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If you're considering joining the AMD community for your next system upgrade, there's no better time than now. With the launch of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D earlier this year, AMD has now introduced two premium Ryzen 9 models within the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D, priced at $699, and the 9900X3D, available for $599. These processors are hailed as the top gaming chips when compared to both Intel and AMD offerings. Pure gamers should opt for the 9800X3D to allocate their budget elsewhere, while creators with a passion for gaming will appreciate the substantial performance boost offered by the new Ryzen 9 processors, thanks to their enhanced core count and cache.

Note: Processors are frequently sold out, so act quickly when they're in 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 Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the ultimate choice. Boasting a maximum boost clock of 5.7GHz with 16 cores, 32 threads, and 144MB of L2-L3 cache, this CPU is a powerhouse. While its gaming performance is only marginally better than the 9800X3D, it significantly outshines both 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 is currently the most powerful gaming processor available, though it doesn't lead in every category. For most users, the more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D at $479 is sufficient. The 9950X3D is perfect for gamers who also utilize creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, seeing a 15% performance boost over the 9800X3D. However, for a gaming-focused build, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card is advisable."

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. Although all three CPUs utilize the 3D V-cache on a single CCD, their gaming performance is nearly identical, with minor differences primarily due to clock speed variations. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers a maximum boost clock of 5.2GHz with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While it's capable in multitasking, rendering, and creative tasks, its limited core count makes it less ideal for those specific workloads. Nevertheless, at this price point, it's an exceptional gaming processor.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review by Jacqueline Thomas

"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D excels in games, making it a top recommendation over other recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. If you're assembling a system with a high-end graphics card, the 9800X3D will maximize your GPU's 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 engaged in creative work and gaming but who need to stick to a budget. With a maximum boost clock of 5.5GHz, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache, it offers a balanced performance. Although we haven't yet reviewed this chip, its specifications suggest it will perform between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in productivity tasks and multi-core workloads. For gaming, it should perform similarly to the other two.

AMD's Hot Streak with New CPUs and GPUs

If you've held off on purchasing Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to assess AMD's latest offerings, you've 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. Both cards deliver outstanding performance at a more competitive price than Nvidia's counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, while the 9070 XT begins at $600, though prices may fluctuate due to manufacturer adjustments. Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for detailed benchmarks.

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