AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X desktop CPU offered better value at launch than Intel — and now the 12-core beast is even cheaper

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X in AM5 motherboard socket
Full view of an AMD Ryzen 9 9900X fitted into a AM5 motherboard socket (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

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.

AMD  Ryzen 9 9900X 12-Core, 24-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Top class CPU
Save 22% ($109.01)
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X 12-Core, 24-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor: was $499 now $389.99 at Amazon


"For gamers with a passion for livestreaming, it offers almost max specs for a reasonable price and power draw." — Ben Wilson, Senior Editor

Windows Central review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Why should you buy the 9900X?

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X alongside it's beefier cousin, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

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.

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X benchmark result via Geekbench 6 shows it's on par with Intel Core i7-14700K (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

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

Does the 9900X have integrated graphics?

Yes, it includes an integrated Radeon graphics chiplet.

What is TDP and why is it important for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X?

TDP shows how much maximum a CPU can build with active and indicates how much cooling and energy it needs.

With 120W, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X shows that while it requires a capable cooler to function without overheating, it can deliver extremely high performance while drawing a reduced amount of power to be energy efficient.

What motherboard socket does it require?

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is compatible with the AM5 socket.

Does it support PCIe 5.0? 

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X does support PCle 5.0 so it can provide high bandwidths for future generations GPUs and MVMe SSDs when upgrading your PC.


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Alexander Cope
Contributor — Gaming

Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 30-plus years, primarily covering PC and Xbox games here on Windows Central. Gaming since the 8-bit era, Alexander's expertise revolves around gaming guides and news, with a particular focus on Japanese titles from the likes of Elden Ring to Final Fantasy. Alexander is always on deck to help our readers conquer the industry's most difficult games — when he can pry himself away from Monster Hunter that is!

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