AMD’s new Ryzen 9 9950X superflagship has received a remarkable boost in single-core performance, although some enthusiasts were skeptical of the new product. We tested the processor in work tasks, video games, and also tried to assess its relevance in the market with the current pricing policy.
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| Technical characteristics | |
| Lithography | TSMC 4nm |
| Platform | AMD AM5 |
| Number of cores | 16 |
| Number of threads | 32 |
| Base frequency | 4.3 GHz |
| Max. frequency | 5.7 GHz |
| Third level cache | 64 MB |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes |
| Basic TDP | 170 |
| PCI-E version | 5.0 |
| Embedded graphics | AMD Radeon |
| Type of RAM | DDR5 5600 MHz |
| Maximum RAM | 192 GB |
We tested the processor with the following components:
The processor received a relatively balanced system, except for the thermal paste. As it turned out, Arctic MX-4 is not good for CPUs with a 4 nm process technology. In addition to a better process, the new product supports faster RAM in a larger capacity. The new AMD Ryzen 9000 series was briefly described in the previous review of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X processor, which we suggest you read.
The boxed version has only the processor in a blister, paper documentation, and a branded sticker. Boxed coolers are not included for obvious reasons, as cooling AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is more difficult than it seems.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is primarily regarded as a processor for work — hard and serious work where you need as much performance as possible, including the performance per unit of energy consumption is valued. Simple integrated Radeon Graphics will not be superfluous, especially for non-gaming systems, workstations, etc.
In terms of efficiency, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is the market leader, as it has even more TDP than its predecessor. In different tests, the system performs differently, but we can say that in almost all scenarios, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is ahead of Intel Core i9-14900K.
It is especially pleasant to see high performance in single-core tests, which is reflected in the smoothness of the entire system. The heaviest scripts in the browser are easy and effortless — the computer «flies». In the WebXPRT 4 test, we managed to take first place in the world since the benchmark’s inception to this day.
It is also interesting that with a temperature limit of 85 °C, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X managed to outperform Intel Core i9-14900K in the ultra-heavy Cinebench 2024 test. The power consumption ranged from 175-190 W, which is significantly less than the competitor, and the performance is similar.
The only disappointment was working with AMD Precision Boost Overdrive. It is difficult to reduce the voltage because we often get system freezes. The chip is already maxed out from the factory, so at best you can get PBO Negative All Core -20, which means only a slight voltage reduction, not like AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (-30, and on some boards -40).
Most video games can’t work with 32 threads, so there is almost no difference between the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 9 9950X, everything is proportional to the speed of one core. Despite the low resolution, some games still ran into the capabilities of AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX.
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In optimized titles like Battlefield 2042, the CPU load is very high (70+%), so this system gets a slight advantage with partial CPU utilization (9700X shows 100% utilization in this game).
Thanks to its strong single-threading, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is good for gaming, although it makes no sense to buy it specifically for entertainment. It is easier to choose AMD Ryzen 7 9700X or the very successful Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
The motherboard’s power is fully sufficient, the MSI Carbon B650 Wi-Fi power supply area warmed up to 50-55 °C, and the processor immediately went into trotting due to the difficulty of removing heat from the lid. Arctic MX-4 thermal paste is not enough to tame the hero of the review.
While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X heats up to 95 °C, the cooling liquid in the system only heats up to 35-38 °C. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X requires a top-of-the-line thermal paste or liquid metal (recommended).
The maximum power consumption was 220 watts, although in most benchmarks this value is kept at 195-210 watts. During light office work, the power consumption is similar to AMD Ryzen 9 7900, i.e. 20-40 watts.
It is always nice to use technology that is the first in something. And this processor is currently considered the best desktop solution for everything at once. Of course, it doesn’t make sense to buy it for video games, but it’s a real monster in work.
It can be truly appreciated only by those professionals who run large projects on their computers, need insane performance, and for typical home use, its power is clearly excessive.
During the week of work and testing, there were computer freezes and software bugs (benchmarks fail, etc.) associated with too aggressive undervoltage — the processor lacks voltage, so I had to experiment with the optimal value many times and play with the settings.
Perhaps with a better motherboard (although this one is one of the best in its class), the computer would be more stable, and liquid metal would also be helpful.
In Ukraine, according to AMD Ryzen 9 9950X you’ll have to pay as much as 38,000 hryvnias. This is a lot compared to Ryzen 9 7950X and 7950X3D, which are 12-14 thousand hryvnias cheaper. Since AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is a novelty, the price will definitely drop by the end of the year.
Intel Core i9-14900K is the main competitor, and it is much cheaper. Officially, it sells for 27,000 hryvnias, while «gray» versions start at 20,000 hryvnias.
Predecessor AMD Ryzen 9 7950X will cost 24000 hryvnias as the version AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D. A favorable offer, if not a critical difference in single-core performance.
