Considering an AMD upgrade? Now's the perfect time. Following the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's debut, AMD has unleashed its top-tier Ryzen 9 siblings: the 9950X3D ($699) and 9900X3D ($599), both boasting Zen 5 "X3D" architecture. These processors collectively represent the pinnacle of gaming performance across both AMD and Intel. Pure gamers should opt for the cost-effective 9800X3D, while creators with larger budgets and a gaming passion will appreciate the significant performance boost offered by the Ryzen 9 processors' increased core count and cache.
**Note: Processor availability fluctuates; stock is often limited.**
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
Creative professionals seeking the ultimate gaming chip need look no further. The 9950X3D boasts a 5.7GHz max boost clock, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While only marginally outperforming the 9800X3D in gaming, its productivity capabilities far surpass the other Zen 5 X3D chips and all Intel competitors.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D may be the most powerful gaming processor currently available, but it doesn't automatically reign supreme across all tasks. The more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D ($479) suffices for most users. The 9950X3D targets gamers who also use creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, offering a 15% performance improvement over the 9800X3D in such tasks. For pure gaming, however, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card is likely a wiser investment."
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 gaming-optimized thanks to 3D V-Cache technology. All three CPUs share this technology on a single CCD, resulting in similar gaming performance, with minor variations stemming from clock speed differences. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D features a 5.2GHz max boost clock, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of multitasking, rendering, and creative tasks, its core count limits its suitability for intensive workloads. However, it's a gaming powerhouse, especially at its price point.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers exceptional gaming performance, making it a more compelling choice than recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. Especially when paired with a high-end graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance."
The Middle Ground: 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 Ryzen 9 9900X3D bridges the gap for creative professionals who game but need to stay within a budget. It offers a 5.5GHz max boost clock, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. While we haven't reviewed it yet, its performance is expected to fall between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in productivity tasks and multi-core workloads, offering comparable gaming performance to its siblings.
AMD's Winning Streak with CPUs and GPUs
Those who waited to see AMD's response to Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs made the right call. The Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are the new mid-range champions, offering exceptional performance at lower prices than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT at $600 (though manufacturer price increases may occur). Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for benchmark results.
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