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AMD unveiled its two premier Ryzen 9000-series X3D processors at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, with the 16-core 32-thread Ryzen 9 9950X3D paving the path using the powerful Zen 5 architecture combined with AMD’s leading-edge game-enhancing X3D technology to yield 128MB of L3 cache, all of which AMD claims positions it as the globe’s top CPU for gaming and creator tasks. AMD asserts that this processor surpasses Intel’s rival Arrow Lake flagship in gaming performance by 20% and matches within 1% the gaming capability of the current fastest gaming CPU in the world, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. However, this comes with a 50W generational raise in TDP, but that additional power allowance will also aid the processor in achieving a higher rank in our CPU benchmarking structure. Additionally, AMD has a new Ryzen 9 9900X3D set to launch that features 12 cores and 24 threads together with 128MB of L3 cache.
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| CPU | Retail Price (MSRP) | Architecture | Cores / Threads (P+E) | P-Core Base / Boost Clock (GHz) | E-Core Base / Boost Clock (GHz) | Cache (L2/L3) | TDP / PBP or MTP | Memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 9950X3D | ? | Zen 5 X3D | 16 / 32 | 5.7 | — | 144 MB | 170W | DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 9 9950X | $599 ($599) | Zen 5 | 16 / 32 | 4.3 / 5.7 | — | 80MB (16+64) | 170W / 230W | DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 9 9900X3D | ? | Zen 5 X3D | 12 / 24 | 5.5 | — | 140 | 120W | DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 7 9800X3D | $480 | Zen 5 X3D | 8 / 16 | 4.7 / 5.2 | — | 104MB (8+96) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 9 9900X | $429 ($469) | Zen 5 | 12 / 24 | 4.4 / 5.6 | — | 76MB (12+64) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 7 9700X | $326 ($329) | Zen 5 | 8 / 16 | 3.8 / 5.5 | — | 40MB (8+32) | 65W / 88W / 105W | DDR5-5600 |
AMD’s current Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the definitive top CPU for gaming, so much so that it is nearly impossible to procure at retail. However, AMD’s latest Zen 5-powered X3D processors broaden their appeal, and hopefully enhance availability, to a wider audience, including those seeking a superior blend of performance in productivity tasks due to the increased allocation of CPU cores.Both processors will be on the market in March 2025, although AMD has yet to reveal pricing details.
We will examine the gaming and creative benchmarks, followed by an analysis of the competitive stance against Intel’s Core Ultra 200S Arrow Lake CPUs.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Gaming Performance
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Both new X3D processors include 3D-stacked SRAM beneath one of their two chips, enhancing performance in gaming (more information below). This 3D V-Cache technology does not enhance all games uniformly, so consider the compromises. As usual, waiting for third-party benchmarks is advisable, yet AMD’s outcomes are as remarkable as anticipated.
AMD claims that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D surpasses Intel’s top-tier Arrow Lake Core Ultra 9 285K by a striking 20% across 40 games (we provide the testing details at the conclusion of the article). AMD is utilizing overclocked DDR5-6000 memory for its chip, while the 285K uses stock DDR5-6400, giving it a slight edge. Nonetheless, this represents another setback for Intel’s struggling processors. Upon launch, Intel’s Core Ultra 200S ‘Arrow Lake’ chips did not make a strong impression in gaming, and based on our evaluations, the recent updates from the company to tackle the subpar gaming performance have had minimal effect on their overall standing.
According to AMD, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D achieves virtually the same level of gaming performance as the gaming leader Ryzen 7 9800X3D (within 1%), just as we observed with the previous-gen Ryzen 7000 series. Compared to the earlier Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 9950X3D shows an 8% improvement in gaming, marking a nice generational advancement.
AMD has not released benchmarks for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D, which, to be honest, does not instill confidence, but we will have the comprehensive performance analysis upon the chips’ release. AMD also only disclosed 13 of the gaming benchmarks but asserts that it derived its overall metrics from 40 games. The other titles remain unspecified.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Productivity and Creator Performance
AMD integrates a 3D V-Cache chiplet onto one of the two dies to enhance gaming performance; however, this ultimately leads to diminished performance in general productivity tasks compared to AMD’s standard Ryzen 9000 non-X3D chips. Nonetheless, these more robust 9000X3D models come equipped with additional cores to offer superior performance in those more demanding scenarios.
