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

If you're considering upgrading to AMD, now is an excellent time to make the switch. Alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which debuted earlier this year, AMD has recently launched its higher-end Ryzen 9 siblings in the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D is priced at $699, and the 9900X3D at $599. These processors are considered the top gaming chips available from both AMD and Intel. For pure gamers, the 9800X3D is the best choice, allowing you to allocate your budget elsewhere. However, creators with a passion for gaming and deeper pockets will appreciate the significant performance boost offered by the new Ryzen 9 processors, thanks to their higher core count and increased cache.

Note: Processors are frequently going in and out of stock, with more time spent out of stock unfortunately.

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 seek the best gaming chip on the market should look no further; this is the CPU to get. The new 9950X3D boasts a max boost clock of 5.7GHz with 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While it offers only a slight edge in gaming performance over the 9800X3D, it significantly outperforms the other Zen 5 X3D chips and Intel's offerings in productivity tasks.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D might be the most powerful gaming processor on the market right now, but that doesn’t mean it has a de facto lead on every other chip on the market. Most people will have no problem getting by with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which is much more affordable at $479. The 9950X3D is ideal for gamers who also use creative apps like Photoshop and Premiere, the latter of which sees a 15% performance improvement over the 9800X3D. For a pure gaming PC build, though, you’re probably better off saving that extra $220 for a better graphics card."

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 optimized for gaming thanks to AMD's 3D V-Cache technology. Since all three CPUs have the 3D V-cache loaded onto a single CCD, gaming performance is roughly the same across the lineup. The minor differences are mostly due to clock speed variations. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D boasts a max boost clock of 5.2GHz with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of handling multitasking, rendering, and creation, its limited number of cores makes it less ideal for those tasks. However, it's an absolute powerhouse for gaming, especially at this price point.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is extremely powerful in games, making it easier to recommend than other recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. Especially if you’re building a rig with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D is the best way to get the most performance out of whichever GPU you pair it with."

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 AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the processor to choose if you engage in creative work and enjoy gaming, but need to stick to a budget that the 9950X3D exceeds. The new 9900X3D boasts a max boost clock of 5.5GHz with 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. Although we haven't reviewed this chip yet, its specs suggest its performance will fall between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D for productivity tasks and multi-core workloads. In terms of gaming, we expect it to perform similarly to the other two.

AMD is on a Hot Streak with its New CPUs and GPUs

If you held off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see what AMD had to offer, you made the right choice. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions of this generation. Both cards deliver exceptional performance while undercutting their Nvidia competition in price. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT at $600, though manufacturers are increasing prices. Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for detailed benchmarks.

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