The Powerful AMD Zen 5 9950X3D, 9900X3D, and 9800X3D Gaming CPUs Are Now Available

Ready to upgrade your system with AMD's latest and greatest? Now's the perfect time. Following the launch of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, AMD has unveiled its high-end Ryzen 9 siblings—the 9950X3D ($699) and 9900X3D ($599)—both boasting Zen 5 "X3D" architecture. These processors collectively represent the pinnacle of gaming performance across both AMD and Intel. While the 9800X3D remains the ideal choice for pure gamers on a budget, creators with more substantial budgets and a love for gaming will find the Ryzen 9 processors incredibly compelling, thanks to their superior core counts and significantly larger cache.

Note: Availability of these processors is fluctuating; stock is often limited.

The Creator's Choice: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

Amazon - $699.00
Best Buy - $699.00
Newegg - $699.00

Creative professionals seeking the ultimate gaming experience need look no further. The 9950X3D delivers a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While offering only a slight gaming advantage over the 9800X3D, its productivity performance significantly surpasses both the 9800X3D and 9900X3D, as well as any competing Intel offerings.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas:

"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D might be the most powerful gaming processor currently available, but that doesn't automatically make it the best choice for everyone. The more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D ($479) is perfectly adequate for most users. The 9950X3D truly shines for gamers who also utilize creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, delivering a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D in these scenarios. For pure gaming builds, however, the extra $220 might be better invested in a higher-end graphics card."

The Gamer's Choice: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

Amazon - $479.00
Best Buy - $479.00
Newegg - $479.00

AMD's X3D series processors are meticulously optimized for gaming, leveraging AMD's 3D V-Cache technology. All three CPUs feature 3D V-cache on a single CCD, resulting in remarkably similar gaming performance. Minor variations stem primarily from clock speed differences. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D boasts a max boost clock of 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of multitasking, rendering, and creative work, its core count limits its suitability for demanding professional tasks. However, it excels as a gaming powerhouse, especially considering 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 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."

The Middleman: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D AM5 Desktop Processor

Amazon - $599.00
Best Buy - $599.00
Newegg - $599.00

The Ryzen 9 9900X3D bridges the gap for users who balance creative work and gaming but need to stay within a budget. It features a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. While we haven't yet reviewed this chip, its specifications suggest performance falling between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D for productivity tasks. Gaming performance is expected to be comparable to its siblings.

AMD's Hot Streak Continues

If you held off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD had to offer, you made the right call. The Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are the new mid-range champions, delivering phenomenal performance at competitive prices. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT starts at $600 (although price increases from manufacturers have been reported). Check out our reviews for detailed benchmarks.

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