The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, hot on the heels of its Ryzen 7 9800X3D sibling, brings 3D V-Cache technology to a powerhouse 16-core, 32-thread processor. While undeniably overkill for most gamers, it effortlessly keeps pace with high-end 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 exceptionally powerful (and expensive) gaming rig. For most users, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers superior value.

Purchasing Guide

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

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Photos

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, mirroring the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination delivers exceptional multi-core performance alongside significantly improved gaming capabilities thanks to the expanded cache.

Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 3D V-Cache is now positioned directly beneath the CPU cores. This seemingly minor alteration drastically improves thermal performance. With the Core Complex Die (CCD), the primary heat source, closer to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), heat dissipation is more efficient. AMD's performance algorithms leverage this improved thermal headroom, enabling faster, more sustained clock speeds.

The cache's location offers benefits beyond thermal efficiency. Reduced data travel distance translates to lower latency. The increased space allows for a substantial 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache—identical to the last-generation Ryzen 9 7950X3D and significantly more than any non-X3D processor.

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 both processors peaking around 200W, but the 9950X3D maintained a lower peak temperature (79°C during testing), though tested on a different cooler than the 9950X.

Compatibility is a non-issue; the 9950X3D utilizes the existing AM5 platform, ensuring compatibility with current AMD motherboards. AMD's commitment to AM5 support until at least 2027 eliminates platform obsolescence concerns.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

Performance

Benchmarking reveals the 9950X3D's exceptional power. Note: All CPUs were tested on identical hardware, except the Ryzen 9 9950X (Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard, Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler). While this hardware difference impacts results, the effect is minimal, especially considering stock settings. Retesting is planned to further refine comparisons.

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: Cooler mounting issue with the initial 9950X test; retesting is pending.)

The 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 9950X3D, boasting 144MB of cache, delivers impressive performance. Even in creative workloads where the 9800X3D lags, the 9950X3D rivals top-tier processors. Its single-core performance is surprisingly competitive with the 9800X3D. Cinebench 1T scores show a 10% improvement (2,254 vs 2,033 points) and 3DMark CPU Profile scores place it near the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (1,280 vs 1,351 points).

Multi-threaded performance is where the 9950X3D truly excels, 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, its gaming performance gains make it worthwhile.

Gaming benchmarks highlight its strengths. In *Total War: Warhammer 3* (1080p, Ultra), it achieves 274 fps (with RTX 4090), surpassing the 9800X3D (254 fps) and Core Ultra 9 285K (255 fps). However, *Cyberpunk 2077* (1080p, Ultra, ray tracing off) shows a slight dip to 229 fps compared to the 9800X3D's 240 fps, yet still outperforms the Intel processor (165 fps).

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor, it doesn't automatically outperform all alternatives. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers excellent value at a significantly lower price ($479). The 9950X3D is best suited for users who demand top-tier performance in both gaming and creative applications (e.g., Photoshop, Premiere), showing a 15% improvement over the 9800X3D in such tasks. For pure gaming, investing the price difference in a better graphics card might be a wiser choice.

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