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 that's absolutely overkill for most people. However, it will have no problem keeping up with powerful graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or whatever comes next. With its high $699 asking price and a 170W power budget, this processor is hard to recommend to anyone who isn't already building an incredibly powerful (and expensive) gaming PC. For most users, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D makes more sense.

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 processors can fluctuate in value depending on 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 new 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache found in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination ensures excellent multi-core performance alongside improved gaming capabilities due to a larger cache.

Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 3D V-Cache in the 9950X3D is positioned 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. This design not only helps in maintaining lower temperatures but also reduces data latency by shortening the distance data needs to travel. The 9950X3D boasts a massive 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache, matching the last-generation Ryzen 9 7950X3D and surpassing non-X3D processors.

Both the AMD 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 maintained a lower peak temperature of 79°C, thanks to a different cooler. Fortunately, the 9950X3D is compatible 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, with one exception: the Ryzen 9 9950X, which was tested on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler. This hardware difference may impact performance, but it's unlikely to be significant, especially since all tests were conducted at stock settings.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB cache, delivers exceptional performance. In creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lagged, the 9950X3D keeps pace with the most powerful chips available.

In single-core workloads, the 9950X3D outperforms the 9800X3D. For instance, 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 shines, scoring 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test. While 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 well worth it for the enhanced gaming performance.

In gaming, the 9950X3D excels in Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, achieving 274 fps when paired with the RTX 4090, compared to 254 fps from the 9800X3D and 255 fps from 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 240 fps from the 9800X3D but still significantly faster than the 165 fps from the competing Intel processor.

Overkill?

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D might be the most powerful gaming processor on the market, but it's not necessarily the best choice for everyone. Most users will find the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, more than sufficient for their needs.

The 9950X3D is ideal for gamers who also use creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For a pure gaming PC build, however, it might be wiser to save the extra $220 and invest in a better graphics card.