AMD Ryzen 9 9950X: Performance Unpacked

InfoThis is a summary of the following YouTube video:

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X Review - We've Seen This Before...

Hardware Unboxed

Aug 14, 2024

·

Science & Technology

Welcome to Hardware Unboxed

  1. The review focuses on AMD's new Ryzen 9 950X, the most powerful desktop offering from AMD, aimed at PC enthusiasts. The review covers general tasks, video editing, 3D modeling, and gaming, with a primary focus on gaming performance.
  2. AMD did not provide a retail box for the Ryzen 9 950X, so the review uses a system-installed CPU. The absence of a retail box is noted, but the review proceeds with available resources.
  3. The Ryzen 9 950X is highlighted for its dual CCD (Core Complex Die) design, which is not the best for gaming alone but excels in multitasking. It is ideal for users who want to work and play on the same system without needing separate setups.
  4. In an ideal scenario, one CCD would clock high for strong gaming and lightly threaded applications, while the second CCD would provide additional support. This design aims to balance performance across different tasks.

Zen 5 continues to disappoint

  1. Zen 5 CPUs show minimal improvements over Zen 4, especially for desktop users focused on gaming performance. The 9700X is only 3% faster than the 7700X, which is a significant drop compared to previous generational improvements.
  2. Historically, new Ryzen processors have provided at least a 20% boost in gaming performance over their predecessors, making Zen 5's less than 5% improvement disappointing for gamers.
  3. The 6-core 9600X and 8-core 9700X are not ideal for core-heavy tasks like video editing, as they lack the necessary core count, making them less versatile outside of gaming.
  4. For productivity tasks, the 16-core 950X is beneficial due to its high core count, but its advantage over the 7950X is questionable since both have the same core count and boost capabilities.

CPU Specs

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X has a base frequency reduced by 200 MHz compared to its predecessor, but both models maintain 32 MB of L3 cache per CCD, totaling 64 MB, and a 170 W TDP.
  2. The architectural changes in the 950X are not immediately visible in hardware specs but are significant at the architectural level, focusing on energy efficiency, performance, and AVX 512v nni capabilities for machine learning and AI.
  3. AMD's Zen 5 architecture is primarily aimed at server workloads and development software rather than general desktop computing and gaming, which explains the lack of significant improvements in these areas.
  4. Despite this focus, AMD claims the 950X is on average 8% faster than the 795X for gaming, and the 12-core 9900X offers 12% better gaming performance than Intel's Core i9-14900K.

Test System Specs

  1. The text begins with an overview of productivity benchmarks, focusing on CPU performance in various applications. It highlights the importance of these tests in understanding the capabilities of different processors.
  2. Cinebench is used as a primary tool for evaluating CPU performance, providing insights into how different CPUs handle rendering tasks. This benchmark is crucial for users who rely on rendering software.
  3. Power usage during Cinebench tests is analyzed, particularly focusing on EPS12V rails, which are essential for understanding the power efficiency of CPUs under load.
  4. 7Zip File Manager is employed to test both compression and decompression capabilities of CPUs, offering a view into how processors manage data-intensive tasks.
  5. Blender Open Data is another benchmark used to assess CPU performance, particularly in 3D rendering tasks, which are common in creative industries.
  6. The Corona Benchmark is included to evaluate CPU performance in rendering scenarios, providing additional data for users interested in graphics and design work.
  7. Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro benchmarks are conducted to understand CPU performance in photo and video editing tasks, which are critical for content creators.
  8. The text transitions into gaming benchmarks, starting with Baldur’s Gate 3, to evaluate how CPUs handle gaming workloads, which is important for gamers and developers.
  9. A series of popular games, including The Last of Us Part I, Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, and Hogwarts Legacy, are tested to provide a comprehensive view of gaming performance across different titles.
  10. The analysis includes a 13-game average to summarize overall gaming performance, offering a broad perspective on how CPUs perform across various gaming scenarios.
  11. Cost per frame analysis is conducted, both for CPU only and for CPU+RAM+MOBO, to provide insights into the value proposition of different setups.
  12. The conclusion summarizes the findings, emphasizing the gains achieved with Zen 4 architecture and providing final thoughts on CPU performance and value.

