If you're considering joining the AMD community with your next upgrade, the timing couldn't be better. In March, AMD unveiled the pinnacle of its Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Although this high-end processor quickly sold out and has been challenging to find, Amazon has recently restocked it at the original price of $699.00, though availability may be limited. This chip not only leads the pack in gaming performance but also outshines its predecessor, the 9800X3D, making it an excellent choice for creators.
The Creator's Choice: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU
Mostly out of stock since launch back in March
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D AM5 Desktop Processor
$699.00 at Amazon
Creative professionals who crave top-tier gaming performance need look no further than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This powerhouse offers a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a hefty 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While it edges out the 9800X3D in gaming by only a few percentage points, its productivity performance is unmatched among Zen 5 X3D chips and Intel's offerings.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D stands as the most powerful gaming processor available today, yet it's not universally superior. For most users, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at a much more accessible $479, is sufficient. However, the 9950X3D is tailored for gamers who also engage in creative tasks with applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it delivers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D."
The Gamer's Choice: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 Desktop Processor
$489.00 at Walmart $489.00 at Amazon
AMD's X3D series processors, optimized for gaming with AMD's 3D V-Cache technology, share similar gaming performance due to the cache being allocated to a single CCD. The differences are mainly in clock speeds. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with a max boost clock of 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache, is a formidable choice for gamers. While it can handle multitasking, rendering, and creative tasks, its core count limits its prowess in these areas compared to higher-end models.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D excels in gaming, making it a more compelling choice than recent alternatives like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a high-performance graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes your GPU's potential, delivering exceptional gaming performance at its price point."
