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
How do I install it?
To install the AMD Ryzen 7 78000X3D, you will need to place it into a computer's AM5 motherboard socket by aligning its triangle markers and securing it with tension levers.
After that, make sure your motherboard's BIOS is up to date, EXPO for RAM, and use a high-performance cooler to prevent the CPU from overheating.
What is it's max safe operating temperature?
The AMD Ryzen 7 78000X3D is designed to run around 80°C to 89°C under-light productivity loads or heavy gaming loads. Push past that temperature and the AMD Ryzen 7 78000X3D will start to throttle under the extreme heat.
Will it need Windows 11?
It's recommended that a computer with the AMD Ryzen 7 78000X3D installed has Windows 11, as this operating system can help the CPU prevent core parking (so it doesn't mismanage the cores and cause performance issues) and manage scheduling for the 3D V-Cache.
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