Just a few months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D hit the market, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has arrived, bringing 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 and beyond, making it a dream for enthusiasts looking for top-tier performance. However, with a steep price tag of $699 and a 170W power budget, this processor is best suited for those building an exceptionally powerful and expensive gaming rig. For most users, the more budget-friendly 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 vary 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 standard 9950X but enhances them with the second-generation 3D V-Cache technology seen in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination ensures robust multi-core performance and enhanced gaming capabilities thanks to a larger cache.

A key design change in the 9950X3D is the placement of the 3D V-Cache directly beneath the CPU cores, rather than above them as in the previous Ryzen 9 7950X3D. 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. Consequently, the processor can maintain higher performance levels over longer periods.

The strategic placement of the cache also reduces data travel distance, lowering latency. Additionally, the 9950X3D boasts a substantial 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache, matching the previous generation's capacity but exceeding that of non-X3D processors.

Both the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, though the original 9950X has a higher potential PPT. In testing, both processors peaked at 200W, but the 9950X3D showed a lower peak temperature of 79°C, tested on a different cooler than the 9950X.

Compatibility is not an issue, as the 9950X3D works with any AM5 AMD motherboard. AMD has committed to supporting this socket until at least 2027, ensuring long-term viability for your investment.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

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Performance

All CPUs were tested on consistent hardware setups, except for the Ryzen 9 9950X, which was evaluated on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler. While this hardware variance might affect results slightly, the tests were conducted at stock settings to ensure fairness.

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

Note: A broken mounting screw on the Asus ROG Ryujin III 360mm cooler necessitated a change for the 9950X test. I will retest and update this section if significant differences are observed.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB cache, delivers exceptional performance across the board. In creative benchmarks, where the 9800X3D struggled, the 9950X3D holds its own against the most powerful processors available.

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 9950X3D excels in single-core workloads, achieving a 10% improvement over the 9800X3D in Cinebench 1T (2,254 vs. 2,033 points). In the 3DMark CPU Profile test, it scores 1,280 points, nearly matching the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's 1,351 points.

In multi-threaded tasks, the 9950X3D shines, scoring 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test. While it slightly trails the 9950X (41,123 points) and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (42,245 points), its gaming performance is unmatched. In Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, it achieves 274 fps with the RTX 4090, outperforming the 9800X3D (254 fps) and the Core Ultra 9 285K (255 fps). However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with the Ultra preset and ray tracing disabled, it delivers 229 fps, slightly behind the 9800X3D's 240 fps but still ahead of the Intel processor's 165 fps.

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is undoubtedly the most powerful gaming processor currently available, it's not necessarily 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 offers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For those building a purely gaming-focused PC, however, saving the extra $220 to invest in a better graphics card might be the smarter move.