AMD ’s CPUs are the kings of gambling in 2025 , with Intel ’s modish - generation Arrow Lake CPUs performing worse than their fourteenth generation counterparts . But if you ’re try out to nibble the best central processor for gaming , thenAMD ’s 9800X3Dand 9950X3D are a rugged choice to pick between . The former is far more affordable , but it also omit out on eight full - size of it Zen 5 core and a sight of extra multi - threading performance .
Does that make much of a remainder in gaming , though ? Let ’s find out out .
Pricing and availability
AMD launched the Ryzen 9800X3D in November 2024 , a few months after the debut of the Ryzen 9000 genesis of CPU . Its launching price was $ 479 and besides a abbreviated spike after it initially go on sale , it ’s maintained that terms ever since .
The9950X3D launched in March 2025with a suggested toll of $ 699 . However , its popularity has made it hard to witness , meaning it ’s often out of gillyflower and terms have risen in twist . At the metre of writing , it ’s available at major retailers for around $ 835 .
Specifications
It ’s clear looking at the spec that the 9950X3D is the braggart chum of the relatively - modest 9800X3D. It has double the cores and yarn documentation , more L3 cache , a higher clock stop number , and a gamey TDP to go along with it . However , this is all fair enough considering the 9950X3D is near to duplicate the price of its eight - core counterpart .
alfresco of extremely well optimized games , too , the 9950X3D does n’t showcase much of anything in this specification table which would give it a big advantage in play , which is what these CPU are primarily designed to do . The extra boost clock mighth come into maneuver , but that ’s more likely a single inwardness hike . When all its pith are at oeuvre it ’ll lead closer to 5GHz .
Performance
We did review the 9800X3D when it launch last yr , so if you require some elaborate results from us on how that chip performs , control out our in - depth testing . However , we have n’t had a hazard to play with the 9950X3D yet , so we ’ll be looking to extensive third - political party results to see how well it do and liken to the play business leader 9800X3D.
First , we ’ll cover gambling , and as expected the 9950X3D is amazing . How amazing ? About as awful as the 9800X3D , it flex out . InTechPowerUp ’s coverage , the two CPUs trade blows at 1080p across a range of games , and the difference between them are even less distinct at 1440p and 4K.
Overall , the 9800X3D ends up somewhat faster across its rooms of game , but only by a couple of per centum , and even then it really depends on the game you flirt . It ’s a existent toss up in play .
TomsHardware report very standardized results in gambling , butwhen switching to productiveness workloadslike Handbrake television encryption or Blender rendition , showcases the additional power those eight extra cores can convey to the mesa . With 16 core and its higher overall clock speed , the 9950X3D muck up the 9800X3D aside , and even pull off to dominate the 9950X at a times , as well as giving the Intel 285 K a campaign for its money .
It seems that in sure apps , the added cache on the 9950X3D gives it a pegleg up over its X3D - less vis-a-vis .
GamersNexusconfirmed the same kind of answer , find the 9950X3D to be about the fastest chip you’re able to find in almost any category . It ’s the best at gaming , except when the 9800X3D just pips it at the post . It ’s also extremely open in professional workloads , often trade places with the Intel 285 K and it shows clear advantages over the 9950X at times — that ’s a major achievement for AMD , and its 7950X3D often fell well behind the 7950X in need multithreaded work load .
Buy the 9800X3D for pure gaming
If you ’re just in it for the build in your game , the 9800X3D is by far the good buy . It propose the same , or even slightly - good performance than the 9950X3D and it ’s available in cracking quantities at around half the price . If you ca n’t make utilization of those extra eight core in more demanding work load , then there really is no pauperization to pay for them .
Similarly , while the 9950X3D is great for content creation and productivity workload , it ’s about as effective as the 9950X in most pillow slip . There are sure applications and programs where the special 3D V - Cache does give it a slender edge , but we ’re talk about shading a second or two off a 40 second render run . You are n’t going to notice a immense dispute . With the 9950X and Intel Core Ultra 285 K 200 - 300 dollar bill cheaper , too , it ’s easy to commend those alternatives if you ’re just look to do professional work on your new PC .
If , however , you ’re that rarefied breed of PC builder who wants a hefty gaming machine and interpret machine in one , then the 9950X3D is by far the best option . It ’s blazing fast in gaming and in productiveness workloads , make it the best world-wide function CPU out there . You just want to ante up for the privilege .
