AMD Zen 5 Gaming CPUs 9950X3D, 9900X3D, 9800X3D Now Available

If you're considering upgrading to AMD, now is an opportune moment to do so. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which launched earlier this year, is now joined by its higher-end Ryzen 9 siblings in the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D at $699 and the 9900X3D at $599. These processors are currently the top gaming chips available from both AMD and Intel. For pure gamers, the 9800X3D offers excellent value, allowing you to allocate funds elsewhere. Meanwhile, creators with a budget for high performance and a love for gaming will find the new Ryzen 9 processors advantageous due to their higher core counts and increased cache.

Note: Processors are frequently in and out of stock, often leaning towards out of stock.

The Creator's Choice: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

• $699.00 at Amazon
• $699.00 at Best Buy
• $699.00 at Newegg

Creative professionals seeking the best gaming chip should look no further than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This CPU features a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While it offers only a slight edge over the 9800X3D in gaming, it significantly outperforms both the other Zen 5 X3D chips and Intel's offerings in productivity tasks.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D stands as one of the most powerful gaming processors available, yet it doesn't dominate every aspect of performance. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, is more than sufficient for most users. The 9950X3D excels for those who both game and use creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, offering a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. However, for a dedicated gaming build, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card might be a smarter move."

The Gamer's Choice: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

• $479.00 at Amazon
• $479.00 at Best Buy
• $479.00 at Newegg

AMD's X3D series processors, enhanced by 3D V-Cache technology, are optimized for gaming. With the 3D V-cache on a single CCD, the gaming performance is consistent across the lineup, with minor variations due to clock speeds. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with its max boost clock of 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache, is an excellent choice for gaming. While it can handle multitasking and creative work, its core count limits its prowess in those areas.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers exceptional gaming performance, making it a top recommendation over other recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance, making it the ideal choice for gaming enthusiasts."

The Middleman: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

• $599.00 at Amazon
• $599.00 at Best Buy
• $599.00 at Newegg

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is ideal for those balancing creative work and gaming within a budget. With a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it's positioned between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in terms of performance. Although we haven't reviewed it yet, the specs suggest strong performance in productivity tasks and multi-core workloads, with gaming performance expected to be comparable to its siblings.

AMD's Hot Streak with New CPUs and GPUs

If you held off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to evaluate AMD's latest, you've made a wise decision. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are the new mid-range champions, offering superior performance at a lower price than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT at $600, though prices may fluctuate due to manufacturer adjustments. Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for detailed benchmarks.

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