is the 9800X3D still the gaming pick with the 9850X3D and intel's refresh out?

Question

still on my 9700X and it's fine but i've got the x3d itch bad. the 9850X3D is sitting at $499 and the 9800X3D street is like $419-433 depending where i look, and now there's all these intel refresh reviews muddying it up too. tbh i keep opening carts and closing them. for someone who basically only games, what would you actually pull the trigger on

tangled_cables · Accepted Answer

i've got the 9800X3D (paid more for mine last year) and at $419-433 it's the easy call. the 9850X3D is the same 8 core part, that extra $70-80 just buys the 5.2 to 5.6GHz boost bump and you won't feel it in games. the refresh is a fine mid-range chip but no reviewer i've seen puts it over an X3D for pure gaming.

buildlog2021 · Answer

Yeah, what tangled_cables said. Only thing I'd add is the 9800X3D launched at $479 and drifted down to that $419-433 street, so the value's only gotten better. Not much else to pile on.

clacky_boards · Answer

honestly my 9700X still does everything i throw at it at my settings lol. the itch is the real enemy here, not the chip