PGC NEWS

AMD unveiled two new flagship Ryzen 9000 series X3D processors at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, expanding upon the previously launched Ryzen 7 9800X3D. These new CPUs promise significant gaming performance improvements thanks to AMD’s advanced 3D V-Cache technology.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D Processors

Ryzen 9 9950X3D: The New Gaming Champion

Leading the charge is the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, a 16-core, 32-thread powerhouse built on the cutting-edge Zen 5 architecture. Combined with AMD’s game-boosting X3D technology and a massive 128MB of L3 cache, the 9950X3D claims the title of the most powerful CPU for gaming and creative workloads currently available. AMD asserts this chip outperforms Intel’s flagship Arrow Lake processor by up to 20% in gaming benchmarks, while delivering near-identical performance to the current gaming king, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This impressive performance comes at the cost of a 50W TDP increase.

Ryzen 9 9900X3D: A 12-Core Powerhouse

Joining the 9950X3D is the Ryzen 9 9900X3D, featuring 12 cores, 24 threads, and the same 128MB L3 cache. This processor aims to provide a compelling balance between high core count for productivity tasks and exceptional gaming performance. Both new X3D chips are slated for release in March 2025, with pricing yet to be announced. The previous Ryzen 7 9800X3D has experienced significant demand and stock shortages, highlighting the popularity of AMD’s X3D lineup.

Expanding the Ryzen 9000 Series X3D Family

The Zen 5-based Ryzen 9000 series X3D processors broaden AMD’s high-performance offerings, catering to a wider range of users. These CPUs are particularly appealing to those seeking a potent combination of multi-core performance for productivity and top-tier gaming capabilities.

AMD Ryzen 9000 Series X3D Architecture

Second-Generation 3D V-Cache Technology

Both the 9950X3D and 9900X3D leverage AMD’s second-generation 3D V-Cache technology. This technology stacks SRAM directly onto one of the processor dies, dramatically increasing cache size and boosting gaming performance. While the performance gains vary across different game titles, the overall impact is significant. AMD’s benchmarks show the Ryzen 9 9950X3D outperforming Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K, the top-tier Arrow Lake chip, by an impressive 20% across 40 game titles. This performance advantage further solidifies AMD’s dominance in the gaming CPU market, especially given the less-than-stellar gaming performance of Intel’s recently launched Arrow Lake processors.

Conclusion

With the introduction of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D, AMD continues to push the boundaries of CPU performance. These new processors offer a compelling blend of high core counts, massive cache, and cutting-edge architecture, making them ideal for both gaming and demanding productivity workloads. While pricing remains undisclosed, the impressive performance figures suggest these CPUs will be highly sought after by enthusiasts and professionals alike.