Cinebench

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X achieved a multicore score of 2,286 points, marking a 4% improvement over the 7950X at the same thermal design power (TDP).
  2. With the CPU power capped at 165 watts, the cores on CCD1 averaged a frequency of 5.2 GHz, while the cores on CCD2 ran at 4.9 GHz.
  3. During a 30-minute test, the CPU reached a peak temperature of 92°C and maintained an average operating temperature of 82°C.
  4. When only a single core was active, the CPU power consumption was 31 watts, achieving a maximum frequency of 5.7 GHz and an operating temperature of 64°C.

Cinebench Power Usage [EPS12V Rails]

  1. The EPS 12V rails show that the 950X CPU consumes the same power level as the 795X, indicating efficiency in power usage.
  2. Despite the same power consumption, the 950X provides a 4% performance boost compared to the 795X, which may not be significantly impressive.
  3. In single-core performance tests using Cinebench, the 950X matches the Intel Core i9-14900K, showcasing its competitive edge.
  4. The 950X is 11% faster than the 750X in single-core performance, highlighting its improvement over previous models.

7Zip File Manager [Compression]

  1. The 7Zip File Manager's compression performance is notably poor, with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X performing 5% slower than the AMD Ryzen 7 750X.
  2. This performance regression is concerning, especially for a new generation of processors, as it indicates a step back in efficiency.
  3. The decompression performance details were not provided, but the focus is on the unexpected drop in compression speed.

7Zip File Manager [Decompression]

  1. The performance of the 950x was evaluated and found to be significantly lacking compared to the 750x.
  2. Specifically, the 950x was 22% slower than the 750x, indicating a substantial performance gap.
  3. This result was characterized as highly disappointing, suggesting expectations were not met.
  4. The comparison highlights the 750x as a more efficient option in terms of speed and performance.
  5. Overall, the findings suggest that the 950x may not be the best choice for users seeking optimal performance.

Blender Open Data

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950x outperformed other CPUs in the Blender Open Data benchmark, marking it as the fastest desktop CPU for this specific test.
  2. Despite its leading position, the 950x only provided a 5% performance boost compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 795x, which is not a significant improvement.
  3. Both the 950x and 795x operated at the same power level during the test, highlighting that the performance gain is relatively modest.

Corona Benchmark

  1. The AMD processor achieved the best result in the Corona 10 Benchmark, surpassing the 750x by a significant 14% margin. This indicates a strong performance improvement over previous models.
  2. Remarkably, the AMD processor was also 26% faster than Intel's Core i9-14900K, showcasing its superior performance in this specific benchmark.
  3. The results highlight AMD's capabilities and suggest a potential for more competitive offerings in the Zen 5 range for desktop processors.

Adobe Photoshop

  1. The text discusses the performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 950X compared to the 795X, highlighting a typical 5% performance uplift.
  2. This 5% generational improvement is considered weak, despite the overall excellent performance of the 950X.
  3. The focus is on the limited performance gains between these two generations of processors.

Adobe Premiere Pro

  1. The performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 950X in Adobe Premiere Pro is underwhelming, offering only a 2% improvement over previous models.
  2. This performance is notably slower compared to the Intel 1400K, which is a point of concern for users who rely heavily on Premiere Pro.
  3. Despite the performance issues, the recommendation does not favor Intel's 13th and 14th generation K series parts at this time.
  4. The overall sentiment is one of disappointment, especially for users who extensively use Premiere Pro in their workflows.

Baldur’s Gate 3

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X is not primarily designed for gaming, but its performance is still evaluated in gaming contexts due to the channel's focus.
  2. In Baldur's Gate 3, the Ryzen 9 950X delivers performance comparable to the Ryzen 9 795X, indicating no significant change in overall gaming performance.
  3. Despite similar performance levels, the Ryzen 9 950X consumes 8% more power than the Ryzen 9 750X when running Baldur's Gate 3.
  4. This comparison highlights that the Zen5 architecture, as seen in the Ryzen 9 950X, is less power-efficient than the Zen4 architecture in gaming scenarios.

