AMD’s Ryzen 9 9900X desktop CPU offered better value at launch than Intel — and now the 12-core beast is even cheaper

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PC gamers might face challenges starting in 2026 as the cost of CPUs is expected to increase, potentially making it too expensive to upgrade their computers.

Even with recent price increases, some processors are still on sale. For example, you can currently find the Ryzen 9 9900X at Amazon for $389.99 – that’s a 22% discount.

Why should you buy the 9900X?

According to our Senior Editor and CPU expert, Ben Wilson, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a top-performing processor, second only to the even more powerful (and expensive) AMD Ryzen 9 9950X. He gave both CPUs a highly positive 4.5-star review.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a powerful processor with 12 cores and 24 threads. It can reach a maximum clock speed of 5.6 GHz, features 64MB of L3 cache, and has a typical power draw of 120W.

This processor will significantly boost your computer’s performance, allowing you to easily run demanding creative programs like Blender and play graphically rich video games – even while streaming them all at once.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X outperformed the Intel Core i7-14700K in testing, and it costs less at $500 compared to the 14700K’s price of $546.

I was so excited to see the price dropped again! Amazon is now selling it for just $389.99, which is a fantastic deal!

Because RAM prices are currently very high, affecting the cost of all electronics, now is a great time to boost your computer’s performance and save money. You can use those savings on other important components, such as a motherboard that works with the powerful AMD Ryzen 9 9900X processor.

FAQ

Does the 9900X have integrated graphics?

Yes, it includes an integrated Radeon graphics chiplet.

What is TDP and why is it important for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X?

TDP, or Thermal Design Power, represents the maximum amount of heat a CPU generates and shows how much cooling and power are required to handle it.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, with a power draw of 120W, offers excellent performance while remaining energy efficient. It does require a good cooler to prevent overheating, but it achieves impressive results using less power.

What motherboard socket does it require?

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is compatible with the AM5 socket.

Does it support PCIe 5.0? 

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is compatible with PCIe 5.0, which means it can handle the fast data transfer speeds of newer graphics cards and NVMe SSDs when you upgrade your computer.

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2026-01-07 15:40