AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D review – a barnstorming gaming CPU, if you can afford it

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D ought to actually be worrying Intel. I’ve simply been placing it via its paces for this evaluation, and I am completely blown away by it. There actually is not any desktop CPU work this chip cannot do, and it seemingly laughs on the competitors whereas it is doing it. Gaming? Huge tick. Closely multi-threaded productiveness work? Huge tick. Heck, even its working temperature and energy draw are surprisingly low. The one issue counting towards it’s its sky-high value, however even that is not unreasonable for the efficiency on supply.

That does not imply the most recent flagship AMD CPU is the most effective chip for everybody, although. In case your high precedence is gaming, the acclaimed AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D provides the identical efficiency for a cheaper price, and, let’s face it, this eight-core CPU covers the overwhelming majority of individuals’s multi-threading wants as effectively. However should you do quite a lot of parallel quantity crunching, similar to video encoding or 3D rendering, and also you additionally need the most effective gaming efficiency, the 9950X3D is now going onto our greatest gaming CPU information because the chip that may do all of it.

Specs

The specs of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D make for a curious hybrid – it isn’t merely two Ryzen 7 9800X3Ds smooshed collectively in a single package deal. As a substitute, it has one eight-core chiplet die (CCD) with a 64MB slice of AMD’s 3D V-cache sat beneath it, and one eight-core CCD that has no additional cache in any respect – simply the usual 32MB of L3 cache you often get with an eight-core AMD Zen 5 CPU. Which means solely eight of the cores have direct entry to the 3D V-cache, however that should not be an enormous deal, because the overwhelming majority of video games do not use greater than eight cores anyway.

In the meantime, the dearth of 3D V-cache on the opposite eight cores offers AMD some thermal headroom to considerably enhance their peak clock pace. This non-X3D chiplet can enhance to as much as 5.7GHz, giving it a 500MHz clock pace profit over a pure X3D CPU such because the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. The concept is that this CPU then offers the most effective of each worlds – eight cores with 3D V-cache for gaming, and the flexibility to interact an additional eight cores with a better clock pace for functions.

There are all types of rumors about AMD making a pure X3D 16-core gaming CPU, the place all 16 cores have entry to the 3D V-cache chip, as every eight-core chiplet has a 3D V-cache chip on it, making for an enormous 192MB whole of L3 cache. Nonetheless, it is value noting that the advantages of this chip could be restricted – the ensuing decrease clock pace would damage multi-threaded efficiency, and there could be restricted beneficial properties in video games, as so few video games use greater than eight cores. I would argue that AMD has bought the steadiness proper with this chip, as we’ll see from the benchmarks later.

Different factors of notice within the specs checklist are the 32 threads, as all 16 of this Zen 5 CPU’s cores have Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) tech enabled, not like Intel’s newest Arrow Lake chips. In the meantime, the 170W thermal design energy (TDP) is considerably increased than the 150W of the 9800X3D, due to these additional eight cores with their increased enhance clock.

As such, you may want a good cooler to maintain this CPU beneath management. You may try our information to purchasing the most effective CPU cooler to seek out the most effective one on your wants – I would suggest no less than a 240mm AIO cooler for this chip, and a 360mm mannequin might be even higher.

How we take a look at

I’ve put the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D via our common benchmark suite, utilizing an MSI X870E Carbon WiFi take a look at motherboard, and I’ve additionally retested all the opposite present CPUs we have within the lab, with a purpose to be sure that the comparability outcomes are updated. All of the CPU take a look at rigs use the identical 32GB of (2 x 16GB) G.Talent TridentZ 5 Neo RGB 6,000MHz, CL28 RAM, in addition to a 2TB WD Black SN850X SSD, Corsair H100x 240mm AIO cooler, Corsair RM1000x Shift PSU, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Version graphics card.

All our checks have been performed utilizing Home windows 11 24H2, with the motherboard flashed to the most recent BIOS model, which was model 7E49v1A64, with AGESA PI 1.2.0.3g, on the time of testing. The comparability Intel CPU checks within the graphs beneath have been performed utilizing an Asus Z790 Darkish Hero motherboard for LGA1700 CPUs, and an Asus TUF Z890-Plus WiFi was used to check the LGA1851 chips.

Recreation benchmarks

I am not going to beat across the bush right here – the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a incredible gaming CPU, and its efficiency is mostly on par with that of the 9800X3D. Let’s begin with Far Cry 6 at 1,920 x 1,080 with Excessive settings, which is a take a look at that responds rather well to additional CPU energy, notably additional cache.