The Last of Us Part I

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950x was found to be 3% slower than the 750x in the game The Last of Us Part One, with frame rates dropping from 187 FPS to 182 FPS. This performance regression is considered disappointing despite the small difference in frame rates.
  2. In addition to being slower, the 950x also consumed 6% more power compared to the 750x while running The Last of Us Part One. This indicates a decrease in efficiency, as the newer model not only underperformed but also required more energy.

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

  1. The performance of Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty was evaluated, showing a marginal improvement in speed, being only 1% faster than previous benchmarks. This slight increase is considered a positive outcome, despite its minimal impact.
  2. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X processor was noted for its higher power consumption, using 5% more power compared to other processors tested. This increase in power usage is a trade-off for the slight performance gain observed in the game.

Hogwarts Legacy

  1. The testing of the 795x with Hogwarts Legacy showed that the 950x had a 4% performance lead over the 795x. This margin was noted but not considered significantly impressive.
  2. The author almost described the 4% lead as an impressive gain but decided against it, indicating that the difference was not substantial enough to warrant such a description.
  3. The conclusion drawn from this comparison was to acknowledge the performance difference but to move on without emphasizing it as a major improvement.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950x processor demonstrates a significant performance improvement in the game Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC), offering an 11% boost over the AMD Ryzen 9 795x.
  2. This performance gain is notable and might be expected to be typical for the Zen 5 architecture, but such gaming results are actually exceptions rather than the rule.
  3. The 950x's performance in ACC stands out as an impressive achievement, highlighting its capabilities in specific gaming scenarios.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

  1. Spider-Man Remastered outperforms the 750x by a 7% margin, indicating a significant performance improvement.
  2. The performance of Spider-Man Remastered is comparable to that of the 7800x 3D, highlighting its efficiency.
  3. Although the improvement is only 7% over its predecessor, it is considered one of the better results observed so far.

Homeworld 3

  1. The performance of Homeworld 3 remains unchanged, indicating that the AMD Ryzen 9 950X performs equivalently to the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X in this context.
  2. This suggests that there are no significant improvements or differences in performance between these two CPU models when running Homeworld 3.
  3. The statement implies a comparison of the two processors, highlighting that users should not expect enhanced performance from the newer model in this specific application.
  4. The unchanged performance could be due to various factors such as software optimization or hardware limitations that do not leverage the newer CPU's capabilities.
  5. This information is crucial for users considering an upgrade for better performance in Homeworld 3, as it suggests that such an upgrade may not yield the expected benefits.

A Plague Tale Requiem

  1. The comparison highlights that the 750x processor is faster than the performance observed in A Plague Tale Requiem.
  2. The performance gain is quantified at 4%, which is relatively minor and unlikely to be noticeable in practical scenarios.
  3. The text suggests that the performance difference does not translate into a significant real-world impact, implying that users may not perceive the improvement during regular use.

Counter-Strike 2

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X and 750X CPUs are compared in terms of gaming performance in Counter-Strike 2.
  2. The performance difference between the 950X and 750X is minimal, with only a 1% margin separating them.
  3. This small margin indicates that the two CPUs perform almost identically in gaming scenarios.
  4. Due to the negligible difference, distinguishing between the 950X and 750X based on gaming performance alone is nearly impossible.

Starfield

  1. The performance of Zen 5 processors, specifically the 9700X and 9600X, has been previously evaluated in the game Starfield, where they were found to be lacking.
  2. This trend of underperformance continues with the 950X processor, which is reported to be 7% slower than the 795X in the same game.
  3. The same performance issues observed in Starfield with the Zen 5 processors are also present in the game Horizon, indicating a consistent pattern of underperformance across different gaming titles.

Horizon Forbidden West

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X shows disappointing performance in Horizon Forbidden West, trailing the Ryzen 9 7950X by an 8% margin.
  2. This performance gap indicates that the Ryzen 9 950X is not meeting expectations in terms of processing power for this particular game.
  3. The result is considered underwhelming, especially when compared to the higher-performing Ryzen 9 7950X.
  4. The 8% performance deficit highlights the limitations of the Ryzen 9 950X in handling demanding gaming scenarios.
  5. Overall, the Ryzen 9 950X's performance in Horizon Forbidden West is a letdown, offering little to commend in this context.

