If you're considering upgrading to AMD, now is an excellent time to do so. Alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which debuted earlier this year, AMD has released two higher-end Ryzen 9 models in the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D, priced at $699, and the 9900X3D, available for $599. These processors are considered the top gaming chips on the market, surpassing even Intel's offerings. For pure gamers, the 9800X3D is the best choice, allowing you to allocate funds elsewhere. However, creators with a budget for high-end performance and a love for gaming will find the new Ryzen 9 processors particularly appealing due to their increased core count and cache.
Note: Processors are frequently going in and out of stock, with more time spent out of stock.
Creative professionals who also seek the best gaming chip should look no further than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This processor boasts 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 in gaming performance over the 9800X3D, it significantly outperforms both the 9800X3D and Intel's offerings in productivity tasks.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor available, but it's not the best choice for everyone. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, is more than sufficient for most users. The 9950X3D is ideal for gamers who also use creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For a gaming-focused build, however, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card might be a wiser choice."
AMD's X3D series processors are optimized for gaming thanks to the 3D V-Cache technology. Since all three CPUs feature the 3D V-Cache on a single CCD, gaming performance is similar across the board, with minor differences due to clock speed variations. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers a max boost clock of 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of multitasking, rendering, and creation, its core count limits its effectiveness in these areas. However, it's an exceptional choice for gaming, especially at its price point.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D excels in gaming, 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 an excellent choice for gaming enthusiasts."
The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the ideal choice for those who engage in creative work and enjoy gaming but need to stick to a budget. With a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it strikes a balance between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D. While we haven't reviewed this model yet, its specs suggest it will perform well in productivity tasks and multi-core workloads, with gaming performance expected to be comparable to the other two models.
If you've been holding off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD has to offer, you've made a wise decision. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions, offering exceptional 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 vary 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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