AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 arrives as Intel scraps Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

[Skye Jacobs]

First look: AMD has expanded its Zen 5 lineup with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, the first desktop processor to feature 3D V-Cache on both chiplets. The move further tightens AMD's grip on the high-end gaming and productivity space. It also lands at a curious moment, just as reports surfaced that Intel has shelved its planned Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, a timing overlap some observers view as more calculated than coincidental.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 doubles down on AMD's V-Cache formula by equipping each of its two CCDs with stacked cache memory. The design results in a massive 208MB of total cache, a configuration that AMD claims can yield 5% to 10% faster performance in select rendering and content creation workloads compared to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D.

The chip will be available beginning April 22, though AMD has not yet disclosed pricing.

"208MB of cache means more game data, more assets and more working data sitting right next to the CPU cores," said Jack Huynh, AMD's Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Computing and Graphics Group, in the company's launch video. AMD positions this extra cache as a benefit for both gaming and creative workloads, including compiling game engines, running AI models, and rendering 3D objects

Like its predecessor, the 9950X3D2 is a 16-core, 32-thread CPU built on AMD's Zen 5 architecture, but it ups the total thermal design power to 200 watts – 30 watts higher than the previous version. The boost clock is slightly trimmed to 5.6 GHz, down from 5.7 GHz on the 9950X3D. As part of the AM5 ecosystem, the processor remains compatible with DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 5, and Precision Boost Overdrive 2. The company is also releasing the chip in a monochrome "Dual Edition" box design to distinguish it from earlier models.

Performance projections show measurable improvements in specialized workloads. AMD says users can expect up to a 13% boost in AI and simulation tasks, roughly 7% better results in V-Ray and Blender rendering benchmarks, and 5% to 7% faster speeds in content creation tests such as Puget for DaVinci Resolve and Geekbench multi-core. The company did not share independent gaming benchmarks.

Behind the enthusiastic reception, commentators have noted the unusual timing of AMD's release. YouTube channel Moore's Law Is Dead suggested that AMD may have fast-tracked the launch following industry chatter about Intel's now-canceled Core Ultra 9 290K Plus.

While AMD has not addressed the speculation, the move highlights how fiercely competitive the high-end desktop CPU market is, where even small performance gains can influence what gamers and creators buy. For now, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 stands as AMD's most ambitious step yet in leveraging cache stacking to keep its CPUs at the top of the performance chart – and its timing ensures the spotlight stays squarely on Team Red.

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AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 arrives as Intel scraps Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

 

[maxxcool7421]

Tragically .. while neat AMD is about a year away from doing the same thing intel has done and ditch consumers and focus wafer purchases on AI production. if you want one of these .. (which by the way will be about 900$ a chip) buy them as soon as they come out.... AMD will only be making wafer purchases for AI by the end of 2027 just like Intel and Nvidia have already done... hell Nvidia is internally talking about 100% reduction in 'consumer' wafer purchases already. I expect them to drop all consumer wafer buys by the end of 2026 and or q1 2027 since a single b200 wafer sells for 1,500,000 $$$ versus a 5060ti wafer selling for 112,000$...

 

[Homerlovesbeer]

FYI the dollar sign comes before the figures.......so $900 not 900$

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Tragically .. while neat AMD is about a year away from doing the same thing intel has done and ditch consumers and focus wafer purchases on AI production. if you want one of these .. (which by the way will be about 900$ a chip) buy them as soon as they come out.... AMD will only be making wafer purchases for AI by the end of 2027 just like Intel and Nvidia have already done... hell Nvidia is internally talking about 100% reduction in 'consumer' wafer purchases already. I expect them to drop all consumer wafer buys by the end of 2026 and or q1 2027 since a single b200 wafer sells for 1,500,000 $$$ versus a 5060ti wafer selling for 112,000$...

Imagine writing that Intel has abandoned the consumer market right after the launch of the 250k plus and 270k plus.

 

[texasrattler]

Imagine people not paying attention to tech or gaming news. Its a dead socket anyways. Doesn't mean the product isnt good though.
That type of computer will last you easily 5 yrs, possibly more with minimal upgrades. BTW the time you need to get a new pc, new tech will be out, like always.
Support for whatever socket only means crap to ppl who upgrade every 2-3 yrs, your avg person wont care.

I went from i7 9700K, 1070 with 32GB from 2019 to 2026.
Now my PC is i7 14700K, 4070 Super with 32GB DDR5. Not the greatest by any means but it does everything I need it to do and I got a great deal. So I took it n didnt look back or worry about bs socket nonsense as I know what im doing and how long ill use my pc.

 

[user556]

...
Support for whatever socket only means crap to ppl who upgrade every 2-3 yrs, your avg person wont care.
...