Hitman 3

  1. The performance of Hitman 3 is compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 950x, indicating that it is only marginally faster than the AMD Ryzen 7 750x.
  2. The comparison suggests that the performance difference is minimal, leading to the conclusion that the two can be considered equivalent in this context.
  3. This analysis implies that for users considering upgrades or performance evaluations, the difference in speed between these processors in running Hitman 3 is negligible.
  4. The statement concludes by marking the performance comparison as a tie, emphasizing the lack of significant performance improvement.

Watch Dogs Legion

  1. The text discusses the performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 950X in the game Watch Dogs Legion.
  2. It compares the 950X's performance to that of the AMD Ryzen 9 795X.
  3. The 950X is described as being a percent slower than the 795X in this specific game scenario.
  4. This performance comparison is characterized as a tie, indicating minimal difference between the two processors.
  5. The focus is on the gaming performance metrics of these high-end processors.

13 Game Average

  1. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X was tested across 13 different games to evaluate its performance.
  2. In comparison to the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, the 950X is approximately 1% faster.
  3. This marginal performance increase is not considered significant for gaming improvements over a two-year period.
  4. The results suggest that the Zen 5 architecture does not offer substantial gaming performance enhancements for users.

Cinebench [PBO]

  1. The CPU package power peaked at 230 watts with PBO enabled, indicating high power consumption during the test.
  2. The CPU experienced thermal throttling at the 95°C TJ Maxx, which is the maximum junction temperature, showing that the CPU was operating at its thermal limits.
  3. The motherboard reported a peak CCD1 temperature of 100°C, allowing the CES on CCD1 to run at 5.3 GHz and on CCD2 to reach 5 GHz, demonstrating the CPU's high performance capabilities under PBO.
  4. Despite using a high-performance Be Quiet Pure Loop 2 360 mm all-in-one liquid cooler, the system was temperature limited, highlighting the cooling challenges with the 950X under PBO.
  5. The performance gain with PBO enabled was only an additional 2%, suggesting that the benefits of PBO are minimal in this configuration.

Cinebench Power [PBO]

  1. Overclocking features like Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) significantly reduce the power efficiency of the AMD Ryzen 9 950X processor. This is a critical point for users considering overclocking to enhance performance.
  2. The implementation of PBO results in only a 2% increase in performance, which is relatively minor compared to the substantial 15% increase in power consumption. This highlights a poor trade-off between performance gains and power usage.
  3. Increasing the power budget through PBO does not enhance single-core performance. This is because the CPU is not power-limited under these conditions, indicating that power is not the bottleneck for single-core tasks.

Starfield [PBO]

  1. The text discusses the performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 950X processor in gaming, specifically in the game Starfield.
  2. With Precision Boost (PB) enabled, the Ryzen 9 950X shows only a marginal performance increase, approximately one percent faster in Starfield.
  3. This suggests that enabling PB does not significantly enhance gaming performance for this processor model.
  4. The focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of PB in improving game performance, highlighting its limited impact in this scenario.
  5. The analysis is part of a broader review of the processor's capabilities across various applications and benchmarks.

Hitman 3 [PBO]

  1. The text discusses the performance improvement in the game Hitman 3 when Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) is enabled. PBO is a feature that allows AMD processors to automatically increase their clock speeds beyond the base frequency, enhancing performance in demanding applications.
  2. The improvement in Hitman 3 is quantified as a percentage, indicating a measurable enhancement in the game's performance when PBO is utilized. This suggests that users can expect a smoother gaming experience with higher frame rates.
  3. The context implies that the discussion is part of a broader analysis or review, possibly comparing different CPU configurations or settings to determine the best performance outcomes for gaming.
  4. The mention of PBO highlights its significance in optimizing CPU performance, particularly for gaming scenarios where every bit of processing power can contribute to a better experience.
  5. The text is likely part of a technical review or benchmark analysis, aimed at providing insights into how specific features like PBO can impact gaming performance.

Horizon Forbidden West [PBO]

  1. The text discusses the impact of Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) on gaming performance in Horizon Forbidden West.
  2. It highlights that enabling PBO results in only a 1% performance increase, which is considered negligible.
  3. The same minimal performance uplift was observed with other processors, specifically the AMD Ryzen 9600X and 9700X.
  4. The conclusion drawn is that PBO does not significantly enhance gaming performance, making its impact minimal.

