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

If you're contemplating an upgrade to the AMD family, now is an opportune moment to make the leap. With the recent launch of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D earlier this year, AMD has now introduced its higher-end Ryzen 9 counterparts in the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D at $699 and the 9900X3D at $599. These processors are currently the top performers for gaming across both AMD and Intel platforms. For those focused solely on gaming, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the cost-effective choice, allowing you to allocate funds elsewhere. However, creators with a higher budget and a dual interest in gaming will find the Ryzen 9 processors particularly advantageous due to their enhanced core count and cache, which significantly boost performance.

Note: Be aware that these processors often go in and out of stock, and are mostly out of stock at the moment.

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 the best gaming performance need look no further than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This powerhouse boasts a max boost clock of 5.7GHz, 16 cores, 32 threads, and an impressive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While its gaming performance is only marginally better than the 9800X3D, it excels in productivity tasks, surpassing 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 as the pinnacle of gaming processors available today. However, it's not the universal solution for every user. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, priced at a more accessible $479, meets the needs of most gamers adequately. The 9950X3D is tailored for those who not only play games but also engage in creative tasks like using Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For a pure gaming setup, saving the additional $220 for a superior graphics card is advisable."

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 are engineered for optimal gaming performance, thanks to the innovative 3D V-Cache technology. Although all three CPUs feature the 3D V-cache on a single CCD, their gaming performance remains largely uniform, with slight variations attributable to differences in clock speed. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with its max boost clock of 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache, is a gaming beast, particularly at its price point. While it can handle multitasking, rendering, and creative work, its core count limits its effectiveness for those tasks.

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 alternatives like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a high-end graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance, making it an ideal choice for serious gamers."

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 Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the ideal choice for those engaged in creative work who also enjoy gaming, yet need to keep within a budget that the 9950X3D exceeds. With a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, its performance in productivity tasks and multi-core workloads is expected to fall between that of the 9950X3D and 9800X3D. In gaming, it should perform comparably to its siblings.

AMD's Hot Streak with New CPUs and GPUs

If you've been holding off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to assess AMD's latest offerings, your patience has paid off. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards have emerged as the mid-range champions of this generation, delivering outstanding performance at a lower price point than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, while the 9070 XT begins at $600, though be aware that some manufacturers are increasing prices. For detailed performance metrics, check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review.

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