AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Performance Reviewed

Just a few months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D made its debut, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has arrived, bringing its 3D V-Cache technology to a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor. While it's certainly overkill for most users, this powerhouse will effortlessly keep pace with high-end graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or its successors. However, with a steep $699 price tag and a 170W power budget, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a hard sell for anyone not constructing a top-tier, high-cost gaming PC. For the majority of gamers, the more budget-friendly Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains the smarter choice.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D will be available starting March 12, with a suggested retail 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 combines the Zen 5 cores of the regular 9950X with the second-generation 3D V-Cache technology found in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This blend offers exceptional multi-core performance alongside enhanced gaming capabilities, thanks to a larger cache. A notable design change from its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, is the placement of the 3D V-Cache below the CPU cores. This adjustment not only improves thermal performance by positioning the Core Complex Die closer to the Integrated Heat Spreader for better heat dissipation but also reduces data latency by shortening the travel distance to the cache. The 9950X3D boasts a whopping 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache, matching the previous generation but significantly outpacing non-X3D processors.

Both the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, although the original 9950X has a higher potential PPT. In testing, both processors peaked at around 200W, but the 9950X3D maintained a lower peak temperature of 79°C, thanks to a different cooler. Importantly, the 9950X3D is compatible with any AM5 AMD motherboard, ensuring longevity as AMD commits to supporting this socket until at least 2027.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

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Performance

Before delving into 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 hardware variation may affect performance, but the impact is expected to be minimal, especially since 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

Due to a hardware issue with the cooler, the processors will be retested 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. In creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lagged, the 9950X3D holds its own against 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

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

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

In Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, the 9950X3D achieves 274 fps when paired with the RTX 4090, 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, the 9950X3D delivers 229 fps, slightly less than the 9800X3D's 240 fps but still significantly faster than the 165 fps from the Intel processor.

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor available, it's not necessarily the best choice for everyone. Most gamers will find the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at a more affordable $479, perfectly adequate. The 9950X3D is best suited for users who not only game but also engage in creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For those building a gaming-focused PC, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card might be a wiser investment.