AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Performance Review

Just a few months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D hit the market, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has arrived, bringing its 3D V-Cache technology to a formidable 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor. This chip is a powerhouse, perfectly suited to pair with high-end graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or future models. However, with a steep price tag of $699 and a 170W power consumption, it's a luxury that might be overkill for most users. For those not looking to build a top-tier gaming rig, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains a more practical 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 processor prices can vary based on market demand.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Photos

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Specs and Features

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D leverages the same Zen 5 cores as the regular 9950X but enhances gaming performance with the new 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache technology, similar to that found in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination ensures robust multi-core performance alongside superior gaming capabilities due to an expanded cache.

A notable design change from its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, is the placement of the 3D V-Cache directly beneath the CPU cores. This strategic positioning not only improves thermal performance by allowing better heat dissipation through the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) but also reduces data latency due to shorter travel distances. The 9950X3D boasts a massive 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache, matching the previous generation's capacity but significantly outpacing non-X3D processors.

Both the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, though the original 9950X can potentially consume more power. In testing, both processors peaked at 200W, but the 9950X3D maintained a lower peak temperature of 79°C, thanks to a different cooling setup. Importantly, the 9950X3D is compatible with existing AM5 AMD motherboards, with AMD promising support for this socket until at least 2027.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

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Performance

All CPUs were tested on identical hardware setups, with the exception of 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

A hardware issue occurred when a mounting screw for the Asus ROG Ryujin III 360mm cooler broke during the switch to the 9950X. Retesting will be conducted in the coming weeks, and any significant changes will be updated here.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of cache, delivers exceptional performance. It excels in creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lagged, matching the performance of the most powerful chips available.

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

In single-core workloads, the 9950X3D shows a 10% improvement over the 9800X3D, scoring 2,254 points in Cinebench 1T compared to 2,033. In the 3DMark CPU Profile test, it achieves 1,280 points, closely trailing the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's 1,351 points.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test, slightly behind the 9950X and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K but optimized for gaming performance. In gaming benchmarks, it achieves 274 fps in Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, outperforming the 9800X3D and Core Ultra 9 285K. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with the Ultra preset and ray tracing disabled, it delivers 229 fps, slightly below the 9800X3D but still significantly faster than the Intel competitor.

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor available, it may not be the best choice for everyone. For most gamers, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, offers a more cost-effective solution. The 9950X3D is ideal for users who need both high-end gaming and creative application performance, such as in Photoshop and Premiere, where it shows a 15% improvement over the 9800X3D. For those focused solely on gaming, investing the price difference in a better graphics card might be a wiser choice.