Considering an AMD upgrade? Now's the perfect time. Following the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's earlier release, AMD has launched its top-tier Ryzen 9 siblings in the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D ($699) and the 9900X3D ($599). 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 of the Ryzen 9 processors, thanks to their increased core count and cache.
Note: Processor availability is fluctuating; stock is often limited.
$699.00 at Amazon | $699.00 at Best Buy | $699.00 at Newegg
Creative professionals seeking the best 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 better than the 9800X3D in gaming, its productivity performance significantly surpasses 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, but it doesn't automatically outperform every other chip. The more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D suffices for most users. The 9950X3D shines for gamers using creative apps like Photoshop and Premiere, offering a 15% performance improvement over the 9800X3D. For pure gaming, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card might be a wiser investment."
$479.00 at Amazon | $479.00 at Best Buy | $479.00 at Newegg
AMD's X3D series leverages 3D V-Cache technology for gaming optimization. All three CPUs share this technology, resulting in similar gaming performance, with minor differences stemming from clock speed variations. 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 and content creation, its core count limits its suitability for demanding tasks. 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 processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a high-end graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance."
$599.00 at Amazon | $599.00 at Best Buy | $599.00 at Newegg
The Ryzen 9 9900X3D bridges the gap for creators 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 not yet reviewed, its performance is expected to fall between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D for productivity, and be comparable to both in gaming.
Those who waited for AMD's GPU response to Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs made a smart move. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are the new mid-range champions, offering impressive 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 are occurring). Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for benchmarks.
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