If you're considering joining the AMD ecosystem for your next PC upgrade, the timing couldn't be better. Following the earlier launch of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D this year, AMD has introduced two higher-end Ryzen 9 models to the Zen 5 "X3D" family: the 9950X3D at $699 and the 9900X3D at $599. Together, these CPUs currently stand as the top gaming processors available from both Intel and AMD. Dedicated gamers will find the 9800X3D the ideal choice, freeing up budget for other components; creators with more demanding workloads and a love for gaming will appreciate the substantial performance gains from the new Ryzen 9 chips, thanks to their higher core counts and expanded cache.
Note: Processor availability has been inconsistent, with stock frequently selling out.
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
For creative professionals who also demand the ultimate gaming performance, this is the processor to choose without hesitation. The 9950X3D features a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache. In gaming, it's only marginally faster than the 9800X3D. For productivity applications, however, it significantly outpaces the other two Zen 5 X3D processors and any competing Intel chip.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D may be the most powerful gaming CPU available today, it doesn't automatically dominate every other processor in all scenarios. Most users will be perfectly served by the more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D at $479. The 9950X3D is really targeted at enthusiasts who game and also use creative software like Photoshop and Premiere, with the latter seeing up to a 15% performance gain over the 9800X3D. For a dedicated gaming PC, you're likely better off putting that extra $220 toward a more powerful graphics card."
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 are fine-tuned for gaming through the company's 3D V-Cache technology. Since all three models feature the 3D V-Cache on a single CCD, their gaming performance is remarkably similar, with minor variations stemming from clock speed differences. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D reaches a max boost clock of 5.2GHz and comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2 and L3 cache. It's fully capable of handling multitasking, rendering, and content creation, though its core count makes it less ideal for intensive productivity work. For pure gaming performance, especially at this price, it's an absolute beast.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers exceptional power in games, making it a more straightforward recommendation than other recent CPUs like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or the Ryzen 9 9900X. If you're building a system with a high-end graphics card, the 9800X3D is the best way to ensure you're maximizing the potential of your GPU."
The Balanced Option: 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 the perfect processor for those who do creative work and game, but have a budget that the 9950X3D exceeds. This new chip offers a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. While we haven't had the chance to review this specific model yet, its specifications place its performance squarely between the 9950X3D and the 9800X3D in productivity and multi-core tasks. For gaming, we anticipate its performance to be virtually identical to the other two models.
AMD Continues its Impressive Run with New CPUs and GPUs
If you waited on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see how AMD's new lineup would compare, your patience has paid off. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards have become the dominant mid-range options of this generation. Both cards deliver outstanding performance while maintaining a lower price than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, with the 9070 XT starting at $600 (though note that some manufacturers are implementing price increases). See our performance analysis in the Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review.
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