I'm gonna have to completely disagree on that point. I too rarely upgrade, and I too have been at this game many years. But one of my nephews entirely independently got enthusiastic about a tower build and purchased his first parts and assembled everything himself back when the Zen 3's were new. And I've since learned he chose it partly because of the reputation of longevity of socket. I know this because he's let me know he felt burned by the fact that the Zen 4's changed socket.

He now understands that it changed because of transition from DDR4 to DDR5.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I'm gonna have to completely disagree on that point. I too rarely upgrade, and I too have been at this game many years. But one of my nephews entirely independently got enthusiastic about a tower build and purchased his first parts and assembled everything himself back when the Zen 3's were new. And I've since learned he chose it partly because of the reputation of longevity of socket. I know this because he's let me know he felt burned by the fact that the Zen 4's changed socket.

He now understands that it changed because of transition from DDR4 to DDR5.

So he felt burnt because he bought a socket at the end of its life and didnt do any research? Why would you felt your own family member by admitting that? And what does he run that doesnt work right on zen 3 that he NEEDS zen 4?

Most people dont upgrade every 2-3 years. Look at the fit thrown over Skylake being put out to pasture at 8 years old, and all the people still using it. It's like GPUs. People are not upgrading GPUs every generation, or even every other. Looking at Steam, it appears that people are keeping them for 3 generations, the RTX 4000 series largely displaced 900 and 1000 users, not the 3000s or 2000s.

Or go look at the forums like TechPowerUp, go look at their sigs, and you will see that 99% of those running zen 3 CPUs are using 500 series motherboards, not 4 or 300s. Most of those arguing about socket longevity......didnt use AM4's socket longevity.

 

[user556]

Not being savvy is common/average/normal. That's why I'm using it as an example.

Buying for the longevity is real behaviour. You've got your head in the sand if you think otherwise.

 

[Hecate91]

People do buy for socket longevity, or AM4 wouldn't be nearly as popular if AMD changed sockets all the time like Intel does.

 

[J95qRP7]

FYI the dollar sign comes before the figures.......so $900 not 900$

Perhaps it does in your country but in others, it is normal to put the $ after the number. This person might be from one of those countries and through muscle memory, just put it after, even though they seem to be talking about USD.

 

[Loadedaxe]

People do buy for socket longevity, or AM4 wouldn't be nearly as popular if AMD changed sockets all the time like Intel does.

AM4 compatibility was really about the socket, not the chipset. When new CPUs came out, you could often update the BIOS and drop them into older boards....but you’d miss out on newer features like PCIe 4.0 for example, big difference between 3 and 4.

So yes, you could technically put a new engine in your VW, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Most ended up getting a B550 anyway because, well, the system with a new chip just didn't feel complete. There are tons of articles and posts on this very topic.

Up until now, buying at the end of a life cycle was even less intelligent, but with DDR5 pricing, probably smart at the moment.

 

[daffy duck]

LOL, the 270K is the 290K. The only difference would have been a 100-200MHz clock speed boost, requiring select bins and 2x the cost for 1-3% benefits. The fact you now have a 270K for (nominally) $300 that is far better than the 285K in gaming and better in productivity too, renders even the 285k an utter waste of silicon.

 

[Watzupken]

I don't think Intel scrapped their 290K for this. There is actually little value to introduce the 290K when the 270K is probably not that far off. The difference is likely just higher clockspeed and nothing else. This Ryzen chip is probably going cost way too much as compared the the 270K, so not a good comparison.

 

[Puiu]

LOL, the 270K is the 290K. The only difference would have been a 100-200MHz clock speed boost, requiring select bins and 2x the cost for 1-3% benefits. The fact you now have a 270K for (nominally) $300 that is far better than the 285K in gaming and better in productivity too, renders even the 285k an utter waste of silicon.

Hopefully AMD does more in terms of value (being the king in gaming isn't going to be enough unless Zen 6 turns out to a monster) and Intel's prices eventually go down that 300$ MSRP at retail stores.

 

[Puiu]

AM4 compatibility was really about the socket, not the chipset. When new CPUs came out, you could often update the BIOS and drop them into older boards....but you’d miss out on newer features like PCIe 4.0 for example, big difference between 3 and 4.

So yes, you could technically put a new engine in your VW, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Most ended up getting a B550 anyway because, well, the system with a new chip just didn't feel complete. There are tons of articles and posts on this very topic.

Up until now, buying at the end of a life cycle was even less intelligent, but with DDR5 pricing, probably smart at the moment.

It's generally only a big issue with 8GB GPUs which have a cut down number of PCIe Lanes, like the 8GB 5060ti, in games that exceed it's VRAM capacity. That's where PCIe 3.0 craps itself.

