Ryzen 9 9950X Vs Ryzen 9 9900X – Our Recommendation

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Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Image

Former Codename

Granite Ridge

Granite Ridge

No of Cores

12

16

No. of Threads

24

32

Base Clock

4.4 GHz

4.3 GHz

Max. Boost Clock

Up to 5.6 GHz

Up to 5.7 GHz

CPU Memory Support

DDR5 (Up to 5600 MT/s)

DDR5 (Up to 5600 MT/s)

Max Operating Temperature

95°C

95°C

TDP

120W

170W

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 9900X

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best Coolers for Ryzen 9 9900X

Best Coolers for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best RAM

Best RAM for Ryzen 9 9900X

Best RAM for Ryzen 9 9950X

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

Image

Former Codename

Granite Ridge

No of Cores

12

No. of Threads

24

Base Clock

4.4 GHz

Max. Boost Clock

Up to 5.6 GHz

CPU Memory Support

DDR5 (Up to 5600 MT/s)

Max Operating Temperature

95°C

TDP

120W

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 9900X

Best CPU Coolers

Best Coolers for Ryzen 9 9900X

Best RAM

Best RAM for Ryzen 9 9900X

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Processor

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Image

Former Codename

Granite Ridge

No of Cores

16

No. of Threads

32

Base Clock

4.3 GHz

Max. Boost Clock

Up to 5.7 GHz

CPU Memory Support

DDR5 (Up to 5600 MT/s)

Max Operating Temperature

95°C

TDP

170W

Best Motherboards

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best CPU Coolers

Best Coolers for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best RAM

Best RAM for Ryzen 9 9950X

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Architectural Difference

• Architecture: The Ryzen 9 9950X and the Ryzen 9 9900X harness the cutting-edge prowess of AMD’s Zen 5 architecture to deliver an exceptional performance leap while being efficient processors.
• CPU Socket: Regarding the socket for motherboard connectivity, AMD continues to utilize the robust AMD AM5 socket, featuring 1718 pins, a consistent feature from previous-generation AMD processors..
• Process Node: According to design specs provided by AMD, the CPU cores of the two processors are crafted using TSMC’s cutting-edge 4nm process, while the I/O dies are fabricated on a refined 6nm node.
• Clock Speed: The Ryzen 9 9900X holds a slight edge in the base clock, exceeding 0.1 GHz, a 2.3% faster rate. However, in terms of boost clock, the Ryzen 9 9950X takes the lead with a meaningful 1.8% edge.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD provides Radeon integrated graphics in the Ryzen 9 9950X and the Ryzen 9 9900X. The iGPUs feature 2 graphics cores and can reach a maximum frequency of 2200 MHz.

AMD recently unveiled the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9900X, marking the peak of Ryzen 9 performance. Amid AMD’s architectural evolution to Zen 5, we expect remarkable CPU performance and efficiency gains. Let’s proceed with this comparison to evaluate their effectiveness and performance in the real world.

Gaming Benchmarks

The Ryzen 9 9950X leads the Ryzen 9 9900X in cores and threads, with minimal differences in other specs. Let’s now pit the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 9900X in a severe gaming battle to determine the effect of this core count difference and see which Ryzen 9 processor emerges as the dominant force in performance and efficiency.

Test Bench

• OS: Windows 11
• GPU: Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC 24G
• Motherboard: MSI B650M Project Zero Motherboard
• RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32GB DDR5-6600 CL34 Kit
• SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD
• PSU: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
• CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L9x65 chromax.black CPU Air Cooler

Black Myth: Wukong

• Starting with our benchmarks for Black Myth: Wukong, the Ryzen 9 9950X delivers a 4.76% improvement in average performance at 110 FPS, compared to the Ryzen 9 9900X’s 105 FPS.
• For the 1% low performance, the Ryzen 9 9950X reached 81 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9900X managed 77 FPS, showing a 5.19% advantage.

Cyberpunk 2077 – RT

• While playing Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing ON, the Ryzen 9 9950X provides a 6.25% boost in average performance, reaching 157 FPS over the Ryzen 9 9900X’s 144 FPS.
• In the 1% low metric, the Ryzen 9 9950X recorded 115 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9900X settled at 109 FPS, marking a 5.50% gain.

F1 23 – RT

• During F1 23 with ray tracing enabled, the Ryzen 9 9950X offered 3.24% better average performance at 191 FPS, compared to the Ryzen 9 9900X’s 185 FPS.
• For the lowest 1% performance, the Ryzen 9 9950X achieved 112 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9900X delivered 108 FPS, a 3.70% improvement.

