Ryzen 9 9950X3D purportedly surfaces with 5.65 GHz boost clocks — leaked specs inlcude 96MB 3D V-Cache on a single CCD and 170W TDP

Potential Ryzen 9 9950X3D
(Image credit: Huang514613)

A CPU-Z screenshot has popped up that allegedly details AMD's unreleased Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor. It reportedly offers 16 cores and is baked with 96MB of 3D V-Cache across a single CCD, per Huang514613 at X.

It appears that the assessed CPU was an engineering sample, so validation testing is likely underway. It is plausible to expect that AMD might unveil its 12-core and 16-core Ryzen 9000X3D offerings at CES next month. Note that such screenshots can be easily forged or manipulated; hence, verifying their validity is difficult, so it's best to take this leak with a grain of salt.

AMD's now-elusive Ryzen 7 9800X3D reigns as the fastest gaming CPU in the world after it dethroned Intel's Core i9-14900K by 30% per our testing. As such, supply has been extremely short due to the ever-increasing demand from gamers. AMD's gains stem from the generational leap with Zen 5 in tandem with an overhauled 3D V-Cache layout. The X3D cache chiplet now sits beneath the heat-producing CCDs, which offers higher thermal headroom as reflected by the elevated boost clocks and TjMax limits of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Going over the leaked screenshot, the alleged Ryzen 9 9950X3D is packed with 16 cores and 32 threads using GNR-B0 (Granite Ridge or Zen 5 desktop) silicon. The CPU is listed with a maximum CPU multiplier of x56.5, allowing for boost clocks of 5.65 GHz, likely on the CCD without 3D V-Cache, just 50 MHz shy of the Ryzen 9 9950X. While testing the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, we found the X3D-equipped CCD to be almost 500 MHz slower than the one without the X3D cache. AMD may have slightly lowered this delta with the newer X3D design, but that has yet to be seen.

In the Level 3 cache section, the CPU is listed with 96MB (3D V-Cache chiplet) and 32MB for 128MB of L3 cache alongside 16MB of L2 cache. This is no different from the last generation, so it'll be interesting to see the performance difference between them. Also note that if this leak holds, the showcased CPU is still an engineering sample and does not indicate the final retail silicon.

CPU-Z mentions the alleged Ryzen 9 9950X3D with a 170W TDP, similar to the base Ryzen 9 9950X and 50W higher than its predecessor. The TDP may have been manually adjusted, or it may have resulted from early silicon. Alternatively, the higher TDP might be a direct result of additional thermal headroom afforded by AMD's revamped second-gen 3D V-Cache technology.

AMD is expected to detail a large number of products at CES, including the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Ryzen 9 9900X3D. If AMD is eying an unveil next month, pricing, specifications, and expected performance should be disclosed at the event.

Hassam Nasir
Contributing Writer

Hassam Nasir is a die-hard hardware enthusiast with years of experience as a tech editor and writer, focusing on detailed CPU comparisons and general hardware news. When he’s not working, you’ll find him bending tubes for his ever-evolving custom water-loop gaming rig or benchmarking the latest CPUs and GPUs just for fun.

  • DougMcC
    Interesting if true. Both CCDs getting cache this time around was widely rumored.
    Reply
  • AngelusF
    DougMcC said:
    Both CCDs getting cache this time around was widely rumored.
    And surely that's the only config that makes any real sense because it avoids all the Windoze oh-dear-which-CCD-should-I-run-this-thread-on nonsense.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    Given that the regular dual CCD Zen 5 parts require the same software to be installed as the dual CCD Zen 4 X3D parts nothing is going to save the scheduling issues. Bouncing between CCDs is still awful so it would make sense that they're sticking to a single CCD for the 3D V-cache given the lack of advantage for it being on both.

    The biggest deal with these parts is that the higher clocks should make them a less compromised heavy load part while being great for gaming. I think the 9950X3D will probably end up being the best all around CPU on the market until next generation architectures arrive.
    Reply
  • CerianK
    AngelusF said:
    And surely that's the only config that makes any real sense because it avoids all the Windoze oh-dear-which-CCD-should-I-run-this-thread-on nonsense.
    I was just discussing this aspect with a colleague. My best guess is that including 3D vcache on both would cut into TR/workstation territory more so now that the thermal issue has apparently been solved by bottom-die attachment. Placing the burden on Microsoft may not be too bad, as they should have a good head start since 79xxX3D support is fairly mature.
    Reply
  • Mama Changa
    Will higher clocks though be enough for the 9900X3D not to suck this time? 7900X3D was poor for productivity and weaker at gaming not only due to lower clocks but some games use more than 6 cores and having to access non v-cache ccd hurt badly. 9900X3D will have much better clocks so shouod be great for productivity but will still only have 6 cores.

    I suspect until Zen 6 launches where it is rumoured ccd's grow to 12 or 16 cores, x900X3D series will remain a worse choice for gaming. So 10900X3D with just 1 ccd and 12 cores would be a beast

    I have no interest in 9950X3D, already 9950X is over $1000 in Australia at 99% of stores, so X3D version will hit $1200+.
    Reply
  • SomeoneElse23
    Mama Changa said:

    I have no interest in 9950X3D, already 9950X is over $1000 in Australia at 99% of stores, so X3D version will hit $1200+.
    Prices will come down eventually, even if it's after the 10k series (??) comes out.

    I'm happy with my 5950X, but when it's time to upgrade, the 9950X3D is looking appealing.

    After prices go down...
    Reply
  • Makaveli
    DougMcC said:
    Interesting if true. Both CCDs getting cache this time around was widely rumored.
    not happening.
    Reply
  • 80251
    What will Intel's answer be? And if they don't have any answer what kind of future does Intel have?
    Reply
  • spongiemaster
    DougMcC said:
    Interesting if true. Both CCDs getting cache this time around was widely rumored.
    No reputable source leaked any such rumor. Based on every other product AMD has released/cancelled up to this point, there was zero chance this was going to happen. Anyone who thought it would happen does not understand how the technology works.
    80251 said:
    What will Intel's answer be? And if they don't have any answer what kind of future does Intel have?
    They don't need one. The market for people who want to game on their workstation is not a market worth Intel's time. Intel needs to focus on markets that actually matter and can generate sufficient revenue and profits to offset what their foundry business is doing right now.
    Reply
  • jp7189
    thestryker said:
    Given that the regular dual CCD Zen 5 parts require the same software to be installed as the dual CCD Zen 4 X3D parts nothing is going to save the scheduling issues. Bouncing between CCDs is still awful so it would make sense that they're sticking to a single CCD for the 3D V-cache given the lack of advantage for it being on both.

    The biggest deal with these parts is that the higher clocks should make them a less compromised heavy load part while being great for gaming. I think the 9950X3D will probably end up being the best all around CPU on the market until next generation architectures arrive.
    My understanding is the scheduling is still basically non-existant... that whenever a game launch is detected, all cores on the non-x3d ccd are parked. To me that says every time a game is in flight half the cpu is disabled. That's a total non-starter to my way of thinking. The main reason I would opt for a 16 core part is so I can play a game while I'm waiting on status bars. I know I'm not a usual use case, but I may have up to a dozen VMs running at any time when I launch a game.

    Am I misunderstanding how the scheduling works with these? Is it unreasonable to expect something as smooth as the way threads slide around P and E cores on an Intel platform? X3d has been around for many years at this point.
    Reply