AMD Ryzen 9000X3D could get full overclocking abilities, making life even more difficult for Intel Arrow Lake CPUs

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D up close
(Image credit: Future)

AMD could offer gamers the chance to go further with juicing up next-gen Ryzen 9000X3D processors when they arrive, making them even speedier (in theory).

Wccftech grabbed the scoop on this one, and asserts – without indicating the exact source, so add a hearty pinch of salt here – that it has learned that AMD’s plan is to offer the ability to fully overclock 3D V-Cache CPUs from the Ryzen 9000 range.

A little backstory here: the addition of 3D V-Cache to processors meant AMD pulled back on the overclocking front, due to this cache making chips more sensitive to the changes in voltage needed to ramp up CPUs in this way.

If you recall, the first-gen Ryzen 5000X3D processors offered no ability to overclock or fine-tune the chip at all, although with Ryzen 7000X3D, AMD did introduce some limited tuning in the form of support for Precision Boost Overdrive or PBO (a small amount of automatically applied overclocking, essentially).

However, full manual overclocking – changing the voltage yourself, assuming you know what you’re doing, of course – is apparently inbound for Ryzen 9000X3D processors, with the apparent caveat that there’ll be certain safety limits imposed by AMD.


Analysis: Another potential headache for Intel

So, at least with next-gen 3D V-Cache, AMD is seemingly looking to allow full overclocking, albeit with Wccftech’s caveat that “there might still be a few checks in place to safeguard the [3D V-Cache].”

As we’ve already said, we must be cautious about taking this at face value, but it does make some sense that AMD improved first-gen to second-gen 3D V-Cache to make use of PBO, so Team Red may well be taking another step forward with this third-gen take.

X3D processors are great for PC gaming as we’ve seen in the past, so enthusiast gamers will doubtless be excited about the ability to further ramp up performance – given a good enough CPU cooler, no doubt.

It’s also another blow to Intel in the grand scheme of things. So far, in the next-gen CPU wars, Ryzen 9000 processors are imminent (due later this month), whereas Arrow Lake is still a fair way off going by rumors.

On top of that, further chatter from the grapevine suggests that Ryzen 9000X3D could debut very swiftly – maybe at the same time as, or even before, Arrow Lake – and if AMD’s chips offer beefier overclocking chops too, that’ll put Intel even more on the back foot when it comes to the rankings of the best CPUs.

You might also like

TOPICS

Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - 'I Know What You Did Last Supper' - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).

Read more
An AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D on a desk on top of its retail packaging
AMD declares battle of Ryzen 9950X3D vs 9800X3D for gaming will be a dead heat – so gamers may as well buy the cheaper CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 2500X
AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU could be on sale soon – but I’m still worried about the price
AMD Ryzen 9950X
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D announced at CES 2025
Render of AMD Ryzen chip
AMD’s powerful Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D CPUs rumored to arrive on March 12 – but gamers will still be better off with the 9800X3D
An AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D in a masculine hand
AMD blames Ryzen 9800X3D stock shortage on Intel’s ‘horrible’ Arrow Lake launch, rubbing salt in Team Blue’s CPU wounds
A stock photo of a man saying 'no thank you' to a gift box bearing the AMD Ryzen logo.
I'm tired of waiting for AMD's entry-level Ryzen 9000 series chips
Latest in CPU
Intel Lunar Lake concept
Intel's Panther Lake processors won't arrive until Q1 2026 - corroborates previous delay rumors despite former Intel CEO's promise of 2025 launch
The main battle pass characters in Fortnite Lawless, including Midas, Sub Zero and a large wolf-man
You'll finally be able to play Fortnite on Windows 11 Arm-powered laptops as Epic Games partners with Qualcomm
Ryzen 9000 promotional material
AMD's most powerful processor ever actually runs better on Windows 10 than Windows 11
An AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D on its retail packaging
I've reviewed three generations of 3D V-cache processors, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the best there is
AMD Ryzen 9000 3D chips
AMD officially announces price and release date for Ryzen 9 9900X3D and 9950X3D processors
A chip wafer manufactured at Intel Foundry
Can 18A save Intel from being devoured by its rivals – and Wall Street?
Latest in News
Pebble smartwatch countdown
Pebble confirms its smartwatch announcement is just hours away
Logo of YouTube Shorts
Is YouTube auto-playing Shorts when you open the app? Well, you’re not alone - here’s how to fix it
Google DeepMind panel discussion
“More sovereignty and protection” - Google goes all-in on UK AI with data residency, upskilling projects, and startup investments
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 expected to have AI upscaling and I can't wait to finally play Tears of the Kingdom with upgraded graphics
PowerColor Red Devil AMD RX 9070 XT graphics card shown side-on
Your next GPU could be from AMD, not Nvidia, if Team Red’s success with PC gamers continues
Intel Lunar Lake concept
Intel's Panther Lake processors won't arrive until Q1 2026 - corroborates previous delay rumors despite former Intel CEO's promise of 2025 launch