However as everyone knows, MSRP typically doesn’t maintain at launch as new silicon will get offered at greater costs. We simply uploaded a whole video digging into that. In both case, for these CPUs, we undoubtedly wouldn’t pay over MSRP because the 9950X (learn our assessment) is on the market usually for $545, with the 9800X3D (learn our assessment) for gaming at $480 (which is MSRP) as we write this. Which will change, after all.
Immediately, we’re reviewing the 9950X3D. It’s been a protracted assessment cycle the previous 3 months, so we’re going to maintain this one easy and concentrate on the numbers.
9950X3D Overview
Let’s get straight into it as we speak. We’ll begin with the specs.
The AMD 9950X3D is a part of the Zen 5 structure that launched with the 9700X (learn our assessment) and different CPUs final 12 months. The 9800X3D swooped-in just a little later and cleaned-up what was a complicated and messy launch, largely making main strikes for gaming CPUs and giving us one thing to be enthusiastic about because it’s a extremely good CPU.
The 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread CPU with a 5.7 GHz max marketed increase, 4.3 GHz base clock, and L3 cache at 128 MB. TDP goal is 170W.
For comparability, the conventional 9950X additionally has a max marketed increase of 5.7 GHz, base of 4.3 GHz, and TDP of 170W. These are shared. The cache modifications, at 64 MB of L3.
The 9950X3D has two CCDs, with one of many two CCDs bearing further cache. That is stacked vertically. As we described within the 9800X3D assessment, the cache this time is flipped in order that it’s nearer to the substrate than the lid, pushing the cores nearer to the IHS. Within the 9800X3D assessment, we demonstrated how this helped considerably with cooling.
9950X3D Testing
We’re maintaining it extremely easy this time. As at all times, you could find our take a look at bench info printed right here.
For gaming assessments, we’ve got all new information together with the most recent Home windows updates and microcode for all the pieces. Meaning we’ve refreshed the information set and worn out what we had, so each CPU you that has been run was carried out within the final 3 days or so. We received the essential ones in there. For manufacturing, we had been capable of salvage lots of information because it’s the identical.
We’ve been utterly buried by one GPU after one other in an onslaught of benchmarks and follow-ups the previous few weeks, so for this one, we’re sticking to the fundamentals.
Let’s simply get into it.
Frequency Exams
Frequency – Blender All-Core
Frequency evaluation is up first. We do that testing to make sure the CPUs are functioning as anticipated and to assist clarify the efficiency later.
First up is the Blender all-core workload. On this take a look at, the 9950X3D had a frequency plot that began at about 5250 MHz, however settled nearer to 5020 MHz to 5080 MHz throughout testing. This chart is deliberately zoomed-in to make it simpler to see, so the dimensions purposefully doesn’t begin at 0.
For comparability, the 9950X non-3D (learn our assessment) had greater peaks, however comparable valleys. It ranged from 5010 MHz to 5080 MHz. By way of common frequency over the course of the take a look at, the 9950X3D averaged 5038 MHz all core to the 9950X’s 5036 MHz, however the X3D CPU did so with fewer peaks and extra stage frequencies in the course of its vary. We expect this shall be helpful to it in gaming.
The 9800X3D 5220 MHz all-core, placing it properly above each. This may assist it in some particular workloads, however clearly the decrease core depend will set it again elsewhere.
Frequency – Cinebench 1C
The subsequent chart is for frequency in a Cinebench single thread workload. This has the 9950X3D up within the vary of 5650 to 5725 MHz, which hits AMD’s marketed frequency of 5.7 GHz. The 9950X holds its frequency steadier and with fewer dips between tile cycles, however is general comparable.
The 9800X3D holds 5225 MHz all through the take a look at so it’s decrease than each when in a single-threaded workload on this scenario.
9950X3D Recreation Benchmarks
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is up now. This one had the AMD R9 9950X3D at 155 FPS AVG, technically turning into a brand new chart topper. The 9800X3D was our chart topper final time and is now functionally tied with the 9950X3D as the most effective CPU on the chart.
The excellent news is that the 9950X3D doesn’t look like affected by its dual-CCD method, so parking is functioning correctly and the CPU will not be hamstrung by its further threads.
