Early benchmarks for AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X CPU are nothing short of impressive, showcasing the potential of the Zen 5 architecture. This 16-core flagship chip appears to be a powerhouse in multi-threaded tasks, particularly considering its impressive efficiency.

Leaked benchmarks by AnandTech forum member Igor_kavinski reveal how the Ryzen 9 9950X performs at different power levels within the Blender benchmark. The most intriguing results come from the 120W configuration. It’s important to note that this is an engineering sample (ES), meaning the final retail version might boast slightly higher clock speeds.

Zen 5 excels despite power limitations

Even with this limitation, the ES chip achieved a clock speed of 5220 MHz, still shy of its official 5700 MHz boost clock. Despite the lower clock speeds, the 120W Ryzen 9 9950X managed to stay cool, reaching a maximum temperature of only 55C. More importantly, it never exceeded its 120W power limit.

This is where things get interesting. In Blender’s Monster test, the 120W Ryzen 9 9950X ES CPU goes toe-to-toe with the Intel Core i9-14900K. Even more impressive, it surpasses the Intel chip in the Junkshop and Classroom tests. This performance is particularly noteworthy considering the Intel CPU operates at its peak power rating, while the AMD chip achieves similar results with significantly lower power consumption.

The efficiency gains become even more apparent when comparing the 120W configuration to the 90W version. The 120W setup delivers a nearly 19% performance increase while only consuming 33% more power. This suggests that the Zen 5 architecture offers a significant leap in efficiency over previous generations.

9950X benchmarks paint a promising picture

These early benchmarks paint a promising picture for AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 9000 lineup. With a retail launch expected later this month, we can anticipate a flurry of reviews and tests in the coming weeks. However, based on these initial results, the Ryzen 9 9950X appears to be a strong contender in the high-performance CPU market, particularly for users who prioritize efficiency alongside raw power.

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Tom Valentine

Tom is a tech writer with a detailed view on ensuring the best buying advice, most useful information, and latest news makes its way into PC Guide's articles.