THE CHIP THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
AMD redefines what’s possible from a mainstream CPU.
When AMD launched its Ryzen 3 range back in June 2019, we were teased with the 16-core 3950X CP. Straight up – the 3950X completely redefines what a mainstream CPU is capable of. It lights a fire under the HEDT platform. It’s almost obsoleted the entire Intel X299 platform. It’s the jewel in the crown of AMD’s range.
It’s not often that we use the word ‘revolutionary’ when it comes to desktop CPUs, but that’s exactly what the 3950X is. Just a couple of years ago, an 8- or 10-core CPU was an HEDT flagship, requiring an expensive motherboard and quad channel memory. Now, we have the option of a genuinely high performance 16-core CPU that can be installed in a budget B450 motherboard with a cheapie dual channel memory kit. It’s no slouch when given lightly threaded loads either. Revolutionary indeed.
The 3950X is a multi-chip module design, with two 7nm 8-core chiplets connected to a central I/O die. You get 64MB of L3 cache which helps to minimise latency-inducing main memory accesses. It’s got a 3.5GHz base clock, though particularly notable is its 4.7GHz boost clock which adds tremendous single threading prowess to its obvious multi core strength. It does all this with a 105W TDP. Sixteen high performance cores at 105W! We had just had to say it twice. Do note, though, that it doesn’t come with a cooler, so be prepared to budget extra for a high-end air cooler or all-in-one water cooler.
It’s time to talk about how this beast performs. As you can see in the benchmarks, most of the time it’s in front of Intel’s HEDT flagship 10980XE. Even with this CPU’s price almost halved vs
Intel’s own outgoing 9980XE, Team Blue’s best is still significantly more expensive than the 3950X. A 9900K still rules the roost in gaming, where maximum FPS is the requirement, but in anything that makes use of multiple cores, the 3950X obliterates it, all the while using less power and running cooler. Still, if gaming is your focus, then you’ll be better served with something like an Intel 9700K or Ryzen 3700X and putting the money saved towards a faster GPU.
We expected the 3950X to run a bit hot, but an all-core load of 73 degrees C was totally acceptable. Power consumption was a little higher than we expected at 131W for the whole package – higher than AMD’s quoted 105W TDP, but compare that to 229W for the 10980XE when loaded and suddenly it looks downright thrifty.
AMD has completely redefined what a mainstream platform and PC is capable of. At $1,200 for a CPU, it’s never going to be called cheap, but compare that to what was on offer from the $2,799 Intel i9-9980XE just a few weeks ago. If 16 cores isn’t enough, There’s always the 3rd generation Threadrippers, starting with our review of the 3960X on the following page.
If you’re a content creator, mega multi-tasker or make use of applications that can scale and utilise those 32 threads, there is simply no better CPU on the market right now, and perhaps for the foreseeable future as well.
Verdict
The 3950X is the new desktop king.