AMD Gaming CPUs: Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D Coming in March 51 Comments
AMD is announcing the two Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D gaming processors at CES 2025. They are expected to appear in the first quarter. The specifications of both processors match the expectations recently raised, and this should also apply to performance. But there is still a question mark behind the CCD clock of the X3D.
Table of Contents Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D Coming in March AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: “The best 16-core gaming processor” Is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D still faster in games? A CCD with “backed up” 3D V-Cache How fast does the X3D CCD clock? AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D: Twelve cores to fill the gap Key technical data at a glance
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: “The best 16-core gaming processor”
The new AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the best “16-core gaming processor,” the manufacturer explained at an NDA event before the show. It offers 16 cores and clock speeds of up to 5.7 GHz with a TDP of 170 watts.
Is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D still faster in games?
The processor is in no way inferior to the classic AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and beats the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (test) by 500 MHz at maximum clock speed – but does this also apply in the comparison between the X3D and X3D chipsets?
AMD does not currently make a direct comparison with this processor in its own benchmarks. Should the Ryzen 7 9800X3D ultimately be faster? The statement “the fastest 16-core gaming processor” from the press conference suggests this, but the documents previously published by AMD did not contain this restriction:
Manufacturer’s benchmarks for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (Image: AMD) Image 1 of 4
When it comes to content creation, AMD apparently sees the Ryzen 9 9950X3D even ahead of the Ryzen 9 9950X, as the manufacturer promises “the fastest 16-core processor for content creation.”
AMD introduces Ryzen 9 9950X3D and AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D at CES
A CCD with 3D V-Cache “backed up”
The reason why this CPU can also have the same TDP as the standard model is once again in the location of the additional L3 cache: it is located under and not on top of one of the two 8-core Zen 5 CCDs – and yes, it’s still just a chiplet that occupies 64 MB of 3D V-Cache.
In total, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has the 144 MB of cache mentioned in the marketing, which as usual includes several cache levels (L2 (2×8 MB) + L3 (2×32 MB + 1×64 MB).
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D as new flagship (Image: AMD)
This means that X3D processors with two chipsets remain dependent on this generation’s software, including the chipset driver and Xbox Game Bar. It recognizes applications as games and then instructs the chipset driver to execute the load only through the X3D chip.
But even today there are games that are not recognized as such under the latest Windows and software and therefore run on the wrong CCD until users intervene manually.
This is why, in recent months, we hoped that AMD would bring a CPU that would equip both CCDs in X3D – but this is not the case on this generation.
How fast does the X3D CCD clock?
In terms of clock speeds, contrary to what was previously assumed, there could be differences between the two processors. In the preliminary discussion, AMD explicitly talked about the high-frequency CCD without additional L3 cache, while the latter should mainly benefit from it.
It would therefore not be surprising if, like the predecessor AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (test), there is ultimately a certain clock difference and the X3D die is not 5.7 GHz and therefore not 500 MHz higher than the die X3D of the Ryzen 7. Clocks 9800X3D.
In the best case, however, the difference could be slightly lower, i.e. the clock speed could be higher than 5.2 GHz but lower than 5.7 GHz. But practical tests will ultimately have to demonstrate this. Prior requests from Techoutil went unanswered from AMD.
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D: Twelve cores to fill the gap
AMD also has a 12-core processor in its baggage again: the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D completes the new X3D portfolio. Interestingly, its boost frequency is slightly lower than the standard model, although 100 MHz to 5.5 GHz is only a 2% reduction. The fact that this processor is available again is still surprising: in the last generation, the processor had virtually no chance on the DIY market because it was slower than the much cheaper Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
The particularity of the solution: each of the two CCDs has only six active cores, there are therefore only six cores for the CCD with X3D cache. In fact, it’s just a six-core processor for gaming.
The price of the CPU therefore ultimately fell very quickly; in the meantime the processor was available for 370 euros.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D (Image: AMD)
AMD has not presented any preliminary benchmarks for the 9900X3D. This also applies to the prices and exact date of both models. It simply states that they will be released in the first quarter.
Key technical data at a glance
Architecture core/thread clock
Base/Turbo L2 + L3 TDP iGPU UVP Price (Start) Price (current) AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Zen 5 16/32 4.3/5.7 GHz 2×8+2×32+64 MB 170 W ✓ ? Euro (? USD) – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X Zen 5 16/32 4.3/5.7 GHz 2×8+2×32 MB 170 W ✓ 709 Euro (649 USD) to 669 Euro /24 4.4/5 .5 GHz 2×6+2 ×32+64 MB 120 W ✓ ? Euro (? USD) – AMD Ryzen 9 9900X Zen 5 12/24 4.4/5.6 GHz 2×6+2×32 MB 120 W ✓ 539 Euro (499 USD) to 446 Euro /32 4.2/5 .7 GHz 2 ×8+2×32+64 MB 120 W ✓ 789 euros (699 USD) at 679 euros AMD Ryzen 9 7950X Zen 4 16/32 4.5/5.7 GHz 2×8+2×32 MB 170 W ✓ 849 euros (699 USD) at 480 euros AMD Ryzen 9 7900 .6 GHz 2 ×6+2×32 MB 170 W ✓ 669 euros (549 USD) at 378 euros AMD Ryzen 9 7900 Zen 4 12/24 3.7/5.4 GHz 2×6+2×32 MB 65 W ✓ 479 euros (429 USD) at 330 euros AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Zen 5 8/ 16 4.7/5.2 GHz 8+32+64 MB 120 W ✓ 529 euros (479 USD) to 589 euros AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Zen 4 8/16 4.2/5.0 GHz 8+32+64 MB 120 W ✓ 499 euros (449 USD) to 509 euros AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Zen 5 8/16 3.8/5.5 GHz 8+32 MB 65 W ✓ 399 euros (359 USD) to 339 euros AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Zen 4 8/16 4.5/5.4 GHz 8+32 MB 105 W ✓ 479 euros (399 USD) to 287 euros AMD Ryzen 7 7700 Zen 4 8/16 3.8/5.3 GHz 8+32 MB 65 W ✓ 369 euros (329 USD) from 278 euros AMD Ryzen 5 9600X Zen 5 6/12 3.9/5.4 GHz 6+32 MB 65 W ✓ 309 euros (279 USD) at 251 euros AMD Ryzen 5 7600 3 GHz 6+32 MB 105 W ✓ 359 euros (299 USD) to 199 euros AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Zen 4 6/12 3.8/5.1 GHz 6+32 MB 65 W ✓ 259 Euro (229 USD) to 190 Euro AMD Ryzen 5 7500F Zen 4 6/12 3.7/5.0 GHz 6+32 MB 65 W – ? Euro (179 USD) to 159 euros
Techtip received information about this item from AMD under NDA. The only requirement was the earliest possible publication date.
Topics: AMD Press Conference AMD CES 2025 AMD Granite Ridge AMD Ryzen 9000 CES 2025 Ryzen Zen Processors
Marc deciphers processors by testing their performance for gaming, content creation, and artificial intelligence.
