Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Appears in CPU-Z with 128 MB L3 Cache, Where's the Missing Cache?

When AMD launched its Ryzen processors nearly a decade ago, they quickly matched Intel's performance in professional applications but lagged in gaming. This trend persisted for several generations until AMD introduced the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which decisively outperformed all competitor CPUs in gaming. The subsequent Ryzen 7 9800X3D further solidified this lead, with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D offering even more performance for demanding users. Alongside the 9850X3D, AMD was expected to release a Ryzen 9 9950X3D2. Now, details of this anticipated chip have surfaced in CPU-Z, showing 128 MB of L3 cache, which is less than previously anticipated.

In recent years, AMD has significantly eroded Intel's market share. Before the Ryzen era, AMD's presence in desktops, laptops, and servers was minimal. Today, AMD commands roughly a third of the global market share, a figure that continues to grow as former Intel loyalists switch to AMD. For gamers, Ryzen X3D processors are often considered the top choice and have become best-sellers in many retail outlets.

Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Leaks Again, Now Showing 128 MB L3 in CPU-Z

While the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers excellent gaming performance, users needing more than 8 cores for gaming or heavier applications might opt for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This chip provides 16 cores while retaining the X3D characteristics crucial for superior gaming. An enhanced version, the 9950X3D2, was anticipated but never officially announced by AMD. Despite this, it has repeatedly appeared in leaks. Previous sightings in PassMark and Geekbench indicated 192 MB of L3 cache (96 MB + 96 MB), but a recent CPU-Z screenshot now displays 128 MB L3 (96 MB + 32 MB L3).

Interestingly, the CPU-Z listing initially identifies it as an 'AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D,' but further details from the CPU-Z Validator confirm it as the 9950X3D2. The screenshot shows it operating at 5,174 MHz, with a theoretical maximum frequency of 5,650 MHz. Cache specifications reveal 16 MB of L2 and 128 MB of L3. At the time of capture, the chip had a TDP of 200W, was running at 1.284V, and reached a temperature of 95.3 °C.

Performance Nearly Identical to Ryzen 9 9950X3D

Regarding clock speeds, all cores were observed running between 5,094 MHz and 5,264 MHz during the benchmark. This yielded a multi-core score of 16,832 points and a single-core score of 882 points. In single-core performance, it appears to be about 2% faster than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, while multi-core scores are comparable, considering the Ryzen 9 9950X3D achieves approximately 16,947 points.

Considering the Ryzen 9 9950X3D also boasts a maximum frequency of 5.7 GHz and 128 MB of L3 cache (configured as 96 MB + 32 MB), the leaked 9950X3D2 appears to be virtually the same CPU. The primary distinction observed is the 9950X3D2's higher TDP of 200W, compared to the 9950X3D's 170W. This recent data contradicts earlier leaks which suggested the 9950X3D2 would feature 192 MB of L3 cache. It remains to be seen how AMD will address these discrepancies and what processor they will ultimately release.