The 9950X3D outranks the 7950X3D by comparable margins because the 9800X3D did: It’s 23% greater common framerate, with lows comparable for the common. The 7950X3D (watch our assessment) outdid the 7950X, which we’re utilizing outdated information for however needs to be no higher than 2-3% completely different based mostly on our research of this take a look at, by 29%. That’s with correct setup for the 7950X3D this time.
As in comparison with the 9950X at 101 FPS AVG, the 9950X3D outdid it by 54%. The 9950X is nearer to the 7950X (watch our assessment) for efficiency, which is sensible. This sport actually advantages from the additional cache.
In reality, a straightforward instance of that is the 5700X3D (learn our assessment) vs. the 5600X3D (learn our assessment): In some video games, the 5600X3D outperforms the 5700X3D due to its greater clock charge. On this occasion, the cache and core depend was extra helpful than the frequency.
The 5800X3D (watch our assessment) stays a superb CPU, up at 119 FPS AVG. The 9950X3D and 9800X3D outrank it by about 30%. As for Intel, it stays uncompetitive right here. The 285K is getting crushed by two prior Intel generations for causes mentioned in that assessment, and that’s with new Home windows updates.
Stellaris
Stellaris is one in every of our favourite CPU benchmarks as a result of it appears at time fairly than framerate, which is probably the most tangible to a consumer and probably the most immediately influenced by the CPU. Gamers of 4X or different grand technique video games like Whole Struggle with the marketing campaign map, Galactic Civilizations IV with flip pacing (and that’s an important sport, for those who haven’t performed it), and Civilization would additionally see worth right here.
For Stellaris, the 9800X3D and 9950X3D each carry out on the prime of the chart. The 9800X3D outperformed the 9950X3D with a discount in simulation time of 5%. That’s close to error, however not fairly. This appears to be a mix of a better base clock and utilization.
The 9950X3D is unquestionably working as anticipated, although, as a result of it’s outperforming the 9950X considerably. The simulation time requirement drops by virtually 15%, from 32.3 seconds to 27.6 seconds.
That is the one sport the place Zen 5 specifically had stronger positive aspects over Zen 4, with the 9700X doing properly right here and proving that. That’s from IPC uplift general, the place Zen 5 is benefitted.
Intel’s 285K is aggressive with the 7800X3D and 9700X, no less than. The 14900K (learn our assessment) and 14700K (learn our assessment) are inside error of one another.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
In Dragon’s Dogma 2, the 9950X3D leads the chart. It landed at 132 FPS AVG right here, passing the 9800X3D by a measurable however irrelevant 3.2%. Each CPUs lead all of Intel’s, though Intel no less than lands its prior two generations forward of the 7950X3D and 7800X3D with the sport’s updates. This sport actually appears to profit from further cache, with the 9950X3D main the 9950X by 46% and the 9800X3D main the 9700X (though they produce other variations) by 41%. Dragon’s Dogma 2 stays heavy on CPUs in NPC-intensive areas.
The 285K continues to impress with how a lot of a downgrade it’s from not solely AMD’s present era, however Intel’s previous generations.
We added the older outcomes for the 3700X and 2600 to this chart. We seen that efficiency on older generations hasn’t modified a lot. At most, there is likely to be a 5% change right here, however we don’t assume so. Even with that although, something is an improve.
Intel has seen probably the most improve since our final spherical of assessments. This sport has gotten updates, so it’s potential a few of these had been focused at Intel. Home windows updates might additionally have an effect on it. We persistently noticed uplift throughout Intel’s CPUs. That’s shifted the relative rating of the 14th and thirteenth gen in opposition to the 7800X3D (watch our assessment).
Last Fantasy XIV Dawntrail – 1080p
Last Fantasy 14: Dawntrail is up now. On this one, the 9800X3D ran at 380 FPS AVG, with the 9950X3D at 373 FPS AVG. We noticed comparatively vast run-to-run variance in a few of these outcomes, so the error bars are wider than typical. The 9800X3D leads the 9950X3D by simply 2%, so they’re functionally equal.
The 9950X3D bests its 9950X non-3D variant by 50 FPS or so, or 16% right here in common framerate. The 1% lows are additionally considerably improved, indicating that frametime pacing is maintaining with enhancements within the common framerate.
