. Uncertainty surrounds upcoming quarters since there are several factors at play, such as fluctuating tariffs.

"Due to the US tariff-related uncertainty, PC shipments will likely weaken YoY starting from H2 2025," said Senior Analyst Minsoo Kang to Counterpoint Research. "However, demand for AI PCs is expected to become a significant tailwind in 2026. We expect more than half of the laptops shipped in 2026 onward to be an AI Laptop."

AI PCs may also become standard in the near future, which will make it difficult to determine how much of a factor AI capabilities are for consumers.

Affordable AI PCs

Earlier this year, Qualcomm introduced its 8-Core Snapdragon X Plus chip designed for more affordable Windows on Arm laptops. This week, AMD unveiled its Ryzen AI 5 330 processor that's also designed for affordable AI PCs.

With chips like those becoming more common, we'll likely see a rise in AI PC sales shortly, but that doesn’t necessarily prove there’s genuine interest in AI itself.

In September 2024, International Data Corporation (IDC) discussed how the need to upgrade hardware may be more of a factor for those purchasing PCs than AI.

"While AI has been a buzzword of late, it has yet to be a purchase driver among PC buyers," said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager, Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.

Ubrani did note, however, that businesses may purchase AI PCs for the sake of future-proofing.

As PC manufacturers continue to improve device lineups over time, we'll see a massive wave of AI PCs launch. Many popular brands may be AI PCs by default, meaning that anyone who purchases one is technically adopting an AI PC — whether they mean to or not.

Disastrous Copilot+ PC launch

Interestingly, Intel's survey summary does not mention Copilot+ PCs, instead focusing on the more generic "AI PC" moniker. That may be for the best, since the "Copilot+ PC launch has been a total disaster."

As far as I'm aware, neither Qualcomm nor Microsoft specified that there was an exclusivity agreement regarding Copilot+ PCs, but Snapdragon X processors were the only chips to power Copilot+ PCs for quite a while.

AMD and Intel started shipping chips compatible with Copilot+ PC features in August 2024, but Microsoft did not extend the full range of Copilot+ experiences to those chips until later.

That strange dynamic has continued. In the same blog post that announced the expansion of the Copilot+ PC experience to PCs powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V chips, Microsoft announced a feature that would be exclusive to Snapdragon X-powered PCs for a limited time.

AI PC adoption

Based on PC shipments, survey results, and all the information available, it is clear that many people have moved to AI PCs or plan to transition. What's unclear is the driving factor behind AI PC adoption.

Business leaders appear to value the potential of AI PCs. Even if the technology cannot have an immediate impact on productivity or revenue, organizations can future-proof themselves by purchasing AI PCs.

On the consumer side of things, an increasing number of entry-level and mid-range laptops will be AI PCs by default. Many premium computers are also AI PCs.

Over time, we may see the list of the best AI laptops and the best Windows laptops overlap significantly, or perhaps even entirely.

Without data on how much people are using NPUs for local AI tasks, it's difficult to determine if AI PCs are a buzzword or a must-have.

AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a CPU that I always recommend for PC gamers looking for a stellar upgrade, and it continues to drop in price in 2025.

Last week, Newegg's 4th of July sale had it down to a $369.99 sale price, which at the time was the lowest of the year.

Amazon has gone ahead and one-upped Newegg one day ahead of Prime Day, dropping the 7800X3D price to just $341.

Why I can easily recommend the Ryzen 7 7800X3D to PC gamers

It's a true testament to AMD's Ryzen prowess that the 7800X3D is still such a hot item. Despite being "replaced" by the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the 7800X3D is still holding strong when paired with even the most powerful NVIDIA RTX 5000 and AMD Radeon 9000 GPUs.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, a 5.0GHz max boost clock speed, and a 120W TDP.

The secret to the 7800X3D's success lies in its 3D V-Cache, a feature that's unique to AMD's X3D hardware. It works by stacking additional L3 cache on the CPU die, allowing the CPU to benefit from 96MB of cache that's quickly accessible.

👉 Related: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. Ryzen 7 7800X3D

While 3D V-Cache doesn't do much for productivity work, it directly benefits gaming performance. I have an X3D chip in my gaming PC, and there's no way I'm switching anytime soon.

While the newer 9800X3D does offer between 8% and 22% performance uplifts compared to the 7800X3D, based on our in-house testing, you'll pay about $470 for the newer chip.

That's roughly $130 more than the discount price of the 7800X3D, which makes it very easy for me to recommend the older CPU, especially when it remains so potent for gaming.

Senior Editor Ben Wilson reviewed the Ryzen 7 7800X3D when it launched in 2023, remarking:

"True to its word, the average temperature of the 7800X3D seems to hover around the low-to-mid 80°C region when it's under stress, but my radiator fans were barely doing any work. The talk about power management holds true; AMD is squeezing every bit of power out of this CPU like diamonds out of coal."

The current $341 sale price at Amazon is outstanding, and I don't know if it will get any cheaper during the rest of the week.

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon's Prime Day 2025 runs from July 8 until July 11, making it a full four-day event.

Major competing retailers, including Newegg, are hosting their own sales events to draw attention away from Amazon, and I urge everyone to shop around before checking out.

👉 Related: Early Prime Day PC build deals are live — Major savings on NVIDIA RTX GPUs, AMD Ryzen CPUs, fast storage, and more

Newegg currently has a FantasTech Sale running until July 13, while Best Buy is hosting a Black Friday in July event that also runs until July 13.

I come bearing good news for PC builders who hate spending big money; signs are pointing to AMD launching a new Ryzen 5 9600X3D processor this year.

The information comes from X user MelodicWarrior, who found the 9600X3D chip listed in AMD's latest "SI Driver for Radeon" update notes.

AMD really didn't try to hide the 9600X3D at all. The link to the update notes has the CPU clearly listed alongside Zen 5 X3D chips already on the market, including the 9950X3D, 9900X3D, and 9800X3D.

This could be a soft leak to begin building anticipation among PC enthusiasts, but it's more likely a lapse in documentation information.

MelodicWarrior follows up the initial leak post with speculation about a potential release date for the new Ryzen 5 9600X3D. With AMD's previous scheduling in mind, the new chip could arrive for DIY builders sometime toward the end of Q3 or the start of Q4.

As is always the case with these types of leaks, the information isn't concrete, especially the speculated launch date. There's also no indication of whether or not this chip will see a global release or if it will be available to anyone but system integrators.

But the fact that AMD has listed the chip for the first time in official documentation should be great news for system builders who don't want to spend big bucks on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D or its more powerful Ryzen 9 X3D siblings.

What is 'X3D' and why does it matter for PC gamers?

AMD's proprietary 3D V-Cache technology is only found in its X3D-class processors for desktop and laptop PCs. What makes them so coveted by PC gamers is their additional L3 cache that's stacked vertically on the CPU die.

This design allows for the chip to access cached data much faster than usual, and the larger cache size allows it to load up on more bytes. While 3D V-Cache isn't likely going to make a splash for general computing, it's particularly potent when gaming.

This leak, which is the first time the 9600X3D has been spotted, has no specific info regarding core counts and clock speeds, but some assumptions can be made based on how AMD has handled the split between X3D and non-X3D chips so far available from the Zen 5 era.

Using the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D chips (which we've tested and reviewed favorably) as an example, there's not a huge difference in specs beyond the inclusion of AMD's boosted 3D V-Cache.

Using the above model as an example, we can look at the standard Ryzen 5 9600X and make assumptions as to what the Ryzen 5 9600X3D with 3D V-Cache will look like: the same 6 cores, 12 threads, 3.9GHz base clock, and 5.4GHz boost clock, all running at a 65W default TDP.

AMD's X3D chips are always more expensive compared to their standard siblings, but considering the Ryzen 5 9600X is currently selling for about $178 at Amazon — it launched at a $279 MSRP — we could get a 9600X3D chip for $350 or less.

The cheapest way to currently buy one of AMD's latest Zen 5 X3D chips is via the awesome Ryzen 7 9800X3D, but it's currently selling for about $472.

That's certainly not cheap, and I know that many PC gamers are turning to the older X3D stock, including the Zen 4 Ryzen 7 7800X3D at about $359 and the Zen 3 Ryzen 7 5700X3D at about $251, to fill the gap.

That's a testament to how long these chips remain relevant, especially in the PC gaming world.

I wouldn't be surprised to see AMD officially acknowledge the leaked Ryzen 5 9600X3D CPU in the coming months, and those who are considering a system upgrade should probably wait to see what AMD's next X3D CPU has to offer.

Memorial Day deals are proving to be worthwhile for PC builders, and while AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D at $377 is hogging a lot of attention, there's an even more affordable CPU available.

I'm talking about the Ryzen 9 7900X, which is now down to $325.26 at Newegg for Memorial Day only.

That's $223 off the regular price for a powerful CPU, plus Newegg is throwing in a 1TB Patriot P400 M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD completely free when you buy the chip.

Why choose the Ryzen 9 7900X over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D?

As I mentioned, AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D at $377 is stealing a lot of attention from other CPUs on sale on Memorial Day.

I stand by my claim that it's the day's best CPU deal for gamers, but that doesn't mean it's the only chip worth checking out. That's especially true if you split your PC time between fun and work.

The Ryzen 9 7900X is from the same Zen 4 generation as the 7800X3D, and rather than a heavy focus on gaming with 3D V-Cache, it adds additional cores and threads while boosting the clock speed.

The 7900X has 12 cores (compared to 8), 24 threads (compared to 16), and a boost clock frequency up to 5.6GHz (compared to 5GHz). Its L1 and L2 caches are also larger, partly making up for the lack of 3D V-Cache.

What does that all mean? It makes the Ryzen 9 7900X much better for demanding workloads while also providing some impressive gaming performance.

Former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds had this to say in his Ryzen 9 7900X review:

"These processors are excellent for intensive workloads, and the improvements AMD has made to the AM5 platform with the latest round of processors are noticeable even when simply playing around in Windows 11 (or your favorite flavor of Linux). Everything ... seems faster."

Regarding gaming performance, Edmonds stated:

"Gaming is excellent, as was the case with the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and AMD Ryzen 7 7700X. Single-core performance is slightly weaker because we're talking 16 cores, but you'll see an improvement over the previous generation."

One other area where the Ryzen 9 7900X pulls ahead of the 7800X3D is pricing. Even at the lowest price of the year, the 7800X3D is still about $53 more than the 7900X's discount price, allowing you to spend the money elsewhere in the PC.

And let's not forget the 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD that Newegg is throwing in for free when you buy the Ryzen 9 7900X. It's a $62 value on its own, which sweetens the deal considerably.

Memorial Day deals are live at most major retailers, and I found one discount that PC gamers can't miss.

AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D, by far one of the most popular CPUs in the world for gaming, is down to the lowest price of the year. This deal even beats the one I covered during Amazon's Gaming Week, where the CPU hit $391.

Right now, you can grab the Ryzen 7 7800X3D for $377.99 at Newegg, which is about 15% off the regular price of $449.

Why AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D is so easy to recommend in 2025

AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D has been on the market since 2023, and it's now been "replaced" by the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D built on the Zen 5 architecture.

I used quotes there because the 7800X3D is still a killer CPU for PC gaming despite its age. It uses the same AM5 socket as the newer 9800X3D, it supports DDR5 RAM, and it has 8 cores with 16 threads.

AMD's 3D V-Cache technology is really what sets the X3D chips apart from any other on the market when it comes to gaming performance.

Extra L3 cache is stacked vertically on the CPU die, providing 96MB for quick access. This cache is especially beneficial for modern games. I have an X3D chip in my gaming PC, and I see no reason to switch to anything else.

👉 Related: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Our Senior Editor Ben Wilson reviewed the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and compared it to the 7800X3D, noting between 8% and 22% performance uplifts between the two chips.

However, the best price I could find for the 9800X3D is about $489 at Newegg. Why spend an extra $100+ when the 7800X3D is still such a great chip?

Former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds reviewed the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, remarking:

"The improvements brought over from AMD's 3D V-Cache make the 7800X3D more of an appealing choice than the cost-saving alone. Though it sits as the cheapest -X3D variant, it's arguably the best option for gamers looking to adopt the AM5 socket with a chipset of their choice."

With the Ryzen 7 7800X3D sitting at the best price of the year — $377.99 at Newegg — it's a great time to upgrade your gaming PC.

Amazon Gaming Week is proving to be a great time to upgrade your gaming PC, especially if you're a fan of AMD Ryzen CPUs.

Some have been discounted to the lowest price I've ever seen at Amazon — I checked CamelCamelCamel pricing history to be sure.

👉 Amazon Gaming Week is LIVE — Hand-picked deals with price-busting competitors that you can't miss!

I've been sure to note which AMD Ryzen CPUs are at their lowest price ever, and I've included price checks from competing retailers.

👉 12 best RTX gaming laptops on sale during Amazon Gaming Week

🔥 Hottest Gaming Week CPU Deal 🔥

I recommend PC gamers consider the Ryzen 7 7800X3D before any other AMD CPU. It doesn't come with a free copy of Monster Hunter Wilds, but it will deliver the best possible gaming performance next to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Best AMD Ryzen deals during Amazon Gaming Week

NOTE: AMD has bundled a free copy of Monster Hunter Wilds with these discounted CPUs at Amazon.

Which discounted AMD Ryzen CPU is best for you?

Which discounted AMD CPU you choose ultimately depends on how much you're willing to spend and what level of performance you want to achieve.

For anyone who wants to buy at the lowest price ever, the Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 9 9900X, and Ryzen 9 9950X are the best options.

Even the 9600X at $185 is going to be able to handle 1080p and 1440p gaming when paired with a capable GPU, but you can move up to the Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 if you need more cores for creative and development work.

👉 $391 for a Ryzen 7 7800X3D? The most popular gaming CPU gets a huge price cut during Amazon Gaming Week.

AMD's Ryzen 7 7700X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 9 7950X aren't at their lowest prices ever, but the deals are still the best I've seen in months.

The 7000-series chips are built on the Zen 4 architecture, so if you'd like to grab the Zen 5 enhancements — like better power efficiency and slightly improved performance — you'll have to stick with the 9000 series.

You definitely don't need to grab a Zen 5 chip, as Zen 4 hardware is still potent.

Amazon Gaming Week: Frequently Asked Questions

This is the second time Amazon has hosted a "Gaming Week" with countless deals on everything from hardware to accessories. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions surrounding the event.

Amazon's Gaming Week sales event is going strong, and the first deal that caught my eye is still available; you can land one of the most popular gaming CPUs ever at a steep discount.

AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D, launched in 2023, remains a top option for any PC gaming enthusiasts despite the newer 9800X3D being released.

👉 Amazon Gaming Week is LIVE — Hand-picked deals with price-busting competitors that you can't miss!

Instead of the usual $449 price, you can pick up the Ryzen 7 7800X3D for $391.14 at Amazon. That beats Newegg's $409 discount price, making this the best PC gaming upgrade deal you'll find all week.

Why is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D such a great CPU for PC gamers?

Since it launched in 2023, AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D has been sought after by serious PC gamers who want the best performance possible.

AMD's secret weapon comes in the form of a 3D V-Cache setup that specifically targets improved gaming performance.

AMD stacks extra L3 cache vertically on the CPU die, massively improving the cache capacity and making the transfer of data to the CPU much faster.

For PC gaming, which requires tons of data processing on the fly, AMD's 96MB 3D V-Cache is second-to-none.

👉 Related: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

While AMD offers Ryzen 9 versions of its X3D chips, they're made more for creators and developers, with the Ryzen 7 offering more than enough power to handle modern games.

There is, of course, also the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D built on the newer Zen 5 architecture.

Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson discovered between an 8% and 22% performance uplift between the two X3D CPUs in his Ryzen 7 9800X3D review; however, the newer chip is about 32% more expensive than the discounted 7800X3D.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses the same AM5 socket and the 9800X3D, it supports DDR5 RAM, and it has 8 cores and 16 threads.

