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Looking for the best GPU to pair with the Ryzen 7 9800x3d?
The 9800X3D is easily the fastest gaming chip on the market, and it runs laps around the similarly priced Intel chips. For those of you putting together a gaming PC with performance in mind, this CPU will last you for years to come. Not only that, it’s also faster and more efficient than its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
Of course, processing power can only do so much. You also need a good graphics card to get the best framerates and performance. Today, I’ll focus on two GPUs that pair the best with the 9800X3D, one that prioritizes great performance with good value, and a premium option that offers the best possible experience at higher resolutions.
Our Top Picks
- MSI Gaming X Slim RTX 4070 Super (Amazon Link) – Best Value GPU for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX™ 4090 OC (Amazon Link) – Best Premium GPU For Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Why Should You Trust Us?
Every recommendation here is grounded in decades of real-world PC building experience. The author, Konstantinos Chiotis, has been building gaming rigs since the age of 14, and he channels that passion into exploring every component of a system. By combining in-depth knowledge of motherboards, GPUs, and other core components, he filters out the noise to provide insights that matter.
This dedication to learning about new tech and discussing hardware in detail ensures each suggestion is backed by hands-on expertise. Whether it’s about motherboard compatibility or fine-tuning a build for better performance, the focus remains on delivering factual and practical advice for pc builders and enthusiasts alike.
How We Chose The Best GPUs for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Selecting the best graphics cards for the 9800X3D involved more than just focusing on raw power. The process prioritized key factors such as performance scaling with the CPU, future-proof features, and overall efficiency. Because the 9800X3D is a high-performance chip, a capable GPU must complement its sheer speed to prevent bottlenecks and maximize frame rates. The following points break down the main considerations:
- Performance at High Resolutions
Since the 9800X3D excels in single-core and multi-core tasks, it’s vital to match it with GPUs that can keep up in both 1440p and 4K. Cards that easily surpass triple-digit frame rates at these resolutions are preferable to make full use of the CPU’s capabilities. - Ray Tracing and AI Upscaling
Modern titles increasingly leverage ray tracing and advanced upscaling techniques, so those features had to be on the checklist. The chosen GPUs needed to handle intensive effects without sacrificing smooth gameplay—especially important when pushing visual settings to their limits. - Efficient Architecture
Power consumption is another big deal. Efficient cards generate less heat and noise, translating to a smoother overall gaming experience. With the 9800X3D’s focus on energy efficiency, pairing it with a GPU that follows that same philosophy helps maintain balanced thermals and minimizes unnecessary power draw. - VRAM Capacity and Clock Speeds
The 9800X3D thrives on speed, so a GPU with generous VRAM and higher clock speeds ensures consistent performance in demanding titles. Enough VRAM is essential for 4K textures, and higher clock speeds help push frame rates even further. - Balanced Cooling and Design
Even with a powerful CPU and GPU combo, good thermal design makes a real difference. A well-ventilated cooler and sturdy build quality prevent throttling under heavy loads, which maintains performance over long gaming sessions. - Port Availability and Power Requirements
It’s important to consider the system as a whole. Modern ports like DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 unlock features such as variable refresh rates and 4K at high refresh rates. Meanwhile, cards that require a reasonable wattage make the entire rig easier to manage, especially for those who might already have a capable power supply.
Below is a quick reference table summarizing the criteria involved:
| Criteria | Importance for 9800X3D |
|---|---|
| High-Resolution Performance | Takes advantage of the CPU’s gaming muscle for 1440p/4K. |
| Ray Tracing & AI Features | Delivers advanced visuals and stable frame rates in modern titles. |
| Power Efficiency | Matches the 9800X3D’s efficient design and keeps thermals in check. |
| VRAM & Clock Speeds | Supports future-proofing and boosts frame rates in resource-heavy games. |
| Effective Cooling | Ensures sustained performance under long play sessions. |
| Connectivity & Power | Includes modern ports and manageable power draw for hassle-free builds. |
Keeping these considerations in mind helps narrow down which GPUs genuinely elevate the 9800X3D’s performance. By focusing on real-world gaming benchmarks, thermals, and reliable build quality, it’s easier to identify cards that strike the right balance of features, efficiency, and raw horsepower—ensuring a top-tier experience with this flagship processor.
Best GPUs for Ryzen 7 9800X3D Reviews
MSI Gaming X Slim RTX 4070 Super – Best Value GPU for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
When you’re looking to spend a considerable amount on a graphics card, the extra features, design, and thermals matter just as much as raw performance. While AMD’s Radeon cards tend to be a safe recommendation if gaming is your only concern, the situation is a bit different once you factor in upscaling, ray tracing, AV1 encoding, and power efficiency.
This is why the MSI Gaming X Slim RTX 4070 Super is one of the best-value graphics cards today, for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. It has MSI’s incredible design language, robust thermals thanks to the TORX fan system, and awesome performance powered by the 4070 Super chip.
