AMD Zen 5 Gaming CPUs Restocked: 9950X3D, 9900X3D, 9800X3D Available Now

If you're considering an upgrade to your computing setup, now is an excellent time to hop onto the AMD bandwagon. Earlier this year, AMD introduced the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and they've recently expanded their Zen 5 "X3D" lineup with two higher-end Ryzen 9 models: the 9950X3D priced at $699 and the 9900X3D at $599. These processors are currently leading the pack in gaming performance across both AMD and Intel platforms. For dedicated gamers looking to maximize their budget, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the ideal choice, freeing up funds for other components. However, content creators with a bit more to spend will find the Ryzen 9 processors exceptionally beneficial, thanks to their superior core count and cache, which significantly enhance performance in creative tasks.

Note: These processors are frequently in and out of stock, often leaning towards being out of stock.

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 who also enjoy gaming should look no further than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This powerhouse boasts a max boost clock of 5.7GHz with 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While its gaming performance edges out the 9800X3D by just a few percentage points, it significantly outperforms both the 9800X3D and Intel's offerings in productivity tasks.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas:

"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a formidable force in gaming, yet it's not universally superior to all other processors. For most users, the more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D at $479 will suffice. However, the 9950X3D is perfect for those who balance gaming with creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For pure gaming builds, consider saving the $220 for 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 X3D series processors are optimized for gaming, thanks to the innovative 3D V-Cache technology. Although all three CPUs share the same 3D V-Cache on a single CCD, resulting in similar gaming performance, slight variations are due to differences in clock speed. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D achieves a max boost clock of 5.2GHz with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of multitasking and creative work, its core count makes it less ideal for those tasks. However, it remains an exceptional choice for gamers, especially at its price point.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas:

"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D excels in gaming, making it a top recommendation over recent alternatives like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes performance, delivering an unbeatable gaming experience."

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 is the perfect choice for those engaged in creative work and gaming, yet need to stick to a budget that the 9950X3D exceeds. With a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it strikes a balance between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D. Although we haven't reviewed it yet, its specs suggest it will offer performance that's somewhere in between its siblings in productivity tasks and multi-core workloads. In gaming, it's expected to perform similarly to the other two.

AMD's Hot Streak with New CPUs and GPUs

If you've been holding off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD has in store, you've made a wise decision. AMD's Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are setting the standard for mid-range performance this generation. They deliver outstanding performance at a lower price point than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the RX 9070 XT at $600, though be aware that some manufacturers are increasing these prices. Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for detailed benchmarks.

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