In our Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, former Senior Editor Rich Edmonds highlights the CPU's dominant gaming performance:

"True to its word, the average temperature of the 7800X3D seems to hover around the low-to-mid 80°C region when it's under stress, but my radiator fans were barely doing any work. The talk about power management holds true; AMD is squeezing every bit of power out of this CPU like diamonds out of coal."

You'll still be better off with an Intel CPU if you want to focus on productivity work — AMD's X3D chips don't hide the fact that they're made for gamers — but I can easily recommend this CPU even at full price.

Considering it's down to $391.14 at Amazon for Gaming Week, you really can't go wrong.

Have a look at the best RAM for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D if you're thinking about upgrading more than one component.

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is now live, and I've been searching through all of the discounted items for some quality savings on PC hardware.

One of the most significant discounts I found is on the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 desktop processor (CPU) with six cores and a 4.2GHz boost clock.

While it's a few generations old at this point, it remains a dependable chip for budget builders who don't want to overspend.

The Ryzen 5 5500 CPU has a standard $159 price tag, but it's usually available between $90 and $110.

With Amazon's Big Spring Sale, however, the price has dropped to $76. That matches the previous lows spotted at Amazon, and I haven't found it for less anywhere else.

Why buy one of AMD's older AM4 processors?

AMD's CPU generations are generally classified alongside the architectural generation on which they're built and the socket they use to connect to a motherboard.

For example, the Ryzen 5 5500 that's on sale at Amazon launched in 2022 for the AM4 socket, and it uses AMD's Zen 3 architecture.

AMD made the switch to the Zen 4 architecture with its Ryzen 7000 chips, and again to Zen 5 with its Ryzen 9000 lineup.

That means you'll need an AM4 motherboard (if you don't already have one) for the Ryzen 5 5500 to work properly.

Although Amazon is the best place to pick up the standalone CPU, Newegg has some competing bundle deals on a Ryzen 5 5500 CPU and a compatible motherboard.

You can pick up the CPU and board for as little as $129.59 at Newegg, with some slightly pricier options also available.

Turning back to the Ryzen 5 5500, it's essentially a Ryzen 5 5600G APU with the integrated GPU removed, making it cheaper for those who have a discrete GPU standing by for gaming.

The Ryzen 5 5500's biggest flaw is its reduced L3 cache, which pulls some potential performance away compared to its Ryzen 5 5600 sibling.

In general, you can expect the Ryzen 5 5500 to be outperformed by the Ryzen 5 5600 in 1080p games.

Even the Ryzen 5 3600 pulls ahead in some instances at 1080p, but for the most part, the 5500 will match or exceed the 3600's potential.

Considering the best price I could find for the Ryzen 5 5600 is about $103.99 at Newegg, the $28 savings should be enough for plenty of budget PC builders.

Match it up with something like an AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, Intel Arc B570, or NVIDIA RTX 3060, and you'll have more than enough power for respectable 1080p gaming without overspending.

I don't know how long the $76 Ryzen 5 5500 deal at Amazon will last, but anyone who's been waiting to build a new budget gaming PC can save big.

Amazon notes that more than 3,000 of these CPUs have been sold in the last month, so rest assured you're not the only one taking advantage of this affordable chip.

AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D is widely regarded as the best gaming CPU you can possibly buy in 2025, and up until now it's been on the endangered list due to that very designation.

The processor, complete with AMD's proprietary 3D V-Cache technology that specifically and significantly boosts performance in games, launched at a $479 MSRP and quickly sold out everywhere.

Since then, there have been a lucky few to snag the chip at the regular price. That's changed in the last couple of days, with major retailers returning to form with what appears to be plenty of stock without any price gouging.

Sure, scalpers have been selling chips at a higher price and there have been a number of 9800X3D scams preying on eager buyers, but you can once again safely buy the CPU.

• AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | $479 at Best Buy
• AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | $479 at Newegg
• AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | $479 at Amazon

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review highlights

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is in stock at the time of writing at Best Buy, Newegg, and Amazon. All three offer the same $479 price tag.

What makes this CPU so good, especially for gaming? I'll let Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson explain with this quote pulled from his Ryzen 7 9800X3D review:

"AMD continues the theme with its second generation of 3D V-Cache to deliver unparalleled gaming performance and middling productivity. Thankfully, most gamers do not care about the benchmark-breaking number crunching as long as they get their framerate boosts, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers that sweet extra FPS."

Even compared to Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K flagship (which we also reviewed), the 9800X3D is the superior chip as long as you don't aim to handle productivity and creative work on the same PC.

I'm one of the lucky ones who managed to buy a 9800X3D on launch day at MSRP, and it's been going strong in my gaming PC ever since.

It's the CPU I recommend to all of my gaming friends who are looking to upgrade, and it's going to be a lot easier to convince them now that it's returned to a steady price with what looks like plenty of stock.

At the beginning of the year, AMD announced the Ryzen 9 9950X3D at CES as "the world's best processor for gamers and creators." The killer selling point for this top-end Zen 5 chip is its appeal to both, as it promises gains in raw productivity alongside its redesigned V-Cache to benefit games and content creation workloads.

However, AMD was always transparent that gaming performance won't change much compared to the already dominant Ryzen 7 9800X3D, unless specific titles can explicitly benefit from the extra cores and threads offered in the 9950X3D.

So, this ultra-high-end Ryzen 9000 desktop processor lands itself in a strange situation.

Sure, it's the most powerful consumer gaming processor on paper, and the productivity boosts should intrigue content creators and indie game developers, but is it worth the temptation of X3D fans who only want to stick to gaming?

This review was made possible with review samples provided by G.SKILL, Samsung, and Gigabyte via AMD alongside be quiet! The companies did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Price, availability, and specs

AMD is set to add another "Zen 5" X3D desktop CPU to its lineup on March 12, 2025. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D comes nearly half a year after the Ryzen 7 9800X3D launched to a warm reception, and it's built to be the most powerful CPU for gamers and creators.

With a $699 MSRP, it's the most expensive of the Zen 5 chips. That's roughly $220 more than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's MSRP, which can be hard to find.

That's mainly due to the 9800X3D's appeal as the best gaming CPU on the market today. It's the chip I use in my system, and it's the one I recommend to any serious gamers.

So, where does the 9950X3D fit into the Zen 5 lineup with its higher price?

Like the 9800X3D, the new Ryzen 9 CPU comes complete with AMD's proprietary V-Cache technology that stacks L3 cache below the CPU die. This allows the CPU to access the cache — used for fast, frequent, and temporary storage — in a much more efficient and speedy manner.

It's particularly good at improving performance in games, which is a big reason why the chips are so sought after by enthusiasts. Because the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is made for gaming and work, AMD has added a secondary unstacked cache with maximum frequency, boosting performance in creative apps.

The L3 cache difference between the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Ryzen 9 9950X is evident; it hits 128MB in the former chip, dropping to 64MB in the latter. The 9950X3D isn't your only 128MB L3 V-Cache option in the Ryzen 9 lineup. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D comes in at a more reasonable $599 MSRP, though it drops 4 cores and 8 threads in the process. It also lowers the TDP from 170W to 120W, lowering heat and energy demands.

All of AMD's Zen 5 CPUs, including the 9950X3D, use the AM5 socket, which has been in use since 2022.

👉 See the best AM5 motherboards for Ryzen 9

Those upgrading from an AMD Ryzen 7000 chip will have an easy path. Anything beyond that, and you'll need to swap your AM4 (or older) motherboard for the AM5 hardware.

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AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Zen 5 architecture

AMD is doing things quite differently with Granite Ridge; it's using a new iteration of its 3D V-Cache tech where the L3 cache is situated below the processor, and as a result, the core complex die sits closer to the cooling solution, increasing thermal efficiency.

Basically, the cores have much better heat transfer to the TIM and IHS (which still looks ugly), and the node switch to TSMC's 4nm means there are decent gains with power efficiency and density.

This is how AMD is finally able to deliver fully unlocked designs with X3D models, and the 9800X3D showcased just how big of a difference it makes in daily use as well as gaming.

The 9950X3D builds on this foundation, and although it has a lower base frequency than its predecessor, it is able to deliver much better sustained performance.

AMD is delivering sizeable IPC gains with Granite Ridge and Zen 5, and a key difference with this generation is a two-block ahead branch predictor that basically predicts two code paths ahead, instead of the standard next-block prediction that has been standard on x86.

Although the 9950X3D doesn't include a built-in NPU, it does a much better job with AVX-512 instructions.

The 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads, and the L3 cache has doubled from the previous generation to 128MB. The cache bandwidth itself has increased, with latency coming down.

Like the rest of the Ryzen 9000 series, the 9950X3D uses the AM5 socket, with AMD switching to LGA (LGA 1718) pins this time.

While the 9800X3D had a 120W TDP, the increased core count with the 9950X3D pushes it to 170W, and you'll ideally need an AIO liquid cooler to maximize its potential.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: CPU benchmarks

AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D finds itself firmly atop my desktop processor testing hierarchy in multi-core performance, overtaking Intel's now-$600 Core Ultra 9 285K with fewer cores and threads, albeit offset with its higher 170W base TDP. In CPU-centric benchmark tests, the 9950X3D scores the highest so far, shining in burst-processing performance with Geekbench 6 and even sustained stress in Cinebench 2024.

The only test that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D faltered was in CPU-Z, another short benchmark that tests burst processing, where Intel manages to hold its ground. It's not a particularly groundbreaking discovery, but still an interesting metric to compare how each manufacturer excels in particular areas.

The 9950X3D's multi-core performance is around 5.22% ahead of its non-X3D counterpart, while single-core performance is practically unchanged from the Ryzen 9 9900X, which sells for around $550 at Newegg, dropping some of the cost since its late 2024 release.

Gaming benchmarks: Stick with the 9800X3D

After testing three modern PC games with demanding specifications, it became clear that the 1% difference metric was an accurate claim from AMD; there really is nothing between them for the most part.

Again, certain games will be GPU bound while others will thrive on extra CPU performance. However, for a brief cross-section of my usual benchmark testing suite, there is nothing to write home about.

These two chips performed the same for gaming alongside an NVIDIA RTX 4090 Founders Edition and 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM with a Samsung 990 PRO storage drive. Each game was set to their respective 'maximum' graphical fidelity, albeit with upscaling technologies switched off and frame generation similarly deactivated.

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AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Competition

AMD already dominates the gaming subcategory of the desktop processor market by offering its Ryzen 7 9800X3D as the best gaming CPU you can buy — if you can find it. A common issue with making such a popular product is that availability is often at the mercy of scalpers and bulk buyers. Thankfully, the 9800X3D is in stock for $479 at Newegg at the time of writing, which is great to see, but I'm getting used to seeing that "out of stock" badge on the daily.

If you're looking for the top gaming processor without losing too much value for your money, the 9800X3D remains king of the hill in that respect. However, if raw performance is what you're craving, then the non-X3D Ryzen 9 9950X currently sells for $544 at Newegg, but you'll miss out on the V-Cache that generally improves gaming performance. Still, $155 is a huge price drop, so it depends entirely on what your daily workload looks like.

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AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Should you buy?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're a game developer with a flexible budget

✅ You can utilize the core/thread count to its fullest

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You're just looking for the best gaming CPU

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is technically the most performant X3D processor in its Zen 5 lineup, the specifications inside are so extravagant that most consumers would likely never benefit.

This is a chip for power-hungry number crunching in a gaming environment, harnessed either by a content creator with a seriously complex setup or a game developer who'll constantly switch between their chosen game engine and iterations of their project for testing.

At $699 MSRP, you had better be absolutely positive that you need every inch of the performance on offer here.

Any half-measures would be a waste of cash, especially when the non-X3D Ryzen 9000X chips are gradually coming down in price, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains, without question, the ultimate choice for PC gaming enthusiasts without going overboard.

Make no mistake; the 9950X3D is the high-end chip in AMD's most cutting-edge offerings — there is nowhere higher to go from here at a consumer level, and that should be a clear hint at who really needs it (spoiler: you probably don't.)

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NVIDIA has new CPUs in the works that should have consumers excited, according to a recent report. If that proves accurate, Intel and Qualcomm would have a new rival in the PC CPU space. The news comes from HaYaO, which shared details on X recently. Tom's Hardware also provided context on the news.

Two ARM-based NVIDIA processors are said to be on the way. The N1X is expected before the end of this year, while the N1 will reportedly come in 2026. HaYaO states that 3 million N1X chips will ship in Q4 2025 and that 13 million N1 processors would follow sometime in the next year.

NVIDIA will reportedly work with MediaTek to make the chips, which would be a lucrative partnership for the latter. It's said MediaTek is set to make $2 billion in revenue from the partnership.

Details on the N1X and N1 chips are scarce, but there's a chance they're following in the footsteps of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus, with one chip being a more powerful variant.

NVIDIA already has ARM-based SoCs in the server space. Its Tegra processors that feature in several gaming and media devices are also ARM-based. But the N1X and N1 would be the company's first ARM-based chips for Windows PCs. Well, at least Windows devices running a full version of Windows. The ill-fated Surface RT ran on a Tegra chip.

Rumors of ARM chips from NVIDIA have been around for years. Back in 2023, we covered the possibility of NVIDIA creating ARM CPUs. The most recent reports on the subject may center around the same chips, since the coverage from 2023 mentioned an expected 2025 release date for the processors.

Over the last couple of years, Windows on ARM has improved substantially. Those improvements come as a result of updates to Windows 11, app developers adopting the platform, and Qualcomm releasing its Snapdragon X processors. 2025 could prove to be an ideal time for NVIDIA to release ARM CPUs, since Windows on ARM is ready for primetime.

What you need to know

• AMD officially launched the Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor using the Zen 5 architecture.
• The new CPU features AMD 3D V-Cache technology that significantly boosts gaming performance.
• The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is now available to buy starting at $479, $30 more than the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

The much-anticipated Ryzen 7 9800X3D has officially launched following months of rumors and speculation. It comes on the heels of AMD's standard Ryzen 9000 desktop chips, released in August 2024, which Senior Editor Ben Wilson favorably reviewed.

Wilson also reviewed the new Ryzen 7 9800X3D, calling it "the best gaming CPU" and handing it a Windows Central Best Award. That's despite a higher launch price (by $30) than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D predecessor, which is still available today.

I'm still expecting to see more Ryzen 9000 X3D chips to launch in the future, but I'd be surprised if the 9800X3D doesn't remain the most popular choice for gamers for a long time.

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"Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU"

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone who's been following the latest Zen 5 rumors that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has surpassed its predecessor to become the best new CPU for PC gamers.

Senior Editor Ben Wilson tested the 9800X3D using an MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi motherboard, Liquid Freezer III 360 cooler, and G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5 RAM. In his Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, he stated:

"Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU, politely dethroning its predecessor as the new king of the hill as a cache-heavy monster. However, it's not winning any awards for productivity. It isn't worth installing into a PC that spends most of its time crunching numbers in Microsoft Office and Teams since the 9900X and 9950X dominate that category, but it's a far better pick for gamers than anything from Intel's modern productivity-centric offerings.

Unfortunately, those who'll benefit most will need to spend a sizeable amount of cash on a new motherboard and RAM upgrades, making the 9800X3D MSRP hike sting a little more than a cute $30. Nevertheless, this is the new meta for PC gaming, and nothing else can challenge its ability to deliver monstrous FPS counts if you can pair it with a capable GPU to enjoy the latest AAA titles loaded with visual luxuries."

Like the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D, this is a processor intended mainly for gaming. Its productivity scores, as Wilson states, aren't exceptional, falling behind even the Core Ultra 5 245K in a bunch of productivity benchmarks. Here's a look at the results.

As expected, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's performance absolutely shines in games. As you can see below, it pulls far ahead of Intel's latest Core Ultra 9 285K flagship in demanding games. That's despite the Core Ultra 9 having more cores, more threads, a higher clock speed, and a higher TDP.

Wilson also pulled a bunch of real-world benchmarks from the games listed in the chart above for a better idea of where performance lies. These are some of the most demanding games out there right now, but it's clear that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has no problems running them.

