If you're considering upgrading to AMD, now is an excellent time. Alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which was released earlier this year, AMD has just introduced two higher-end Ryzen 9 models 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 gamers focused solely on gaming, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best choice, allowing you to allocate more funds elsewhere. However, if you're a creator with a budget for high-end performance and enjoy gaming, the new Ryzen 9 processors offer significant performance improvements due to their increased core count and cache.
Note: These processors are frequently going in and out of stock, mostly 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 seeking the best gaming chip should not hesitate; this is the CPU to buy. The new 9950X3D features a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While its gaming performance is only marginally better than the 9800X3D, it excels in productivity tasks, outperforming other Zen 5 X3D chips and Intel's offerings.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently the most powerful gaming processor on the market, but it doesn't lead in every category. Most users will find the Ryzen 7 9800X3D sufficient, which is significantly more affordable at $479. The 9950X3D is ideal for gamers who also use creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it shows a 15% performance improvement over the 9800X3D. For a pure gaming PC, however, 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 AMD's 3D V-Cache technology. Since all three CPUs have the 3D V-cache on a single CCD, gaming performance is similar across the board, with minor differences due to clock speed variations. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers a max boost clock of 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of multitasking, rendering, and creation, its limited core count makes it less ideal for those tasks. However, 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 gaming, making it a strong recommendation over other recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance, making it the best choice for gaming enthusiasts."
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 who engage in creative work and gaming but need to stick to a budget. The 9900X3D features a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. Although we haven't reviewed this chip yet, its specs suggest it will perform between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in productivity tasks and multi-core workloads. In gaming, it should be comparable to the other two models.
AMD is on a Hot Streak with its New CPUs and GPUs
If you held off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD had to offer, you made a wise decision. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions of this generation, offering excellent performance at a lower price than Nvidia's competition. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 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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