##AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X Zen 5 CPU has been put through its paces in a series of benchmark tests, revealing impressive performance gains over current-generation processors from both AMD and Intel.
Stellar Performance Across Power Profiles
Recent tests conducted by an Anandtech forum member showcase the Ryzen 9 9950X's capabilities across various power configurations:
- At 230W TDP: Up to 28% faster than the Ryzen 9 7950X and 34% faster than Intel's Core i9-14900K
- With unlimited power (320W): Up to 40% performance improvement over the Core i9-14900K
Efficiency Remains a Strong Suit
Even at lower power limits, the Ryzen 9 9950X demonstrates remarkable efficiency:
- 60W TDP: Matches Intel Core i9-12900K performance
- 90W TDP: Outperforms the previous-gen Ryzen 9 5950X
- 120W TDP: Beats current top-tier processors from both AMD and Intel
Impressive Clock Speeds
The engineering sample used in testing achieved:
- 5.62 GHz peak boost clock (just shy of the official 5.7 GHz rating)
- 5.5 GHz all-core overclock at 253W power draw
- Sustained 5.4 GHz+ frequencies across all cores in unlimited power mode
Thermal Performance
Despite pushing high clock speeds and power draw, the Ryzen 9 9950X maintained reasonable temperatures:
- 62°C at 230W TDP
- 80°C at unlimited power (320W)
It's worth noting that these tests utilized a high-end water cooling solution.
Blender Benchmark Highlights
In the Blender rendering benchmark, the Ryzen 9 9950X showed significant gains:
- Up to 38% faster than the Ryzen 9 7950X
- Up to 40% faster than the Intel Core i9-14900K
Looking Ahead
While these results are based on an engineering sample, they paint a promising picture for AMD's upcoming Zen 5 architecture. The Ryzen 9000 series is expected to launch later this month, bringing formidable competition to the high-end desktop CPU market.
As always, it's important to wait for independent reviews of retail chips before drawing final conclusions. However, these early benchmarks suggest that AMD may have another winner on its hands with the Ryzen 9 9950X.