Standout metrics include the Ryzen 7 9800X3D reaching a 52% performance increase in Cyberpunk 2077, as well as a 43% increase to performance in Far Cry 6. Even the new Call of Duty Black Ops 6 hits a 41% increase compared to Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K.

Is it worth upgrading to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is undoubtedly tempting for any serious PC gamers. I know I've had my eye on the new chip since rumors began, and based on the positive reviews I plan on putting together a PC upgrade plan.

I'm coming from a Ryzen 7 5800X chip, which is now a few generations old. In fact, it's using an older AM4 motherboard socket and DDR4 RAM, which means I'll need to upgrade the motherboard and memory when I make the chip change. If you're working with a Ryzen 5000 chip, you'll need to do the same. Whether or not that makes financial sense right now only you can say. If you are looking to upgrade to the new Zen 5 chip, have a look at top motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to get you started.

If you're already working with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, chances are you don't see much need to upgrade to the 9800X3D. Your upgrade path will be easier due to the 7800X3D using the AM5 socket and DDR5 RAM, but the $479 MSRP for the 9800X3D no doubt seems a bit steep when your 7800X3D is still so potent.

Here's a quick look at the Ryzen 9800X3D and 7800X3D specifications.

Where to buy the Ryzen 7 9800X3D

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is now available for purchase at major online retailers like Best Buy, Newegg, B&H, and Amazon.

You're looking at the same $479 launch price across retailers, and that's expected to stick for the time being. It's always within the realm of possibility that the new CPU will drop in price for Black Friday or Cyber Monday if there's any stock left to discount.

If you're buying at launch, here are the retailers currently offering the chip at $479.

• See AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D at Best Buy
• See AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D at Newegg
• See AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D at Amazon
• See AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D at B&H

Are there pre-built PCs with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

I'm expecting to see plenty of pre-built gaming PCs have the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as a centerpiece, but at the time of the chip's launch, your options are limited. With the standalone CPUs now sold out everywhere I look, a pre-built might be your next best option.

I first spotted a couple of custom PCs from iBuyPower. There are set models starting at $2,099, but you can configure them with a ton of different hardware centered around the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. The lowest price I could configure was $1,346, and there's almost no limit to what you can add if your budget allows.

CyberPowerPC is so far the only other builder I spotted featuring the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. There are six pre-builts available at the time of writing, each with a different case and liquid cooler. Prices start at $1,685 for the 9800X3D, RTX 4060 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

👉 See CyberPowerPC's Ryzen 7 9800X3D pre-built PCs

Is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D still available to buy?

Yes, the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still available to buy. It is, however, more expensive now than it was at launch. In some countries, including Canada where I'm located, it's practically impossible to find. That's a testament to its lasting power and popularity.

With the best price I can find hovering around $476 at Amazon — or around $570 at Newegg and Walmart — you might as well buy the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D for about the same price.

My recommendation changes if the price of the 7800X3D suddenly drops following the 9800X3D launch. There's also Black Friday and Cyber Monday heading our way in a few weeks, which is usually a great opportunity to save significantly on PC parts and upgrades.

I can tell you that extra cores and threads benefit raw productivity performance, but I'll always feel the temptation of a gaming-centric CPU that delivers boosted framerates, something AMD has repeatedly delivered with its -X3D chips.

It's a simple fact that consistently proves itself with each processor generation: gamers want the best performance for their money and will take any desktop boosts as a convenient side effect.

AMD has remained in the top-seller spot for most CPU retailers, with the previous-generation Ryzen 7 7800X3D sitting pretty as the gaming champion since its release.

If that were ever to change, it'd be with a direct successor, and that's the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, here at last.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Price, availability, and specs

At its launch, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the only Zen 5 processor in AMD's Ryzen 9000X3D range. More variants, presumably (but so far unconfirmed) a 9900X3D and 9950X3D, are expected to follow.

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread APU (SoC) running at a 120W base TDP like its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Its specs are also similar to AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X chip, which runs at a lower TDP with a reduced L3 cache, focused on productivity rather than gaming.

Officially launching with a $479 MSRP, which is $30 more expensive than the $449 Ryzen 7 7800X3D it replaces, actual store listings come relatively close with some minor inflation.

AMD has moved from a 4nm process to 5nm via TSMC's foundry but remains on the same AM5 socket with compatible 9000X3D motherboards and supports the same CPU coolers as its previous-gen Zen 4 (7000 Series) chips.

Upgrading from a Ryzen 7000X3D chip would be a straightforward process for enthusiasts. Still, it wouldn't provide as much of a performance leap as it would for those using a Ryzen 7 5800X3D or similar AM4 variants using now-incompatible DDR4 memory modules (RAM) as AM5 requires DDR5.

Having previously tested AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 8000 Series processors like the Ryzen 5 8600G and Ryzen 7 8700G, I already had access to a compatible AM5-socket motherboard with the ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi. However, AMD provided all-new samples to ensure compatibility with the latest BIOS software and EXPO-compatible RAM running at 6000MHz. Arctic sent its Liquid Freezer III 360mm AIO to help test a separate processor, but it still offers the best cooling performance here.

Testing hardware

This review was made possible with review samples provided by G.SKILL, Samsung, and MSI via AMD alongside Arctic. The companies did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

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Ryzen 7 9800X3D: CPU benchmarks

No matter what a processor was designed for, it always passes my usual gamut of synthetic benchmarks that test single-core and multi-core performance in various productivity tasks. As fun as it would be to skip right to the gaming tests, it's important to see where the Ryzen 7 9800X3D ranks among its peers in burst processing and longer, sustained stress tests.

For burst processing tests in Geekbench 6, the 9800X3D scores above its lower-powered non-X3D sibling, the $359 Ryzen 7 9700X, in multi-core performance but below in single-core equivalents.

Of particular note is how far ahead Intel's $589 Core Ultra 9 285K pulls in multi-core tests, as by design, but there isn't much of a gap in the single-core category — remember this when I compare gaming performance next. Otherwise, there's about a 22% generational burst performance improvement over AMD's predecessor, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Sustained stress tests with Cinebench 2024 show a similar story, with the 9800X3D scoring slightly ahead of the Ryzen 7 9700X as before while creeping on the heels of Intel's $309 Core Ultra 5 245K. In the long run, single-core performance falls in favor of Intel, with more of a lead gained by the Core Ultra 9 285K as it once again places miles ahead in multi-core equivalents, dominating productivity by a colossal degree. Again, a 21% generational sustained performance over the 7800X3D matches the burst tests.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Gaming benchmarks

In its official documentation for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, AMD touts an average 8% performance improvement in gaming compared to the previous-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The amount depends on a range of engine-specific quirks that determine how CPU-bound or GPU-bound a title can be, though the percentage gap usually increases over time with post-launch driver updates. Nevertheless, the 7800X3D, until now, was the best gaming CPU available, so these improvements are no real surprise — so, it's far more interesting to compare the 9800X3D against Intel's top-end CPU: the Core Ultra 9 285K.

While writing my Intel Core Ultra 9 285K review, no graphical setting changes would significantly increase my FPS in Forza Horizon 5. While it's likely a bug, this chart accurately represents the best framerate I can achieve at this time with the 'High' preset at 1080p.

Matching estimations, Black Myth: Wukong scores almost identically on AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K, while the "121.9%" gains promised in the CPU-centric title Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation didn't manifest in my testing, sticking around 6% instead. While not much of a surprise given its excellent performance on practically any hardware, Forza Horizon 5 scores an outrageous average of 387 FPS, which is perfect for anyone who uses those 360Hz 1080p gaming monitors. However, something clearly is bugged on Intel's side, so I'm skipping the implied percentage gain for Forza.

Moving from a disastrous launch to a patched-up marvel, Cyberpunk 2077 sees a 52% performance increase on the 9800X3D over Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K, proving far better of a pairing to NVIDIA's current high-end GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card. Far Cry 6 bumps up performance by 43% with the same GPU and DDR5-6000 RAM pairing, and the latest blockbuster Call of Duty entry enjoys a 41% lead as the 9800X3D earns extra frames in Black Ops 6.

So, while I'm testing a tighter scope of popular AAA titles on PC, I still saw around a 36% performance increase in gaming with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Naturally, my number would be lower if I only tested games closer to the 100% to 110% range of AMD's generational game performance chart, but seeing visually-rich megahits like Call of Duty and Cyberpunk 2077 score such significant increases is reassuring for the performance of a brand-new processor at day one.

Is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D good for gaming?

Yes, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU you can buy, taking over from its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. 96MB of second-generation 3D V-Cache in the Zen 5 architecture helps push for higher FPS (frames per second) in games than Intel's top-end Core Ultra 9 285K, a rival processor that features more cores and threads, a higher clock speed, and slightly higher TDP. Ultimately, Intel's more expensive CPU offers better multi-core performance in productivity tasks and synthetic benchmarks, but AMD wins in gaming performance.

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Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Competition

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has three significant competitors, though only two would be taken seriously by anyone on a budget. Internally, Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K stands against AMD's gaming CPU simply because it's the most powerful chip in the latest Core Ultra Series 200S range. However, this 24-core, 24-thread carries a price tag of around $589 to $630 and targets an entirely different audience who prioritizes energy efficiency within a productivity-centric software suite.

Gaming performance on Intel's side remains relatively unchanged from its last-gen Core i9-14900K, which offered similar performance to its i9-13900K predecessor and suffered from an overarching microcode launch bug that was later fixed for the continued manufacturing of 14th Gen chips.

Still, listings for the Core i9-14900K sit around $440 as AMD's Ryzen 9800X3D is ready to launch, making it an attractive option since some of its best motherboards support an established LGA 1700 socket with wide DDR4 and DDR5 RAM support, bringing down the overall cost of a custom build.

The other major competitor is a call from inside Team Red's house, as the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D doesn't fall far enough behind the new 9800X3D to warrant an upgrade from anyone who already has one. On the other hand, those who already adopted the AM5 socket with all-new motherboards and DDR5 RAM could happily swap out their processor for this new replacement without buying any extra components, but dropping almost $500 on an 8-22% potential performance gain isn't so tempting.

So, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D stands as a more logical upgrade path for those using a Ryzen 7 5800X3D from 2022. Still, this lumps users with the mandatory motherboard and RAM upgrades, though most AM4-compatible CPU coolers will work with AM5 replacements, so it's not entirely damaging to your budget.

The bright side is that you'll feel a more significant boost if you upgrade from the 5800X3D, with compatibility for PCIe 5.0 (Gen 5), unlocking faster storage options with the CPU bump. Overall, it's a sticky situation because the only people who will see the most significant benefits are the ones doomed to spend extra cash on a total rig overhaul.

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Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Should you buy?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You want the absolute best gaming CPU on the market.

✅ You crave the highest framerate count possible for high-FPS gameplay.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You're already using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D or high-end 14th Gen Core i9.

❌ You rely on productivity apps that demand the best multi-core performance.

Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU, politely dethroning its predecessor as the new king of the hill as a cache-heavy monster. However, it's not winning any awards for productivity. It isn't worth installing into a PC that spends most of its time crunching numbers in Microsoft Office and Teams since the 9900X and 9950X dominate that category, but it's a far better pick for gamers than anything from Intel's modern productivity-centric offerings.

Unfortunately, those who'll benefit most will need to spend a sizeable amount of cash on a new motherboard and RAM upgrades, making the 9800X3D MSRP hike sting a little more than a cute $30. Nevertheless, this is the new meta for PC gaming, and nothing else can challenge its ability to deliver monstrous FPS counts if you can pair it with a capable GPU to enjoy the latest AAA titles loaded with visual luxuries.

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What you need to know

• Rumors indicated NVIDIA and MediaTek are working together to develop a 3nm AI PC CPU, which is slated to enter the tape-out phase of production later this month.
• The processor could potentially compete with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite offering, especially on the graphics front. 
• A separate report shows that the entry could retail at approximately $300 once it ships to broad availability. 

MediaTek and NVIDIA are reportedly working together on developing a cutting-edge 3nm AI PC CPU. According to a report by IT Home, the processor is slated to enter the tape-out phase of production later this month (via Tom's Hardware). It is expected to enter mass production late next year. 

This rumor dates back to last year when a report by DigiTimes suggested that MediaTek had plans to integrate a GPU based on NVIDIA's architecture into its SoCs (system-on-chip) for smartphones and Windows-on-Arm mobile PCs.

While neither has confirmed the looming rumors, the 3nm AI PC CPU opens the door for health competition. It could potentially take on Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon X Elite chips, especially in the graphics department. 

The AI CPU will reportedly be paired with NVIDIA's GPU, potentially attracting Dell, HP, Lenovo, and ASUS as clients. Although details about the AI processor remain slim, the Economic Daily News suggests it could retail at approximately $300.

MediaTek is well-known for its mobile products, which heavily rely on AMD for hardware. As you may know, AMD leverages MediaTek's Wi-Fi 6E solutions across its mobile platforms. Interestingly, long-running rumors indicate a 5G notebook collaboration between the two companies.

This potential opens up an interesting discussion about MediaTek's decision to partner with NVIDIA on the AI PC processor instead of AMD despite their long-term collaboration and partnership. To this end, it's quite possible that the rumored AI PC processor could potentially become a PC solution, fully transitioning from mobile. 

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What you need to know

• Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is the second generation of a new era of mobile Intel x86 processors, falling under the 200V-series moniker.
• Lauded as the "most efficient family of x86 processors ever" by Intel, Core Ultra Series 2 promises "breakthrough" power efficiency and a "massive leap in graphics performance."
• Alongside improved performance, power efficiency, and AI capabilities, Intel highlighted the application compatibility of its new chips, clearly referring to the emulation limitations of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series of ARM SoCs.
• Many OEMs have PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 2 on the way starting on Sept. 24, 2024, and PCs powered by these chips will be able to update to Copilot+ PCs in November.

We knew it was coming. In fact, we already knew a fair deal about it from Intel's teasing earlier this year. Set to represent a massive leap for the company, we finally have all the details on Intel's "Lunar Lake" mobile x86 processors, which are arriving soon in brand-new premium Windows laptops with enhanced performance, refined efficiency, and upgraded AI capabilities. Intel is openly challenging AMD and (especially) Qualcomm with these chips, but is Lunar Lake up to the task?

Intel has already announced nine SKUs built on the new Lunar Lake platform, and each chipset shares the same foundation: 8 cores, a new generation of mobile integrated graphics, and an ultra-powerful NPU that will make all these devices Copilot+ PCs come November. There's a lot to cover here, though, so let's dive right into why Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is a big deal for Windows laptops.

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Improved performance and efficiency

The two most fundamental elements of any processor are performance and efficiency, and Intel strived to massively advance both with Intel Core Ultra Series 2. Of course, that's almost always the goal with any new chipset generation, but the way Intel went about accomplishing this makes the 200V-series very different from basically anything the company has done before.

That's because Intel rearchitected its high-performance P-cores while also makes its efficiency-driven E-cores more powerful than ever, leading to a dramatic increase in both performance and comparatively dramatic decrease in power draw when compared to the first generation of Core Ultra CPUs. Despite all Core Ultra Series 2 SKUs boasting a maximum of 8 cores, a huge step down from the 16-core and 22-thread max of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, these processors are on average more performant and consume less power.

In Intel's testing, the company reports an up to 3x increase in performance per thread and up to an 80% performance uplift. With a 23W power draw, the 8-thread Ultra Series 2 only lost 6% performance in multi-threaded tasks versus the 22-thread gen-1 Core Ultra, and this helps Intel make significant advancements in power efficiency. Intel quotes up to 20-hours of battery life with the 200V-series, although obviously real-world figures are likely to vary, and with these chips capping out at a 37W Thermal Design Power (TDP) when turbo boosting, I expect to see impressive endurance.

What matters most here is that Intel's new approach to Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) means that Intel Core Ultra Series 2 goes toe-to-toe with Qualcomm's impressive Snapdragon X series of ARM-based SoCs and AMD's new Ryzen AI 300 mobile chips in both performance and efficiency, often coming out on top in performance-per-watt, depending on the test. It's not just the efficiency and power of individual cores, either — Intel has refined every element of the 200V-series, including superior power management and power delivery, improved on-board memory and cache, and more.

