Just a few months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D hit the market, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has arrived, bringing its advanced 3D V-Cache technology to a powerhouse 16-core, 32-thread processor designed for gaming. This chip is undeniably overkill for most users, but it's well-equipped to handle high-end graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or its successors, delivering unmatched performance.
However, with a steep price tag of $699 and a 170W power budget, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a challenging recommendation for anyone not building an ultra-high-end gaming PC. For most gamers, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains a more cost-effective choice.
Purchasing Guide
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D will be available starting March 12, with a suggested retail price of $699. Be aware that AMD's processor prices can fluctuate based on demand, so keep an eye on the market for potential deals.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Photos
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Specs and Features
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D combines the Zen 5 cores of the regular 9950X with the 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache technology introduced in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination ensures robust multi-core performance alongside enhanced gaming capabilities due to increased cache capacity.
A notable design change from its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, is the placement of the 3D V-Cache directly below the CPU cores. This seemingly minor adjustment significantly improves thermal performance by positioning the heat-generating Core Complex Die (CCD) closer to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), allowing for better heat dissipation. Lower temperatures not only enable the 9950X3D to sustain higher performance levels but also reduce latency thanks to the shorter data travel distance. The processor boasts an impressive 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache, matching the previous generation's capacity and dwarfing that of non-X3D counterparts.
Despite sharing a 170W TDP with the 9950X, the 9950X3D maintains lower peak temperatures, reaching only 79°C during testing, compared to the 9950X. Both CPUs peaked at 200W, but the 9950X3D's cooler was different, which should be considered when comparing these results.
Compatibility with existing AM5 AMD motherboards is a significant advantage, as AMD has committed to supporting this socket until at least 2027, ensuring long-term viability for your build.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks
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Performance
Before delving into the performance metrics, it's important to note that all CPUs were tested on the same hardware setup, 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 variation could slightly affect performance, though the impact is expected to be minimal 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 9950X was tested differently. Future retesting will update this section if significant differences are found.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D's 16-core, 32-thread architecture, coupled with its massive 144MB cache, makes it exceptionally powerful. It excels even in creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lagged, matching the performance of top-tier processors.
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
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D also shows a 10% improvement in single-core performance over the 9800X3D, scoring 2,254 points in Cinebench 1T compared to 2,033 points. In the 3DMark CPU Profile test, it achieves 1,280 points, closely trailing the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's 1,351 points.
In multi-threaded workloads, the 9950X3D reaches 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test, slightly behind the 9950X and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K but offering superior gaming performance. In Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, it delivers 274 fps, outperforming both the 9800X3D and Core Ultra 9 285K. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with the Ultra preset and ray tracing disabled, it falls to 229 fps, below the 9800X3D's 240 fps but still significantly faster than the Intel competitor at 165 fps.
Overkill?
While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most potent gaming processor available, it's not the right choice for everyone. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, offers a more budget-friendly option for most gamers.
The 9950X3D is ideal for users who require top-tier performance in both gaming and creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it shows a 15% improvement over the 9800X3D. For those focused solely on gaming, the additional $220 might be better spent on upgrading to a more powerful graphics card.
