AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2: Leaked Benchmarks Hint at Next-Gen Gaming Processor
The long-anticipated AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 processor, featuring dual 3D V-Cache technology, appears poised for release as initial benchmark tests have surfaced, fueling excitement among PC enthusiasts.
Speculation surrounding a dedicated gaming processor – the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 – equipped with dual 3D V-Cache on a single chiplet, has circulated for months. While previously met with both confirmation and denial, recent developments suggest a launch is increasingly likely. Test records for this unreleased processor have now appeared in two key benchmarks, offering a first glimpse into its potential performance.
The new processor is expected to maintain the 16-core configuration of the standard Ryzen 9 9950X3D, alongside a base clock of 4.3 GHz and a boost clock reaching 5.7 GHz. The 16MB of L2 cache – 1MB per core – is also projected to remain consistent. However, the most significant upgrade lies in the level 3 cache. While the 9950X3D boasts 128MB of L3 cache (2x32MB L2 + 64MB 3D V-Cache on one CCD), the 9950X3D2 is anticipated to offer a substantial 192MB. According to sources, each chiplet (CCD) will feature 32MB of traditional L3 cache, with the 3D V-Cache likely remaining confined to a single CCD, providing 128MB of additional cache. This configuration would result in one CCD with 32MB of L3 cache and 128MB of 3D V-Cache, while the other CCD would have 160MB of L3 cache (32MB + 2x64MB).
This configuration is particularly advantageous for gaming, as most games rarely utilize more than eight cores. Concentrating the larger cache on one CCD allows for optimized performance in these scenarios. Conversely, applications that don’t heavily rely on large caches may benefit from the CCD without the additional memory, enabling higher clock speeds.
Initial test results have begun to emerge. In Geekbench 6.5.0, the 9950X3D2 achieved a single-threaded performance score of 3456, approximately 2% higher than the average score of 3395 for the 9950X3D. However, analysts caution against drawing definitive conclusions from a single data point, citing potential measurement errors and variations in test environments. Multithreaded performance, however, was roughly 5% lower, registering 21062 points compared to the 9950X3D’s 22130 points.
Further testing in PassMark revealed a contrasting trend. Single-threaded performance was slightly lower for the 9950X3D2, with a score of 4716 against 4739 for the 9950X3D. However, in multithreaded performance, the new processor demonstrated a 2% improvement, achieving 71585 points compared to the 9950X3D’s 70154 points.
These early benchmarks suggest a nuanced performance profile for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, with potential gains in single-threaded tasks and competitive multithreaded performance. As testing continues and more data becomes available, a clearer picture of this promising new processor will emerge, potentially solidifying AMD’s position at the forefront of gaming CPU technology.