A new generation of mobile integrated graphics

In addition to an improved CPU structure, Intel Core Ultra Series 2 also boast the first appearance of Intel's Xe2 "Battlemage" graphics microarchitecture, which promises a 30% average performance increase when handling graphical tasks, according to Intel. The 200V-series will all feature Intel Arc graphics with greatly improved power efficiency and AI capabilities, but Intel also quotes some specific gaming improvements, as well.

At the core, Xe2 consists of eight Xe2 graphics cores, eight ray tracing cores, and a host of other upgrades like support for eDisplayPort 1.5, display output support for up to three 4K monitors, and more efficient support for various 4K video codecs. Xe2 also contributes to Intel Core Ultra Series 2's superior AI capabilities with up to 67 Tera Operations per Second (TOPS), but all these chips also feature a more capable Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to handle on-device AI tasks, and can assist with advancements to Intel's AI-powered XeSS upscaling technology.

Largely, Intel has focused on shoring up the performance bottlenecks it discovered with the first generation of integrated Intel Arc graphics to ensure that the 200V-series of chips are more capable when rendering, outputting high-resolution video, playing games, performing AI tasks, and simulating ray tracing. Performance has seen a notable increase across the board, but efficiency is also significantly improved. One example includes the Xe2 Arc graphics consuming 2.5W of power when utilizing 4K video hardware decoding versus the 24W draw of last generation.

This means that Windows devices powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 2 should be far more capable for casual gaming and creative work without generating more heat or requiring thicker, heavier designs. We also know that Intel is wanting to be more competitive with AMD when it comes to mobile gaming, as MSI is preparing its Claw 8 AI+ gaming handheld powered by Intel Lunar Lake and the new Xe2 graphics. The new Xe2 GPUs also have full support for Microsoft's DirectX 12 Ultimate gaming suite.

Top of the charts TOPS for AI tasks

The first generation of Intel Core Ultra CPUs was among the first to feature integrated NPUs for handling AI tasks, but none could hold a candle to the AI prowess of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series of devices, which are the first true AI PCs we've seen. AMD has already shown its answer, and now we have Intel's. The 200V-series of chips feature a massively upgraded NPU with up to 4 times the performance.

Intel claims a combined platform performance of 120 TOPS for Intel Core Ultra Series 2, but that does include the CPU, GPU, and NPU. When it comes to becoming a Copilot+ PC and supporting on-device AI features like Copilot, Cocreator, and (eventually) Recall, it's the NPU that is most important. Having a capable NPU means leaving the CPU and GPU open to handle other tasks, and Core Ultra Series 2 has it all. This time around, the 200V-series boasts an NPU with up to 48 TOPS of power, meaning new PCs powered by the chips will be upgraded to Copilot+ PCs later this year.

NPUs still aren't particularly useful this early in the AI revolution, but as time goes on they'll be used more and more without compromising performance elsewhere. Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is about future-proofing, setting up new devices to remain competitive for years. Now that Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD are more or less on even footing here, it'll be interesting to see how AI in Windows continues to evolve.

A whole range of improvements coming this month

Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is looking to be a very impressive step forward for Intel, delivering upgrades in every category. We also don't have to wait long to get our hands on the new generation of chips, as the 200V-series is coming to consumers as early as Sept. 24, 2024 alongside the first wave of new Windows laptops from Dell, Lenovo, HP, Acer, ASUS, and more. In fact, we already know about a few, like the brand-new Dell XPS 13 and the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14.

There are actually nine SKUs of Intel Core Ultra Series 2, for some reason, with four Core Ultra 5s, four Core Ultra 7s, and one Core Ultra 9. All share the same core count and underlying technology, including full support for up to three Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, on-chip LPDDR5X RAM, and a maximum turbo power of 37W. No, there's no Thunderbolt 5 support this time around, for some reason, but it's still very early days for that tech.

The SKUs mostly differ in clocking and turbo frequencies, GPU voltage, RAM amounts, and the base CPU power (with all SKUs being 17W and the Core Ultra 9 being 30W). Of course, I also expect the SKUs to vary wildly in pricing. The majority of PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 2 will also fall under the new Intel Evo standard, offering guarantees on cool and quiet performance, responsiveness and instant wake, lasting real-world battery life, hardware security features, future-proofed connectivity, and high sustainability standards.

I'm personally really excited to see how Intel Core Ultra Series 2 fares in the real world once we get our hands on new Windows PCs. Things are continuing to get increasingly interesting in this category as Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm all compete to be the very best. Right now, the race seems too close to call.

What you need to know

• Intel announced plans to extend 13th Gen "Raptor Lake" and 14th Gen "Raptor Lake Refresh" warranties by two years amid a microcode issue causing the chips to degrade.
• The Abington Cole + Ellery law firm began a class action lawsuit investigation involving the CPU issues and Intel's handling of the matter.
• Since 2022, users of the affected CPUs have experienced frequent crashes and BSODs, with Intel only confirming the issue and root cause this week.
• The microcode bug can affect any 13th and 14th Gen desktop chips running at 65W or higher.

Intel's problems are beginning to catch up in a major way with the chipmaking behemoth. Just a couple of days after the company revealed via a community board post that the cause of 13th Gen "Raptor Lake" and 14th Gen "Raptor Lake Refresh" desktop processor (CPU) instability had been discovered in more chips than first thought, the Abington Cole + Ellery law firm began a class action lawsuit investigation.

The law firm — based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a focus on class action litigation — is currently gathering information from users who have experienced issues with the Raptor Lake chips.

To undoubtedly help stem some of the bleeding, Intel's Thomas Hannaford took to the Intel Community board on August 1 with an update surrounding Core 13th and 14th Gen warranties:

"Intel is committed to making sure all customers who have or are currently experiencing instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors are supported in the exchange process. We stand behind our products, and in the coming days we will be sharing more details on two-year extended warranty support for our boxed Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors."

Hannaford also reiterated in the same posting that any users who "purchased a boxed CPU" or who "purchased systems from OEM/System Integrators" must reach out to Intel customer support (in the former case) or the system manufacturer support (in the latter case) to undergo the RMA process. 

You're seemingly covered no matter how you got your hands on an affected chip, but significant damage to the company's image has already been done.

Have a faulty Intel chip? You can contribute to the class action lawsuit investigation.

Spotted by Tom's Hardware, the Abington Cole + Ellery firm is gathering information from users who are affected by Intel's Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh instability issues.

Intel says it has identified the root of the problem — a microcode bug that causes CPUs to draw too much voltage, leading to degradation that causes crashes and BSODs — and it is expected to release an update via motherboard BIOS in mid-August. 

In the same breath, Intel also confirmed that the issue could affect far more desktop CPUs than first believed, including any 13th and 14th Gen hardware drawing 65W or more power. Worse, it's believed that the microcode fix will not save CPUs that are already having issues.

On the one hand, Intel seems to be serious about replacing faulty CPUs via warranty (there are plenty of semi-satisfied customers stating that they've had their chip replaced), and the extended warranty coverage just announced should add some peace of mind. 

On the other, it took Intel a long time to acknowledge the problem, which probably should have been handled with a full recall. That's where the class action lawsuit kicks off.

As it reads on the Abington Law website where you can submit evidence:

"Recent reports have highlighted instability issues with Intel's 13th and 14th Generation Core desktop processors. The primary cause of these instabilities has been identified as elevated operating voltages. Intel's analysis revealed that a microcode algorithm was incorrectly requesting higher voltages, leading to instability in the processors. This issue apparently does not stem from the earlier resolved via oxidation problem in Intel's manufacturing process.

It is being reported that the instability issue affecting Intel's 13th and 14th Generation Core desktop processors affects potentially all 65W and higher CPUs -- including KS, K, KF, and non-K 65W (and higher) versions.

Intel is addressing the problem by releasing a microcode patch that corrects the voltage requests. This patch is scheduled for release to partners by mid-August 2024. In the meantime, Intel recommends affected users reach out to their customer support for assistance. The company appears to be addressing instability scenarios through continued validation and updates."

It remains to be seen whether or not the class action lawsuit will go anywhere, but at the very least, the investigation is causing further damage to the company's credibility.

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Intel announces massive layoffs as a cost-saving measure

On August 1, Intel announced layoffs of 15,000 employees. No, that's not a typo, and my heart goes out to all affected. The layoffs aren't caused directly by the ongoing instability issues, but the chagrin of affected customers certainly isn't helping the company claw back any uphill traction. 

In a related memo, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger blamed the cost-saving cuts on missed growth targets, an inability to capitalize on recent trends (like AI), and significant challenges faced by Intel Foundry.

Here's what Gelsinger had to say on the matter:

"Our revenues have not grown as expected—and we've yet to fully benefit from powerful trends, like AI. Our costs are too high, and our margins are too low. We need bolder actions to address both—particularly given our financial results and outlook for the second half of 2024, which is tougher than previously expected."

At the time of writing, Intel's pre-market share price is down 7% after falling out overnight.

It's AMD's time to shine with Zen 5

AMD hasn't exactly been flawless lately, either, but for a much less serious reason. The company recently announced a launch delay for its Ryzen 9000 desktop CPUs until at least August 8, 2024.

The delay was stated by AMD SVP and GM of Computing and Graphics Jack Huynh as being caused "due to a failure to meet (our) full quality expectations," which turned out to involve some lesser chips being mislabeled as Ryzen 9.

With the mislabeling being handled and the new Zen 5 chips due shortly, AMD has a massive opportunity to capitalize on Intel's shaky standing with a strong Ryzen 9000 launch.

We now have a bunch of the Ryzen 9000 chips in for testing (with proper branding), and we'll be sharing our findings when the review embargo lifts.

What you need to know

• Intel says it has identified the root cause of 13th and 14th Gen desktop CPU instability; a microcode fix is expected mid-August.
• More Intel CPUs than first thought are potentially affected by the microcode bug, including K, KS, KF, and non-K 65W (and higher) variants.
• Intel isn't planning on a full recall, instead urges affected users to contact customer support.

It's been a busy few weeks for Intel and its attempts to stop the bleeding from 13th and 14th Gen processors (CPU). The bleeding I'm talking about involves instability issues that have plagued Intel's most recent "Raptor Lake" (and the 14th Gen Raptor Lake refresh) desktop chips for the past two years.

Widespread reports of crashes and BSODs have been under investigation by Intel for years, but on July 22 we got a major update. Intel's Thomas Hannaford posted on Intel's community board that the company had finally found the root cause of the instability issues. Here's what Hannaford delivered:

"Based on extensive analysis of Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors returned to us due to instability issues, we have determined that elevated operating voltage is causing instability issues in some 13th/14th Gen desktop processors. Our analysis of returned processors confirms that the elevated operating voltage is stemming from a microcode algorithm resulting in incorrect voltage requests to the processor.

Intel is delivering a microcode patch which addresses the root cause of exposure to elevated voltages. We are continuing validation to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors are addressed. Intel is currently targeting mid-August for patch release to partners following full validation.

Intel is committed to making this right with our customers, and we continue asking any customers currently experiencing instability issues on their Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance."

To pare that back a bit, Intel has acknowledged that its microcode — which is sort of like a firmware-lite — is the root of the instability problem and will hopefully have a solution via motherboard BIOS updates in the coming weeks.

Intel Community Manager Lex Hoyos also acknowledged that the elevated voltages due to the microcode issue aren't the only possible cause of instability. In a post on the Intel subreddit, Hoyos acknowledged that there was a manufacturing issue leading to oxidation discovered and fixed in 2023. This issue only affected some 13th Gen chips.

Intel instability is more widespread than first believed

Here's where things take a turn. While the issue was once believed only to affect high-performance Core i7 and Core i9 chips usually reserved for enthusiasts, a recent Q&A by the Verge with Hannaford has revealed that the problem is more widespread than first believed.

When asked how many Intel chips could be impacted by this bug, Hannaford revealed that any Raptor Lake chips running at 65W or above could be affected. That includes even some non-K 13th and 14th Gen chips, as well as K, KF, and KS models. As with the high-performance Raptor Lake/Refresh Intel chips, there's no guarantee that you'll experience the issue in your system. It seems that mobile chips for laptops are not affected.

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• AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D desktop CPU | was $699 now $561.79 at Newegg

What can you do about your faulty Intel Raptor Lake CPU?

Despite Intel acknowledging that its microcode is the root cause of the instability issue, the company is firmly avoiding a recall. It expects to push an update via motherboard BIOS mid-August, but that's only good news for those who haven't had the issue crop up already.

As stated by Tom's Hardware, "the bug causes irreversible degradation of the impacted processors" and "the microcode patch will not repair processors already experiencing crashes, but it is expected to prevent issues on processors that aren't currently impacted by the issue." In the meantime, Intel suggests sticking to Intel Default Settings for the CPUs as well as keeping the system BIOS as up-to-date as possible.

But what can you do if your processor is suffering and no official recall is on the table? Intel says to reach out to its customer support team, even if previous RMA attempts have been rejected. If you're unsure whether your chip is affected, Intel suggests checking out the excellent Robeytech YouTube video that walks you through the process.

What's going on with AMD Ryzen 9000 CPUs?

Intel isn't the only chipmaker having some problems. AMD announced a delayed release for its Ryzen 9000 desktop CPUs last week, and it has come to light that it was caused by a far less serious quality control issue.

Two of the Zen 5 chips — notably the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X — were mislabeled as being Ryzen 9 chips. This threw AMD into "a short delay" while the chip's branding is sorted out.

With the original release date set for July 31, AMD's new chips were seeded to reviewers and influencers ahead of time and are set to arrive any day. Whether or not these samples have the wrong branding remains to be seen, but there's potential here for the chips to become some serious collector's items.

When it comes to the processor (CPU) options for your custom PC build or upgrade, Intel's 13th Gen hardware is among the best you'll find today. Sure, Intel has released its 14th Gen chips, but they were, to put it bluntly, a bit of a flop in terms of performance gains.

The small changes to 14th Gen hardware have kept Intel's 13th Gen chips in the spotlight. They're much more affordable, they use the same LGA 1700 socket, and they'll remain relevant for years to come.

We reviewed Intel's flagship Core i5-13600K, Core i7-13700K, and Core i9-13900K when they launched, and they were so impressive that we handed each chip a Windows Central Best Award. These unlocked CPUs from the K series are what you want for your custom Intel PC build, and deep discounts at Newegg's FantasTech event have all three chips down to the lowest price I've ever seen.

The Intel Core i5-13600K launched at a $330 price, but it's now down to $240. The mid-range Core i7-13700K has a regular price of $450, but it's been knocked down to $290. The mighty Core i9-13900K, which launched at $520, is enjoying the biggest discount at just $400.

Part of Newegg's FantasTech sales event includes price protection. If the price of these CPUs drops below what you paid between now and July 19, you'll be automatically reimbursed the difference.

Why these early Prime Day CPU deals are so tempting

In our Intel Core i5-13600K review, Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino called it "the best mid-range desktop CPU, without question." And even with Intel's 14th Gen hardware now on the market, that remains true. Rubino gave the chip five stars in his review even at the full asking price at launch, which has, of course, dropped since then even without discounts.

The Core i5-13600K's 14 cores, 20 threads, and 5.1GHz max Turbo boost clock make it a stellar option for most PC gamers, and it will keep up with mid-range graphics cards from NVIDIA and AMD. It uses the LGA 1700 socket (the same as 12th and 14th Gen Intel chips), so be sure you're OK with a motherboard upgrade if yours still has an LGA 1200 socket.

This is the CPU I recommend to most people out of the three featured here. It's powerful, and it's now down to the lowest price I've ever seen at $240. Use code FTTPDU8239 at checkout for the full discount.

If you're looking to add more cores and a higher clock speed, Intel's Core i7-13700K is also enjoying a phenomenal discount at Newegg.

It boasts 16 cores split evenly between Performance and Efficient, it has 24 threads. and it can hit up to a 5.4GHz frequency with Turbo boost activated. In our Intel Core i7-13700K review, former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds called it "the best CPU for gaming."

