AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, hot on the heels of its Ryzen 7 9800X3D sibling, brings 3D V-Cache technology to a powerhouse 16-core, 32-thread processor. While undeniably overkill for most gamers, it effortlessly handles even the most demanding graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 and beyond. However, its $699 price tag and 170W power consumption make it a tough sell unless you're already committed to a high-end, high-cost gaming PC build. For most, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains the more practical choice.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D launched March 12th, with a starting price of $699. Note that this is a suggested retail price, and actual pricing may fluctuate based on market demand.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Photos

Specs and Features

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D utilizes the same Zen 5 cores as the standard 9950X, enhanced by the second-generation 3D V-Cache found in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination delivers exceptional multi-core performance alongside significantly improved gaming capabilities thanks to the expanded cache. Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 3D V-Cache is now positioned directly beneath the CPU cores, not above. This seemingly minor change drastically improves thermal performance. The closer proximity to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) allows for more efficient heat dissipation. AMD's performance algorithms leverage this thermal headroom, enabling faster, sustained clock speeds. This optimized placement also reduces data travel distance, minimizing latency. The 9950X3D boasts a massive 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache – the same as the previous generation's Ryzen 9 7950X3D, but far exceeding any non-X3D processor.

Both the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, although the 9950X boasts a higher potential PPT. Testing revealed both processors reaching a peak of 200W, but the 9950X3D maintained a lower peak temperature of 79°C (tested with a different cooler than the 9950X). Compatibility is ensured with any AM5 AMD motherboard, offering peace of mind with AMD's commitment to AM5 support until at least 2027.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

Performance

All CPUs were tested on identical hardware, except for the Ryzen 9 9950X (tested on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler). While this hardware difference impacts results, the effect is minimal, especially since all tests were conducted at stock settings. (Note: A mounting screw issue with the cooler used for the initial 9950X test will be addressed in future updates.)

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

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

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D's exceptional power, stemming from its 16 cores, 32 threads, and massive 144MB cache, is evident. It excels in creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lags, easily keeping pace with top-tier processors. Surprisingly, it also holds its own against the 9800X3D in single-core tasks. Cinebench 1T scores show a 10% improvement (2,254 vs 2,033 points), and the 3DMark CPU Profile test places it near the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (1,280 vs 1,351 points). In multi-threaded workloads, the 9950X3D shines, scoring 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test. While slightly behind the 9950X (41,123 points) and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (42,245 points), the gaming performance gains make the trade-off worthwhile. In *Total War: Warhammer 3* (1080p, Ultra), it achieves 274 fps (compared to 254 fps for the 9800X3D and 255 fps for the Core Ultra 9 285K). However, *Cyberpunk 2077* (1080p, Ultra, ray tracing off) shows a slight dip to 229 fps from the 9800X3D's 240 fps, but still significantly outperforms the Intel processor (165 fps).

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor, it doesn't automatically reign supreme. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers excellent performance at a significantly lower price ($479). The 9950X3D targets users who need both gaming and creative application performance (e.g., Photoshop, Premiere), offering a 15% improvement over the 9800X3D in these areas. For pure gaming, investing the extra $220 in a better graphics card might be a more beneficial upgrade.