If you're considering upgrading to AMD, now is an opportune moment. Alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which debuted earlier this year, AMD has just released its higher-end Ryzen 9 counterparts in the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D priced at $699 and the 9900X3D at $599. These processors are at the forefront of gaming performance across both AMD and Intel. Dedicated gamers should opt for the 9800X3D to maximize their budget for other components, whereas creators with a passion for gaming will find the Ryzen 9 processors invaluable due to their higher core count and cache, providing significant performance boosts.
Note: Be aware that these processors are frequently going in and out of stock, often selling out quickly.
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 crave top-tier gaming performance need look no further than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This powerhouse boasts a max boost clock of 5.7GHz with 16 cores, 32 threads, and a whopping 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While its gaming performance edges out the 9800X3D by only a few percentage points, it significantly outperforms both 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 might be the most powerful gaming processor available, but it isn't the best choice for everyone. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at a more affordable $479, is sufficient for most users. However, the 9950X3D is ideal for gamers who also use creative software like Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance increase over the 9800X3D. For pure gaming builds, saving the extra $220 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, thanks to the innovative 3D V-Cache technology. Although all three CPUs share the same 3D V-Cache on a single CCD, resulting in similar gaming performance, the minor differences are attributed to clock speed variations. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D features a max boost clock of 5.2GHz with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While it can handle multitasking, rendering, and creative work, its limited core count makes it less ideal for those tasks. However, it is an exceptional choice for gaming, especially at its price point.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas:
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers outstanding gaming performance, making it a more compelling option than other recent releases like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance, offering an excellent value for gamers."
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 perfect choice for those who balance creative work with gaming but need to stay within a budget. With a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it falls between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in terms of productivity and multi-core performance. While we haven't reviewed this model yet, its specs suggest that its gaming performance will be comparable to its siblings.
AMD is on a Hot Streak with its New CPUs and GPUs
If you've been holding off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD has to offer, you've made a wise decision. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards have emerged as the mid-range champions of this generation. Offering impressive performance at a lower price point than their Nvidia counterparts, the Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550 and the RX 9070 XT at $600 (though prices may vary due to manufacturer adjustments). Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for detailed benchmarks.
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