The extra power is great for those who work and play on the same PC, and its LGA 1700 socket means you don't have to change your motherboard if you currently have a 12th Gen chip. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, and it can outperform in most cases the Core i9-12900K. Our comparison of the Core i7-13700K and the Core i7-14700K shows that the older chip remains the better option.

Newegg's monster FantasTech sale knocks the Core i7-13700K down to just $290, the lowest price I've ever seen. Use code FTTPDU8237 at checkout at Newegg for the full discount.

Last but certainly not least is Intel's Core i9-13900K. This unlocked desktop CPU has a whopping 24 cores (8 Performance and 16 Efficiency), 32 threads, and a Turbo boost clock that hits up to 5.8GHz. If you want ultimate performance for 4K gaming and specialized design or development work, the Core i9 is the right move. It even remains the better choice compared to the  14th Gen Core i9-14900K.

In Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino's Intel Core i9-13900K review, he said, "When it comes to top-tier processors, few can touch the heights of Intel’s Core i9 K-series, which are not only clocked the highest but are incredibly overclockable."

This is the right chip for enthusiasts, but the price is usually what keeps people away.  Thanks to this epic deal at Newegg, however, you can get the Core i9-13900K for only $400, which is less than what you'd normally pay for the Core i7. Use code FTTPDU8235 at checkout for the full discount.

Be sure to check out the best Prime Day GPU deals for a new graphics card to pair with your new Intel CPU.

NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 SUPER remain popular graphics cards (GPU) for PC gamers, designers, and creators despite the launch of newer RTX 50-series cards.

To get the most out of these high-performance GPUs, they should be paired with a powerful processor to avoid bottlenecks that unnecessarily tank performance.

In that regard, my top pick is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which is usually found for about $470. It's easily the best gaming CPU on the market today.

The Windows Central team has spent hundreds of hours testing all of the latest Intel and AMD CPUs, and I've included five other top picks for a range of budgets and uses.

Best CPUs for your NVIDIA RTX 4080 in 2025

Honorable Mentions

Don't see the right CPU in the collection above to pair up with your RTX 4080? Some of these honorable mentions might pique your interest.

• Intel Core Ultra 5 245K: Like the Ryzen 5 9600X, the Core Ultra 5 245K is on the low end of what I recommend pairing with the RTX 4080 or 4080 SUPER. Nevertheless, it brings excellent productivity performance and an NPU for AI tasks. 👉 Read our full Core Ultra 5 245K review
• AMD Ryzen 7 9700X: The Ryzen 7 9700X is one of AMD's latest Zen 5 chips. It lacks the 3D V-Cache that makes my top two picks so great for gaming, but it also costs quite a bit less for those who blew their budget on the NVIDIA RTX 4080 or 4080 SUPER. 👉 Read our full Ryzen 7 9700X review

How to choose the best CPU for your NVIDIA RTX 4080 or 4080 SUPER

AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D is an easy top recommendation to pair with NVIDIA's RTX 4080 or RTX 4080 SUPER.

It's the most powerful CPU you can buy if PC gaming is your main focus, all thanks to AMD's unique 3D V-Cache that expands and stacks the cache. Pick it up for about $470 at Amazon.

Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson reviewed the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, remarking:

"AMD continues the theme with its second generation of 3D V-Cache to deliver unparalleled gaming performance and middling productivity. Thankfully, most gamers do not care about the benchmark-breaking number crunching as long as they get their framerate boosts, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers that sweet extra FPS."

Considering the 9800X3D's immense popularity, you might have better luck finding the Ryzen 7 7800X3D predecessor for sale.

It's more affordable, it offers nearly the same level of gaming performance thanks to its own 3D V-Cache, and it's rarely sold out. You can usually find it for about $359.

Ben Wilson also reviewed the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, stating:

"Given how much outrageous raw gaming performance is on offer from this processor, it's not an unreasonable request for an upgrade. You'll benefit from the opposition if you rely on productivity apps, but AMD isn't pretending to appeal to that crowd."

If you are, indeed, aiming for huge productivity performance, I again turn to AMD with its Ryzen 9 9950X3D.

It has the 3D V-Cache that benefits gaming, but compared to the 9800X3D, it doubles the core and thread count.

Windows Central Editor Harish Jonnalagadda reviewed the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, saying:

"On the productivity and creative side, AMD is crushing benchmarks and dominating the scene entirely, so this multi-function chip has its place, but it's an expensive place to be. Nevertheless, if you can harness all this chip has to offer, there is nothing better to recommend."

The 9950X3D is the most expensive chip on this list at about $671, so I only recommend it if you plan on doing some heavy creative and design tasks with your PC.

Best CPUs for NVIDIA's RTX 4080: FAQ

Here are some answers to the pressing questions surrounding the RTX 4080 GPU.

I've built more custom gaming desktop PCs than I can count, but I know that AMD's Ryzen processors were featured in most of them. They're often slightly more value-focused than Intel's options, and as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D drops to $344.99 at Newegg with promo code NPDSA468, it becomes the absolute best bang-for-your-buck option for building a capable rig.

✅ Buy it if: You're building a high-end gaming desktop.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want an all-rounder productivity processor; this is for gamers only.

Unparalleled value for the best gaming processor

Overheating controversies marred the early days of the Ryzen 7 7000X3D processors but have since subsided thanks to proper BIOS updates for relevant motherboards. It was unnerving for a while, but since my Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, I haven't had a single issue with the processor and the various motherboards and CPU coolers it paired with.

A 120W base TDP draws a lot of power, which converts to more heat, so you'll need to consider your PC case and the airflow inside to help keep the temperatures under control. However, once you're set up with the appropriate components to handle this powerful option, it'll tackle even the most CPU-intensive games. Intel beats AMD on productivity tasks with 13th and 14th Gen options, but nothing comes close to the value on offer from the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, especially with this discount.

If you're happy to leave DDR4 RAM behind and advance to AMD's AM5 socket with an appropriate motherboard and graphics card, the 7800X3D will see you through intensive gaming for the next few years without breaking a sweat. More powerful variants are available within the same brand and elsewhere, but you'll get the most out of your money with this killer deal from Newegg.

No matter if you're building a custom desktop PC for all-out gaming or something more versatile, you'll need to keep the processor (CPU) cool under stress. Thermals spike up whenever you start up a demanding app or start playing a game, and some stock (included) CPU coolers won't always keep up with the demand. For that sake, I've always relied on two options, depending on my PC case of choice.

You see, a traditional air cooler like the Thermalright Peerless Assassin is simplistic but tall. The heatsink tower includes a collection of fins to dissipate heat, and can take up a sizeable amount of space above your CPU. On the other hand, an all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler like ARCTIC's Liquid Freezer III PRO needs much less space around the CPU block, but demands space for a radiator (and its fans) somewhere else in your case.

I get it, it's daunting, but I've narrowed it down to only two picks to make it easier. Check your PC case and motherboard manuals for compatibility before committing to any component purchase, and plan your cable management ahead of time. After that, you can rest assured that either of these two picks will keep your CPU temperatures under control, as they always have for me.

Which CPU cooler should you buy in 2025?

Thermalright for air cooling on a budget

Thermalright includes two 120mm fans with its Peerless Assassin air cooler alongside mounting brackets for Intel and AMD processors, with the appropriate standoffs for each. AM4 risers pair with a stock backplate on my motherboard to fit a compatible AM5 socket instead, and the whole thing barely takes fifteen minutes to complete once I connect the fan cable Y-splitter to its headers and clip on the fans. It's usually surfaced as an option for those on a strict budget, but the Peerless Assassin would happily fit into any mid-to-high-end custom build. It's just that good.

ARCTIC offers the best AIO coolers I've ever used

I've tested all-in-one (AIO) liquid coolers from the usual suspects, but I keep coming back to ARCTIC for its simplicity and performance. Now, the Liquid Freezer III features upgraded fans on its 360mm radiator (or whichever size you choose), which might be too big for some builds, and you should check your case compatibility before ordering.

Still, the original stood up to intensive benchmarking for plenty of modern AMD and Intel chips since its release, and there's plenty of positive feedback to suggest that nothing has changed in that category with its Pro model. Seeing its predecessor (Liquid Freezer II) or its standard clearance model (Liquid Freezer III) with a significant discount can be tempting, but the CPU block-mounted fan gives it enough of a unique edge to stand out, especially when a GPU is exhausting hot air toward your processor. It's still a winner.

CPU cooler compatibility: AMD vs. Intel

Choosing the proper cooler for your CPU depends on a few crucial factors. Compatibility is the name of the game, so you'll need to check your processor and the socket associated with it. For example, a 14th Gen Intel Core i7-14700K uses an LGA1700 socket like the 12th and 13th Gen before it. Thanks to cross-generation socket compatibility, pairing a cooler with Intel chips is a little easier, whereas AMD Ryzen processors are experiencing more of a generational shift from AM4 to AM5. Thankfully, AM4 coolers are generally identical to AM5 and often use the same brackets.

You should check the official Intel support page to identify Core desktop processors and, in the same way, the official AMD support page for Ryzen equivalents.

Once you're confident in compatibility, performance is the next priority. If you're building a custom gaming desktop with a power-hungry processor that draws around 120W TDP, you'll benefit from coolers like all-in-one (AIO) variants with larger 360mm radiators and triple-fan setups. Simply put, the more power a processor uses, the hotter it'll get. My top choice for the best AIO is the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III specifically because it'll handle practically anything without getting too expensive. For those choosing more modest, power-conscious processors, the phenomenal Peerless Assassin 120 SE is an affordable marvel that handles thermal control without breaking the bank.

HYTE has never been a brand known for subtlety in the custom desktop space, creating some of the most gigantic and extravagant PC cases alongside accessories dripping in enough RGB to make a leprechaun jealous.

Now, as it launches its first all-in-one (AIO) CPU cooler and magnetic case fans, with the THICC Q60 selling for $299.99 at Best Buy and the FP12 triple pack selling separately, it aims to continue the trend.

It's expensive, but there's undoubtedly an allure to this outrageous cooler. A 32-bit ARM processor powers the tech behind its 5-inch IPS display to show important metrics (or funny GIFs, that's up to you), but is it worth the cost?

This review was made possible with a review unit provided by HYTE. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

THICC Q60: Price, specs, and availability

HYTE sells the THICC Q60 through its first-party store for $299.99 and via third-party retailers like Best Buy for the same price. Alternatively, you can pick it up from Newegg, which confusingly lists it as an 'iBUYPOWER cooling system' in the URL.

Although not mandatory, the THICC Q60 AIO cooler is compatible and works best with the THICC FP12 magnetic case fans. HYTE sells a triple pack alongside the Q60 through its first-party store for $79.99, but there are no listings on Best Buy or Newegg at the time of writing.

The THICC Q60 AIO radiator has two THICC FP12 fans installed, which can connect to an optional HYTE Nexus controller included with the FP12 triple pack. Each fan measures 32mm wide and, combined with a 52mm radiator, requires 84mm of clearance in your case.

Both tubes connected to the CPU block measure 400mm in length, and HYTE includes Intel and AMD mounting kits with traditional case fan screws alongside extended radiator screws. The 5-inch LCD screen can only operate in portrait mode, requiring a USB 2.0 header, CPU fan header, and a 6-pin PCIe power connection.

HYTE includes pre-applied thermal paste on the cooling plate and provides a 6-year warranty for the THICC Q60. Installation instructions come in the box as a paper manual, with video tutorials also available on the official HYTE YouTube page.

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THICC Q60: Setup and compatibility

Leaning heavily into hip language and slang with its 'THICC' title, this behemoth all-in-one cooler with a chunky 288 x 52mm radiator proves appropriate when unboxing it. It's easy to become distracted by the attractive 5-inch IPS screen hanging from the CPU cooler block, but it's impossible to deny how gigantic this AIO is. With two of its in-house 120mm THICC FP12 fans pre-installed, the total thickness is 84mm, so you'll need to consider the intended placement in your PC case carefully.

The presentation from HYTE is pretty spectacular, combining a relatively typical yet secure presentation in a funky box. You get a single accessory pack, which unfolds to reveal separated Intel and AMD mounting parts, the former pre-installed around the cooling plate. My setup uses an AM5 socket, and swapping the front retention plate was laughably easy, replacing both halves with a firm pull and pushing the AMD equivalent into place. Clearance isn't an issue for me, as I'm using the previously reviewed HYTE Y70 Touch PC case, which has extra benefits that I'll point out later.

In line with HYTE's extra-hip marketing of "cables are just super gross," everything revolves around a single, multi-purpose connector leading from a pair of USB-C prongs. Depending on your plans for installing the THICC Q60, I'd strongly recommend connecting this cable to the radiator first. Respecting how huge this setup is, despite being in a 280mm form factor, it can be difficult to plug in the twin USB-C ends later, as I discovered first-hand. On the other side of the cable, you'll need a spare USB 2.0 header, comfortable access to the CPU_FAN header, and a 6-pin PCIe power connector from your power supply to complete the installation.

After removing the stock AMD hook-style bracket but keeping the stock backplate, I installed the included standoffs without any tools, tightening them with only my fingers and thumbs. HYTE includes pre-installed thermal paste on the cooling plate, which works perfectly well, but it can be cleaned off if you prefer to apply your own. Still, you won't need a tube of third-party paste for a first-time installation, which I admire as it helps remove a small part of anxiety for rookie builders.

Finally, a magnetic cover slots back over the CPU block, offering a metallic sheen that provides a sleek reflection plane for rear-facing RGB lighting. On the radiator side, HYTE advertises the Q60 with a vertical mount and an intake setup for the fans, as configured by default. I already have a trio of case fans on the HYTE Y70 Touch case, which I'll replace with the THICC FP12 provided by HYTE, so I'm opting for a top mount for now.

Ideally, I'd exhaust hot air through the radiator by reversing the fan direction, but there's nothing wrong with this intake setup if the rest of your case accommodates the airflow.

For now, the rear of my case is handling exhaust for any hot air, and all cables are connected. I have a Founders Edition of the NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics card installed vertically, which causes some cable messiness as the THICC Q60's liquid tubes lay almost perfectly over the GPU's power connector. However, I could remedy this by reversing the direction of the Q60's radiator, but I needed more convenient access to the RAM modules for later reviews.

In fairness, I could fix all of the minor gripes from my installation with the included screws, but your experience may vary, depending on the size of your PC case. Be wary of this AIO radiator's thickness, as it could cause problems with compact builds, so check HYTE's case compatibility first. Firing up the Q60 for the first time exhibited some normal gurgling sounds as the liquid inside began moving through the loop, though this faded away after around 10 minutes.

Cable management wasn't a priority for this test, so you'll have to excuse some sloppiness in the photographs, but any builder with more patience could route their Q60 for a sleek and subtle look. Again, the twin USB-C connector leading into the radiator can be difficult to maneuver, depending on which direction it's facing, so remember my tip to connect this plug before you start. The build was refreshingly simple despite its thick nature and extravagant 5-inch display hanging from the block, and I admire HYTE's efforts as it enters the AIO category.

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THICC Q60: Software and performance

My first experiences with HYTE's Nexus companion app weren't great back when it first launched, but improvements have come with each patch, and the software's quality is much better as the THICC Q60 becomes available for purchase. Thankfully, you still don't need to sign up for a mandatory account to use HYTE Nexus, with 'continue as guest' allowing users to access everything we need. During installation, you can adjust the widget polling rate for how often the IPS screen updates temperature readouts and other diagnostic information, though its default settings are fine.

Since I have the HYTE Y70 Touch case and its screen connected, Nexus defaults to its touchscreen setup page on the 'faces' menu, but the Q60 settings are available on a sidebar, and the app quickly detects the AIO upon the first click. Between the faces and settings screen (not the settings submenu of faces, which is mildly confusing), I can customize everything that appears on the 5-inch touchscreen and update the underlying firmware. Nexus is a cute app, though I recommend disabling 'video backgrounds' to save a little on performance unless you're building an all-out monster gaming PC.

