AMD Zen 5 Gaming CPUs 9950X3D, 9900X3D, 9800X3D Now Available

If you're considering joining the AMD community for your next system upgrade, there's no better time than now. Alongside the earlier release of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D this year, AMD has now unveiled its premium Ryzen 9 counterparts within the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D, priced at $699, and the 9900X3D, available for $599. These processors are considered the top choices for gaming across both AMD and Intel platforms. For dedicated gamers, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the go-to option, allowing you to allocate your budget elsewhere. However, if you're a content creator with a larger budget and a passion for gaming, the new Ryzen 9 processors provide a significant performance boost, thanks to their higher core count and enhanced cache capabilities.

Note: Processors are frequently in and out of stock, with more instances of being 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

For creative professionals who also demand the best in gaming performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the ultimate choice. This processor boasts a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While its gaming performance is only marginally better than the 9800X3D, it significantly outshines 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 is arguably the most powerful gaming processor currently available, yet it doesn't automatically outshine every other chip. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, at a much more budget-friendly $479, will suffice for most users. The 9950X3D, however, is ideal for gamers who also engage in creative work like Photoshop and Premiere, offering a 15% performance boost in these applications over the 9800X3D. For a pure gaming setup, consider saving the extra $220 to invest in a superior graphics card."

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, optimized for gaming with 3D V-Cache technology, deliver similar gaming performance across all three models due to the single CCD with 3D V-Cache. The differences in gaming performance are minor, mainly influenced by clock speed variations. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with its 5.2GHz max boost clock, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache, is a powerhouse for gaming at its price point. While it can handle multitasking, rendering, and creative work, its core count limits its prowess in these areas.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D stands out for its gaming prowess, making it a better recommendation than recent competitors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a high-end graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes performance, making it an excellent 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 ideal choice for those who balance creative work with gaming but are mindful of their budget. With a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it's positioned as a middle ground between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D. Although we haven't reviewed it yet, its specifications suggest it will offer performance that falls between the other two models in productivity and multi-core workloads, while its gaming performance is expected to be comparable to the others.

AMD is on a hot streak with its new CPUs and GPUs

If you've been holding out on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD has in store, 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 exceptional performance at a lower price than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, while the 9070 XT is priced at $600, though some manufacturers are increasing the price. Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for detailed benchmarks.

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