Designed for creators, professionals, and gamers looking for top-tier performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is the flagship processor of the Ryzen 9000 series. Based on Zen 5 architecture, it offers 16 cores, 32 threads, and impressive base and boost clock speeds, making it capable of handling demanding workloads. Additionally, its improvements in power efficiency, thermal management, and overall performance make it an option that you shouldn’t ignore. Would you like to know more about the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X CPU? Read this review to find out details about its technical specs, real-world performance, and its results in a series of well-known benchmarks:

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X: Who is it good for?

The Ryzen 9 9950X is ideal for:

• Content creators and professionals who need high performance in multi-threaded tasks
• Gamers looking for a fast processor to complement a high-end graphics card
• Anyone looking to build a premium PC with a processor that’s futureproof

Pros and cons

These are the main positive aspects of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X:

• Outstanding multi-threaded performance
• Consumes a relatively low amount of electricity, considering how powerful it is
• Doesn’t get very hot, not even under heavy workloads

There are also some downsides:

• It comes with a premium price tag
• No bundled cooler

Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is an extremely powerful desktop processor. Whether you’re a content creator, a 3D artist, or a gamer, this processor delivers top-tier performance. Its sixteen cores and 32 threads, plus all the improvements brought by the Zen 5 architecture, make it the ideal choice for those who need maximum performance and don’t want to compromise. Its price may make it a bit out of reach for casual home users, but for those who require only the best, the Ryzen 9 9950X is an option that’s hard to ignore.

Unboxing the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Unboxing the Ryzen 9 9950X is a pleasant experience. Its packaging follows the same minimalist design lines that AMD has adopted for its other processors. The front cover features the Ryzen 9 branding and a small cutout throughout which you can see the processor.

The box of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Inside the box, you find the processor, along with its documentation and warranty details. The sample I tested switched hands more than just once (it was received by multiple publications for review purposes) and somewhere along the way, the documents were lost.

Unboxing the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Like all the other processors in AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series, no cooler is included in the box. Considering the power of this CPU, you’ll need a separate, high-quality cooling solution.

Hardware specifications

The Ryzen 9 9950X is designed to be a powerhouse, sitting at the top of AMD’s lineup. Built on the Zen 5 architecture, the Ryzen 9 9950X is one of the first processors to feature AMD’s latest innovations in CPU design. The architecture provides a 16% improvement in IPC (Instructions Per Clock) compared to its Zen 4 predecessor. In simple words, the new Ryzen 9000 CPUs, including the Ryzen 9 9950X, are more efficient than their forefathers at similar clock speeds.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X processor

Equipped with sixteen cores and 32 threads, the Ryzen 9 9950X is designed for heavy multitasking and high-performance computing. Whether you’re rendering 4K video, running complex simulations, or playing graphically intensive games, this processor should be more than up to the task.

The Ryzen 9 9950X comes with a base clock speed of 4.3 GHz and a boost clock of up to 5.7 GHz. This high clock speed ensures that the processor can handle single-threaded tasks efficiently, a decisive factor for gamers and professionals working with applications that rely on single-core performance. The processor features 1280 KB of L1 cache, 16 MB of L2 cache, and 64 MB of L3 cache, providing more than enough bandwidth to reduce latency and improve overall performance.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is a 16-core processor

The default TDP (Thermal Design Power) of the processor is 170W, which is relatively low for such a high-performance CPU. This efficiency is a serious step forward from AMD’s older models and helps keep power consumption and temperatures in check, even in heavy workloads.

Like other CPUs in the Ryzen 9000 series, the Ryzen 9 9950X supports DDR5 memory, with speeds up to 5600 MT/s by default. In real life, you can use much faster memory, as long as you’re okay with overclocking the RAM to reach even higher speeds.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X works with DDR5 memory

The processor has 28 PCIe lanes (24 are usable), allowing for lightning-fast communication with graphic cards, storage devices, and peripherals. PCIe 5.0 also ensures that the Ryzen 9 9950X is future-proof, making it compatible with the next generation of hardware.

Working on the AM5 socket, the Ryzen 9 9950X is compatible with AMD’s latest motherboards, which support features like PCIe 5.0 and DDR5. Chipsets such as X670E, X670, or the brand new X870/X870E are designed to complement the performance of this CPU.

The contacts on AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is a desktop processor with impressive specs. However, its biggest upgrade over the previous generation is improved performance per watt. In other words, compared to the now-old Ryzen 9 7950X, the Ryzen 9 9950X should get you more performance for the same amount of power consumed.

Using the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Mounting the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X in my test computer was straightforward and hassle-free. The processor was a perfect fit for my motherboard, and once installed, it delivered outstanding performance right from the start. The Ryzen 9 9950X easily handled all my daily tasks and more. Here’s the configuration of my test system:

• Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X670E-A Gaming WiFi
• Cooler: ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 ARGB
• Memory: Kingston FURY Renegade 32GB DDR5 7200MT/s
• Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
• Storage: Kingston KC3000 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD 2TB
• Monitor: ASUS ROG Strix XG32UQ (4K UHD)
• PSU: Seasonic Focus GX-1000

The computer used to test the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

With this desktop computer, I was able to run games at ultra-high settings and tackle the most demanding workloads without any issues. While I didn’t render 4K videos, I can say that the processor handled multitasking with several intensive applications with ease.

