AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review

Following the successful launch of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, AMD introduces the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor boasting 3D V-Cache technology. While undeniably powerful and capable of handling high-end graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090, its $699 price tag and 170W power consumption make it a less practical choice for most gamers compared to the more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D launched March 12th, with a suggested retail price of $699. 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 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache, similar to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination delivers exceptional multi-core performance and improved gaming capabilities due to the increased cache. Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 3D V-Cache is positioned directly beneath the CPU cores, resulting in improved thermal performance. This proximity to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) facilitates more efficient heat dissipation. AMD's performance algorithms leverage this thermal headroom, allowing for faster and more sustained clock speeds. This optimized placement also reduces data travel distance, minimizing latency. The 9950X3D boasts 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache—identical to the 7950X3D, significantly exceeding that of non-X3D processors.

Both the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, although the 9950X has a higher potential PPT. Testing revealed both processors peaked around 200W, but the 9950X3D maintained lower peak temperatures (79°C during testing), though tested on a different cooler. Compatibility is ensured with any AM5 AMD motherboard, offering long-term platform support (at least until 2027).

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

Performance

All CPUs were tested on identical hardware, except the Ryzen 9 9950X (tested on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler). While this hardware difference might slightly affect results, the impact is likely minimal, especially since all tests were conducted at stock settings. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D’s impressive 144MB cache and 16-core design result in exceptional performance. It consistently outperforms the 9800X3D in creative benchmarks. Surprisingly, it also demonstrates strong single-core performance, exceeding the 9800X3D by 10% in Cinebench 1T (2,254 vs 2,033 points) and approaching the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in 3DMark CPU Profile (1,280 vs 1,351 points). Multi-threaded performance is significantly boosted, scoring 40,747 points in Cinebench’s multi-core test. While slightly behind the 9950X and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in some multi-threaded applications, the gaming performance gains make it worthwhile. In gaming benchmarks, the 9950X3D achieved 274 fps in Total War: Warhammer 3 (1080p, Ultra settings) and 229 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra preset, ray tracing disabled), surpassing the competition. However, Cyberpunk 2077 results show a slight drop compared to the 9800X3D.

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

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor, it’s not necessarily the best option for everyone. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers comparable gaming performance at a significantly lower price ($479). The 9950X3D's advantage lies in its superior performance in creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere (15% improvement over the 9800X3D). For pure gaming builds, investing the price difference in a higher-end graphics card may yield better results.