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With its release on November 7th, 2024, it has been over a month since the Ryzen 7 9800X3D started suffering from scalping problems. It has gotten to the point where the CPU is being sold for north of $800 at the time of writing, and during the first couple of weeks after its launch, the processor was actually selling for more than $1000.
Well, now AMD has come forward with a statement about fixing this issue, but to be honest, it is not that convincing.
AMD Is “Working Diligently”
In a statement to Tom’s Hardware, AMD is shipping out more 9800X3Ds every week and hopes to iron out the availability problems by the end of the quarter, saying:
We are working diligently to get as much supply to market as soon as possible, with more processors being shipped every week. We expect availability to get better as shipments ramp throughout the quarter
Come on, AMD, you’re just stating the obvious here. While we appreciate the 9800X3D, this announcement doesnāt offer anything new. Sure, if someone can’t wait to get their hands on the 9800X3D, they might try checking local retailers like Micro Center, Best Buy, or Walmart. With a bit of luck, they might even find it at a better priceābut thatās about all there is to say.
Predicting that availability will improve by the end of the quarter isnāt exactly surprising. Itās only a matter of time before supply chain issues are resolved and the processor becomes widely available. With CES 2025 just a month away, bringing expected announcements for the 9950X3D and the RTX 50-series GPUs, itās clear the current 9800X3D craze will eventually fade.
The 9800X3D’s Success Is Exactly What AMD Needed
The Ryzen 9000 series CPUs had a lackluster launch, as most of us already know. These processors didnāt deliver a noticeable improvement over the previous generation, largely because their focus on efficiency held them back. Thatās also why prices began dropping so soon after they hit the market. In our reviews of the whole lineupāRyzen 9950X, 9900X, 9700X, and 9600Xāwe pointed out the same issue: thereās virtually no improvement in gaming performance
As such, it comes as no surprise that AMD really wanted a massive launch before entering 2025, and that’s where its crown jewel enters, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
Given the exceptional performance and fame of the 7800X3D, it was expected that the 9800X3D would be a chart-topper, and all of our test results showed that the processor is undoubtedly the best for gaming right now. However, AMD also made great improvements in the productivity department, which was one key area where the 7800X3D lacked the most. Along with that, the 9800X3D is equipped with an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is now finally possible in an X3D chip.
All of these highlights brought the 9800X3D to its fame, which subsequently caused scalping issues with the processor, which now sells twice the price at third-party retailers.
Take a look at this listing. I took this screenshot at the time of writing, and Walmart is the only retailer that has the 9800X3D listed (although with only 1 unit left). As for Amazon and Newegg, the CPU is still out of stock.
Just A Bit More Wait
If youāre looking for a gaming processor that delivers top-tier performance, it might be worth waiting a few more weeks. The 9800X3Dās scalping issues have already eased, with prices dropping from over $1,000 to a more reasonable range of $600 to $800. As the holiday season approaches and AMD ramps up shipments, availability is expected to improve at major retailers like Amazon, Newegg, and others.
However, if you can’t wait and want to build a setup right now, I would highly recommend that you check out the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. It is the second-most capable CPU on the market in terms of gaming, and it is readily available as well. Plus, if you pair it with the right GPU, it will be very hard to differentiate it from the 9800X3D at high resolutions.
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[Reviews Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
Certified in Google IT Support Specialization
Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com
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