Just a few months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D made its debut, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has arrived, bringing its 3D V-Cache technology to a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor. This powerhouse is ideal for those with high-end graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or future models, offering unparalleled performance that's perfect for the most demanding gamers.
However, with a hefty price tag of $699 and a 170W power budget, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a significant investment. It's best suited for those building a top-tier gaming PC. For others, the more budget-friendly Ryzen 7 9800X3D might be a more sensible 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 Zen 5 architecture, similar to the regular 9950X, but enhances it with the 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache technology seen in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination delivers exceptional multi-core performance alongside enhanced gaming capabilities due to increased cache size.
A notable change from the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the placement of the 3D V-Cache directly beneath the CPU cores. This design not only improves thermal performance by positioning the heat-generating Core Complex Die (CCD) closer to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) for better heat dissipation but also reduces data travel distance, lowering latency. The 9950X3D boasts a massive 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache, matching the previous generation's cache size but surpassing non-X3D processors.
Both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, although the original 9950X can handle a higher PPT. In testing, both processors peaked at 200W, but the 9950X3D maintained a lower peak temperature of 79°C, thanks to its different cooler setup.
Compatibility is a strong point for the 9950X3D, as it works with any AM5 AMD motherboard. AMD has committed to supporting this socket until at least 2027, ensuring long-term platform stability.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks
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Performance
All CPUs were tested on the same hardware, with the exception of the Ryzen 9 9950X, which used an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard and a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler. This setup difference may affect performance, but not significantly, 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
A note on testing: a mounting screw for the Asus ROG Ryujin III 360mm cooler broke during the swap to the 9950X. I will retest the processors soon and update this section if significant differences arise.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of cache, delivers outstanding performance. It excels not only in gaming but also in creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lagged behind.
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 in single-core workloads, scoring 2,254 points in Cinebench 1T, a 10% improvement over the 9800X3D's 2,033 points. In the 3DMark CPU Profile test, it scores 1,280 points, closely trailing the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's 1,351 points.
In multi-threaded workloads, the 9950X3D shines with 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test, though it slightly underperforms compared to the 9950X and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in top-end multi-threaded applications. However, this trade-off is justified by its superior gaming performance.
In gaming benchmarks, the 9950X3D achieves 274 fps in Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, outpacing the 9800X3D's 254 fps and the Core Ultra 9 285K's 255 fps. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with Ultra settings and ray tracing disabled, it delivers 229 fps, slightly behind the 9800X3D's 240 fps but still significantly faster than the Intel processor's 165 fps.
Overkill?
While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the most powerful gaming processor currently available, it may not be necessary for everyone. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, offers excellent performance for most users. The 9950X3D is best suited for those who both game and use demanding creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it shows a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For pure gaming builds, the savings from choosing the 9800X3D could be better spent on upgrading your graphics card.
