Just a few months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D graced us with its presence, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D brings its 3D V-Cache technology to a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor. This powerhouse is designed to keep up with high-end graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or future models. However, with a hefty $699 price tag and a 170W power budget, this processor is best suited for those building an exceptionally powerful and expensive gaming PC. For most users, the more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains a more practical choice.
Purchasing Guide
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D will be available starting March 12, with a suggested retail price of $699. Keep in mind that AMD's processor prices can fluctuate based on market demand.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Photos
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Specs and Features
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D leverages the same Zen 5 cores as the regular 9950X but enhances them with the 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache technology seen in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination ensures excellent multi-core performance alongside superior gaming capabilities due to an expanded cache.
Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the new model positions the 3D V-Cache below the CPU cores, which significantly improves thermal performance. With the Core Complex Die (CCD) closer to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), heat dissipation is more efficient, allowing the processor to maintain higher performance levels for longer periods. Additionally, the cache's placement directly under the cores reduces data travel distance, lowering latency and increasing the cache size to a substantial 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache.
Both the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, though the original 9950X can reach a higher potential PPT. In testing, both processors peaked at 200W, but the 9950X3D maintained a lower peak temperature of 79°C, thanks to a different cooler setup.
Compatibility is not an issue, as the 9950X3D works with any AM5 AMD motherboard, and AMD has committed to supporting this socket until at least 2027, ensuring long-term platform viability.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks
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Performance
Before delving into performance results, it's important to note that all CPUs were tested on the same hardware, except for the Ryzen 9 9950X, which was tested on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler. This slight variation in hardware should not significantly impact the results, as all tests were conducted at stock settings.
AMD Test Bench:
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
- Motherboard: Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero; Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero (9800X3D)
- RAM: 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo @ 6,000MHz
- SSD: 1TB PNY CS3140 Gen4x4 NVMe SSD
- CPU Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme
Due to a hardware issue with the cooler, the processors will be retested in the coming weeks, and any significant changes will be updated here.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of cache, delivers exceptional performance. In creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lagged, the 9950X3D keeps pace with the market's most powerful chips.
Intel Test Bench:
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
- Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Hero (200S); Asus Prime Z790-A (14th-Gen)
- RAM: 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 @ 6,000MHz
- SSD: PNY CS3140 1TB Gen 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
- CPU Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme
Surprisingly, the 9950X3D performs well against the 9800X3D in single-core workloads. In Cinebench 1T, it scores 2,254 points compared to 2,033 points for the 9800X3D, a 10% improvement. In the 3DMark CPU Profile test, the 9950X3D achieves 1,280 points, closely trailing the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's 1,351 points.
In multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D excels, scoring 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test. Although it falls slightly short of the 9950X's 41,123 points and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's 42,245 points, the trade-off is justified by its enhanced gaming performance.
In gaming benchmarks, the 9950X3D shines in Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, achieving 274 fps with the RTX 4090, compared to 254 fps for the 9800X3D and 255 fps for the Core Ultra 9 285K. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with the Ultra preset and ray tracing disabled, it delivers 229 fps, slightly less than the 9800X3D's 240 fps but still significantly faster than the Intel processor's 165 fps.
Overkill?
While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor available, it may not be the best choice for everyone. For most gamers, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, offers a more cost-effective solution. The 9950X3D is ideal for users who not only game but also engage in creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it provides a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For a purely gaming-focused build, however, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card might be a wiser investment.
