AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review

Just months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D's arrival, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D brings 3D V-Cache technology to a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor. While overkill for most, it effortlessly handles powerful graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 and beyond. However, its $699 price tag and 170W power consumption make it a tough sell unless you're building an extremely high-end (and expensive) gaming PC. For others, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains a more sensible choice.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D launched March 12th, starting at $699. This is a suggested retail price; actual pricing may fluctuate based on market demand.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Photos

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Specs and Features

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D utilizes the same Zen 5 cores as the standard 9950X, enhanced by 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache (similar to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D). This combination delivers exceptional multi-core performance alongside improved gaming capabilities thanks to the expanded cache.

Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 3D V-Cache is positioned directly beneath the CPU cores, not above. This seemingly minor change significantly impacts thermal performance. Since the Core Complex Die (CCD) generates most of the CPU's heat, its proximity to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) facilitates more efficient heat dissipation. AMD's performance algorithms leverage this improved thermal headroom, enabling faster and more sustained clock speeds.

The cache's location offers further benefits beyond temperature control. Reduced data travel distance translates to lower latency. The increased space allows for a substantial 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache—matching the last-generation Ryzen 9 7950X3D and significantly exceeding non-X3D processors.

Both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, although the 9950X boasts a higher potential Precision Boost 2 (PPT). Testing revealed peak power consumption around 200W for both, but the 9950X3D maintained a lower peak temperature (79°C during testing), though tested on a different cooler than the 9950X.

Compatibility is simplified by the 9950X3D's use of the existing AM5 motherboard platform. AMD's commitment to AM5 support until at least 2027 eliminates platform obsolescence concerns.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

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Performance

Testing involved consistent hardware, except for the Ryzen 9 9950X (Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler). While this hardware difference might influence results, the impact is likely minimal, especially given 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

(Note: A mounting screw issue with the cooler during 9950X testing necessitated a retest, planned for the near future. Results may be updated.)

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D's 16 cores, 32 threads, and massive 144MB cache deliver exceptional power. Even in creative tasks where the 9800X3D lagged, the 9950X3D matched top-tier processors.

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 showed strong single-core performance against the 9800X3D. Cinebench 1T scores were 2,254 vs 2,033 (10% improvement), and 3DMark CPU Profile results placed it close to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.

Multi-threaded performance showcased the 9950X3D's strengths, achieving 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test. While slightly behind the 9950X (41,123 points) and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (42,245 points) in some multi-threaded applications, the gaming performance gains justify the trade-off.

In Total War: Warhammer 3 (1080p, Ultra), the 9950X3D achieved 274 fps (RTX 4090), exceeding the 9800X3D (254 fps) and Core Ultra 9 285K (255 fps). However, Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra, ray tracing disabled) showed 229 fps, lower than the 9800X3D's 240 fps, but still significantly faster than the Intel processor's 165 fps.

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor, it doesn't automatically outperform all others. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers a significantly more affordable alternative ($479).

The 9950X3D targets users needing both gaming and creative application performance (e.g., Photoshop, Premiere), showing a 15% improvement over the 9800X3D in such tasks. For pure gaming, investing the extra $220 in a better graphics card might be a wiser choice.