Running Cinebench 2024 to stress-test a previously-reviewed Ryzen 7 7800X3D underneath the Q60 showed temperatures never passed 83°C, which practically matches the 82°C provided by a Corsair iCUE H115i Elite Capellix 280mm AIO installed previously. Moving away from the default cooling settings on Nexus, users can drag temperature sources into their preferred fan curve profile and then link that profile to case fans or the Q60 pump. However, showing the CPU temperature on the 5-inch display causes an oversized readout (34.2222222°C), presumably a software bug in Nexus.

Customization runs deep, allowing me to select foreground and background elements for the Q60's screen. Widgets like a digital or analog clock, weather reports for your chosen location, and traditional temperature or performance metrics are available and separated into individual screen profiles that I can switch between with a single click. So far, I haven't been able to run DOOM on the screen itself, but comedic animated GIFs and iconic scenes from Windows will suffice. Very cool.

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THICC Q60: The competition

When shopping for 240-280mm (or as close to that form as possible) AIO coolers, I have a few personal favorites, though nothing perfectly matches HYTE's ARM-powered THICC Q60. My desktop features an NZXT Kraken 240 RGB, available from Best Buy for $179.99 and Newegg for the same price, which has served me well enough with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X that runs rather hot. It's cheaper, but customization is limited compared to what HYTE offers. Alternatively, a Corsair iCUE H100i Elite LCD XT sells for $219.99 at Best Buy and, again, the same at Newegg.

Corsair's iCUE companion app offers deeper customization than NZXT's CAM for AIO displays, and the price creeps closer to HYTE's THICC Q60 MSRP. Most competitors offer a far slimmer build on the radiator and fan combo, and the price is often lower. Still, HYTE never made any impressions that the Q60 was ever intended as a compact or lightweight cooler, as it stands tall and gaudy inside your (presumably already RGB-laden) PC case. Competition is fierce for HYTE, but it offers a unique and extravagant option to those who want to go all-out on a cosmetic gaming PC build.

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THICC Q60: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're building an extravagant showcase PC

The THICC Q60 performs brilliantly for a twin-fan AIO in the 280mm+ category, but its appeal lies firmly on the aesthetic side. It's a cooler for those who display their desktops proudly on a desk for all to see.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You'll never look at your PC while it's running

If your PC is on the floor, under a desk, or otherwise out of view for most of its use, then the THICC Q60 is beyond excessive. Unless you're a livestreamer or someone who takes great pride in seeing their PC under operation, it's total overkill.

Let's make no mistakes: HYTE isn't offering a subtle or compact solution to CPU cooling with the THICC Q60 all-in-one (in case the name wasn't obvious enough.) It's an outrageously chunky option with an over-the-top IPS display showing the silliest GIFs alongside genuinely valuable metrics. However, despite its twin 120mm fans essentially offering a 240mm setup, the performance is beyond admirable and stands up to traditionally gigantic 360mm radiator options.

It's one of the best CPU coolers you can buy if you're building a custom gaming PC with a gigantic case and desire extreme aesthetics. The setup is laughably straightforward, even for novice builders nervous about changing mounting brackets, and HYTE's Nexus companion app dramatically improves with each software update. Extra THICC FP12 fans and a Nexus Portal controller aren't essential, but they work well for a cohesive setup if you can afford the whole package or find them on sale.

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What you need to know

• Intel's 13th and 14th Gen Core i9 CPUs are reportedly causing problems when it comes to PC gaming. 
• People are claiming these CPUs are unstable and can cause crashing, especially with games that were created in Unreal Engine. 
• These CPUs also reportedly create "out of video memory" errors when a system clearly has plenty of memory. 
• This has led to PC gamers in South Korea returning the Intel CPUs and seeking out alternatives like with AMD Ryzen. 
• Intel is now looking into the matter.

It seems that PC gamers using both 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core i9 CPUs (both Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh) have reported stability issues when playing video games (thanks TechRadar). This reportedly, is especially an issue for games that run on Unreal Engine where crashing isn't out of the question. Some players are also getting an error that claims their system is "out of video memory" even though their system has plenty of memory to use. 

According to Wccftech, this has led PC gamers in South Korea to return the Intel Core i9 processors and seek out alternatives like AMD Ryzen. Intel is reportedly looking into the matter. 

What this means for you

There's been a long-standing rivalry between Intel vs AMD vs NVIDIA chip manufacturers, with people mostly acknowledging that Intel tends to be the top dog when it comes to CPUs — it certainly has the widest hold on the market. So, if Intel CPUs are the cause of these video game problems then this is extremely frustrating news. These Core i9 processors are supposed to be some of the most powerful Intel options out there, so this is especially frustrating for anyone wanting a top-of-the-line gaming PC. 

Many people tend to pair Intel Core i9 processors with an NVIDIA RTX 4090 or thereabouts specifically to create top-tier gaming PCs that can handle the latest and most graphically intensive games. But having a powerful PC tell you that it's out of memory when it isn't or simply having it crash on you when running a game it should be able to handle with ease is very annoying. Not to mention, there's the expense side of things. You should be able to rely on a processor you paid top dollar for to run your digital adventures without issue.

As it stands, right now if you're looking to build your own PC or purchase one of the best pre-built gaming PCs or best gaming laptops then you might want to stick to Intel Core i9 alternatives. These issues have not been reported with Intel Core i5 or Core i7 so those might be better choices to go with. 

Alternatively, Team Blue's biggest CPU rival, AMD, produces some potent processors that are specifically helpful with gaming. Pair these AMD CPUs with the right GPUs and you'll have yourself a device that can easily tackle the newest games on the market.

Intel really needs to figure out if this is actually an issue with their CPUs or if the root cause is elsewhere. If Intel CPUs are to blame, then the chip manufacturing company will really need to work fast to send out patches and updates to hopefully solve the problem. However, if the problem is more physical, having to do with the base processor design, then Intel will have to offer refunds to buyers or offer some other form of compensation if it wants to maintain its brand image. We at Windows Central will keep an eye on this matter and will report again if we learn more. 

I've tested desktop processors professionally and for my own benefit for years, almost always with a focus on PC gaming. Many CPUs have sparked a beautiful balance between value and performance, but nothing has beaten the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D for gaming in recent years. For a limited time, it's down from $449 to $369 at Newegg, making it the best gaming CPU you could buy if you're planning an AMD-centric custom build.

🔥More great deals🔥

• Surface Pro 9 laptop | was $1,099.99 now $933 at Best Buy
• Xbox Series X | was $499 now $449 at Walmart
• Insignia 50-inch 4K TV | was $299.99 now $209.99 at Best Buy
• Lenovo LOQ 15 laptop | was $949.99 now $599.99 at Best Buy

Fairly priced at launch and a steal on sale

I know how the process of building a custom gaming desktop PC usually goes. I often start with the bare minimum hardware for your needs with as much value as possible, but exceptions slip through. Processors are, quite literally, the brains of the whole operation when paired with the best motherboard you can afford, and every other component essentially revolves around your CPU choice so as not to wind up with unfortunate performance bottlenecks.

PC hardware rapidly moves through generational revisions, often with some backward compatibility. Still, AMD caused a hefty shift when it moved from its wildly popular Ryzen 5000 Series on the AM4 socket to the latest Ryzen 7000 using AM5. Graduating from DDR4 memory to DDR5 meant many of us tinkerers couldn't bring over our older RAM kits and had to start fresh. It's a big ask when CPUs are usually expensive, but this hot saving on the 7800X3D makes it worth it.

In my Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, there were initial teething problems with compatible motherboards causing some unfortunate overheating issues, but those have since been patched up and the problems solved. Since then, I haven't had any issues with my sample chip, and I'm about to pair it with a chunk NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics card to put it through some modern-day tests. Still, my opinion hasn't changed since my initial experience with the 7800X3D: it's the best gaming CPU you can buy, and at this price, it's a steal.

What you need to know

• During CES 2024, AMD officially announced specs for its new Ryzen 8000G Series processors for desktops as well as updated Ryzen 5000 Series desktop processors.
• AMD says that the Ryzen 8000G Series processor for desktops is the fastest processor in the world, making it ideal for handling demanding game graphics in full HD without needing discrete graphics cards. 
• The Ryzen 8000G has a dedicated AI engine with an NPU clock speed of 1.6 GHz (39 TFLOPs).
• With its AI Engine and fast NPU clock speeds, the Ryzen 8000G will open up more AI-related tasks on consumer computers, so you don't have to rely on AI subscription services hosted on distant servers to do said AI tasks.
• AMD Ryzen 8000G Series and updated Ryzen 5000 Series desktop processors will be available starting Jan. 31, 2024.

Last week, we saw leaks surrounding AMD's Ryzen 8000G processors, which were rumored to feature integrated graphics rather than being a rival to GPUs. But now, during CES 2024, this information has been confirmed. What's more, the company has officially revealed that this will be its first series of desktop processors to feature powerful NPU (neural processing unit) AI chips. Details for its updated AMD Ryzen 5000 Series AM4 processors were also revealed. AMD is no stranger to NPUs, but it has previously only used them in mobile processors, as can be seen with AMD Ryzen 7 8040 specs.

As with every year, just about every big tech company will be announcing something new this week during CES 2024, which runs from Jan 9. through Jan 12. in Las Vegas. However, AMD's Ryzen 8000G processors are truly something to take note of as they mark the industry's next big step into consumer AI-ready computers.

Basically, what this means for you as an average consumer is that you'll soon be able to do more local work privately and efficiently with AI on your own computer rather than having to rely as much on AI subscription services hosted on distant servers that might use anything you input to influence their learning AI models, I'll dive more into that later, but for now here are the new processor specs and details.

• * AMD Ryzen 8000 G-Series will be available Jan. 31, 2024.
• AMD confirms Ryzen 8600 is $229 MSRP.

As expected, the new Ryzen 8000G Series for desktop is more powerful than previous offerings thanks to its built-in AMD Radeon 700M Series graphics, but it's more than that. AMD specifically states that the AMD Ryzen 8000G Series is "the fastest desktop PC processor graphics in the world," capable of running games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3 very smoothly with just built-in graphics. It does all of this in a small form factor without a dedicated graphics card. 

The company went on to explain that the AMD Ryzen 8000G is in no way intended to replace a discrete graphics card since you'll need to play more demanding games at lower settings when using a Ryzen 8000G. However, AMD says that the Ryzen 8000G processor is fast enough to play these more intensive titles in full HD (1080p) at respectable 60FPS or higher while getting a performance boost from compatible software like AMD Hyper-RX with Fluid motion frame enabled. 

So basically, the AMD Ryzen 8000G will serve as a great processor in entry-level gaming desktops. Since the Ryzen 8000G can be upgraded with a discrete graphics card, you can always get ultra graphics and experience better FPS by adding a powerful GPU to your rig later.

According to AMD, the Ryzen 8000G Series is also the world's first desktop processor with a dedicated AI engine. Specifically, the AMD Ryzen 8000G Series combines Zen 4 processor cores, RDNA Graphics Cores, and a much more powerful AI NPU running at about 60% higher speed than the 7040 Series NPU. AMD went on to boast that the NPU offers a clock speed of 1.6 GHz with up to a combined 39 TFLOPs of total processing power and provides 45% memory utilization saving — so more can be done with less memory.

As AMD's Senior Processor Technical Marketing Manager, Donny Woligroski, stated in a press briefing, the NPU portion of Ryzen AI is efficient enough that "it can do things in milliwatts that take potentially, tens of watts on a GPU."

But what exactly are NPUs? If you're interested, you can learn more about neural processing units in my guide, which explains why NPUs are essential for AI and how they differ from GPUs. Suffice it to say that NPUs help make a computer run more efficiently by handling certain AI tasks so the rest of the computer can focus on other tasks.

For a while now, NPUs have been employed in mobile processors, but AMD bringing NPUs to a desktop processor is new and provides additional conveniences on PCs. For instance, NPUs can help improve performance, take some of the load off your GPU so your graphics card can work more effectively, and make your computer more self-reliant with its own AI models. That last one also makes your device more secure since it doesn't have to reach out to other servers on the internet to perform certain AI tasks.

Better AI capabilities provided by the CPU also allow you to do more AI tasks locally. For instance, you can take advantage of more neural editing tools or content-aware functions in Adobe Photoshop while allowing your computer to run more efficiently. What's more, local AI makes it so you don't have to rely on AI subscription services offered on distant servers that might take your information and use it in their learning models.

• * AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Update processors will be available Jan. 31, 2024.

While not as exciting as the brand-new Ryzen 8000G Series, the Ryzen 5000 Series of processors is also an important step into the future for those wanting to upgrade their rig with new cost-effective AM4 processors. 

The most powerful of the 5000 Series is the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D, which AMD explains is like a Ryzen 5800X3D with "a slightly lower boost clock and base clock, but since the cache effectively reduces so much latency that's a really small tradeoff." At a suggested retail price of $249, that's a pretty good deal for those who want to keep their computer relevant with the latest technologies.

AMD went on to discuss the Ryzen 7 5700, which was previously available in partner systems. It was revealed that it will now be available to purchase on its own. To sweeten the deal, the package will include an AMD Wraith Spire cooler, all for a total of $175.

Meanwhile, the R5 5600GT, which sells for $140, and R5 5500GT, which sells for $125, both offer impressive gaming that's slightly higher than the performance of the older 5600G. 

What these new AMD processors mean for you

Ok, so we've seen the specs; now, what is the major takeaway from AMD's newest Ryzen 8000G Series and updated 5000 Series? Basically, the new 8000G chips are going to work so much faster than previous AMD offerings while also making it possible to do more AI tasks directly on your own computer.  

Many AI services today, such as Midjourney, are driven by subscription models that make it so members can generate AI imagery on distant servers that are powerful enough to handle AI tasks. However, these AI services also often incorporate your ideas into their learning AI models. So, having a computer that's capable of local AI tasks makes it possible for you to use open-source programs or local software that allows you to keep your input as your own rather than share it with others. Plus, it makes it so you don't have to buy into a subscription. 

As I previously mentioned, NPU processors also make it possible to do more AI tasks locally on your computer. I know I'm personally looking forward to being able to use more neural effects and filters while editing my work in Photoshop. 

While AMD's Ryzen 7000 series of Zen 4 CPUs on the AM5 chipset represent the latest and greatest that Team Red has to offer DIY PC builders, you shouldn't feel rushed to upgrade if you've got an AM4 motherboard ready to go. That's because last-gen Ryzen 5000 series chips still offer great performance, and thanks to this lingering Cyber Monday discount, you can get one of the best ones — the Ryzen 9 5900X — for only $288.99 at Amazon. 

That's a whopping 49% off its usual $569.99 price, making this an absolutely stellar markdown. Don't wait to pull the trigger if you're interested, though, because Cyber Monday is over, and that means this deal could go away any moment.

Deals STILL AVAILABLE!

• Walmart: Cyber Monday+ deals on practically everything
• Dell: Top deals on laptops, gaming PCs, accessories, and more
• Alienware: Up to $800 off gaming laptops and desktops
• Best Buy: Big savings on video games, accessories, and more
• HP: Up to 84% of select HP Windows PCs and accessories
• Lenovo: Up to 50% of gaming towers, laptops, and accessories
• Newegg: Save on PC gaming accessories, components, and more
• Razer: Up to 43% off laptops and accessories with free gifts

• 🚨Our HOTTEST and MOST CLICKED deals:
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  • Xbox Series S (512GB) + Game Pass Ultimate | $299.99 $249 at Walmart
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  • 1TB Xbox Expansion Card | $149.99 $139.99 at Best Buy
  • ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14| $1,599.99 $1,199.99 at Best Buy
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  • ASUS ROG Ally + Game Pass Ultimate| $599.99 $449.99 at Best Buy
  • Lenovo LOQ Tower + Game Pass Ultimate | $1,029.99 $649.99
  • MSI Katana 15 | $1,364.99 $1,287.00 at Amazon
  • Meta Quest 3 (512GB) | $649.99 at Newegg

Old but gold: The perfect upgrade for AM4 users

While AM5 motherboards and DDR5 RAM are a lot less expensive than they used to be, not everyone is ready or able to move away from a chipset they've been using for the last five generations of AMD Ryzen CPUs. For folks still using AM4 — either by choice or out of necessity — picking up a Ryzen 9 5900X for $289 would be an amazing upgrade. And even if you're using a particularly old board like something from the 300-series, all you'd need to get it up and running is a quick BIOS update.

