The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming processor currently on the market and a much better option than the new Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. If you're waiting for a discount on this processor for Black Friday, though, don't hold your breath. There is the slimmest of slim chances that anyone will drop the price of this hot commodity before 2025.

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the chip I recommend to most buyers, at least unless they're already using a 7800X3D. AMD boosted performance and efficiency here, and it's the new best CPU for PC gaming. However, its popularity means it's almost always sold out or being scalped for unrealistic prices.

The new eight-core processor with 3D V-cache is sold out everywhere, and it looks as though stock isn't going to improve any time soon.

AMD may already have won this generation of desktop processors. But the company is convinced that you should also be turning to Ryzen processors for mobile gaming, as a series of AMD’s own benchmarks show the Ryzen AI 300 absolutely dominating.