AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Performance Benchmarks Revealed

Following hot on the heels of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D brings 16 cores and 32 threads of 3D V-Cache powered gaming prowess. While undeniably overkill for most, it effortlessly handles even the most demanding graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 and beyond. However, this power comes at a premium: a $699 price tag and a 170W power consumption make it a difficult recommendation unless you're building a truly high-end (and expensive) gaming rig. For most, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains the more practical choice.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is available March 12th, starting at $699. This is a suggested retail price; actual pricing may vary depending 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 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache technology, mirroring the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This delivers exceptional multi-core performance alongside boosted gaming capabilities thanks to the expanded cache. Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 3D V-Cache is now positioned directly beneath the CPU cores. This seemingly minor change significantly improves thermal performance. The closer proximity to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) facilitates more efficient heat dissipation. AMD's performance algorithms utilize this thermal headroom, enabling faster, sustained clock speeds.

The cache's location offers benefits beyond temperature management. Reduced data travel distance translates to lower latency. The increased space allows for a substantial 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache—matching the last-generation Ryzen 9 7950X3D and significantly 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 reaching approximately 200W peak power consumption. However, the 9950X3D exhibited a lower peak temperature (79°C during testing), though tested on a different cooler than the 9950X. Importantly, compatibility with existing AM5 motherboards is ensured, leveraging AMD's commitment to AM5 support 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 with Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler). While this hardware difference impacts results, the effect is likely minimal, especially given stock settings. A future retest will address this minor discrepancy.

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

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

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D's 16 cores, 32 threads, and massive 144MB cache deliver exceptional performance. It excels in creative benchmarks where the 9800X3D lags, consistently matching top-tier processors. Surprisingly, it also holds its own against the 9800X3D in single-core tasks, showing a 10% improvement 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), 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). *Cyberpunk 2077* (1080p, Ultra, ray tracing disabled) shows a slight dip to 229 fps from the 9800X3D's 240 fps, but still significantly outpaces the Intel processor's 165 fps.

Overkill?

While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor, it isn't universally superior. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers excellent performance at a significantly lower price ($479). The 9950X3D's appeal lies in its suitability for users who combine gaming with demanding 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 might yield better results.