Just a couple of months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D graced us with its presence, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D brings its 3D V-Cache expertise to a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor that’s completely overkill for most individuals, however could have no downside maintaining with highly effective graphics playing cards just like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or no matter comes subsequent.
However, all of these cores include a excessive $699 asking value and a 170W energy funds, making this processor exhausting to advocate to anybody who isn’t already constructing an extremely highly effective (and costly) gaming PC. For anybody else, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D simply makes extra sense.
Specs and Features
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D primarily takes the identical Zen 5 cores behind the common 9950X and pairs them with the brand new 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache discovered within the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. That means you continue to get glorious multi-core efficiency, however paired with higher gaming efficiency due to a extra capacious cache.
Unlike the Ryzen 9 7950X3D that preceded it, although, the 3D V-Cache is now bodily positioned beneath the precise CPU cores, relatively than above them. This looks as if a minor change, to make sure, however it finally ends up making a significant distinction in thermal efficiency. Because the CCD, or Core Complex Die, is what produces a lot of the CPU’s warmth, having it nearer to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), means it’s capable of dissipate warmth extra simply. And with AMD’s efficiency algorithm taking thermal headroom under consideration, these decrease temperatures imply the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is ready to run sooner, longer.
The bodily location of the cache is about extra than simply temperatures, although. Because it’s straight underneath the CPU cores, there’s much less distance for the info to journey, which cuts down on latency. Plus, as a result of the cache will get more room, AMD was capable of shove in a ton of it, with the 9950X3D having 144MB of mixed L2 and L3 cache. That’s the identical quantity as within the last-generation Ryzen 9 7950X3D, however it’s nonetheless way more than you’re going to seek out in any non-X3D processor.
Both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D have the identical 170W TDP, although the unique 9950X has the next potential PPT. Though, in my testing, I discovered that each processors ended up peaking at 200W. Though, the 9950X3D did have a decrease peak temperature, solely reaching 79°C through the check suite – although it was examined on a special cooler than the unique 9950X.
Luckily, as a result of the 9950X3D isn’t utilizing a brand new chipset, it is suitable with any AM5 AMD motherboard. AMD has come out and stated it might assist this socket till at the very least 2027, so that you gained’t have to fret about getting locked right into a lifeless platform.
Performance
Before I dive into efficiency outcomes, I’ve to notice that each one CPUs had been examined on the identical {hardware}, with one exception: the Ryzen 9 9950X. That was examined on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler. This distinction in {hardware} will have an effect on efficiency, however it’s not more likely to be a significant distinction, particularly since all the pieces is examined at inventory settings.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero; Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero (9800X3D)
32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo @ 6,000MHz
SSD
1TB PNY CS3140 Gen4x4 NVMe SSD
CPU Cooler
Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme
This occurred largely as a result of one of many mounting screws for the Asus ROG Ryujin III 360mm cooler I used to be utilizing snapped when swapping to the 9950X. I’ll retest the processors within the coming weeks, and if something is considerably totally different I’ll you’ll want to replace this part.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor with a completely ridiculous 144MB of cache, so it shouldn’t be too shocking that it’s extremely highly effective. Even in artistic benchmarks, the place the 9800X3D fell behind, the 9950X3D has no downside maintaining with essentially the most highly effective chips available on the market.
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
What’s shocking is how nicely the 9950X3D holds up towards 9800X3D in single-core workloads. For instance, in Cinebench 1T, the 9950X3D will get 2,254 factors, in comparison with 2,033 factors, making for a ten% enchancment. Then, within the 3DMark CPU Profile check, the 9950X3D scores 1,280 factors, which is available in putting distance to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K’s 1,351 factors.
Of course, in multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is actually capable of stretch its legs, scoring 40,747 factors in Cinebench’s multi-core check. Just just like the 9800X3D, the 9950X3D does lose some top-end efficiency in multi-threaded functions, falling wanting the 41,123 factors from the 9950X and 42,245 factors from the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, however it’s price it for the increase in gaming efficiency.
In Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, the 9950X3D is ready to get 274 fps when paired with the RTX 4090. Compared to 254 fps from the 9800X3D and 255 from the Core Ultra 9 285K, the 9950X3D simply takes the crown right here. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with the Ultra preset and ray tracing disabled, the 9950X3D delivers 229 fps, down from 240 fps from the 9800X3D. That’s a disappointing consequence, however it’s nonetheless method sooner than the 165 fps from the competing Intel processor.
Overkill?
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D may be essentially the most highly effective gaming processor available on the market proper now, however that doesn’t imply it has a de facto lead on each different chip available on the market. Most individuals could have no downside getting by with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which simply so occurs to be a lot way more inexpensive at $479.
Instead, the 9950X3D is geared in direction of avid gamers that each play video games and use artistic apps like Photoshop and Premiere, the latter of which sees a 15% efficiency enchancment over the 9800X3D. For a pure gaming PC construct, although, you’re most likely higher off saving that further $220 for a greater graphics card.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC parts queen. You can observe her @Jackiecobra