The combination of high-speed DDR5 memory and the potent AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT graphics card contributed to the high level of performance, making this processor a perfect choice for users who need exceptional power and responsiveness in both gaming and professional tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is a powerhouse

During the time I had it and in all my tests, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X delivered outstanding performance. For more details, continue reading and see the results I’ve recorded in several benchmarks.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs. Ryzen 9 9900X vs. Ryzen 7 9700X vs. Ryzen 5 9600X: Performance comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is a strong performer in both creativity tasks, productivity tasks, and gaming. To confirm this, I tested it using various benchmarks. And to ensure that I get a more realistic evaluation about this processor, I compared it with all the other desktop processors in the AMD Ryzen 9000 lineup: the high-end AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, the mid-range Ryzen 7 9700X, and the more affordable Ryzen 5 9600X.

Productivity benchmarks

In single-threaded tasks, the Ryzen 9 9950X shines, scoring 876 points in CPU-Z. That’s about 1.86% more than the Ryzen 9 9900X and around 4% better than the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 5 9600X. If you’re working with tasks that need strong single-core performance, this processor is hard to beat.

Benchmark results in CPU-Z Single Thread

When it comes to multi-threaded tasks, CPU-Z tells us that the Ryzen 9 9950X is a clear winner, performing over 30% faster than the Ryzen 9 9900X. This makes it a great option for modern applications that demand high multi-core performance, fast response times, and efficient resource use.

Benchmark results in CPU-Z Multi Thread

In Cinebench 2024, Ryzen 9 9950X scored 2204 points, which is over 25% higher than the Ryzen 9 9900X. It’s approximately twice the value of what the other two CPUs could deliver. In other words, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a fantastic choice for rendering and heavy creative workloads.

Benchmark results in Cinebench 2024

In Blender, the Ryzen 9 9950X completed the test almost 23% faster than the Ryzen 9 9900X. Just like in Cinebench 2024, the other two CPUs - Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X - were far behind. The AMD Ryzen 9950X handled the complex scenes in Blender with ease, proving again that it’s a great choice for 3D artists and game developers.

Benchmark results in Blender 4.2.0

In PCMark 10, which tests everyday tasks like video conferencing and web browsing, the Ryzen 9 9950X scored 10619 points. The differences between the processors were minimal, but it still showed slightly stronger performance.

Benchmark results in PCMark 10

For web browsing, in JetStream 2.2, the Ryzen 9 9950X scored 468 points, leading the Ryzen 9000 series. The difference is not huge but it is noticeable, about 5-8%. In the end, the Ryzen 9 9950X loads websites and web apps faster than the rest…

Benchmark results in JetStream 2.2

In the 7-Zip compression benchmark, the Ryzen 9 9950X compressed data at 183 MB/s, which is over 31% faster than the Ryzen 9 9900X and at least twice as fast as the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X. The extra cores really make a difference here.

Compression speed in 7-Zip

The same goes for the 7-Zip decompression test. The Ryzen 9 9950X was unmatched, with a 32% performance boost over the Ryzen 9 9900X and double the speed of its more affordable brothers. Again, its core count really comes through.

Decompression speed in 7-Zip

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X delivers impressive benchmark results, proving that it’s an excellent choice for content creation and productivity tasks.

Gaming benchmarks

While the Ryzen 9 9950X is clearly a beast in productivity and content creation tasks, it’s equally impressive in gaming. I tested it at 1080p resolution with low graphics settings to make sure my AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT video card didn’t slow things down, using Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Remnant II, and Horizon Forbidden West. Here’s what I found:

In Cyberpunk 2077, the Ryzen 9 9950X delivered an average of 232 fps (frames per second), which is about 3.57% better than the Ryzen 9 9900X. This shows it can handle extreme frame rates, even in demanding, CPU-heavy games.

Benchmark results in Cyberpunk 2077

For Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the frame rates were identical to the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 7 9700X, with just a slight edge over the Ryzen 5 9600X.

Benchmark results in Assassin's Creed Mirage

In Remnant II, the Ryzen 9 9950X hit 188 fps, the highest in my tests, an improvement of 7% over the other processors.

Benchmark results in Remnant II

In Horizon Forbidden West, the 9950X maintained a steady 140 fps. The other processors had similar results, with only minor differences.

Benchmark results in Horizon Forbidden West

Finally, I ran the 3DMark CPU Profile Max Threads test to check the processor’s overall gaming performance. Unsurprisingly, the Ryzen 9 9950X came out on top, outperforming the rest, thanks to its higher core count and thread count.

Benchmark results in 3DMark CPU Profile Max Threads

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is clearly a great choice for gaming, as proved by the high frame rates and excellent performance it delivered in gaming benchmarks.

Temperature and power consumption

The Ryzen 9 9950X's thermal performance is pretty good. With an ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 ARGB liquid cooler, the CPU stayed below 90°C even under heavy workloads. While liquid cooling is recommended, this shows that a high-quality air cooler could probably handle the temperatures reached by this processor very well.

Maximum temperature reached by the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Even with its high core count and fast clock speeds, the Ryzen 9 9950X is surprisingly power-efficient. During a 30 minutes stress test, it maxed out at around 200W, which proves AMD’s Zen 5 architecture comes with remarkable improvements in terms of CPU power management.

The highest power draw measured for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Like the rest of the Ryzen 9000 series, the Ryzen 9 9950X is power-efficient and keeps cool. This CPU offers an excellent balance between the performance you get compared to the electricity it consumes.

What’s your opinion about the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X?

Having reached the end of this review, it’s quite clear now that the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is a monster, but a restrained one! 🙂 It offers lots of performance but doesn’t go over the top with its electricity consumption, nor does it get too hot under heavy workloads. Are you looking for such high-end performance, and are you considering buying the Ryzen 9 9950X? Or are you thinking about picking a less expensive model from the Ryzen 9000 series? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.