AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: In-Depth Review and Performance Analysis

Just a few months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D made its debut, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D has arrived with its advanced 3D V-Cache technology integrated into a powerhouse 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor. While this might be overkill for the average user, it's perfectly poised to complement high-end graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or future equivalents, ensuring top-tier performance.

However, this level of power comes at a steep price of $699 and a 170W power budget, making the Ryzen 9 9950X3D a challenging recommendation for anyone not building an ultra-high-end gaming PC. For most gamers, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains the more sensible 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 builds on the Zen 5 cores of the standard 9950X, enhanced by the second-generation 3D V-Cache technology also found in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination ensures robust multi-core performance with enhanced gaming capabilities thanks to a significantly increased cache size.

A key innovation in the 9950X3D is the placement of the 3D V-Cache directly beneath the CPU cores, unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, where it was positioned above. This design change not only improves thermal performance but also reduces data latency, as the cache is closer to the cores. The result is a total of 144MB of L2 and L3 cache, matching the previous generation but still outpacing non-X3D processors.

Despite sharing a 170W TDP with the Ryzen 9 9950X, the 9950X3D's lower operating temperatures allow for sustained higher performance. In testing, both processors peaked at 200W, but the 9950X3D reached a cooler maximum of 79°C.

One of the advantages of the 9950X3D is its compatibility with existing AM5 motherboards, with AMD promising support for this socket until at least 2027, ensuring future-proofing for your investment.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

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Performance

Before delving into the performance metrics, it's important to note that all CPUs were tested on the same hardware setup, with the exception of the Ryzen 9 9950X, which was tested on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler. While this variance might affect results slightly, 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 9950X was tested on a different setup. I plan to retest the processors soon and will update this section if significant differences arise.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores, 32 threads, and substantial 144MB cache, delivers exceptional performance. In creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lagged, the 9950X3D holds its own against the most powerful processors 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

In single-core performance, the 9950X3D outperforms the 9800X3D by 10%, achieving 2,254 points in Cinebench 1T compared to 2,033. In the 3DMark CPU Profile test, it scores 1,280 points, closely trailing the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's 1,351 points.

In multi-threaded workloads, the 9950X3D shines with 40,747 points in Cinebench's multi-core test, though it slightly underperforms compared to the 9950X and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in some applications. However, the trade-off is a significant boost in gaming performance.

In gaming, the 9950X3D delivers 274 fps in Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, outpacing the 9800X3D and Core Ultra 9 285K. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p without ray tracing, it achieves 229 fps, slightly behind the 9800X3D but still ahead of the Intel processor.

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D stands as one of the most potent gaming processors available, it's not universally necessary. For most users, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at $479 offers excellent value and performance. The 9950X3D is best suited for enthusiasts who require both high-end gaming and creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance edge over the 9800X3D. For pure gaming setups, saving the additional $220 for a superior graphics card might be the wiser choice.