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 16-core, 32-thread powerhouse. While undeniably overkill for most gamers, it effortlessly handles even the most demanding graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 and beyond. However, this immense power comes at a price—a hefty $699 and a 170W power draw. This makes it a difficult recommendation for anyone not already building a top-tier (and expensive) gaming rig. For most, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers superior value.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D launched March 12th, with a starting price of $699. This is a suggested retail price; actual pricing may vary based on market demand.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Photos

Specs and Features

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D leverages 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. A key difference from its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, is the 3D V-Cache's placement directly beneath the CPU cores, not above. This seemingly minor change dramatically improves thermal performance. The closer proximity to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) allows for more efficient heat dissipation. AMD's performance algorithms utilize this thermal headroom, resulting in faster, sustained clock speeds. This optimized placement also reduces data travel distance, lowering latency. The 9950X3D boasts a massive 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache—identical to the last-generation Ryzen 9 7950X3D and far exceeding non-X3D processors.

Both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, although the 9950X boasts a higher potential PPT. Testing revealed both processors peaking around 200W, but the 9950X3D maintained a lower peak temperature (79°C during testing), although tested on 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 underwent testing on identical hardware, with one exception: 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 considering all tests were conducted at stock settings. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D's impressive 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB cache deliver exceptional performance. It excels even in creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lags, rivaling top-tier processors. Surprisingly, the 9950X3D holds its own against the 9800X3D in single-core workloads. Cinebench 1T scores show a 10% improvement (2,254 vs 2,033 points), and 3DMark CPU Profile results place it close to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. Multi-threaded performance is where the 9950X3D truly shines, 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 justify the trade-off. 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 less impressive 229 fps, down from the 9800X3D's 240 fps, but still significantly faster than the Intel processor's 165 fps.

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?

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D might be the current gaming CPU king, but it doesn't automatically reign supreme. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers excellent performance at a significantly lower price ($479). The 9950X3D's target audience is gamers who also utilize creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it provides a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For pure gaming builds, investing the extra $220 in a better graphics card may yield better results.