The new best gaming processor has now launched, meaning those who were looking for the best gaming performance out of their rig can grab it and experience the power of Zen 5 X3D processors.
However, the question remains of which GPU to pair with it for the optimal pairing. We’ve selected a handful of cards based on their price, features, and the performance they showcased during our in-house testing. This should help you gauge the real world of these cards and helps us only recommend the best; so, without further ado, let’s get right to it, shall we?
Products at a glance
- Best GPU for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC
- GPU: AD102
- CUDA cores: 16,384
- VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X
- Memory bus: 384-bit
- Bandwidth: 1,008 GB/sec
- Base clock: 2235 MHz
- Best AMD GPU for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XT
- GPU: Navi 31
- Stream Processors: 5,376
- VRAM: 20GB GDDR6
- Memory bus: 320-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,387 MHz
- Game Clock speed: 2.2025 MHz
- Best runner-up GPU for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Gigabyte RTX 4080 Super Windforce V2
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 10,240
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 736.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2295 MHz
How we picked
We researched the market and found various options from Nvidia and AMD. We filtered those options based on their price, compatibility, performance, and other features, such as DLSS and FSR.
In addition, we also conduct rigorous in-house testing of the cards. This gives us insight into how they’ll perform across various scenarios, whether in gaming or professional tasks. We’re always updating our list with the latest information, so if there are better pairings than these, we’ll be sure to update them, so check back with us. If you’re interested in learning about our testing process, head over to the PC Guide Testing lab for more details.
Our top picks
- GPU: AD102
- CUDA cores: 16,384
- VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X
- Memory bus: 384-bit
- Bandwidth: 1,008 GB/sec
- Base clock: 2235 MHz
- Leading 4K gaming performance
- Tons of superfast VRAM
- Overhead for the future
- It comes with a premium price tag
- Power hungry
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a powerful GPU that can handle being paired with any GPU. So, for the best 4K gaming experience, we recommend pairing it with the RTX 4090. We’ve tested and reviewed this GPU in-house, and unsurprisingly, it blew through the synthetic and gaming tests at 4K without breaking a sweat.
This graphics card has 16,384 CUDA cores, which are responsible for all the heavy processing done in parallel. We reviewed the ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC, which means it had faster clock speeds than a normal variant. It has a boost clock speed of 2610 MHz, which can be increased to 2640 MHz by enabling the OC mode.
It also features 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM with a 384-bit memory interface width, which ties everything up nicely. The data has plenty of lanes to travel to and from the GPU without creating a bottleneck. So, you can crank up your in-game settings to 4K and enable Ray Tracing without worrying about this GPU running out of memory.
The RTX 4090 doesn’t come cheap by any stretch, but there’s no denying its capabilities for true 4K gaming and creativity that nothing else on the market can match.
PC Guide
However, since it is a powerful GPU, it isn’t surprising that it requires 450W of power, according to Nvidia. However, ASUS recommends a 1000W PSU for the variant we tested. So, regardless of whether you plan on overclocking this GPU, we recommend using the best PSU for RTX 4090 to ensure low power issues don’t hold it back.
Also, this GPU will generate a lot of heat, so ensure you have the best PC case fans for good airflow and heat dissipation. As for its gaming performance, we paired it with the Ryzen 9 7950X and ran a couple of AAA titles at 4K.
In Cyberpunk 2077, it managed 43 FPS at 4K with ultra settings and Ray Tracing enabled. However, when we enabled DLSS 3, the FPS went up to 133, which is nothing short of incredible. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 4K, RT enabled, this card churned out 116 FPS natively.
Overall, the 9800X3D and the RTX 4090 make an excellent pairing. While it isn’t the most pocket-friendly option, it should ensure that your system can handle anything you throw at it for years to come.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this GPU has excellent performance, build quality, and cool operation. One reviewer said: “The GeForce RTX® 4090 OC Edition boasts an incredible level of performance that pushes the boundaries of gaming realism. With its powerful GPU architecture and numerous CUDA cores, you can expect smooth gameplay, high frame rates, and unrivaled graphical fidelity even in the most demanding titles.”
- Bandwidth: 800 GB/sec
- TDP: 300 W
- Strong pricing
- Excellent gaming performance
- Tons of VRAM
- Slower GDDR6 memory
- Power users will want the XTX
For those looking for 4K performance with the 9800X3D but don’t want to spend a lot on an RTX 4090, we recommend the RX 7900 XT. This card provides better value than its competition, delivers 4K performance, and its lighter on the pocket.
During our RX 7900 XT review, this card managed 62 FPS at 4K in Cyberpunk 2077 natively, while the RTX 4090 managed 74 FPS, a difference of 12 FPS. To put that into perspective, the 7900 XT costs well under $1,000, and for 12 extra FPS, you’d be paying over $2,000, so the 7900 XT has better value unless you want good Ray Tracing results.