The advance over the 7950X3D is 5.8%.
Intel’s closest CPUs don’t seem till the 14900K at 310 FPS AVG. That is largely fascinating as a result of there was a time when Last Fantasy’s prior benchmark variations had been solely dominated by Intel, with the clear division midway down the chart. That is really what we’re seeing now favoring AMD, relegating Intel to the underside. That’s flipped in recent times and generations.
Intel’s 285K underperforms in opposition to its prior two generations. There was no change in efficiency in opposition to final time for the 285K. Intel’s one benefit on this take a look at is frametime pacing, the place the 0.1% lows point out that Intel’s CPUs typically have extra constant frame-to-frame intervals than AMD’s CPUs, though not by an quantity that’d change your expertise in a noticeable means.
The 5600X3D outperforms the 5700X3D on this sport. This has been identified and is due to the upper clock pace on the 5600X3D, which proves extra invaluable than the additional cores.
Last Fantasy XIV – 1440p
At 1440p, the highest of the chart truncates because of GPU limitations on the RTX 4090 (watch our assessment). We’ll transfer to a 5090 (learn our assessment) for our full revamp of CPU testing for the subsequent main structure, however for now, that is the place we cap-out. We’re positive that is deeply disappointing to all 12 of you who’ve an RTX 5090.
The 9800X3D and 9950X3D are about the identical as soon as once more. The 7950X3D can also be now about the identical, as is the 9700X, due to the exterior limitations. This can be a good reminder that the positive aspects as soon as scaling graphics are most seen in time-based conditions or in critically heavy CPU video games like Dragon’s Dogma 2, however in any other case, more often than not you’ll get probably the most uplift from a GPU.
Starfield
In Starfield, we had the 9950X3D at 171 FPS AVG, main the 9800X3D’s 165 FPS by 3%. The 9800X3D was notably forward of the 7800X3D and the 9950X3D continued that, although neither had as revolutionary of a achieve as we’ve seen in different benchmarks.
The 14900K trails the 7800X3D, bettering upon its prior spherical lead to a significant means; nonetheless, due to the enhancements we’re seeing within the prior generations, the 285K now falls again behind Intel’s 14900K on this take a look at. The 285K nonetheless regresses and usually embarrasses Intel, trailing even the 13700K (watch our assessment). Intel has frequently tweaked its microcode on these prior generations, so it’s potential that they rolled-out a microcode that had misplaced some efficiency sooner or later they usually’ve regained some now with the thirteenth and 14th sequence. We replace BIOS to the latest model for every spherical.
In opposition to the 9950X at 124 FPS AVG, the 9950X3D improves by 37%. That’s one of many bigger positive aspects. In fact, for those who’re not going to make use of the additional cores, the 9800X3D makes extra sense for worth.
Cyberpunk 2077 – 1080p/Medium
Cyberpunk 2077 is again in our CPU take a look at suite once more with the Phantom Liberty enlargement. Examined at 1080p/medium right here, the 9800X3D and 9950X3D each ran at about 219 FPS AVG and had been properly inside run-to-run variance at solely fractions of a body per second aside. The 7800X3D trails, however not by a lot. It’d be roughly the identical expertise as these two.
The lead of the 9950X3D over the 9950X is 37% once more, matching among the different video games. The Intel 200 sequence outdoes the prior generations right here, lastly, with the 285K at 170 FPS AVG. Sadly, that’s nonetheless under the AM4 5700X3D and 5600X3D.
F1 24 – 1080p
F1 24 at 1080p is up now. This one has the 9950X3D and 9800X3D once more roughly tied, with the 7800X3D not far behind. The benefit is just 7%. The 9950X3D leads the 9950X non-3D variant by 29%, barely lowered from the benefit seen in different video games. We is likely to be hitting a GPU restrict right here.
Intel’s 14900K is its closest competitors, launched in 2023, with the 285K down at 9950X ranges. The 5600X3D and 5700X3D outcomes present once more that this sport likes frequency and IPC to some extent.
