Reports of AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D failures have been surfacing online, with over 100 documented cases of dead processors, primarily on ASRock motherboards. The issue has been meticulously compiled by a Reddit user, highlighting concerns about compatibility and potential manufacturing defects affecting AMD’s latest 3D V-Cache processor.
According to the compiled data, the majority of failures occurred within minutes or hours of use, with users reporting sudden shutdowns, instability, and CPUs that no longer function. The issue appears to be more prevalent on ASRock motherboards, though cases have also been reported on boards from other manufacturers. Some users suspect that aggressive voltage settings in BIOS, potentially linked to memory overclocking or EXPO profiles, might be contributing to the problem.
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, much like its predecessor, features AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, which enhances gaming performance by stacking additional cache on the CPU die. However, this design also introduces additional thermal and voltage constraints. Unlike standard Ryzen CPUs, the 3D V-Cache models have lower voltage tolerances, making them more sensitive to improper power settings. Users have speculated that BIOS configurations or motherboard firmware could be allowing unsafe voltage levels, leading to premature CPU failures.
ASRock has yet to officially respond to these reports, but users have noted that the company has recently released BIOS updates addressing stability issues. Some suspect that these updates may include adjustments to voltage regulation to mitigate further failures. Other motherboard manufacturers, including ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte, have also released updates to optimize compatibility with the new Ryzen chips.
This situation is reminiscent of past issues seen with Intel’s 13th and 14th-generation Core i7 and i9 processors, which suffered from instability and overheating when paired with high-end motherboards that pushed aggressive power limits. Intel had to work with motherboard manufacturers to release BIOS updates that refined power delivery and voltage settings to prevent long-term damage.
With AMD now facing similar concerns, affected users are calling for greater transparency and a possible recall if the failures continue to rise. Until an official statement is made, users are advised to ensure their BIOS is up to date and to avoid excessive voltage settings when configuring their Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs
Kunal Khullar is a computing writer at Digital Trends who contributes to various topics, including CPUs, GPUs, monitors, and…
AMD brings back 3D V-Cache chips for gaming laptops
AMD just announced over a dozen new laptop CPUs, which will appear in over 150 new laptops being announced at CES 2025 and later this year, including a new 3D V-Cache chip for gaming laptops and some really impressive graphics in its new Ryzen AI Max+ halo chips.
Let’s start with Fire Range. These chips are for high-end gaming laptops, a successor to Dragon Range line, catering to enthusiast gamers and, so far, only enthusiasts are going to be happy, as those laptops likely be quite expensive. On the other hand, the CPUs sound mighty powerful. The lineup includes, first and foremost, the next big 3D V-Cache chip, dubbed the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D.
4 CPUs you should buy instead of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D
I’m not going to even pretend the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a bad CPU. It’s one of the best processors you can buy, and undoubtedly the best processor you can buy for gaming. There are just a couple of problems. It’s pretty expensive at nearly $500 for an eight-core CPU. Also, at the time of writing, it’s sold out everywhere — and signs don’t point to it being back in stock any time soon.
You don’t need to wait. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, for as impressive as it is, isn’t the right processor for everyone. In fact, I’m using an entirely different processor in my personal high-end gaming PC, and for a lot of gamers, the extra price you pay for the AMD’s 3D V-Cache could go to waste. Here are four CPUs that you can not only pick up now, but they also provide solid competition for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, be it on price, performance, or both.
Ryzen 7 7800X3D
This is the one gaming CPU I recommend over the Ryzen 7 9800X3D
AMD’s new Ryzen 7 9800X3D is already one of the best processors you can buy. It delivers productivity and gaming gains across the board, though not in equal strides. Despite the improvements AMD made, the last-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still potent competition, particularly when it comes to gaming.
These are two of the go-to gaming CPUs right now, and although the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is newer and faster, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still the right CPU for most people. That becomes clear when you look at the main focus of these CPUs — gaming performance — and how prices are starting to settle.
Specs and pricing
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