Released in 2020, the Ryzen 9 5900X is one of the top CPUs from the Zen 3 generation; it was surpassed only by the mighty Ryzen 9 5950X. With 12 cores, 24 threads, a 3.7GHz base clock, a 4.8GHz boost clock, and 64MB of L3 cache, it's an excellent CPU for anyone in need of strong performance for both gaming and productivity workloads.

The processor is PCIe 4.0 and works with DDR4 RAM (you'd need AM5 to use newer DDR5 modules). Though the base memory clock speed it supports is 3200MHz, you can push that higher with some overclocking.

Performance-wise, the Ryzen 9 5900X is roughly on par with Intel's 13th Gen Core i5-13600K, and with this Cyber Monday deal, it also costs just about as much as one, too. That's some incredible value you should seriously consider taking advantage of if you're still on AM4, especially if you've currently got an aging chip from older generations like the Ryzen 3000 series.

Something to keep in mind is that while this is the best AM4 CPU deal available right now overall, folks strictly interested in gaming performance should consider the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. It surpasses the 5900X in that regard thanks to its 3D V-Cache, though falls behind on productivity due to the loss of four cores and eight threads. It's on sale for only about $30 more — $322.49 at Newegg (was $449), to be specific — so ultimately, the processor you choose should be dependent on what you want out of your rig.

Regardless of which one you get, though, you had best act fast. Now that Cyber Monday has ended, many deals are now off the table, with more going offline hour-by-hour. We suspect that both of these ones won't last long, so be quick about pulling the trigger on one.

What you need to know

• A research project from China demonstrates a passive cooling method involving salt water to enhance an unknown CPU performance by up to 32.65%.
• Evaporating and absorbing moisture from its surroundings, the cooler's membrane technique offers a cost-effective and long-lasting alternative.
• While not practical for consumer hardware, it aims to improve solar power technology and large-scale infrastructure like data centers.

The future of computing looks more exciting than traditional air or liquid-cooled CPUs as a 'membrane-encapsulated, moisture-desorptive passive cooling for high-performance, ultra-low-cost, and long-duration electronics thermal management' was unveiled in a complex research paper. Following analysis by Tom's Hardware, it promises to improve CPU performance by up to 32.65% using a revolutionary cooling method involving salt water.

Developed in China, the project is a joint effort between researchers as a new passive cooling method similar to the solid-state Frore Airjet. However, this unusual approach uses a saltwater solution rather than vibration-activated airflow that simultaneously allows moisture absorption from the air around it and evaporation from a membrane housed inside the unit.

Although salt water might imply an initial fear of corrosion, this cost-effective alternative claims to effectively cool a CPU 10 times longer than modern alternatives since the lithium bromide is safely encased while remaining porous, and an absence of moving parts should reduce wear significantly. During testing, its researchers found the HSMHD cooler could keep an unnamed CPU running comfortably below 64°C for over six and a half hours.

Currently, the most comparable competitor to this salt-loaded cooler is a metal-organic framework (MOF) with an equally baffling explanation of its inner workings. However, a chromium-based MOF is reportedly 1,000 times less cost-effective than this new 'sweaty' HSMHS solution, following further inspection of the paper by Tom's Hardware.

Researchers from City University Hong Kong and the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, performed their tests with a finite model but claimed it a cost-effective, self-regenerating solution.

Who is this saltwater CPU cooler made for?

This bizarre CPU thermal control solution won't feature in your next laptop or even the future of Xbox since the researchers behind this technology set their sights on solar power batteries and cooling entire buildings like data centers. That's not to say it's impossible to adapt this technology to an everyday desktop PC, but it's doubtful that a saltwater solution would soon replace one of the best CPU coolers for your next custom build.

Currently reserved as an intriguing research project, it's another drop in the ocean for the future of passive cooling technology. Anything that eliminates the need for oversized fan units or liquid pumps will naturally improve the potential performance of slimline hardware like portable gaming handhelds and even smartphones.

Reliance on an ideal environment is too specific for any possible consumer hardware to be powered by this moisture-absorbing offering, but the technology is fascinating nonetheless.

What you need to know

• Select games can see a dramatic increase in frames per second when utilizing Intel Application Optimization.
• Intel Application Optimization is a new tool that directs application resources in realtime to improve performance.
• Only 14th Gen Intel Core processors support Intel Application Optimization at this time.
• Metro: Exodus and Rainbow Six Siege are the only games that support the tool right now.
• One Reddit user saw a 208 FPS boost when playing Rainbow Six Siege.

Intel just launched its 14th Gen Core CPUs, and they promise high-end performance for gaming and creative work. Our Managing Editor Richard Devine saw one of the new chips deliver on that promise during his Intel Core i7-14700K review. Now, there's evidence that the new processors could deliver a dramatic boost in framerate when powering certain titles.

All of the new chips from Intel, the Core i9-14900K, Core i9 14900KF, Core i7-14700K, and Core i7-14700KF, support Intel Application Optimization. That tool, also known as Intel AO, directs application resources in real time to improve performance. Redditor LightMoisture tested Intel AO with both of the currently supported titles. The system used in that testing paired an Intel Core i9-14900K with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090.

In their testing, Metro Exodus bumped up by 66 FPS, increasing from 273 FPS to 339 FPS. Rainbow Six Siege saw a more dramatic increase, jumping from 659 FPS to 867 FPS when utilizing Intel AO. There's no need to run a game at over 800 FPS, or even 659 FPS, but the test demonstrates the power of Intel Application Optimization.

Unfortunately, we won't see many other tests of Intel AO, since the technology is rather limited at the moment. Only two games support it, and you need one of the latest Intel CPUs to use it.

What is Intel Application Optimization?

Intel Application Optimization is a tool that directs application resources to improve performance. It's an optional piece of software that works alongside Thread Director.

There's a good chance that you haven't heard of Intel AO before today. The tool only works with the new 14th Gen Intel Core CPUs, meaning only four processors support it. Additionally, Metro: Exodus and Rainbow Six Siege are the only games that work with Intel Application Optimization at this time.

Even using Intel AO takes a bit of extra work. First, your system needs to run Windows 11 and have Intel Dynamic Tuning Technology installed and enabled. Then you need to enable the BIOS Camarillo PCI device option. After that, you can install Intel AO through the Microsoft Store.

Intel has a support document with a full breakdown of how to use Intel Application Optimization.

A promising future for 14th Gen Intel CPUs

Raw hardware improvements are important when it comes to CPUs, but software and tools are becoming increasingly important. In other words, it's not just about thread and core count anymore when it comes to processors. Intel Application Optimization could help 14th Gen Intel CPUs stand out from competing AMD chips.

For that to happen, the tool will need to gain support from the best PC games. But if it does, Intel may have another way to compete with other chipmakers that are closing in. NVIDIA and AMD are reportedly working on ARM CPUs, so Intel will likely feel pressure from all sides over the next few years.

What you need to know

• G.SKILL just announceds its new Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 memory kits.
• The G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 RAM reaches speeds of 8400 MT/s.
• The high speeds and design of the Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 are designed to pair with Intel's 14th Gen CPUs, which just launched.
• The G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 will launch by the end of October, though pricing information has not been shared at this time.

Intel just launched its 14th Gen desktop CPUs, and G.SKILL has a launch of its own on the way to match. The new G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 has speeds of up to 8400 MT/s and will be available in a 48GB (2x24GB) configuration. G.SKILL often follows new CPU announcements and product announcements with its own memory refreshes, such as when the Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 was refreshed for AMD's AM5 platform.

The G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 memory kit has been validated on the Intel Core i9-14900K desktop processor and the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore motherboard. The memory kit has memory bandwidth speeds of 128.88GB/s read, 127.03GB/s write, and 123.83GB/s copy in the AIDA64 memory bandwidth benchmark.

G.SKILL also showed off a DDR5-8600 memory kit with even higher bandwidth scores of 130.66GB/s read, 130.24GB/s write, and 126.31GB/s copy.

The speeds of the new G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 memory kit are, quite frankly, overkill for many users. But they'll get the most out of a system with an Intel Core i7-14700K or an Intel Core i9-14900KF.

The G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 also looks nice, thanks to its matte white finish and RGB lighting. That lighting can sync with a variety of products and ecosystems, including Asus Aura, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light, and ASRock Polychrome Sync.

The new memory kits are overclockable, allowing you to hit higher speeds to match your system.

G.SKILL hasn't shared pricing for the new Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 at this time, but it did specify that the memory kits would be available by the end of October 2023.

Updated October 20, 2023: Intel has since updated its messaging on Thunderbolt 5 support, indicating that it's confirmed so far only for 14th Gen laptop CPUs which will be based on Meteor Lake's architecture, not the Raptor Lake the desktop versions use. Information on Thunderbolt 5 support on desktop will come at a later date so all references to Thunderbolt 5 have been removed from this review.

Intel's 14th Gen desktop processors are now official, and just as with last year's releases, the company is starting out with its three biggest hitters. Joining the Intel Core i9-14900K and the Intel Core i5-14600K is the middle-of-the-pack Intel Core i7-14700K. 

In past years, I've been guilty of overlooking the Core i7, and I'm probably not alone. With the 13th Gen, the Core i5 was such a serious performer for gaming at a great price, while the Core i9 was just an absolute beast. 

The 14th Gen does not represent a big step forward for Intel. That will come with Meteor Lake, along with the new naming scheme. The 14th Gen is very much a refresh, which also means it isn't going to be worth it for everyone.

Disclaimer: This review was conducted using a pre-release sample of the Intel Core i7-14700K provided by Intel. The company did not see or influence the contents of this review.

Intel Core i7-14700K: The two minute review

Intel's 14th Gen launch feels a little muted, less exciting than previous years. This is very much a refresh of what's come before, but also a refresh that doesn't necessarily push any boundaries. The jump from 11th Gen to 12th Gen was big; then the 13th Gen moved the bar further still. As such, I'm left with mixed feelings over the Intel Core i7-14700K. It very much depends on which angle you approach it from. 

In isolation, this is a very good CPU. The core count has been increased to 20, and the thread count up to 28. More cores, faster cores, same TDP as its predecessor. The addition of four more E-cores brings the Core i7-14700K ever closer to the Core i9 since this year's refresh on the range-topper maintains the same 24c/32t count as last year's release. The Core i7 has the same number of P-cores, and overall, the performance on offer combined with the savings you make buying one makes it an easy recommendation. For gaming or for content creation, this CPU has the chops to crush whatever you're going to throw at it. 

You'll also be ready for the future. 14th Gen adds support for Wi-Fi 7 which you can't get from an earlier Intel CPU. These, of course, rely on other hardware, such as compatible motherboards, and with this being likely the last time Intel will use this socket, the long-term value of these features is perhaps not as amazing as it might sound. 

Whether or not the Intel Core i7-14700K is a CPU you should buy depends on where you're coming from. If you're currently using a 13th Gen CPU, then the gains are minimal, and this probably isn't the upgrade you're looking for. From 12th Gen or earlier, or if you're thinking of switching from a pre-AMD Ryzen 7000 series, then you'll be in great hands. 14th Gen still supports DDR4 RAM, too, and Z690 motherboards, so you can get in on the action without having to buy a PC full of new components.

Intel Core i7-14700K: Pricing and availability

The Intel Core i7-14700K is available to order from October 17, 2023, at a range of retailers. Stores such as Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy in the US will all stock the 14th Gen CPUs. 

The Core i7-14700K retail price is $409 in the US, compared to $589 for the Core i9-14900K and $319 for the Core i5-14600K. The KF variant, without an integrated GPU, is $25 less at $384.

Intel Core i7-14700K: Specs and what's new

Simply put, there's not a lot of new with the Core i7-14700K compared to its predecessor. It is a refresh and as such, very close to the 13th Gen. As it happens, though, the 14th Gen Core i7 is the only one of the new CPUs to get an increased core count. The Core i5 and Core i9 both retain the same as last year's, but the Core i7 gains four more E-cores to take it up to a total of 20, with 28 threads. This distances it further from the Core i5 while bringing it closer to the Core i9, all without the price going up. 

The top line highlights are more cores, higher boost clocks, and more cache while maintaining the same 253W max TDP as 13th Gen. Boost on the P-cores now goes up to 5.6 GHz and 4.3 GHz on the E-cores, while L3 cache has been bumped to 33MB. The TJMax on the 14th Gen Core i7 also matches that of its predecessor, topping out at 100C. 

Here's a spec breakdown of the Core i7-14700K. 

What's also new with 14th Gen is support for the new Wi-Fi 7 standard. Naturally, you'll also need compatible wireless hardware and a motherboard that supports these features, but Intel is right at the forefront and setting the standard for the future. Whether or not you should invest in either of these with 14th Gen is debatable, though, since it's pretty likely future Intel CPUs will be required to have a new motherboard anyway. 

Also new for the 14th Gen is Intel's Application Optimization (APO), designed to detect certain applications and games and direct resources in real-time. It works alongside Thread Director to optimize thread scheduling, but only in applications that have had a profile built in Intel's Dynamic Tuning Technology framework. For games, the first two out of the gate to support it are Metro: Exodus and Rainbow Six Siege. 

In terms of building a PC with the Intel Core i7-14700K, you're able to use existing Z690 and Z790 motherboards, along with any refreshed ones released alongside the new CPUs. It's likely you'll need a BIOS update first, as I did on my ASUS Prime Z690 motherboard. Hit up your motherboard manufacturer's support site for more information on if you'll need one and how to apply it. 

Intel Core i7-14700K: Performance

The performance of the new 14th Gen Intel Core i7 is good. Very good. OK, you want more than that. 

This is where considering this CPU in isolation versus compared to its predecessor may change your outlook. It isn't the only new 14th Gen CPU this applies to; the same is true across the board. The gains here are much larger if you're coming from 12th Gen or older. 

To the performance benchmarks, then. For this, I used a PC setup with the following: 

• ASUS Prime Z690-P motherboard
• 32GB Corsair Dominator Platinum 6600 DDR5 RAM
• Phanteks Glacier One 240mm AIO
• ASRock Intel Arc A770 8GB graphics card

Mostly, I've been interested in seeing how the CPU performs outside of games, though I will touch on a little gaming performance as well. The graphs below show the Intel Core i7-14700K run through our suite of synthetic benchmarks. None of these are the result of any overclocking, though I did have to make a couple of settings changes in my motherboard's BIOS.

The results are fairly boring, in the sense that they're exactly what you'd expect to see. Across the board, the Core i7-14700K is better than its predecessor while not quite hitting the levels of the 24-core Core i9. It's also mostly outperforming the competition, besting the Ryzen 9 7900X in a number of tests.

When you really let this CPU rip, it will do just that. The trade-off is heat and the ability to blow right past its listed 253W TDP. Thermal throttling kicks in at 95C, and the listed TJMax of 100C is accurate. It's also important to remember that all of this only happens when you're absolutely pinning the CPU to use all of its stuff for a prolonged period. 

Tests like Cinebench, Blender, and Handbrake all make use of everything the CPU can offer, and with that comes the most heat and power draw. Nevertheless, I am still a little surprised by how far past 253W the Core i7-14700K can go. The highest I've seen was a spike to 334W in Handbrake, though again, very briefly. But under full load in that same encoding test, it seemed quite happy to sit between 285W and 305W while encoding. Similarly, while running Cinebench over the course of a 10-minute run, the TDP can spike to over 300W but more consistently sits between 285W and 295W. 

Both temperatures and power draw are, thankfully, lower while gaming. Ignoring deliberately CPU-bound tests like Ashes of the Singularity, temperatures in gaming rarely exceeded 75C in even the more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077. Only The Last of Us seemed to push the CPU harder and hotter, peaking at 90C, but still low enough to avoid thermal throttling kicking in. If you already use a Core i7-13700K for gaming, then your gains will be minimal. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, for example, The 14700K scored 16 FPS higher on CPU game average than the 13900K I ran the same test on last year. But overall, game performance improvements here and in other titles are negligible. 

