AMD recently launched a new flagship CPU: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition. It’s designed for enthusiasts who want the absolute best performance, is packed with even more 3D V-Cache, and carries a premium price tag of around $899. On paper, it sounds like the ultimate gaming CPU. Don’t be fooled, though – cheaper Ryzen 7 models are still the best for the average gamer.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D and 9850X3D processors remain the best for gamers, not just in value, but performance too. Recent benchmarks from ComputerBase make it clear that spending big on the Ryzen 9 chip is not necessary for most PC gamers who aren’t utilizing the extra power for productivity workloads such as rendering, AI, and content creation.

Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition gaming benchmarks

Both the 9800X3D and 9850X3D offer higher average FPS in gaming compared to the 9950X3D2, although the Ryzen 9 chip is an improvement over the 9950X3D before it, thanks to the additional L3 cache. Either way, the massive price difference has to be taken into account. The Ryzen 7 chips both retail for safely under $500, with the 9800X3D around $35 cheaper than its successor.

• Ryzen 7 9800X3D – $479.00 $437.00
• Ryzen 7 9850X3D – $499.00 $474.99

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition comes with more cores and higher power limits, but most games simply do not use all of that. Instead, they benefit more from cache and core clock speeds, and while the 9950X3D2 does indeed have more total cache (192MB), it’s still split across two CCDs (Core Complex Dies), 96MB on each one. The 9800X3D has its 96MB of L3 cache on a single CCD, eliminating inter-CCD latency issues. Its single 8-core die design is better suited to gaming workloads.

Ryzen 5 with X3D is also great value

Even compared to the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, which can be scored for around $230 these days, the performance gap is not as big as you would expect. In overall gaming benchmarks, the 9950X3D2 Dual Edition scores an average of 182 FPS, while the 7600X3D still manages 147 FPS on average. That is a difference, but not a massive one, considering the huge price gap between the two processors.

Looking at individual games makes things even more interesting. In titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, the flagship chip pushes over 300 FPS, while the 7600X3D delivers around 230 FPS. That sounds like a big difference, but in real gameplay, both are already well above what most players need. The same trend shows up in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, where the high-end chip reaches around 190 FPS, while the 7600X3D sits at about 161 FPS. Again, a gap exists, but it is not game-changing.

In some cases, the difference becomes even smaller. Games like F1 24 and Horizon Forbidden West show the 7600X3D staying surprisingly close to the top-end chips. Even in demanding titles like Starfield, the budget X3D chip still delivers solid performance, staying well above 100 FPS. This shows that modern games do benefit from 3D V-Cache, but they do not always take full advantage of extra cores or extremely high-end configurations.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.