This GPU has 5,376 stream processors, a game clock of 2075 MHz, a boost clock of 2450 MHz, and an 800 GB/sec bandwidth. What this means is that you can easily run any modern AAA title or professional software with this GPU without experiencing performance degradation, lag, or stuttering.
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT’s new price point and powerful performance put it firmly in competition with some of Nvidia’s best mid-range GPUs, and its large memory pool ensures it will be futureproofed for many years to come.
PC Guide
On top of that, it has 20GB of GGDR6 VRAM with a 320-bit memory bus, meaning smooth processing and in-game results. AMD went with GDDR6 memory instead of GDDR6X, which is a bit slower but more energy efficient. According to AMD, this GPU has a 315W typical board power and is recommended for a 750W PSU. So, if you’re interested in exploring more options, we recommend you check out our best PSU for RX 7900 XT guide for the top picks.
Regarding gaming performance, we ran a handful of titles without leveraging any upscaling technology like FSR to gauge its native performance. In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, it managed 90 and 145 FPS at 4K and 1440p, while in a much more optimized title, Doom Eternal, it delivered 195 and 349 FPS at the same resolution.
The RX 7900 XT is more than capable of pushing 4K, and these figures can be boosted by leveraging FSR. Combined with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, this should make for a powerful gaming system that can handle even the most demanding titles.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this card has great performance and build quality, runs quiet, and has a good thermal design. One reviewer said, “I cannot recommend it enough; this IS the card you want if you’re looking for high-end performance at a reasonable price. Happy gaming.”
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 10,240
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 736.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2295 MHz
- A true beast for 4K gaming
- Slightly improved performance
- Cheaper than the RTX 4080
- Availability may be problematic
- $999 still isn’t cheap
For those looking for good Ray Tracing performance and an excellent gaming experience paired with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, we recommend the RTX 4080 Super. This card costs the same as the RX 7900 XT but has the upper hand in Ray Tracing performance.
In our RTX 4080 Super review, we used the Gigabyte RTX 4080 Super Windforce V2 variant, which managed excellent 4K and 1440p performance without enabling DLSS. This card measures 330 x 136 x 50mm(LxWxH), meaning it is a big card. It would be best to see if your casing can accommodate it without cramping or blocking the airflow. We recommend using the best case for RTX 4080 Super to ensure adequate airflow to keep it running cool.
According to Nvidia, this card has a total graphics power of 320W and a recommended PSU of 750W. So, to ensure the installation and operation go smoothly, we recommend using the best PSU for RTX 4080 Super. This PSU should also allow you to overclock the GPU due to the good overhead it would provide.
The RTX 4080 Super confidently replaces any reason to ever go out and buy the base RTX 4080. With a significantly lower price of entry and slightly improved performance, this is the 4K gaming graphics card to get, and creatives should get a lot out of it, too.
PC Guide
Regarding its gaming performance, we ran Cyberpunk 2077, which managed 125 and 51 FPS at 1440p and 4K, respectively. We also ran Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which managed 95 FPS at 4K and 139 and 119 FPS at 1440p, respectively. So, this card can run games at 4K, and if you enable DLSS 3, these figures can be significantly improved.
Overall, if you want a GPU from Team Green but don’t want to settle for the 4070 family or splurge on an RTX 4090, the RTX 4080 Super is an excellent option, especially if you plan on pairing it with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this card doesn’t have coil whine and has great performance. One reviewer said: “The Gigabyte 4080 super doesn’t disappoint! I have this in a Cooler Master NR200, and the cooling performance has been great. Fans have a good balanced profile and are not loud. Additionally I haven’t noticed any coil whine. The performance of this card meets expectations.”
How to pick the best GPU for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which we’ve reviewed, is the best gaming processor, outperforming even the Core Ultra 9 285K. According to some pre-launch performance leaks, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is set to outperform the 7800X3D by 20%.
It is definitely a powerful processor capable of handling any modern AAA game you throw its way. Therefore, it would only make sense to pair it with a powerful GPU that would complement its performance. However, many variables need to be considered before purchasing a GPU, and we’ve listed a couple of factors that should help you make an informed decision.
Budget
Your budget is the first and foremost factor that you need to consider before anything else. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is set to take the crown for the best gaming processor, meaning you can easily pair it with powerful flagship GPUs from Nvidia and AMD.
However, that doesn’t mean that these are your only options. If you don’t have the budget for a high-end GPU, a mid-range or budget card would do well with this processor because it wouldn’t hold it back. So, you can opt for the RTX 4070 Ti Super or the RX 7700 XT and enjoy gaming at solid 1440p or even 4K if you leverage DLSS 3, as we found during our 4070 Ti Super review.
Performance
You’ll have plenty of GPUs to pair with the 9800X3D, depending on the level of performance you want out of your rig. Historically, X3D processors don’t have the best synthetic performance compared to the “X” variants, but this CPU can be overclocked. On the other hand, if you just want the best gaming performance, any high-end GPU would work well with it, but then again, you’ll have to factor in your budget.
