The Powerful AMD Zen 5 9950X3D, 9900X3D, and 9800X3D Gaming CPUs Are Now Available

Ready to upgrade your PC with AMD's latest and greatest? Now's the perfect time. Following the release of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D earlier this year, AMD has launched its top-tier Ryzen 9 processors featuring Zen 5 "X3D" architecture: the 9950X3D ($699) and the 9900X3D ($599). These CPUs are contenders for the best gaming processors available, outperforming both Intel and AMD's previous generations.

Note: Availability of these processors is fluctuating; they're frequently 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 who also demand top-tier gaming performance need look no further. The 9950X3D boasts a 5.7GHz max boost clock, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While only marginally better than the 9800X3D in gaming, its productivity performance significantly surpasses the other Zen 5 X3D chips and all Intel competitors.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D may be the most powerful gaming processor, but that doesn't make it the best choice for everyone. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers excellent value at $479. The 9950X3D shines for gamers who also use creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, offering a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D in those applications. For pure gaming, however, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card might be a wiser investment."

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 utilizes 3D V-Cache technology for gaming optimization. All three CPUs share this technology, resulting in similar gaming performance, with minor variations due to clock speed differences. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D features a 5.2GHz max boost clock, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of multitasking and creative tasks, its core count limits its suitability for demanding workloads. However, it's a phenomenal gaming processor, especially considering its price.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers exceptional gaming performance, making it a more compelling choice than recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. Paired with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance."

The Middle Ground: 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 Ryzen 9 9900X3D bridges the gap for users who need creative capabilities and gaming performance but have a tighter budget than the 9950X3D allows. It boasts a 5.5GHz max boost clock, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. While not yet reviewed, its performance is expected to fall between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D for productivity tasks and gaming.

AMD's Winning Streak Continues

If you waited to see if AMD's new GPUs could compete with Nvidia's Blackwell series, you made the right call. The Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are the new mid-range champions, offering excellent performance at lower prices than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT starts at $600 (though manufacturer price increases are a concern). Check out our Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT reviews for benchmark details.

Why Trust IGN's Deals Team?

IGN's deals team boasts over 30 years of combined experience in finding the best deals across gaming, tech, and more. We prioritize delivering genuine value and only recommend products and deals we trust and have personally experienced. For more information on our process, see our deals standards. Follow us on Twitter for the latest deals!