Planning your next PC upgrade and considering AMD? Now's the perfect time. Following the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's earlier release, AMD has launched its top-tier Ryzen 9 siblings—the 9950X3D ($699) and 9900X3D ($599)—both boasting Zen 5 "X3D" architecture. These processors collectively represent the pinnacle of gaming performance across both AMD and Intel. Pure gamers should prioritize the cost-effective 9800X3D, while creators with larger budgets and a gaming passion will appreciate the significant performance boost from the Ryzen 9 processors' increased core count and cache.

Note: Processor availability fluctuates; stock is often limited.

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

Creative professionals seeking the best gaming chip need look no further. The 9950X3D boasts a 5.7GHz max boost clock, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While only marginally outperforming the 9800X3D in gaming, its productivity capabilities significantly surpass both the 9800X3D and 9900X3D, and any Intel counterpart.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas:

"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D may be the most powerful gaming processor, but it's not necessarily superior in every scenario. The more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D ($479) is perfectly adequate for most users. The 9950X3D shines for gamers who also use creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, offering a 15% performance improvement over the 9800X3D. For pure gaming, however, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card is likely a wiser investment."

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 X3D series, featuring 3D V-Cache technology, is gaming-optimized. All three CPUs share this technology on a single CCD, resulting in comparable gaming performance; minor differences stem from clock speed variations. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D features a 5.2GHz max boost clock, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of multitasking and creative tasks, its core count limits its suitability for intensive workloads. However, it excels in gaming, especially considering its price.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas:

"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers exceptional gaming performance, making it a more compelling choice than processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. Paired with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance."

The Middleman: 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 Ryzen 9 9900X3D bridges the gap for users who balance creative work and gaming but need to stay within a budget. It boasts a 5.5GHz max boost clock, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. While we haven't reviewed it yet, its performance is expected to fall between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in productivity and multi-core tasks, with comparable gaming performance to its siblings.

AMD's Hot Streak with CPUs and GPUs

If you waited to see AMD's response to Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs, you made the right call. The Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT are formidable mid-range contenders, offering excellent performance at lower prices than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 7900 XTX starts at $550, and the 7900 XT at $600 (though pricing may vary). Check out our Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT GPU reviews for benchmarks.

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