If you're considering joining the AMD community for your next upgrade, now's the perfect moment to make the leap. AMD has recently unveiled its top-tier Ryzen 9 processors within the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup, complementing the earlier release of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D is priced at $699, while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D comes in at $599. These processors are currently the pinnacle of gaming performance across both AMD and Intel platforms. For dedicated gamers, the 9800X3D is the go-to choice, allowing you to allocate your budget elsewhere. On the other hand, if you're a creator with a passion for gaming and a bit more to spend, the Ryzen 9 processors offer significant performance boosts, thanks to their higher core counts and enhanced cache.
Note: Processors are frequently in and out of stock, often leaning towards 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
Creative professionals who also crave top-notch gaming performance need look no further; the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the ultimate choice. Boasting a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a whopping 144MB of L2-L3 cache, this CPU excels in gaming, edging out the 9800X3D by just a few percentage points. However, in productivity tasks, it significantly outperforms not only its Zen 5 X3D siblings but also anything Intel currently offers.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D stands out as a powerhouse in the gaming processor market, yet it's not universally superior. For most users, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at a more accessible $479, will suffice. The 9950X3D, however, is tailored for gamers who also engage in creative tasks like using Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance increase over the 9800X3D. For those focusing solely on gaming, saving the additional $220 for a better graphics card might be a wiser move."
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 is designed with gaming in mind, leveraging the innovative 3D V-Cache technology. Despite the similar gaming performance across the three CPUs due to the V-cache being on a single CCD, slight variations in clock speed create minor differences. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with its 5.2GHz max boost clock, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache, is a formidable choice for gaming at its price point. While it's capable of multitasking 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 excels in gaming scenarios, making it a more compelling choice compared to other recent releases like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. It's the ideal match for a powerful graphics card, ensuring you get the most out of your GPU."
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
If you're balancing creative work with gaming on a budget that can't stretch to the 9950X3D, the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is your sweet spot. With a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it promises performance that falls between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in productivity and multi-core tasks. Gaming performance is expected to be on par with its siblings.
AMD is on a Hot Streak with Its New CPUs and GPUs
If you've been holding off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD has up its sleeve, your patience has paid off. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT have emerged as the mid-range champions of this generation, offering stellar performance at a lower price point than Nvidia's offerings. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT at $600, though some manufacturers are pushing prices higher. Dive into our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for detailed benchmarks.
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