Considering an upgrade to AMD’s latest processors? Now’s the perfect moment. Alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, launched earlier this year, AMD has introduced its premium Ryzen 9 models in the Zen 5 X3D lineup: the 9950X3D, priced at $699, and the 9900X3D, at $599. These chips dominate as the top gaming CPUs across AMD and Intel. For dedicated gamers, the 9800X3D offers excellent value, freeing up budget for other components. Creative professionals who game will appreciate the Ryzen 9’s enhanced core counts and cache, delivering a significant performance boost.
Note: Stock levels for these processors are fluctuating, often sold out.
Top Pick for Creators: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D AM5 Desktop Processor
0$699.00 at Amazon$699.00 at Best Buy$699.00 at NeweggFor creative professionals seeking the ultimate gaming CPU, the 9950X3D is the clear choice. With a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of L2-L3 cache, it delivers. In gaming, it edges out the 9800X3D by a small margin, but for productivity tasks, it outshines both its Zen 5 X3D siblings and Intel’s offerings.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is likely the most powerful gaming CPU available, though it’s not unrivaled in every scenario. Most users will find the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at $479, more than sufficient. The 9950X3D shines for gamers who also use creative tools like Photoshop or Premiere, offering a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D in those apps. For pure gaming builds, save the $220 and invest in a better GPU."
Gamer’s Favorite: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 Desktop Processor
13$479.00 at Amazon$479.00 at Best Buy$479.00 at NeweggAMD’s X3D processors, optimized with 3D V-Cache technology, are built for gaming. All three CPUs in the lineup share similar gaming performance due to the 3D V-Cache on a single CCD, with minor variations from clock speed differences. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with a 5.2GHz max boost, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache, excels in gaming. While capable of multitasking and creative tasks, its core count makes it less ideal for heavy productivity workloads, but its price makes it a gaming powerhouse.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers exceptional gaming performance, making it a stronger choice than recent competitors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. Paired with a high-end GPU, this CPU maximizes your rig’s potential."
Balanced Option: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D AM5 Desktop Processor
0$599.00 at Amazon$599.00 at Best Buy$599.00 at NeweggThe Ryzen 9 9900X3D is ideal for creators who game but need to stay within a budget, finding the 9950X3D too costly. With a 5.5GHz max boost, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it strikes a balance. While we haven’t reviewed it, its specs suggest productivity performance between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D, with gaming performance nearly identical to its siblings.
AMD’s Winning Streak with CPUs and GPUs
Waiting on AMD’s GPU offerings instead of Nvidia’s Blackwell? You chose wisely. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are this generation’s mid-range stars, delivering stellar performance at lower prices than Nvidia’s equivalents. The RX 9070 starts at $550, and the RX 9070 XT at $600, though some manufacturers are raising prices. Check our Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT reviews for detailed benchmarks.
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