AMD launches the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, the first consumer CPU with 3D V-Cache on its two chiplets. Problem: the brand has “forgotten» to send them to the most rigorous testers. And Gamers Nexus does not intend to remain silent.
We were all removed from a WhatsApp group without explanation. Except that when it’s AMD who removes you, it’s because you asked the wrong questions, and the group is called ” launch of the 9950X3D2 ».
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition was released on April 22, and instead of a fest of independent reviews, we were treated to a handful of hand-picked reviews and a vitriolic video from Steve Burke, founder of Gamers Nexus, titled “Blacklisted by AMD“. Welcome to the most poorly managed launch of the year on the CPU side.
The 9950X3D2 is AMD’s first desktop processor to feature 3D V-Cache on its two CCDs. Concretely: 16 Zen 5 cores, 192 MB of L3 cache (208 MB in total), boost up to 5.6 GHz, TDP of 200 W, all on socket AM5. Compared to the 9950X3D that it replaces, it doubles the amount of stacked cache.
The price follows the same logic:$899 in US, around €959 in European MSRPbut the first prices in France already exceed €1,100. The 9950X3D is currently around €690. We are talking about an additional cost of at least €270, for a chip that AMD explicitly targets creators and developers rather than players.
« We hurt their feelings, I guess »
On launch day, the list of absentees looked like a who’s who of hardware: Gamers Nexus, TechPowerUp, ComputerBase, Linus Tech Tips, JayzTwoCents, TweakTown, Hardware Canucks. AMD did not send any samples to these editorial staff.
Steve Burke says AMD cut off all direct communication with GN for months, redirecting them to an external PR agency. “We were excluded not only from the sampling, but also from any information prior to public announcements“, he explains. No briefing, no technical sheet in advance, nothing. For a media outlet that had internal contacts at AMD for years, the message is clear.
The raison probable? Previous video from GN title «ÂAMD : WTF ?» which pointed to the million dollars paid by AMD to the super PAC MAGA Inc., the links of AMD’s lobbying with the same firm as Palantir and Flock Safety, the presence of Lisa Su at the premiere of the filmMelaniaand the supposed abandonment of driver support for the Z1 Extreme SoC.
Steve Burke sums it up with his usual phlegm: “We hurt their feelings, I guess. But I don’t care.» He adds that GN had sent questions to AMD for months, including basic questions about Z1 driver support, without getting any response. HAS”If the question is “hey, rumors say you can’t stand something you’re still selling, do you want to respond?”, and they don’t respond, that looks pretty damn bad ”.
TechPowerUp noted for its part that the tests published on D-day mainly came from sites “unlikely to conduct in-depth analyzes“. AMD would also have put pressure on resellers so that no unit would go to the press before the official date. Hardware Unboxed, which received a sample, ultimately loaned it to Gamers Nexus so they could test the chip on their end. Solidarity between Steve.
What does the double V-Cache change, concretely?
AMD promises a 5 to 13% gain in production compared to the 9950X3D. Independent benchmarks are nuanced. In multithreading, the gain is around7 %but the 9950X3D2 consumes 30 W more (200 W versus 170 W).
At equal power, the real benefit of dual cache falls to around4 %. In game, it’s even crueler :Âless than 2% difference with the 9950X3D, and the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, sold for around €450, is on par or even better. Most games don’t use more than 8 cores. The second CCD with its brand new cache remains idle. Burke didn’t even need the benchmarks to say it: “Without even testing it, I can already tell you that it’s a scam, because it’s 900 dollars and we know how the 9950X3D performs. »
This processor is aimed at an extremely specific profile: a professional creator who compiles in Unreal Engine during the day and launches a game in the evening, with a budget that does not flinch when faced with a four-figure bill for the CPU alone.
For the pure gamer, the 9850X3D remains the best choice. For heavy-duty productivity without constraints, a Threadripper offers more PCIe lanes and memory bandwidth. The 9950X3D2 occupies such a narrow niche that it seems more like a technology showcase than a product designed to be sold in volume.
To go further
What are the best Intel and AMD Ryzen processors (CPUs) in 2026?
AMD has achieved the technical feat of sticking V-Cache on two chiplets in a consumer socket. Well done. But charging 29% more for 4% real gain, while cutting ties with the press who ask awkward questions, is the kind of combo that turns a niche product into a symbol of arrogance. As GN summarizes: “ These companies would love for testers to just talk about why you should buy their products. But we can no longer ignore the man behind the curtain ”.
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