Otherwise, going from PCIe 3.0 to 5.0 doesn't affect performance that much even for something like the 5090 (maybe 3-5% depending on the game).

 

[Loadedaxe]

It's generally only a big issue with 8GB GPUs which have a cut down number of PCIe Lanes, like the 8GB 5060ti, in games that exceed it's VRAM capacity. That's where PCIe 3.0 craps itself.

Otherwise, going from PCIe 3.0 to 5.0 doesn't affect performance that much even for something like the 5090 (maybe 3-5% depending on the game).

I wasn't referring to GPUs

 

[Puiu]

I wasn't referring to GPUs

PCIe affects GPUs, storage and other I/O. Are you saying that 3.0 it's not enough for a good nvme or USB? Otherwise I'm a bit confused as to what you meant to say.

 

[Loadedaxe]

PCIe affects GPUs, storage and other I/O. Are you saying that 3.0 it's not enough for a good nvme or USB? Otherwise I'm a bit confused as to what you meant to say.

It’s not about PCIe 3.0 being unusable, it’s still fine. The issue is newer CPUs support faster standards, and older boards can’t take advantage of that. So your hardware works, just not at full speed or potential. And as it is so eloquently thrown around on TS, we are enthusiasts, most of us want to get everything we paid for, not just settle for “it works.”

 

[amstech]

It’s not about PCIe 3.0 being unusable, it’s still fine. The issue is newer CPUs support faster standards, and older boards can’t take advantage of that. So your hardware works, just not at full speed or potential. And as it is so eloquently thrown around on TS, we are enthusiasts, most of us want to get everything we paid for, not just settle for “it works.”

Exactly.

Its cool that someone got 10 years out of a socket. My i7 930 Bloomfield X58 at 4.0GHz lasted 10 years. It still ran ok but I would by lying if I said it wasn't outdated by then in several categories. For AM4 you are lucky Microsoft decided to support that chipset for Windows 11. Socket longevity isn't a flex, just a nice feature if it happens to unfold that way.

As far as the scrapped 290K, rumors had it 15% faster then the 270K. Intel would be negatively impacting the release of Nova Lake so, they scrapped it along with Arrow Lake. But moving on from Arrow Lake doesn't kill the socket...time and opinions don't kill off hardware, only performance does, and Arrow Lake rips.

 

[user556]

AMD should be releasing Zen4/Zen5 parts for AM4 sockets. Now that would be truly long support!
Dreaming, I know the firmware size limit isn't big enough.

 

[Homerlovesbeer]

Perhaps it does in your country but in others, it is normal to put the $ after the number. This person might be from one of those countries and through muscle memory, just put it after, even though they seem to be talking about USD.

This is an English speaking forum. What you're essentially saying is you're happy people remain ignorant or ignore the English grammar. If they can type proficiently in English I see no reason why they can't put the $ sign in the correct place.

 

[J95qRP7]

What you're essentially saying is you're happy people remain ignorant or ignore the English grammar.

I am. It's an online forum, not a scientific paper. Perfection isn't a requirement. I was gifted with enough brain cells that if someone writes 900$, I can put it together that they probably meant $900.

 

[Loadedaxe]

This is an English speaking forum. What you're essentially saying is you're happy people remain ignorant or ignore the English grammar. If they can type proficiently in English I see no reason why they can't put the $ sign in the correct place.

If you understood what they meant, then the communication worked. Nitpicking where someone puts a dollar sign says more about you than them.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Tragically .. while neat AMD is about a year away from doing the same thing intel has done and ditch consumers and focus wafer purchases on AI production. if you want one of these .. (which by the way will be about 900$ a chip) buy them as soon as they come out.... AMD will only be making wafer purchases for AI by the end of 2027 just like Intel and Nvidia have already done... hell Nvidia is internally talking about 100% reduction in 'consumer' wafer purchases already. I expect them to drop all consumer wafer buys by the end of 2026 and or q1 2027 since a single b200 wafer sells for 1,500,000 $$$ versus a 5060ti wafer selling for 112,000$...

I think the idea that AMD, Intel, or Nvidia are going to just abandon consumers entirely isn’t realistic. The client market is still massive, and it feeds their ecosystem, partnerships, and long term relevance. Even though they act like they don't need us, history has shown they do.

What’s more likely is simply prioritization, not abandonment, we all know AI gets the best nodes and most capacity, while consumer parts get what’s left or comes a bit later, and I guess that's fair in the business world, investors got to get paid.

Prices and availability are going to get worse, again, history has shown that, but consumer hardware isn’t disappearing or at least completely. This is just my opinion, we have been told before by media that we as PC enthusiast are doomed.

And @maxxcool7421, put your dollar sign wherever you want, we all understood what you meant. Don’t let the keyboard warriors discourage you from posting in the TS discussion boards.