If you're considering upgrading to AMD for your next PC build, now is the perfect time to make the switch. Following the successful launch of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D earlier this year, AMD has unveiled two powerful new additions to its Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D priced at $699 and the mid-tier Ryzen 9 9900X3D at $599. Together, these processors currently stand as the top-performing gaming chips available from either AMD or Intel. Pure gamers will find the Ryzen 7 9800X3D the best value, while content creators who also game will appreciate the Ryzen 9 models' significant performance boost from their additional cores and cache.

Note: Stock availability fluctuates frequently, with shortages being common.

The Creator's Choice: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

$699.00 at Amazon | $699.00 at Best Buy | $699.00 at Newegg

For creative professionals demanding both workstation performance and gaming excellence, the 9950X3D is the clear choice. This powerhouse processor features a 5.7GHz boost clock, 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of combined L2-L3 cache. While its gaming performance only slightly edges out the 9800X3D, it delivers substantially better productivity performance than both its siblings and any competing Intel processors.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas:

"While the Ryzen 9 9950X3D currently leads the market in gaming performance, most users will find the Ryzen 7 9800X3D completely sufficient at $479. The 9950X3D truly benefits creators who use demanding applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it shows a 15% performance improvement over its smaller sibling. For dedicated gaming builds, you may prefer putting that $220 savings toward a better graphics card."

The Gamer's Choice: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

$479.00 at Amazon | $479.00 at Best Buy | $479.00 at Newegg

AMD's 3D V-Cache technology makes all X3D processors excellent for gaming, but since these chips share similar cache configurations, gaming performance remains largely consistent across the lineup. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D features a 5.2GHz boost clock, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of cache. While capable of handling productivity tasks, its core count makes it best suited for gaming-focused builds at this attractive price point.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas:

"The 9800X3D delivers exceptional gaming performance that makes it more appealing than many higher-end processors like the Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a powerful GPU, this processor ensures you'll maximize your graphics card's potential."

The Balanced Option: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

$599.00 at Amazon | $599.00 at Best Buy | $599.00 at Newegg

The 9900X3D offers a middle ground for creators who game but need to watch their budget. With 12 cores, 24 threads, a 5.5GHz boost clock, and 140MB of cache, we expect productivity performance to land between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D, while delivering comparable gaming performance to both.

AMD's Winning Streak Continues

For those waiting to see how AMD's new GPUs compare to Nvidia's Blackwell series, the results are impressive. The Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT have established themselves as exceptional mid-range options, offering excellent performance at prices below their Nvidia counterparts. Starting at $550 and $600 respectively (though prices may vary from manufacturers), these cards present outstanding value. Read our in-depth reviews of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT for performance benchmarks.

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