AMD’s launch of Zen 5 desktop CPUs was limited to regular models without 3D V-Cache, which is a differentiator of the so-called “X3D” models that significantly improves performance in games. Gamers have no successor for the past generation Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which remains the best gaming CPU. This could change soon though, it seems that AMD is starting talk about the X3D version of Zen 5 and the release is coming soon.
On Chinese forums, information has surfaced from a leaker named Zhangzhonghao, according to which AMD has actually talked about X3D processors behind closed doors at a presentation of X870(E) boards from Gigabyte, somewhere in China, where AMD representatives were also present. According to VideoCardz, the leaker claiming this should have a fairly decent history (but now goes by a different nickname), so they appear credible.
October
During this Gigabyte briefing, AMD reportedly said that Ryzen 9000X3D could be on the market in a month, because the company wants to release them before the end of October. Such a lanch timing would follow shortly after the arrival of Intel’s Arrow Lake desktop processors from Intel and their new LGA 1851 platform (these are due to be released on October 24). AMD could therefore have a chance to take the wind out of Intel’s sails in theory – depending, of course, on the qualities of the processors in question.
The interesting information is that there will be three models again, but the first to come out is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This will probably be an octa-core with a single CPU chiplet, so 3D V-Cache will be in effect for all cores and there will be no complications to scheduling of programs and games. This is something that will have to be addressed by the other two planned CPUs – the Ryzen 9 9900X3D and the Ryzen 9 9950X3D with 12 cores and 16 cores, respectively, where, as in the 7000 generation, only half of the cores will probably have the 3D V-Cache and the other half will look like the X models (so it will again provide higher clock speeds for application software – we discuss how it works in this article).
The three X3D models will therefore be very similar to the 7000X3D generation lineup with their parameters (but with official DDR5-5600 support and Zen 5 cores). However, this time the company will not release the two higher two-chiplet models first, which is what happened last time. It’s a good thing for us, though, because it was the octa-core model which only came out later that proved best for gamers in the last generation. Plus, the 9800X3D will also be the cheapest model. So this time there will be no need to wait.
Tip: Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Ahead of Core i9 for gaming at 40% power draw (review)
The reason why the more expensive models don’t come out in the first launch wave, which is more usual policy (since this can convince at least some impatient customers into choosing the more expensive model), is said to be that the two-chiplet models are supposed to have some new features or functioning that have not been disclosed yet and we don’t quite know what they are. This could be referring to for example overclocking being eneabled, but perhaps only on the second chiplet without the V-Cache. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is rumored not to allow overclocking (although this is not confirmed yet). This is already the case with the existing X3D processors and is due to the fact that the V-Cache fails at higher voltages (as low as about 1.35V).
The two-chiplet Ryzen 9 9900X3D and 9950X3D models could come out after Christmas in 2025, reportedly due to AMD needing time to work out those new features.
So those who were unhappy with Zen 5 because of the lack of X3D models won’t have to wait as long as we thought. It’ll probably be very interesting to see how the effect the combination with the new architecture will have on performance, compared to today’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The effect of the cache itself may be higher in games than the effect of the new core, so we probably can’t expect as much of a boost between the 7800X3D and 9800X3D gaming models as you can see between Ryzen 7 7700X and 7800X3D (and what will be the gap between the 9700X and 9800X3D). But the two separate factors should at least partially add up, so the 9000X3D processors should offer some intergenerational progress.
Sources: Chiphell, VideoCardz
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
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