AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, arriving just months after 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, its $699 price tag and 170W power consumption make it a less compelling option than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D for budget-conscious builders.

For those seeking a more balanced approach, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains a superior choice.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D launches March 12th, with a suggested price of $699. Note that AMD processor pricing can 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, mirroring the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This combination delivers exceptional multi-core performance alongside improved gaming capabilities thanks to the expanded cache.

Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 3D V-Cache is positioned directly beneath the CPU cores, not above. This seemingly minor change significantly impacts thermal performance. The Core Complex Die (CCD), the primary heat source, is now closer to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), facilitating more efficient heat dissipation. AMD's performance algorithms leverage this improved thermal headroom, allowing the 9950X3D to maintain higher clock speeds for extended periods.

This cache placement also reduces data travel distance, minimizing latency. The 9950X3D boasts 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache—identical to the 7950X3D and substantially more than any non-X3D processor.

Both the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D share a 170W TDP, although the 9950X has a higher potential PPT. Testing revealed both processors peaking around 200W, but the 9950X3D exhibited lower peak temperatures (79°C during testing), though tested with a different cooler than the 9950X.

Compatibility is ensured by the 9950X3D's use of the existing AM5 platform, supported by AMD until at least 2027.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – Benchmarks

Performance

All CPUs were tested on identical hardware, except for the Ryzen 9 9950X (Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard, Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler). While this hardware difference might affect results, the impact is likely minimal, especially with stock settings.

AMD Test Bench: GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090; Motherboard: Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero; 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 (Note: Ryzen 9 9950X testing involved a different cooler due to a mounting screw issue. Retesting is planned.)

The 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its impressive 144MB cache, delivers exceptional performance. It excels in creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lags, competing with top-tier CPUs.

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

Surprisingly, the 9950X3D performs well in single-core tasks, 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 where the 9950X3D truly 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) in some multi-threaded applications, the gaming performance gains justify the trade-off.

In *Total War: Warhammer 3* (1080p, Ultra settings), the 9950X3D achieves 274 fps with the RTX 4090, surpassing the 9800X3D (254 fps) and Core Ultra 9 285K (255 fps). However, *Cyberpunk 2077* (1080p, Ultra preset, ray tracing disabled) shows a slight dip to 229 fps from the 9800X3D's 240 fps, but still outperforms the Intel processor (165 fps).

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor, it's not universally superior. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers excellent value at $479. The 9950X3D is best suited for users who combine gaming with demanding creative applications (e.g., Photoshop, Premiere), showing a 15% performance improvement over the 9800X3D in such workloads. For pure gaming, investing the extra $220 in a better graphics card might yield better results.