We’ll get to the design elements of this card later, so let’s start by taking a look at the performance and features first. The Gaming X Slim has a boost clock of 2475MHz, which is 7% faster than the reference version of the same card. It features Nvidia’s third-generation RT Cores, fourth-generation RT cores, and higher clock speeds than the standard RTX 4070.
At 1080p, this card is around 3% faster than the RTX 3090, Nvidia’s older flagship model from the RTX 30-Series. As for the standard 4070, the super variant is around 10-12% faster at 1080p. The gap widens to around 15% for 1440p, which is nothing to scoff at. Thanks to the slightly higher factory overclock, you might notice even better performance improvements.
All this performance is thanks to the increased CUDA Core count (7168 vs. 5888 in the 4070), higher clock speeds, and slightly higher power draw. For the raw numbers, this MSI card has 12 gigabytes of GDDR6X VRAM, 7168 CUDA Cores, a boost clock of 2475MHz, and a 220-watt power draw.
Other than that, the MSI Gaming X Slim is a well-designed triple-fan graphics card that rivals the looks of its premium competitors. It has an all-black design, RGB lighting on the MSI logo at the front, and a full-metal backplate with cutouts for ventilation.
Unlike the triple-slot behemoths that you’re used to seeing, this is a slim dual-slot graphics card that doesn’t take up an annoying amount of space. It can fit into most cases with ease, and you might even have some luck fitting it into a good number of microATX cases on the market.
I’ve already mentioned the higher boost clock, and the triple Torx 3.0 fans to ensure that performance stays consistent with low temperatures. MSI recommends a 650W power supply, which is a reasonable ask for a GPU of this caliber. Operation is silent, and there’s thankfully no frustrating coil whine here.
Finally, it comes with some important accessories out of the box: a GPU support bracket and the 12VHPWR adapter cable. In terms of ports, you get three DisplayPort 1.4a ports and an HDMI 2.1 port.
Pairing this card with high-end chips like 9800X3D, you can expect 200 FPS in Black Ops 6, 100 FPS in God of War Ragnarok, and 150 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2. All of these benchmarks are at 1440p with Ultra settings. Esports titles such as Overwatch 2 and Fortnite will give you even better performance, allowing you to maximize your high refresh rate monitor.
All in all, this is a fantastic graphics card for mid to high-end PCs. It’s efficient, fast, and even has respectable ray tracing performance. The Gaming X Slim variant is one of the cheaper triple fan options out there, and it doesn’t sacrifice one bit on design, thermals, or performance. It’s an excellent card through and through and ideal for a 9800x3d gaming rig.
To sum up, what I like is….
- Dual-slot design with three fans
- Sleek all-black appearance with minimal RGB lighting
- Silent operation with no noticeable coil whine
- Includes GPU support bracket and 12VHPWR adapter cable
On the downside…
- Requires a relatively recent mid or high-end CPU to maximize performance
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX™ 4090 OC – Best Premium GPU For Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The RTX 4090 is the holy-grail of graphics cards, and a perfect pairing for the Ryzen 7 9800x3d if you need the best gaming performance. Asus takes it up a notch with its reasonably priced Ada lovelace offering, the TUF Gaming RTX 4090 OC. TUF gaming products have been critically acclaimed by gaming enthusiasts, while they aren’t really tough as you’d expect from the naming scheme but they do have a knack of lasting longer than you’d expect. For instance I’ve never had a “TUF” product die on me yet. However, take this statement with a grain of salt as I might just be lucky in this case.
Before we get into the design of the GPU, it is important to clarify that I am reviewing the TUF Gaming OC today, not the OG variant of the same lineup. The OG variant uses the predecessor RTX 3090’s cooler design and PCB. Asus is marketing the OG variant as a cost-saving iteration of the 4090, which, in my opinion, might not satisfy someone spending that much money on a GPU. The minimal difference in price is not worth it.
Let’s jump right back into the design of the GPU, where things are super interesting as Asus has totally revamped the cooler’s design this time around. On the front, we have triple 105mm Axial-tech fans that take advantage of dual-ball bearings, which according to Asus, provide 23% more airflow compared to traditional fans. The two side fans operate counterclockwise, while the middle fan operates clockwise, which also helps in overall better heat dissipation.
As for the GPU shroud itself, it is beautiful. The brushed aluminium design covers the whole heatsink array and literally overshadows it with a very premium look that feels as good as it looks because it is a full-metal shroud.
Speaking of which, the backplate is beautifully implemented as well, with a black-metal finish and a huge ventilation slit for airflow to move directly through the heatsink.
Taking a look at the GPU horizontally, there’s some RGB splash around the end of the shroud. Honestly, Asus nailed it with the design of this GPU, as there’s a subtle accent of RGB along with the TUF logo. The best part? You can customise all of the RGB goodness to your liking with the Asus AURA SYNC software, available directly through the Asus website.