F1 24 – 1440p
1440p is sort of precisely the identical within the backside half, with the highest switching round on account of GPU overhead and limitations on GPU scaling. The 5800X3D falls down the ranks because the 14th and thirteenth gen deal with the overhead just a little higher and with extra steady frametime pacing, which helps the common. In any other case, issues are about the identical sans limitations of scaling for the 9950X3D.
9950X3D Manufacturing Benchmarks
We’re shifting on to manufacturing assessments now. That is the place the 16-core CPUs do properly. Traditionally, we’ve seen the X3D variants of all of those CPUs underperform in opposition to the non-X3D elements on account of energy allocation to permit greater boosting. Additional cache doesn’t assist in our testing right here usually. We’ll see if the 9950X3D breaks that common development.
Blender Rendering
Blender testing hasn’t modified since our October spherical. We ran validation on a number of CPUs and the outcomes got here out principally identically, so we will preserve lots of information for extra comparisons. This could assist these of you on older {hardware} as a result of we’ve received extra current right here.
The 9950X3D required 6.6 minutes to finish the render, which is about tied with the 9950X. It was technically quicker, however in actuality, these are tied. That’s excellent news for the X3D half, although: Previous X3D CPUs, just like the 7950X3D, have been technically barely slower than their non-3D equivalents. That’s not due to scheduling or parking, however as a result of the frequency is slower in an all-core workload.
One other good instance is the 7800X3D, which was slower than the 7700X by time required, or 5800X3D as slower than the 5800X. The 9950X3D is the primary to interrupt this development in a giant means. Technically, the 9800X3D seemed prefer it was doing that in opposition to the 9700X, however the energy goal was what introduced most of that change.
The 9950X3D outperforms the 285K right here, with a few 7% discount in whole time required to finish the render.
Chromium Code Compile
Chromium code compile in Home windows is one other the place the information set hasn’t modified, so we had been capable of salvage it after validation. The 9950X3D required 81 minutes to finish the compile, which is similar to the time required for the 9950X, however technically improved. This places it marginally forward of the freshly retested 285K, with a discount in time required to compile from 285K to 9950X3D of 4.7% much less time required. The 14900K required 88 minutes right here, with the 265K at 98 minutes.
The 9950X3D is the brand new chief in our compile take a look at. This isn’t going to be consultant of each sort of code compile, identical to none of those assessments is consultant of each angle of a use case; nonetheless, the way in which we take a look at it, the 9950X3D is the brand new chief wanting going to Threadripper.
7-Zip Compression
Information for decompression and compression can’t be salvaged, so it’s all new.
In 7-Zip file compression testing, the 9950X3D led the chart at 206,643 MIPs, or tens of millions of directions per second. That has it simply forward of the 9950X by 3.3%. This is among the assessments the place cache may help, relying on its implementation. The 5600X3D and 5600X are good examples of this: The X3D half has a decrease marketed frequency, however manages to nonetheless roughly tie the 5600X.
The 9950X3D outperforms the 7950X3D by 8.5%, which accomplished 191K MIPS. The 14900K is subsequent at roughly 189K MIPS, then the 13900K (watch our assessment). The 285K follows all of those, down at 179K MIPS.
Core depend clearly issues on this take a look at: The 3950X 16-core CPU is outperforming the 5900X 12-core CPU and 9700X 8-core CPU.
7-Zip Decompression
In 7-Zip Decompression, we measured the 9950X3D at 277K MIPS, with the 9950X non-3D at 272K MIPS. You wouldn’t actually profit from the 9950X3D in a significant means in both compression or decompression on this workload. The 9950X achieves all the efficiency already, so that you’d want use circumstances that extra immediately leverage the cache to get worth out of the 9950X3D.
Intel’s 14900K is its closest competitor, adopted by the 14700K after which the 285K.
Adobe Premiere
We saved among the information for Adobe Premiere as properly. The most important swing was to Intel’s twelfth to 14th Gen CPUs right here, the place we noticed some motion from the Home windows updates not too long ago. A lot of the different elements stayed comparatively stationary. Any twelfth to 14th Gen CPUs with information previous to this spherical would transfer round a bit, so pay attention to that; nonetheless, simply to attempt to supply some further information that’s nonetheless largely comparable, we’ve left these elements right here. Most of this information is model new.
