AMD has revealed the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D at CES 2025, two top-end gaming processors that includes Team Red’s 3D V-Cache know-how.
These processors observe the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D that launched again in November 2024, however with extra cores, extra cache, and a better clock price. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread monster of a processor with 144MB of cache, which ought to make it one hell of a gaming chip.
AMD claims that these new processors boast as much as 64% higher gaming efficiency than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, and as much as 54% quicker than the last-generation AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D. This is probably going attributable to 3D V-Cache tech, which permits AMD to print its cache in a layer beneath the precise CPU cores, reducing latency dramatically, and giving it room for extra cache than would in any other case be potential.
I’ll have to attend to get these processors within the lab to see how properly they really carry out, however given how briskly the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is, it is secure to say that these are going to be an ideal match for a high-end gaming PC.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D might be accessible someday within the subsequent few months, although AMD has not shared pricing data fairly but.
3D V-Cache?
Cache is extremely necessary for gaming efficiency. Your CPU shops the information it must entry most shortly within the cache, and with how large fashionable PC video games are, you possibly can by no means have an excessive amount of quick reminiscence. The solely downside is, as a result of it is situated on the CPU itself, there is not room for gigabytes of capability. Instead, you will sometimes see fashionable CPUs with just a few megabytes of cache accessible. The 3D V-Cache on these X3D processors permits AMD to supply almost double the cache of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.
This additional cache capability can immediately result in higher gaming efficiency, as there may be much less information that must be offloaded to system reminiscence, or RAM – which is considerably slower.
Just just like the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the 9950X3D and 9900X3D additionally provide enhancements over their previous-generation counterparts. This is generally attributable to the place the cache is situated on the processor. With this technology, AMD moved the cache to a layer beneath the CPU cores, moderately than above them. This means the CPU cores, which usually get a lot hotter below load, are immediately below the metallic lid of the processor, which suggests extra direct contact together with your CPU cooler. This results in decrease CPU temperatures, which finally ends up which means higher efficiency via Boost.
Keep in thoughts that I want to check these processors earlier than I can really suggest them, however they do seem like they will be a number of the finest gaming chips available on the market, particularly in the event that they’re priced appropriately. Of course, AMD hasn’t shared pricing data, so we don’t know if these processors are literally going to be an excellent worth for the cash but. Only time will inform.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC parts queen. You can observe her @Jackiecobra