Once again, AMD asserts that it outperforms Intel’s flagship 285K, boasting a 10% advantage in content creation applications, although the wins appear heavily concentrated in multi-threaded tasks and include several outliers that significantly enhance the average ranking (7zip, Photoshop). It is feasible that this could turn into a much tighter contest across a wider array of applications. AMD also claims that it based its overall metrics on 20 benchmarks, yet only disclosed results for nine and did not enumerate the other applications utilized.
Furthermore, AMD indicates that the 9950X3D is 13% quicker in creative applications compared to the prior gen 7950X3D, constituting yet another commendable generational upgrade. Again, we see no benchmarks for the 9900X3D, which is not surprising given the previous-gen equivalent, the Ryzen 7 7900X3D, did not perform particularly well.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D Pricing and Specifications
| CPU | Street (MSRP) | Architecture | Cores / Threads (P+E) | P-Core Base / Boost Clock (GHz) | E-Core Base / Boost Clock (GHz) | Cache (L2/L3) | TDP / PBP or MTP | Memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 9950X3D | ? | Zen 5 X3D | 16 / 32 | 5.7 | — | 144 MB | 170W | DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | $599 ($699) | Zen 4 X3D | 16 / 32 | 4.2 / 5.7 | — | 144MB (16+128) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5200 |
| Ryzen 9 9950X | $599 ($599) | Zen 5 | 16 / 32 | 4.3 / 5.7 | — | 80MB (16+64) | 170W / 230W | DDR5-5600 |
| Core Ultra 9 285K | $589 | Arrow Lake | 24 / 24 (8+16) | 3.7 / 5.7 | 3.2 / 4.6 | 76MB (40+36) | 125W / 250W | CUDIMM DDR5-6400 / DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 9 9900X3D | ? | Zen 5 X3D | 12 / 24 | 5.5 | — | 140MB | 120W | DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 9 7900X3D | $579 ($599) | Zen 4 X3D | 12 / 24 | 4.4 / 5.6 | — | 140MB (12+128) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5200 |
| Ryzen 7 9800X3D | $480 | Zen 5 X3D | 8 / 16 | 4.7 / 5.2 | — | 104MB (8+96) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | $476 ($449) | Zen 4 X3D | 8 / 16 | 4.2 / 5.0 | — | 104MB (8+96) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5200 |
| Ryzen 9 9900X | $429 ($469) | Zen 5 | 12 / 24 | 4.4 / 5.6 | — | 76MB (12+64) | 120W / 162W | DDR5-5600 |
| Core Ultra 7 265K / KF | $394 / $379 | Arrow Lake | 20 / 20 (8+12) | 3.9 / 5.5 | 3.3 / 4.6 | 66MB (36+30) | 125W / 250W | CUDIMM DDR5-6400 / DDR5-5600 |
| Ryzen 7 9700X | $326 ($329) | Zen 5 | 8 / 16 | 3.8 / 5.5 | — | 40MB (8+32) | 65W / 88W / 105W | DDR5-5600 |
Similar to the previous-generation 7950X3D and 7900X3D, both recent 9000X3D processors utilize two compute dies, where one die contains a 3D-stacked V-Cache chiplet that elevates L3 cache capacity to 128MB, yet ultimately leads to reduced boost clocks. In contrast, the other standard chiplet achieves higher frequencies to provide enhanced performance in both single- and multi-threaded tasks.
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D positions itself as the pinnacle of the Zen 5 lineup with 16 cores, 32 threads, a total cache of 144 MB, and a maximum boost clock frequency of 5.7 GHz. It carries a TDP of 170W, reflecting a 50W rise compared to the previous model. AMD’s earlier chips featured the 3D-stacked chiplet atop the compute die, which restricted heat dissipation and consequently limited operating temperatures/voltages, thereby capping the TDP. The latest models have the die positioned beneath the chip, permitting greater thermal headroom. AMD is evidently capitalizing on this extra headroom with the elevated 170/230W TDP. Conversely, the Ryzen 9 9900X3D boasts 12 cores, 24 threads, 140 MB of total cache, and a 5.5 GHz boost. This chip maintains the identical 120/162W TDP of its earlier counterpart.
AMD has yet to provide precise release dates or pricing information, but these processors are expected to be available in March 2025. We hope they are more readily available at retail compared to the much-sought-after and fleeting Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
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