At this point, it’s important to note that the RTX 4090 uses the newer 12VHPWR port, which delivers over 600 watts of power through a single cable. This transition is mandatory if you are upgrading to or acquiring any RTX 4000 series GPU. Keep this in mind if you’re upgrading your GPU with an existing PSU, you might need to manage the cable slack resulting from connecting the PCI-E to the 12VHPWR port extender. This caution is specifically for enthusiasts who prioritise a cleaner look and aesthetics in their gaming rigs, like myself.
Let’s talk about performance. This variant comes with a superior boost clock out of the box at 2565 MHz, which is around 2% better than the reference card. It is based on the latest Ada Lovelace architecture and TSMC’s 4nm node process, which enables this card to excel in any AAA title at the highest frame rates.
Speaking of which, higher refresh rate 4K gaming is effortless for this card. In some cases, this GPU can also be used for 8K gaming due to its sheer power, with 82.58 (TF32) TFLOPS. For comparison, the Sony PlayStation 5 is capable of producing 10.29 TF32 TFLOPS, meaning the RTX 4090 delivers almost 8 times the power of a PS5.
Regarding thermals and acoustics, the vapor chamber coolers keep things cool despite the GPU drawing almost 600 watts when overclocked, so temperatures won’t be an issue. Additionally, while the fans ramp up to higher RPMs to maintain these temperatures, they remain relatively quiet due to their innovative design. Ultimately, this is a flawless GPU in terms of performance.
Competition-wise, there’s no GPU out there that can match the immense power of Nvidia’s RTX 4090. Only the new RTX 5090 is expected to do so. The closest rival is AMD’s 7900XTX, but it doesn’t quite reach the performance levels of the RTX 4090. This is pretty typical for Nvidia, as the company has consistently led the way in creating the fastest GPUs on the market.
All things considered, the TUF Gaming RTX 4090 OC truly deserves the premium 4K gaming tagline. With its extraordinary performance, excellent thermals, and a notably exquisite all-metal design, this card has everything you need for cutting-edge gaming and combining it with the Ryzen 7 9800x3d you have the ultimate gaming machine. However, it’s worth noting that it comes with a high price tag.
To sum up, what I like is…
- Premium brushed aluminum GPU shroud
- Great high-refresh rate on AAA titles gaming performance
- 82.58 TFLOPs of raw gaming power
On the downside
- Hefty price tag
FAQ
1. What does a CPU bottleneck mean when pairing a GPU with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
A CPU bottleneck means the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is capable of pushing more frames, but the graphics card slows things down. In other words, the GPU can’t keep up with the processor’s raw gaming power, causing frame rates to plateau.
2. How does ray tracing affect performance on a Ryzen 7 9800X3D build?
Ray tracing uses extra graphical horsepower to generate realistic lighting and shadows, so a powerful GPU is needed to handle it smoothly alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Fortunately, this CPU has enough headroom to manage ray tracing in most modern games without hitting high utilization limits.
3. Why is VRAM capacity important for a 9800X3D-based gaming PC?
VRAM capacity is the video memory the GPU uses to handle textures and graphical data. A 9800X3D-based gaming PC can easily play games at high resolutions, so GPUs with more VRAM will help maintain smooth performance, especially at 1440p and above.
4. What kind of power supply wattage should be considered for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D with a modern GPU?
A power supply in the 700W to 900W range is recommended, depending on the GPU’s power draw. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is quite efficient, leaving room for high-performance graphics cards. Check the GPU’s official requirements to pick the right PSU wattage.
5. How big of a difference does a factory overclock make on GPUs for the 9800X3D?
A factory overclock raises clock speeds to improve frame rates by around 5–10% compared to reference models. With the 9800X3D, that small boost can help in demanding titles, but it’s not always necessary unless aiming for the highest possible performance.
6. What is the purpose of a dual-slot GPU design when building a 9800X3D rig?
A dual-slot GPU design is slimmer, making it easier to fit in most PC cases. This is convenient for users who prefer more compact cases or have multiple expansion cards alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
7. How important are AI upscaling features for gaming on a 9800X3D PC?
AI upscaling features can improve performance by rendering at a lower resolution, then upscaling it to look as sharp as native resolution. Since the 9800X3D is built for efficiency and speed, AI upscaling helps maintain stable frame rates without sacrificing visuals.
8. Do I need to worry about coil whine on GPUs paired with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
Coil whine is a high-pitched noise from a GPU under load. It varies by model and usage. While some graphics cards minimize coil whine through better component quality, it’s not guaranteed to be silent. The 9800X3D itself doesn’t cause coil whine, but strong performance can make the GPU work harder.
9. Why is the 12VHPWR cable sometimes needed for high-end GPUs in a 9800X3D build?
The 12VHPWR cable combines power delivery into a single connector capable of handling over 600W. High-end GPUs that pair with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D often use this new standard to simplify cable management and supply enough power for demanding tasks.
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