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

If you're considering an upgrade and leaning towards AMD, now is the perfect time to make the switch. Alongside the Ryzen 7 9800X3D that debuted earlier this year, AMD has recently launched two high-end Ryzen 9 models in the Zen 5 "X3D" series: the 9950X3D priced at $699 and the 9900X3D at $599. These processors stand out as the top gaming chips when compared to both Intel and AMD offerings. For dedicated gamers, the 9800X3D offers excellent performance at a more budget-friendly price, freeing up funds for other components. However, content creators with a larger budget and a love for gaming will find the Ryzen 9 processors' higher core count and increased cache to be a significant boost in performance.

Note: These processors are frequently in and out of stock, and unfortunately, mostly out of stock.

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 seeking the best gaming chip on the market need look no further. The new 9950X3D boasts an impressive max boost clock of 5.7GHz, with 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While its gaming performance is just a few percentage points better than the 9800X3D, it significantly outshines in productivity tasks, surpassing not only its Zen 5 X3D siblings but also Intel's offerings.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently one of the most powerful gaming processors available, yet it doesn't automatically lead the pack in every scenario. Most users will find the Ryzen 7 9800X3D more than sufficient, especially considering its much more affordable price of $479. The 9950X3D is best suited for gamers who also engage in creative work with applications like Photoshop and Premiere, where it offers a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. For a gaming-only build, however, you might want to save the 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 the innovative 3D V-Cache technology. Despite all three CPUs featuring the 3D V-Cache on a single CCD, their gaming performance is virtually identical, with minor variations due to clock speed differences. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers a max boost clock of 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of handling multitasking, rendering, and creation, its core count limits its prowess in these areas. However, at this price point, it's a formidable gaming processor.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D excels in gaming, making it a top recommendation over other recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a high-end graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes your GPU's potential, delivering exceptional performance."

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 ideal choice for those balancing creative work and gaming within a budget. With a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it sits between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in terms of productivity and multi-core performance. For gaming, we expect it to perform similarly to its siblings.

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 in store, you made a wise decision. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards have emerged as the mid-range champions of this generation, offering outstanding performance at a lower price than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT at $600, although prices may be hiked by manufacturers. Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for detailed benchmarks.

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