Debunking the Myths: X3D Chips for Gaming and Productivity

In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, the conversation surrounding the performance of X3D chips, particularly the 9800X3D, has become rather polarized. Various opinions suggest that these processors fall short for productivity tasks, with some critics even claiming they are unsuitable for basic functions like double-clicking shortcuts in software such as Adobe Premiere and Blender. However, a closer examination reveals that these assertions may be misguided and overly simplistic.

Understanding the Role of X3D Chips

While it’s true that other options may provide better performance for the same price point, labeling the 9800X3D as “terrible” for productivity doesn’t truly reflect its capabilities. If you’re constructing a PC that balances both gaming and productivity, the 9800X3D remains a solid contender. It’s essential to clarify what “productivity” entails; for many users casually engaging in tasks such as using Blender, Photoshop, or video editing with a GPU like the 5070Ti or 4070Ti, the 9800X3D can adequately meet these needs—provided you’re not demanding the utmost efficiency for long renders or extensive video editing workloads.

For professionals engaged in high-intensity productivity work—like rendering projects that take over ten hours or content creators juggling multiple video edits daily—the focus may shift from gaming. In these scenarios, the 9800X3D may not be the optimal choice. Instead, those users should consider hardware more tailored to productivity demands.

Misconceptions Influencing Decisions

One of the critical issues arising from the criticism of X3D chips is that it may cloud potential buyers’ judgment, causing them to overlook suitable options when high-core-count CPUs might be more beneficial for productivity. Many individuals executing productivity tasks on laptops and desktops powered by older generation i5 processors claim that the 9800X3D is inadequate. However, in comparison, the 9800X3D outperforms those i5 processors in many areas, posing a question: Should the opinions of a few determine the choices of many?

In 2025, it’s clear that modern CPUs—including Ryzen 7 and Intel i7 models—are more than capable of handling gaming and productivity. The choice often boils down to specific use cases and personal preference.