Get ready for a powerhouse performance boost! AMD is gearing up to launch its top-tier Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D processors at CES 2025, hitting shelves in late January. Following the successful release of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, these new processors promise to take desktop computing to the next level.
The Ryzen 9 9900X3D will pack a serious punch with 12 cores and 24 threads, while the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D boasts an impressive 16 cores and 32 threads. Both processors leverage the exciting new second-generation 3D V-Cache technology, a significant upgrade that promises enhanced performance. However, AMD has made a strategic decision regarding the 3D V-Cache implementation. Unlike the expectation of two stacks, mirroring the dual-CCD design, these processors will utilize a single 64MB 3D V-Cache stack on one die – following the same design paradigm as the 7950X3D and 7900X3D. This approach, however, reverses the order of the CCD and cache compared to the 7000X3D series.
This decision to utilize a single 3D V-Cache stack is likely a cost-optimization measure, and possibly due to engineering limitations, preventing a potential increase in price and manufacturing challenges that could be associated with a second stack. But that doesn’t mean performance will suffer. While the absence of dual 3D V-Cache stacks might initially raise eyebrows, the impact on overall performance is likely to be minimal for most users. The significant increase in core count from the 8-core 9800X3D to the 12-core 9900X3D and 16-core 9950X3D is expected to provide a substantial boost in multitasking and demanding applications.
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores and 32 threads, will offer a total of 144MB of cache (L2 + L3 + 3D V-Cache), while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D will boast 140MB of cache. In comparison, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of cache. Content creators, AI enthusiasts, and professionals working with demanding workloads will particularly appreciate the significant increase in core and thread count, offering substantial parallel processing capabilities.
While some might have hoped for the added performance boost of a dual 3D V-Cache setup on the 9950X3D and 9900X3D, AMD’s decision likely represents a calculated balance between performance and cost. This design choice allows for a more accessible price point for consumers without sacrificing a considerable portion of the performance gains offered by the second generation 3D V-Cache.
The launch of these high-end processors further solidifies AMD’s position in the high-performance computing market, providing users with powerful options to tackle even the most demanding tasks. Mark your calendars for late January 2025, when these processors will become available.
