AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Performance Unveiled

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 truly overkill for most users. However, it effortlessly keeps pace with powerful graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or its future counterparts. While this processor boasts exceptional capabilities, its $699 price tag and 170W power budget make it a challenging choice for anyone not building a top-tier gaming PC. For most users, the more budget-friendly Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains the smarter choice.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D becomes available on March 12, with a starting price of $699. Keep in mind that AMD's processors can vary in price based on demand, so it's wise to stay updated on current market trends before making a purchase.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Photos

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Specs and Features

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D harnesses the power of the same Zen 5 cores found in the standard 9950X, enhanced by the new 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache from the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination delivers stellar multi-core performance and superior gaming capabilities thanks to an expanded cache. A notable change from its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, is the positioning of the 3D V-Cache beneath the CPU cores. This seemingly minor adjustment significantly improves thermal performance by placing the heat-generating Core Complex Die (CCD) closer to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), thus facilitating better heat dissipation. This design not only aids in temperature management but also reduces data travel distance, lowering latency and allowing for a massive 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache.

Both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, although the original 9950X can reach a higher PPT. My testing revealed that both processors peak at around 200W, with the 9950X3D maintaining a lower peak temperature of 79°C, thanks to testing on a different cooler. Fortunately, the 9950X3D is compatible with any AM5 AMD motherboard, and with AMD's commitment to support this socket until at least 2027, you're assured of long-term platform viability.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

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Performance

Before delving into the performance results, it's important to note that all CPUs were tested on the same hardware, except for the Ryzen 9 9950X, which was tested on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler. This slight variation in hardware should not significantly impact the results, as all tests were conducted at 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

The testing process encountered a minor hiccup when one of the mounting screws for the Asus ROG Ryujin III 360mm cooler snapped during the swap to the 9950X. I plan to retest the processors in the coming weeks and will update this section if there are significant changes in the results.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores, 32 threads, and a staggering 144MB of cache, showcases formidable power. It excels in creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D might lag behind, competing well with the top chips on the market.

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

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D demonstrates impressive single-core performance, scoring 2,254 points in Cinebench 1T compared to the 9800X3D's 2,033 points, marking a 10% improvement. In the 3DMark CPU Profile test, it achieves 1,280 points, nearly matching the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's score of 1,351 points.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D shines, reaching 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test. While it slightly trails the 9950X's 41,123 points and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's 42,245 points, the trade-off is justified by its enhanced gaming performance.

In gaming, the 9950X3D delivers 274 fps in Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, outperforming the 9800X3D's 254 fps and the Core Ultra 9 285K's 255 fps. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with the Ultra preset and ray tracing disabled, it achieves 229 fps, falling short of the 9800X3D's 240 fps but still significantly better than the Intel's 165 fps.

Overkill?

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D might be the most powerful gaming processor available, but it doesn't automatically outshine every other chip on the market. For most users, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at a more accessible $479, is a practical choice. The 9950X3D is best suited for gamers who also engage in creative tasks like using Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For a purely gaming-focused build, saving the extra $220 for a superior graphics card might be the wiser decision.