If you're considering joining the AMD bandwagon for your next upgrade, now is an opportune time. Alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which debuted earlier this year, AMD has recently launched its two higher-end Ryzen 9 siblings in the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D priced at $699 and the 9900X3D at $599. These processors are considered the top gaming chips available from both AMD and Intel. For dedicated gamers, the 9800X3D is the recommended choice, freeing up budget for other components. However, creators with a larger budget and an interest in gaming will greatly benefit from the enhanced performance of the new Ryzen 9 processors, thanks to their higher core count and cache.
Note: These processors frequently fluctuate in stock, often being out of stock.
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 who also seek the best gaming chip on the market need look no further. The new 9950X3D offers a max boost clock of 5.7GHz with 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While its gaming performance edges out the 9800X3D by only a few percentage points, it significantly outperforms the other Zen 5 X3D chips and Intel's offerings in productivity tasks.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D stands as one of the most powerful gaming processors available, yet it doesn't automatically outshine every other chip. Most users will find the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, more than sufficient. The 9950X3D is ideal for gamers who also utilize creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it provides a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For a pure gaming build, saving the $220 difference for a better graphics card might be more beneficial."
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 optimized for gaming due to the 3D V-Cache technology. Since all three CPUs feature the 3D V-cache on a single CCD, they deliver similar gaming performance, with minor differences attributed to clock speed variations. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D achieves a max boost clock of 5.2GHz with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of handling multitasking, rendering, and creation, its limited core count makes it less ideal for those tasks. Nonetheless, it's an exceptional gaming processor, especially at its price point.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D excels in games, making it a compelling choice over other recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D ensures you maximize your GPU's performance."
The Middleman: 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 AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the choice for those engaged in creative work and gaming but constrained by a budget that the 9950X3D exceeds. It features a max boost clock of 5.5GHz with 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. Although we haven't reviewed this chip yet, its specs suggest it will offer performance between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D for productivity tasks and multi-core workloads. In gaming, it's expected to perform similarly to the other two.
AMD is on a Hot Streak with its New CPUs and GPUs
If you've held off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD's new offerings bring to the table, you've made a wise decision. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions of this generation. They deliver exceptional performance at a lower price point than Nvidia's competitors. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT at $600, although manufacturers have been increasing these prices. For more details, check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for our benchmarks.
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