AMD has officially revealed its new Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition desktop processor, and you'll be able to get your hands on it on April 22.
This is AMD's (and indeed the world's) first desktop processor where both chiplets are equipped with the proprietary 3D V-Cache technology that is so coveted by PC gamers. With 104MB of cache underlying each chiplet, it offers a whopping 208MB total on-chip cache.
What does that mean for you? Well, with more cache, the CPU has more space to store the data it needs to perform as efficiently as possible. As AMD's Senior VP and GM of Computing and Graphics, Jack Huynh, explains in the announcement video, "208MB of cache means more game data, more assets, and more working data sitting right next to the CPU cores."
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition remains a 16-core processor based on the Zen 5 architecture and using the AM5 socket, just like its Ryzen 9 9950X3D sibling that we reviewed favorably here at Windows Central. However, it has jumped up to a 200W TDP compared to the 170W TDP of its sibling.
Cores |
Threads |
Boost clock |
TDP |
Total cache |
|---|---|---|---|---|
16 |
32 |
5.6GHz |
200W |
208MB |
I don't doubt that this CPU is going to be a monster chip for PC gaming, but AMD isn't hiding the fact that it's also exceptional for demanding workloads that require speedy data access.
You still get the incredible gaming performance you expect from a Ryzen 9 X3D processor, but where the 9950X3D2 really shines is in workloads that thrive on ultra-fast data access. Large software builds. Game engine compiles. AI models. 3D rendering, and complex content creation pipelines.
Jack Huynh, AMD Senior VP and GM of Computing and Graphics
AMD claims that compared to the 9950X3D, the 9950X3D2 Dual Edition can deliver between 5% and 10% better performance in creative workloads like DaVinci Resolve, Blender, Unreal Engine, and Chromium.
While the original Ryzen 9 9950X3D was undoubtedly a capable CPU for gaming and for creative workloads, AMD is positioning the 9950X3D2 Dual Edition as the new ultimate choice.
There's not yet any word on the new Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition's pricing, but the standard Ryzen 9 9950X3D currently sits at around $675.
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