Horizon Forbidden West

• In our Horizon Forbidden West tests, the Ryzen 9 9950X outperforms the Ryzen 9 9900X by 2.95%, with an average of 174 FPS against 169 FPS.
• At the 1% low, the Ryzen 9 9950X reached 120 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9900X hit 118 FPS, showing a 1.69% lead.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

• Our benchmarks for Microsoft Flight Simulator show that the Ryzen 9 9950X achieves a 2.83% higher average at 109 FPS, compared to 106 FPS with the Ryzen 9 9900X.
• At the lowest 1% performance, the Ryzen 9 9950X clocks in at 90 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9900X lags at 81 FPS, an 11.11% increase.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

• In our trials with Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, the Ryzen 9 9950X demonstrated 3.90% better average performance, hitting 213 FPS versus 205 FPS on the Ryzen 9 9900X.
• For 1% low performance, the Ryzen 9 9950X reached 130 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9900X followed with 120 FPS, an 8.33% improvement.

Remnant 2

• When benchmarking Remnant 2, the Ryzen 9 9950X showed a 3.84% increase in average performance, running at 135 FPS compared to the Ryzen 9 9900X’s 130 FPS.
• The lowest 1% performance saw the Ryzen 9 9950X at 93 FPS, outperforming the Ryzen 9 9900X’s 91 FPS by 2.19%.

Star Wars Outlaws

• During our session of Star Wars Outlaws, the Ryzen 9 9950X performed 8.92% better on average at 122 FPS, surpassing the Ryzen 9 9900X’s 112 FPS.
• At the 1% low, the Ryzen 9 9950X managed 82 FPS, while the Ryzen 9 9900X delivered 75 FPS, marking a 9.33% edge.

Overall Gaming Performance

As per our performance comparison of the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 9900X, the Ryzen 9 9900X reached a solid average of 144.5 FPS. Yet, the Ryzen 9 9950X surpasses it with a 4.77% higher average of 151.4 FPS. Furthermore, the Ryzen 9 9950X displayed a 5.64% increase in the 1% low, delivering smoother gameplay and reducing stuttering by averaging 102.9 FPS.

Editor`s Note

The Ryzen 9 9900X offers 0.32 FPS per dollar with better power and thermal efficiency, while the Ryzen 9 9950X provides 0.24 FPS per dollar, using more power and running hotter. In my opinion, the Ryzen 9 9900X is a better value option. Check how the Ryzen 9 9950X competes with Intel’s top variant, Core i9-14900K.

– Uzair Qureshi

Power Efficiency

During our power efficiency evaluation, the Ryzen 9 9900X demonstrated a notable 12.0% boost in power efficiency, consuming 112.5 watts compared to the Ryzen 9 9950X’s 126.0 watts in 1080p gaming. Across our sessions, the Ryzen 9 9900X averaged 1.28 FPS per watt, reflecting a 7.03% improvement in efficiency over the Ryzen 9 9950X’s 1.20 FPS per watt.

Thermal Efficiency

Looking at the gaming temperature data from our benchmarks of the Ryzen 9 9950X vs Ryzen 9 9900X, the Ryzen 9 9950X averaged 65.9°C during 1080p gameplay, while the Ryzen 9 9900X maintained a lower 61.2°C. Therefore, the Ryzen 9 9900X provides superior thermal efficiency, beating the Ryzen 9 9950X by 7.67%.

Price And Availability

The Ryzen 9 9900X, initially priced lower, now sells 11.1% below launch price, while the Ryzen 9 9950X has only dropped 4.0%. Concerning availability, the Ryzen 9 9950X is readily accessible across all platforms, whereas securing the Ryzen 9 9900X may require a bit more effort, though it is available in the market.

What We Recommend?

Ryzen 9 9950X: The Ryzen 9 9950X is AMD’s pinnacle desktop processor, delivering excellent gaming performance. It leverages prime specs and technology of the time. Still, we expected a greater performance level from the Ryzen 9 9950X.

Ryzen 9 9900X: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is an exceptionally designed, high-performance processor with remarkable specifications at a significantly lower price point than its flagship counterpart. According to our benchmarks, it provides about 32.4% more FPS per dollar than the Ryzen 9 9950X.

We recommend the Ryzen 9 9950X for better performance, regardless of cost. The Ryzen 9 9900X offers excellent performance and efficiency if cost is a factor. However, you can also explore our latest Intel processor comparisons to find even better performance alternatives within the same budget.

More From Ryzen 9 9950X:

• Ryzen 9 9950X vs Core i7-14700K

More From Ryzen 9 9900X:

• Ryzen 9 9900X vs Core i7-14700K

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Uzair Qureshi

[Comparisons Specialist]

I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Get In Touch: uzair@tech4gamers.com