Cost Per Frame [CPU Only]

  1. The cost per frame analysis focuses solely on the CPU price, excluding other components.
  2. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X is 24% more expensive than the Ryzen 7 750X based on current market prices.
  3. Compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 950X is 30% more expensive.
  4. This analysis suggests that for those seeking a 16-core Ryzen processor for both work and gaming, the 950X may not be the most cost-effective option.

Cost Per Frame [CPU+RAM+MOBO]

  1. The analysis focuses on the cost per frame when upgrading a platform with a decent motherboard and 32 GB memory kit.
  2. The AMD Ryzen 9 950X is highlighted as being significantly more expensive per frame compared to other models.
  3. Specifically, the 950X costs 177% more per frame than the AMD Ryzen 9 795X.
  4. Additionally, the 950X is 23% more expensive per frame than the AMD Ryzen 9 795X 3D.
  5. The text expresses a strong opinion that the cost difference is excessive.

Conclusion

  1. AMD claimed the 900x offers gaming leadership over Intel's Core i9-14900K by a 12% margin, suggesting the 950x should be even faster. However, the 950x is actually 6% slower than the 14900K across 13 tested games.
  2. The Intel Core i9-14900K is the world's second fastest gaming processor, only behind the 7800X3D, which is 6% faster on average. If the 950x were truly 10% faster than the i9, it would surpass the 7800X3D, making AMD's claims questionable.
  3. AMD's marketing has set unrealistic expectations for the Zen 5 desktop CPUs, leading to disappointment. Even ignoring marketing, the 950x's gaming performance is disappointing, offering similar performance to the 7950X, which has been available for two years.
  4. The 950x uses slightly more power than the 7950X during gaming, with no efficiency improvements, making it a poor choice for gaming enthusiasts.
  5. In general desktop usage, the 950x shows minimal improvements: slight gains in Cinebench and Blender, minor improvements in image and video editing, and a notable 14% gain in the Corona 10 Benchmark, but overall productivity performance is underwhelming.

The Gains We Got With Zen 4…

  1. The AMD Ryzen 795x shows a significant performance improvement over its predecessors, being 102% faster than the 5950xt and 29% faster in decompression tasks.
  2. In specific applications, the 795x is 51% faster in Blender, 52% faster in Cinebench, 59% faster in Corona, 35% faster in Photoshop, and 34% faster in Premiere.
  3. On average, across various productivity benchmarks, the 795x is 52% faster than the 550x, highlighting its superior performance.
  4. The AMD Ryzen 9950x, however, only shows a marginal improvement, being just 3% faster than the 795x, indicating limited gains with the newer model.
  5. In gaming, the 795x is 32% faster than the 595x, but the 950x offers less than a 1% improvement over the 750x, showing minimal advancement.
  6. The 9700x and 9600x are described negatively, with the 9700x called a flop and the 9600x a disaster, reflecting dissatisfaction with these models.
  7. The 950x is also criticized, suggesting it does not meet expectations or offer significant improvements over previous models.

Final Thoughts

  1. Upgrading to the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X from a Ryzen 5 7600 or similar models is not straightforward due to the dual core complex die design. This design requires a fresh Windows installation to avoid performance loss.
  2. Simply copying a Windows installation over when upgrading can lead to significant performance degradation, even with new chipset drivers installed. This issue is particularly prevalent when moving from Zen 4 dual CCD models.
  3. Over time, dual CCD performance may degrade, necessitating a fresh Windows install to restore original performance levels. This is a known issue and the easiest solution found so far.
  4. Single CCD models, including those with 3D V-Cache, do not face this problem. Installing the AM5 chipset driver is usually sufficient for these models.
  5. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has not performed better than the Ryzen 9 9600X and 9700X in reviews, making it less appealing for those seeking a core-heavy AM5 processor.
  6. For those in the market for a core-heavy AM5 processor, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 7900X3D are recommended as better options, priced at $530 and $400 respectively.
  7. The review concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their thoughts on the Ryzen 9 9950X and a teaser for the upcoming review of the Ryzen 9 9900X.