AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review: Setting The Standard For 2025 Gaming CPU
A deep dive into AMD’s cache-first architecture delivering unmatched gaming and multithreaded muscle.
Hardware by Katmin on May 31, 2025
Four months have passed since the launch of AMD’s extremely impressive Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and it seems the market still can’t get enough of that chip. Supply has been reasonable, but demand remains incredible.
Unfortunately, because it uses the same TSMC N4 process, the 9800X3D is competing for supply with countless other high-demand products. Even today, for $480, the 9800X3D is one of the bestselling CPUs on the market.
Market Demand and Value
The reason for this extreme popularity is simple: the 9800X3D is the world’s fastest gaming processor without exception, and at $480 US, it’s very affordable compared to even the most basic graphics cards.
However, if you need strong productivity performance as well as gaming, parts like the older 7950X3D or Intel’s Core Ultra 9 14950K have often been better choices—until now.
Introducing the Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Today, that changes with the release of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, alongside the Ryzen 9 9900X3D. The 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread Zen 4-based processor featuring two 8-core CCDs, one of which is equipped with AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology.
It carries a $700 US MSRP, matching the price of the previous‑generation 7950X3D. The 12-core, 24-thread 9900X3D is priced at $600, the same as its predecessor.
Supply Expectations
The initial supply of these new high-end CPUs is reportedly quite good, but as was the case with the 9800X3D, demand is likely to outstrip availability. You can expect that getting your hands on one may be tricky within the first month or so.
Review Units and Ideal Choices
AMD has only sent out the 9950X3D for review, and it’s easy to see why. The 9900X3D is just 16% cheaper than the 9950X3D yet offers 25% fewer cores, and only six of those cores have direct access to the larger 3D V-Cache, making it effectively an expensive six‑core chip for gaming.
Unless you find it at a steep discount—say 30% relative to the 9950X3D—it’s not worth considering, which is why no review units were provided.
Provisioning Packages Service and Performance Optimizer
It may seem odd that these dual‑CCD, 3D V-Cache‑enabled parts are arriving four months after the 9800X3D, but AMD has used that time to improve scheduling for dual‑CCD processors.
To avoid scenarios where the wrong CCD is used, or excessive cross‑CCD communication occurs during gaming, AMD updated its Provisioning Packages Service and 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer.
The Provisioning Packages Service monitors your processor and, if it detects a change in CPU name, core count, logical processor count, or L3 cache size, automatically reinstalls the service.
It optimizes power and performance for dual‑CCD processors when you’re gaming by dynamically applying power and frequency tweaks, including core parking for the non‑3D V-Cache CCD under Windows Game Mode.
The AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer further improves performance by dynamically favoring the cores connected to the larger L3 cache when gaming and the highest‑frequency cores when you’re performing non‑gaming tasks. Core parking is not applied by this software.
Application Compatibility Database
AMD has also introduced a new Application Compatibility Database, requiring both a BIOS and chipset driver update. This database tackles problematic games that can’t be fully addressed by the Provisioning Packages Service, and it currently includes optimizations for titles such as Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Dying Light 2, Far Cry 6, Metro Exodus, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Total War: Warhammer 3, and Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
Testing Methodology
To see if the dual‑CCD 3D V-Cache processors match the 9800X3D’s gaming prowess, you’ll find data from 12 popular games in Day One reviews, with plans to expand to a 40–50 title benchmark in the future.
Clock Behavior and Temperatures
Out of the box, you can expect an average core clock of 5,085 MHz and a peak CPU temperature of 84 °C during a 30‑minute Cinebench multicore loop in an ATX case with a 360 mm AIO cooler.
With manual PBO settings (maxed PPT, TDC, EDC; Curve Optimizer -20; Boost Clock Override +200 MHz; PBO Scalar x10), average clocks rise to 5,227 MHz (a 3% increase), temperatures drop to 78 °C, and package power falls from 193 W to 186 W.
Enabling ECO Mode slashes all‑core frequency by almost 30% to 3,633 MHz, resulting in a peak temperature of just 61 °C and package power of 88 W.
Productivity Performance
In Cinebench R24 multicore, the 9950X3D delivers 2,448 points out of the box, 4% faster than the standard 9950X. Compared to the Core Ultra 9 14900K, it’s only 3% slower on stock settings and 77% faster than the 9800X3D. PBO adds a minor 3% performance increase, while ECO Mode cuts performance by 25%.
Single‑core performance remains unchanged at 141 points. In 7‑Zip compression, you’ll see a 7% lead over the 7950X3D and a 15% lead over the 9950X. Decompression performance is comparable to competing Ryzen and Intel parts, with a 31% advantage over the 14900K.
In Blender, the 9950X3D is 4% faster than the 14900K, while Corona renders see a 13% edge over Intel’s flagship and 20% over the 7950X3D. Photoshop performance is similar to the 9800X3D, and Premiere Pro results match the 14900K in ECO Mode.
Gaming Performance
Across the 12‑game suite, the 9950X3D matches the 9800X3D’s gaming performance. In Star Wars Jedi Survivor, both CPUs break 210 FPS. The Last of Us Part I yields around 210 FPS, and Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty hits 216 FPS—just 1% slower than the 9800X3D.
Titles like Assetto Corsa Competizione, Remnant II, Homeworld III, Counter-Strike 2, Starfield, Space Marine II, Hitman III, and Watch Dogs Legion all see the 9950X3D delivering chart‑topping or class‑leading results, often 30–50% faster than the Core Ultra 9 14900K.
Power and Efficiency
In Cyberpunk 2077, the 9950X3D draws 44% more power than the 9800X3D, matching the Core i9 12900K’s consumption. Efficiency (Watt per frame) is comparable to mid‑range chips like the 7600X but 48% less efficient than the 9800X3D; ECO Mode closes this gap.
The Last of Us Part I shows a 32% higher draw than the 9800X3D but still 14% less than the 14900K, resulting in almost 20% better efficiency than Intel’s flagship.
Across all 12 games, the 9950X3D averages a 35% performance lead over the 14900K and remains on par with the 9800X3D—even in ECO Mode, it outpaces the 7800X3D by 8% and the 14900K by 31%.
X3D Turbo Mode
Gigabyte’s X3D Turbo Mode disables the second CCD and SMT, effectively turning the 9950X3D into an 8‑core/8‑thread chip with tuned memory timings for gaming. Enabling it in BIOS yields a 3% average gaming uplift, with significant gains in titles like Homeworld III and Space Marine II but regressions in Starfield and The Last of Us Part I. Without an easy toggle in Windows, its practicality is limited.
Memory Sensitivity
3D V-Cache processors are generally memory‑insensitive. Testing with G.Skill’s Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5‑6000 C30 kit shows minimal performance uplift, which is good news since 32 GB C30 kits can be had for under $100 US.
Final Verdict
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D cements itself as the best all‑rounder for both work and play. For productivity, it competes closely with high‑end CPUs at lower power draw, but in gaming, it delivers a mind‑blowing 35% margin over Intel’s flagship. If you value top gaming performance with strong productivity capabilities, the 9950X3D is the clear choice.
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