AMD Ryzen 9 9950X review

If you didn't know anything about Zen 5, you'd think the new Ryzen 9 9950X is a step backwards from its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X. They both have the same number of cores and threads (16 and 32, respectively) and the same total amount of L3 cache (64 MB). The 5.6 GHz boost clock is the same for both and the new chip even has a lower base clock (4.3 vs 4.5 GHz). And yet, the Ryzen 9 9950X is by far the better processor.

To understand why, you need to delve into the guts of the two CCDs (Core Complex Dies) that nestle next to the IOD (Input/Output Die) underneath the heatspreader. 

The architectural changes are too many and too complicated to go through in detail right here—you can always check out our deep dive on the Zen 5 architecture if you want the low-down—but it suffices to say that everything AMD has changed results in notably better performance, depending on the application.

As we saw with the Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 9 9900X, the Zen 5 architecture can offer some substantial gains, especially in productivity and content creation tasks, though the outright improvement in gaming is somewhat understated.

Cores: 16
Threads: 32
Base clock: 4.3 GHz
Boost clock: 5.7 GHz
L3 Cache: 64 MB
L2 Cache: 12 MB
Unlocked: Yes
Max PCIe lanes: 24
Graphics: Radeon Graphics
Memory support (up to): DDR5-5800
Processor Base Power (W): 170
Maximum Package Power (W): 230
Recommended customer price:  $699/£609.99

However, in those chips, differences in clocks and power limits mask the true potential of Zen 5. As you'll soon see, when it comes to pitching the Ryzen 9 7950X against the Ryzen 9 9950X, the benchmark results are almost entirely down to the architectural differences between Zen 4 and Zen 5.

Unlike the lower tier models, AMD hasn't reduced the power limit for the 9950X and, like its predecessor, it's configured to have a TDP of 170 W and a peak package limit (PPT) of 230 W. That's a far cry from the 105 W TDP for the Ryzen 9 3950X, AMD's first 16-core processor for