As you may see within the graph beneath, the 9950X3D matches the 9800X3D’s common, and its 1fps decrease minimal is throughout the margin of error – each CPUs are clearly successful chips right here. Comparatively, the last-gen X3D chips common 192-195fps, whereas the Core Extremely 7 265K lags a good method behind at simply 173fps.

The distinction between CPUs on this sport is much less pronounced if you enhance the settings to Extremely, however the Zen 5 X3D CPUs are nonetheless undoubtedly main the pack. On this case, the 9950X3D was even somewhat faster than the 9800X3D, with a incredible common of 190fps – a end result that is nonetheless a great 26fps in entrance of the Core Extremely 7 265K, and 11fps forward of last-gen X3D CPUs.

Subsequent comes Cyberpunk 2077, which once more responds rather well to AMD’s newest tech. Operating the sport at 1,920 x 1,080 with the Excessive graphics preset enabled, the 9950X3D averages 230fps, with a minimal of 187fps – a end result that is in keeping with the 9800X3D and Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and likewise a good bit forward of the last-gen 7950X3D. It is also effectively forward of the Core Extremely 7 265K, which averages simply 207fps with a minimal of 146fps.

The 9950X3D nonetheless holds up effectively if you transfer extra of the burden from the CPU to the GPU, and run the sport with the Extremely ray tracing preset and DLSS on the High quality setting. The 9950X3D cannot fairly catch the eight-core pure X3D chips on this take a look at, however its common is simply 3fps behind the 9800X3D, and it is once more effectively forward of the Core Extremely 7 265K. Once more, there is a noticeable distinction between the efficiency of the 9950X3D and its predecessor, the 7950X3D, at these settings, notably with regards to the minimal.

There’s considered one of our sport checks the place Intel’s newest chips have the higher hand, nonetheless, and that is the Complete Warfare: Warhammer III Battle benchmark. On this take a look at, the 9950X3D got here second to the Core Extremely 7 265K, however solely by 4fps, and it matched the 9800X3D on this take a look at too.

Curiously, nonetheless, this sport’s Mirrors of Insanity benchmark, which sees a great deal of characters being flung across the scene in whirlwinds, prefers the X3D chips. The 9950X3D places in a powerful displaying right here, with a median of 129fps, though its minimal of 84fps lags behind the outcomes from the 9800X3D and Core Extremely 7 265K. Once more, although, it is faster than the last-gen X3D CPUs.

Lastly, our F1 24 benchmark is not massively impacted by CPU efficiency, however the 9950X3D is nonetheless the chief of the pack right here, with a class-leading common of 159fps and a minimal of 134fps, placing it forward of the 9800X3D. The latter end result is an efficient 9fps forward of the last-gen 7950X3D, and whereas the variations right here aren’t big, the 9950X3D is clearly a powerful gaming CPU.

Utility benchmarks

After all, you do not purchase a 16-core CPU only for gaming, and the principle advantage of the 9950X3D over the 9800X3D is that it might additionally churn via closely multi-threaded workloads like a knife via butter. That is ably demonstrated by its Cinebench R23 multi-core results of 42,056, which is an enormous 6,342 factors forward of the 7950X3D, and likewise effectively forward of the end result from the 24-core Core i9 14900K. Unsurprisingly, it is also enormously faster than the 23,265 from the eight-core 9800X3D.

You see an analogous lead within the newest Cinebench R24 multi-core benchmark too, with the 9950X3D once more main the cost with an outstanding rating of two,359, in comparison with 2,110 for the Core i9 14900K, 2,039 for the 7950X3D, and simply 1,361 for the eight-core 9800X3D. It is fairly attainable that the Intel Core Extremely 9 285K may current a problem on this take a look at, given the sturdy efficiency of the 20-core Core Extremely 7 265K in comparison with the last-gen Core i7 14700K on this take a look at, nevertheless it would not be capable of compete with the 9950X3D’s gaming efficiency.

It isn’t simply multi-threaded software efficiency the place the 9950X3D excels, although. Due to its Zen 5 structure and 5.7GHz peak clock pace enhance, it is also a dab hand at single-threaded work. Once more, it is forward of each different CPU within the lab within the Cinebench R23 single-core take a look at, with its 2,276 end result even beating the clocked-up Core i9 14900K.

Likewise, the 9950X3D can be (simply) forward of the Core Extremely 7 265K within the newest Cinebench R24 single-core benchmark, with its additional clock pace serving to it get to a rating of 137, in comparison with simply 132 on the 9800X3D.

Energy draw

With its 16 cores, excessive clock pace, and TDP of 170W, I wasn’t anticipating the 9950X3D to rule the facility draw charts, nevertheless it truly holds up rather well when it comes to effectivity. With all its 16 cores maxed out operating Cinebench, our system drew 333W from the principle with the 9950X3D put in, and whereas that is considerably greater than the 9800X3D, or certainly the extremely environment friendly Core Extremely 7 265K, it is nonetheless a great 100W lower than our Core i9 14900K take a look at rig. That is a great end result when you think about the large multi-threaded efficiency on supply.