There are gains to be found in creative workloads such as video encoding, though. But I think the real story is that for most, the Core i7-14700K is now the one to get for more intensive needs and not the Core i9-14900K. The latter still bests the 14700K, but for the added cost of owning one, it's harder to justify. Bumping the core count on the Core i7 without bumping the price is certainly a win. 

Intel Core i7-14700K: Competition

The obvious competitor is AMD, and the added performance of this year's Core i7 puts it on a comparative field with the Ryzen 9 7900X. It's no small feat, and it certainly bests the Ryzen 7 7700X. But Intel's chip will still run hotter and draw more power, as well as having generally higher asking prices. 

Ryzen 7000 CPUs have been around for a while, though, so pricing isn't a concrete metric to go on. AMD used to be the de-facto choice for creative and intensive workloads with high core counts, but Intel has overturned that once again. There's also the added bonus with Intel that 13th and 14th Gen both support DDR4 memory, something that isn't the case with the latest from AMD. For upgrading your system this is a handy cost-cutting exercise since it's one less part to buy. 

The main competition really comes from Intel itself. Since this is a mild update over the 13th Gen, if you can find a good price on a Core i7-13700K, then it's still a viable option. There's a little less cache, four less E-cores and threads, but performance in gaming isn't far away. For gamers, the 13th or 14th Gen Core i5 is also an excellent option. It has more than enough cores and performance to push the latest games, and unless you absolutely need scope for more intensive workloads, the value of either is unquestionable. 

Intel Core i7-14700K: Should you buy it?

You should buy if:

• You want a great value CPU for gaming and more intensive workloads
• You're looking for a solid upgrade on a 12th Gen or older CPU
• You want to re-use your existing DDR4 RAM in your build

You shouldn't buy if:

• You already have a 13th Gen CPU 
• Gaming is your only focus
• You plan on upgrading after 14th Gen as you'll likely need a new motherboard

Intel has been on a roll in recent years, ever since it launched the P-core and E-core design on the 12th Gen. The 12th to 13th Gen upgrade was definitely a bigger leap, though, and this year's is definitely mild. That said, the Core i7-14700K is the most upgraded of them all. It's the only one of the three launch CPUs that Intel added more cores to. 

As I've already said, in isolation, this is an excellent CPU. It's an absolute powerhouse for gaming and intensive work, albeit with a trade-off of high power draw and temperature when it's under such a load. It's an easy recommendation because it's good, even if it doesn't do anything I wasn't expecting it to. I've had no drama with it, no unexpected issues or crashes, it throttles when Intel says it will, and it reaches the maximum temperature it should and no more. 

Whether you should actually buy one depends on what you're currently using, though. This is a mild upgrade over 13th Gen, and unless you're using something older than this or you're coming from AMD, then it's not such an easy recommendation. There's nothing here that's an absolute must-have if you're using one of last year's chips, especially since beyond 14th Gen, it's likely you'll also need at least a new motherboard. 

And that's the story. The Intel Core i7-14700K is excellent. But it's not one you need to jump on if you already have last year's model. Or if you can find a great price on that 13700K, especially if you're a gamer. Whether it's good or not, the lines between the 14700K and what came before it are very close together.  

What you need to know

• Intel officially announced its 14th Gen processors, which will be available for purchase starting on October 17, 2023.
• The Core i9-14900K is the most noteworthy due to its 6GHz boost clock speed.
• Intel also incorporated a neat feature called AI-guided overclocking, which improves the overclocking experience for users.

Today, Intel announced its 14th Gen processors, which will be available for purchase starting October 17, 2023. Until now, there have been plenty of rumors and speculations regarding Intel's Raptor Lake refresh, pertaining to performance and more.

The company explained that the Core i9-14900K will be the most noteworthy, owing to its 6GHz boost, ahead of the long-anticipated launch. In fact, Intel is referring to the entry as the "fastest desktop processor at volume." Its predecessor, the Intel Core i9-13900K, is also quite impressive, but the 6GHz bump on the Core i9-14900K will be hard to beat.

Intel intends to stick to the same pricing model it used on its 13th Gen processors. Last week, the Core i9-14900K mistakenly went up on sale at Alternate (one of Europe's largest retail stores) with a €684.99 price tag. With the launch of the new generation tomorrow, we now know the pricing of the chips, courtesy of The Verge.

The 14th Gen processors will be available for purchase from retailers and system manufacturers. With the Core i9-14900K coming in at $589, the Core i7-1700K at $409, and finally, the Core i5-14600K at $319.

The Core i7-14700K will ship with four more E-cores compared to its predecessor, the 13700K. Which translates to 20 cores. It also promises 5.6GHz Turbo Boost Max 3.0 speeds. And just like last year's 13700K, the base clocks on the P-core will be set at 3.4GHz, and 2.5GHz on the E-core for the Core i9-14900K.

While it's still early, benchmarks showcase the 14900K as the superior option compared to AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D while playing Starfield in 1080p. It's 23% faster. Intel also indicated that the 14900K is 54% faster compared to AMD hardware when used to multi-task between After Effects and Premiere Pro. This might not be entirely fair because Intel supports UHD graphics, thus making the 14900K a perfect candidate for the Auto Reframe task in Premiere Pro.

The Core i5 is also getting a significant refresh, as it will sport six P-cores and eight E-cores. This translates to 20 cores bundled up with a base clock of 3.5GHz on the P-core. And finally, it will have a 5.3GHz boost.

Intel is also shipping the 14th Gen processors with a new neat feature dubbed AI-guided overclocking. It will essentially provide users with an improved overclocking experience thanks to the AI guidance. However, it will only be available in its Extreme Tuning Utility, XTU. As spotted by ExtremeTech, this feature will be available for 14900K processors exclusively, but it will gradually roll out to the other processors.

The new lineup will be compatible with 600 and 700-series motherboards. They'll also ship with support for DDR and DDR5 memory.

What are your expectations of the 14th Gen processors? Let us know in the comments.

Whether building a customized desktop PC or using a ready-made laptop, checking the CPU temperature is one of the best ways to check for issues that might cause slowdowns on Windows 11. Various CPU cooling and ventilation issues can throttle performance to prevent overheating, but you might not know it's happening unless you dig into the details.

Unfortunately, despite its importance, CPU temperature readings are not readily available when using default tools in Windows. Checking your graphics card temperature on Windows 11 is more straightforward, but processors aren't so lucky. There are several methods for checking your temps, and I'll explain each in order of simplicity (and they're all totally free.)

Check CPU temp with HWMonitor

Probably the most common method used by custom desktop PC builders, downloading a lightweight and free app to check your CPU temperatures is also the most straightforward route. I regularly recommend the free HWMonitor app from CPUID to anyone who wants to diagnose high temperatures quickly.

It offers more than a simple CPU readout and might look intimidating when opened for the first time. Not to worry, I'll explain precisely what to look for. First, let's get HWMonitor downloaded and install it.

1. Navigate to the HWMonitor page of CPUID's official website.
2. Click 'Setup • English' underneath the 'Versions' submenu.
3. Click 'Download now!' on the following page.
4. Open your downloads folder and run the 'hwmonitor_x.xx.exe' installer.
5. Install HWMonitor and decide if you want a desktop shortcut.
6. Run HWMonitor and expand its window to a comfortable size.

You'll be presented with a list of every component HWMonitor can detect, alongside a temperature readout from the internal nodes. Look for your processor by identifying its icon (a miniature CPU with golden pins) and the matching model/brand name. In my example, the Intel Core i9 submenu has a 'Temperatures'  subsection, showing the current value with minimum and maximum readings detected since the app opened.

Other temperature readings, including some from the motherboard and graphics card, can help you diagnose potential CPU-specific overheating issues. If your components are within a similar range for their Celsius readouts, you likely have a general venting problem. However, if only your CPU is reading a high temperature, your culprit is probably a faulty CPU cooler or damaged thermal paste. Anything below 85°C is generally acceptable under stress, depending on your system.

Check CPU temp with companion apps

Another method that leans towards desktop PCs for its usefulness, but does have some carry-over into gaming laptops is taking advantage of companion apps from various component manufacturers.

For example, ASUS ROG devices usually have Armoury Crate pre-installed, its first-party software suite designed to tweak performance with the side effect of showing live temperature readings.

Many companion apps are cross-compatible with other branded hardware, so you don't necessarily have to pair them perfectly. It's perfectly fine to install NZXT CAM and use it to check temperatures, even if you don't use its parts. I use an NZXT-branded PC case and the CAM software to control my RGB fans, tying their colors to the CPU/GPU temps (green is good, red is too hot.)

Branded companion apps

• ASUS: ROG Armoury Crate
• Cooler Master: MasterPlus+
• Corsair: iCUE
• MSI: Afterburner
• NZXT: CAM

Each branded companion app has its own documentation, so the steps for accessing CPU temperatures differ. However, the purpose is generally the same; despite some variants like MSI Afterburner having a GPU focus, it still offers CPU temps. Naturally, this isn't particularly well-suited to business-focused laptops from Dell and HP. However, the software should still work perfectly fine if you don't mind installing free software designed for gamers.

Check CPU temp in your BIOS

Every computer has a motherboard, connecting each component and allowing your CPU to communicate with everything needed for Windows 11 to boot. If you're using a gaming PC, whether homemade or pre-built, you can likely see your CPU temperature (and often a secondary motherboard node reading) within the BIOS before Windows starts.

Since your BIOS handles firmware, it's operating behind everything else. Checking temperatures here is the perfect way to tell if Windows 11 is causing unusually high readings or if the problem runs deeper. Most BIOS screens look similar, differing in visual luxuries depending on the brand and motherboard category, but all can be accessed in mostly the same way.

How to access your BIOS

1. Open the Start menu and left-click the Power icon.
2. Hold down Left Shift on your keyboard and click Restart.
3. Continue to hold Left Shift while your computer reboots.

There are multiple methods to enter UEFI BIOS on devices running Windows 11. Typically, pressing a particular Function (F1 - F12) 'ESC' or 'Delete' key will trigger the BIOS if you press it before Windows boots. Still, it's not uncommon to miss this short window due to slow-acting monitors failing to display the correct key in time. Stick to the above method and hold the Left Shift key as your computer restarts, and you're presented with the following choices.

4. Click the Troubleshoot option.
5. On the following screen, click Advanced options.
6. On the Advanced options screen, click UEFI Firmware Settings.
7. Click Restart for the last time.

Your device will reboot, but you don't have to hold the Left Shift key this time (or any other key, for that matter.) Once you're in the BIOS menu, your CPU temperature (sometimes listed with different names like CPU core) might be immediately visible on the homepage. Otherwise, you'll need to search for it.

If you can't see any temperatures, navigate the available menus with the arrow keys on your keyboard and enter the submenus with the return key (unless specified otherwise.) Search for tools with names like 'hardware monitor' or 'status' to find a Celsius readout of your processor, often alongside a motherboard temperature (or system temperature.)

If your BIOS shows a separate motherboard temperature reading from your CPU, this is another way to tell if something is wrong with your cooling solution. When both readings are a close match, or at least within a few degrees of each other, this usually means the temperature inside your PC case or laptop chassis is consistent. However, high CPU and low motherboard/system temperatures generally point towards CPU cooler issues.

Check your thermal paste and that you didn't accidentally leave a 'remove me' sticker on the cooling plate of a desktop CPU cooler (don't be embarrassed; it happens to the best of us.)

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: 

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

When you're building a new gaming PC it's really easy to get carried away. Trust me, I'm a prime example. But shopping for components like the best graphics card and best SSD soon starts to eat up your budget. So where can you save money? 

There's a good chance you could save a few bucks on your CPU cooler, depending on what your plans for your system are. 

Stock cooler designed to work at stock speeds

When building a PC it's very easy to get carried away and want the best of the best of everything. But before spending a penny, you should know exactly what it is you're going to do with the PC when it's built.

In the case of the CPU, if you're going to install it and leave it alone, in other words, do no overclocking to it at all, then the cooler that came in the box with it will be just fine.

After all, it's provided by the company that made the CPU and is the one included in any warranty provided. It might look a bit weak, but that thing in the box will make sure your PC doesn't get too hot — assuming you're not keeping it inside an incredibly hot ambient environment.

Always be well ventilated

That's not to say you can just assemble your PC and expect everything to be fine. Without proper ventilation, the temperature inside your PC will climb, making it harder for any air cooler to do its job. An important part of cooling your PC is airflow. If you can't draw cool air in and exhaust excess heat, your PC isn't going to last very long.

You'll have extra fans inside your PC case to do the technical part of that, but there are things you can do from the outside to keep your PC as frosty as possible.

If you're in a hot country, for example, try and lower the ambient temperature of the room. Don't cover up any of the intakes or exhausts on your PC case and clean it often. Dust building up will affect the efficiency of your fans, so get rid of it whenever you get the chance.

If overclocking, go liquid

As good as air cooling is, if you are thinking of dabbling in a spot of overclocking you can't beat liquid. Be it a full custom water-cooling setup or a more modest all-in-one liquid cooler, it's the way to go if you're dreaming of pushing your CPU beyond its stock speeds.

If you're new to the process, a good all-in-one cooler like the Arctic Liquid Freezer II is a good place to start as a replacement for your stock air cooler. It's affordable, performs well, and comes in a range of radiator sizes for different sized PC builds. 

What you need to know

• The performance projections for Intel's upcoming 15th Gen Arrow Lake processors recently leaked. 
• Following that leak, information on the unreleased LGA1851 socket for Arrow Lake has also leaked.
• Arrow Lake will seemingly require a new motherboard to interface with. 
• This upcoming CPU likely won't release until sometime in 2024 and is subject to change.

Recently, internal performance projection charts for Intel's upcoming 15th Gen Arrow Lake processors leaked giving us a clue that AMD might need to start worrying about Arrow Lake's performance increases. However, now additional news has been leaked by German news outlet Igor's Lab, providing details specifically about the upcoming Arrow Lake processor's socket — the LGA1851. For those wondering, a socket is basically what connects a CPU to the motherboard allowing the processor to be swapped out in a computer rather than being a permanent motherboard fixture.

As indicated by the name, the LGA1851 socket features 1,851 pins. That is 151 more pins than the current LGA1700 socket found in Raptor Lake chipsets which houses, you guessed it, 1,700 pins. The more pins a processor has, the more data or power can be transferred between it and the motherboard. In other words, more pins equals a more powerful CPU. Making this change brings Intel Arrow Lake a lot closer to the AMD AM5, which once more gives team red reason to take note of Intel's unreleased processor.

As explained by Igor's Lab, this pin increase works to improve SSD connectivity since the current LGA1700 is somewhat stunted only offering a PCIe 4.0 ×4 interface which makes it so "PCIe 5.0 SSDs have to use eight lanes that are actually intended for graphics cards." The new LGA1851 will improve things by providing a dedicated PCIe 5.0 ×4 interface for the CPU. In short, this will provide full native support for the fastest SSDs while providing a x16 slot for the GPU. 

Despite these changes, diagrams show that the LGA1851 and LGA1700 sockets have the same 45 x 37.55mm dimensions and look the same outwardly, even down to the socket retention system. This means the upcoming and current processors are installed the same way.

However, making these upgrades makes it so that the maximum dynamic pressure for the new socket goes up by 89% from its predecessor (from 489.5N to 923N). As Igor Labs goes on to point out, this change found in the LGA1851 will likely require new cooler mounting systems as the current ones being used don't offer enough contact pressure to function optimally.

It's worth noting that it was originally believed that the LGA1851 socket was intended for both Intel's Meteor Lake and Arrow Lake processors, however, it looks like the former might no longer be intended for desktop use. At any rate, it seems likely that upgrading to Arrow Lake when the new CPUs launch will require users to upgrade their motherboards to ones with DDR5 memory, which could be costly to current DDR4 owners.

Keep in mind that the Arrow Lake CPU and the LGA1851 socket that houses it aren't planned to release until sometime in 2024. As such, things are subject to change between the time of this leak and the released product.