The 9950X3D scored 11600 factors within the Puget suite mixture prolonged scoring for Premiere, which places it on the prime of the chart. It bests the 9950X by 5.8%, with the 14900K closest to it, then the 285K. The advance over the 7950X non-3D is 7%.
9950X3D Effectivity
We’ll preserve energy and effectivity testing quick this time and simply present a pair conditions.
Starfield
In Starfield, the 9950X3D ended up at 1.7 FPS/W, placing it behind the 7950X3D and 7800X3D, however tied with the 5700X3D and 9800X3D. The 9950X3D pulled 98.8W when enjoying this sport, and Starfield is one in every of our video games that almost all closely hundreds the CPU (however continues to be nothing like an all-core Blender workload).
The 9950X non-3D half pulled 168W on this identical take a look at, placing it down at 0.7 FPS/W. Meaning the 9950X pulled practically 70W greater than the 9950X3D, or a few 70% enhance in energy consumption regardless of operating at a decrease framerate. By way of FPS/W, the 9950X3D is each greater framerate and decrease energy, and so it’s much more environment friendly. It’s nonetheless not as environment friendly because the low-power 7800X3D, although.
7-Zip Compression
7-Zip compression exhibits that the 9950X3D can nonetheless be power-hungry. In our compression effectivity testing, the 9950X3D pulled 203.8W. That put it at 1014 MIPS/W, which makes it much less environment friendly than about half the chart. The CPU is the most effective performer, however not for effectivity and that’s as a result of it’s pulling 204W, its effectivity has decreased in comparison with some others.
The 9950X scored 979 MIPS/W and pulled the identical energy at 204W, making it much less environment friendly than the 9950X3D. The 7800X3D is a decrease performer general, and in massive methods, however has such impressively low energy consumption that it finally ends up being probably the most environment friendly.
In fact, for those who had been severe about operating this type of workload on a regular basis, you’d nonetheless need one thing extra highly effective than the 7800X3D.
7-Zip Decompression
Decompression testing appears higher for the 16-core elements, with the 7950X3D proving extremely environment friendly right here, adopted by a powerful consequence from the 7950X non-3D with ECO Mode enabled. The 9950X3D ran at 1358 MIPS/W, placing it barely forward of the 9950X. They’re nonetheless in the course of this chart although.
9950X3D Conclusion
That’s it. You could have the numbers.
For the quickest recap: For gaming, you may consider the 9950X3D like a 9800X3D. We didn’t run into any main points with the 9950X3D right here. That in and of itself is type of an accomplishment for AMD. The corporate has actually struggled through the years with the twin CCDs, the place one has the additional X3D cache on it. Over time, it’s taken them a while to get to a spot the place it’s not regressive and the place it’s just a little simpler to arrange. The 9950X3D does seem to try this in our expertise to this point and that could be a main enchancment for AMD. It’s taken them some generations to get there.
If in case you have the funds and need to construct a purely gaming laptop, we expect you must scale it down and go for a 9800X3D. It’s simply not that massive of a distinction because the 9800X3D typically trades locations with the 9950X3D and also you avoid wasting cash.
Intel, alternatively, is out of this dialog proper now. They don’t seem to be a part of the high-end costly CPU for gaming construct state of affairs for the time being.
In the meantime, the 9950X is sensible for production-heavy builds that don’t have an express use for that further cache. There’s undoubtedly use-cases for this on the market. We see just a little little bit of that in our 7-Zip testing, however for probably the most half within the issues we take a look at, it doesn’t have a tendency to profit from the additional cache in non-gaming situations.
The place the 9950X3D, and the opposite X3D 16-core elements, shine is a extra restricted use case the place you could have some mixture of actually heavy manufacturing and actually heavy gaming. For those who do lots of compression, decompression, possibly render issues on the CPU, are heavy into Premiere, or do lots of code compiles and play lots of video games, then that’s type of the use case for the CPU.
For those who’re in a single camp or the opposite solely, then it can save you some cash by going for both a 9800X3D or a 9950X.
We wouldn’t pay greater than MSRP for the 9950X3D. CPUs have a tendency to stay nearer to MSRP, however can nonetheless have silly costs from some retailers or third-party sellers.