In the meantime, in our Cyberpunk 2077 gaming take a look at, our system drew 496W from the mains with the 9950X3D put in. Once more, that is a relatively excessive end result – the 9800X3D is rather more environment friendly right here for a similar primary efficiency. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless beneath 500W in a system with an RTX 4080, and it is a good 61W decrease than the facility draw with the 14900K.

Temperature

Surprisingly, the 9950X3D does not generate an excessive amount of warmth when it is operating at peak load. The cool-running Intel Core Extremely 7 265K guidelines the waves right here, however the 9950X3D was additionally simply tamed by our 240mm Corsair AIO liquid cooler. When operating Cinebench, the height temperature of 80°C is effectively beneath the scorching temperature of the 14th-gen Raptor Lake chips with the identical cooler, and it is also a great 4°C cooler than its predecessor, the 7950X3D.

In video games, you are taking a look at a peak temperature of 72°C, which is once more cooler than the 7950X3D and Intel 14th-gen chips, but in addition 10°C hotter than the Core Extremely 7 265K, and 5°C hotter than the 9800X3D. You may want a good CPU cooler to maintain the 9950X3D in test, however a 240mm AIO cooler will do the job superb.

Worth

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D value is $699.99 at MSRP, and it often goes for round $670 on Amazon. The value is the one sticking level about this CPU, as there is no getting round the truth that it is extraordinarily costly. As such, you could weigh up whether or not you actually need its distinctive mixture of 3D V-cache video games and 16 sturdy Zen 5 cores for multi-threaded work. It can save you some huge cash by simply shopping for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as a substitute, and it’ll nonetheless be lots quick sufficient for most individuals’s wants, whereas largely matching the 9950X3D’s gaming tempo.

In the meantime, if multi-threading is your high precedence, and you are not that bothered about video games, Intel’s cheaper Core Extremely chips ship a great deal of multi-threading energy, whereas not drawing as a lot energy or producing as a lot warmth.

Options

Intel Core Extremely 7 265K

Whereas we have been lower than enamored by this Intel Arrow Lake chip once we first reviewed it, our latest Core Extremely 7 265K retest confirmed that this CPU is now not a horrible choice. No, it isn’t as quick as AMD’s chips in most sport benchmarks, nevertheless it’s now not lagging enormously behind in video games. Additionally, in case your major precedence is multi-threaded work, the 265K handles it rather well for a surprisingly low-cost value, whereas additionally operating cool and never consuming your PSU for breakfast.

Learn our full Intel Core Extremely 7 265K evaluation.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

If gaming is your high precedence, then you may get the identical primary gaming efficiency because the 9950X3D from the 9800X3D for a lot much less cash. Plus, whereas it is nowhere close to as quick because the 9950X3D in multi-threaded work, you may solely profit from this additional pace should you frequently use your PC for closely multi-threaded workloads, similar to 3D rendering and video encoding. Should you primarily need a gaming chip, the 9800X3D is less expensive and principally provides the identical efficiency.

Learn our full AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D evaluation.

Verdict

It may need a stratospheric price ticket, however AMD is aware of it might cost $699 if it might genuinely give you the most effective CPU in the marketplace, and the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is certainly that chip. Providing the most effective of each worlds, the 9950X3D is the CPU that may flip its hand to something. Its gaming efficiency is true up there with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and it makes an entire mockery of Intel’s Arrow Lake chips with regards to video games.

In the meantime, its software efficiency leads the charts, with its 16 Zen 5 cores making mincemeat of closely multi-threaded workloads, and its excessive clock pace giving it a leg up in single-threaded work. It does not even run ridiculously sizzling, contemplating how a lot energy is on faucet, and its energy draw is significantly decrease than that of Intel’s top-end Raptor Lake CPUs from the final technology.

This CPU is not for everybody – should you solely wish to play video games, you may get virtually no profit from the additional eight cores, and I counsel you to purchase the 9800X3D as a substitute. You can too get respectable multi-threaded efficiency from Intel’s newest CPUs, in addition to AMD’s normal Ryzen 9 9950X with out 3D V-cache, should you’re not bothered about video games. Should you actually need a CPU that may do all of it, although, the best choice is now undoubtedly the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, and it is a deserved winner of our Excellence award.

That brings me to the top of my 9950X3D evaluation, however should you’re considering of upgrading to this CPU, ensure you learn our full information to purchasing the most effective gaming motherboard, so that you can provide it a great house.