AMD Ryzen 9 9950X CPU Review & Benchmarks vs. 7950X, 9700X, 14900K, & More

Summary

The video script discusses the AMD Ryzen 9 950X CPU, comparing its price and performance with other processors like the AMD R9 7950X and Intel's 14900 K. It highlights communication issues from AMD regarding special Windows setup requirements for the 950X and 9900X, which can significantly impact performance if overlooked. The script focuses on production applications and power consumption, with gaming benchmarks to ensure functionality. It emphasizes the importance of core parking configuration and provides detailed steps for optimal setup. The 950X shows promise in certain workloads, particularly with AVX-512 support, but its value proposition depends on the application's threading and efficiency needs.

Takeaways

• 💻 The 950x is a $650 CPU, positioned as a direct alternative to other high-end processors like the AMD R9 7950 X and Intel's 14900 K.
• 🔄 AMD's communication issues have caused some confusion, particularly regarding the special Windows setup and chipset driver installation required for the 950x and 9900x, which was not well communicated to reviewers.
• 🛠️ The 950x and 9900x require a specific setup to avoid performance penalties, which includes installing AMD's latest chipset drivers, updating Windows, enabling Microsoft's game mode, and running specific commands.
• 💡 The importance of core parking is highlighted, as it can significantly impact performance in both gaming and production applications if not configured correctly.
• ⚙️ The 950x is a 16-core, 32-thread part, showing improvements in multi-threaded tasks and efficiency compared to its predecessors.
• 📉 In certain efficiency tests, the 950x showed a 26% reduction in watt-hours compared to the 7950x, indicating better energy efficiency in specific workloads.
• 🎮 For gaming, the 950x showed performance on par with or slightly better than the 9700x in some titles, but it is not recommended for gaming-only builds due to its price and efficiency.
• 🏗️ In production applications like Blender, the 950x demonstrated a 12% reduction in render time compared to the 7950x, making it a strong contender for workstation tasks.
• 📈 The 950x showed mixed results in efficiency benchmarks, leading in some tests while lagging behind in others like game compression with szip.
• 📊 The script emphasizes the need to consider the specific use case and application requirements when choosing between the 950x and other CPUs like the 7950x or 7800x3d.
• 🛒 The value proposition of the 950x is complex, with better efficiency in some scenarios but at a higher price point, suggesting buyers should weigh their needs carefully.

Q & A

What is the AMD 950x CPU and what is its price?

The AMD 950x is a 16-core, 32-thread processor. It is priced at $650 and is considered a direct alternative to other CPUs such as the AMD R9 7950 X and Intel's 14900 K.

What are the communication issues AMD faced with the 950x and 9900x CPUs?

AMD faced communication issues by not informing reviewers in a timely manner that the 950x and 9900x require the same special Windows setup and chipset driver installation steps as the 7950x3d and 7900x3d. This lack of information led to a waste of time and resources for reviewers.

Why is core parking important for certain AMD CPUs?

Core parking is important because it allows half of the CPU's cores to be parked or functionally inactive for certain tasks, improving performance and efficiency. Incorrectly enabling or disabling core parking can lead to significant performance degradation.

What steps are required to properly set up a system with the AMD 950x or 9900x CPUs?

To properly set up a system with the AMD 950x or 9900x, one must install AMD's latest chipset driver, update Windows, enable Microsoft's game mode, update the Game Bar, set power options to balanced, and run specific commands to configure core parking.

How does the AMD 950x perform in terms of power consumption compared to its predecessors?

The AMD 950x shows improved power consumption, pulling 223 watts in a Blender benchmark, which is lower than the 251 watts of the previous 7900x model.

What is the performance uplift of the AMD 950x over the 5950x in Adobe Photoshop as per the Puget test suite?

The AMD 950x shows a 7% performance uplift over the 5950x in Adobe Photoshop as per the Puget test suite, indicating a modest improvement.

How does the AMD 950x perform in gaming benchmarks?

While the AMD 950x is not primarily designed for gaming, it performs well in gaming benchmarks, often matching or slightly outperforming the 9700x in various games like Dragon Dogma 2 and Final Fantasy 14.

What is the recommended course of action if moving from a CPU that requires core parking to one that does not?

AMD officially advises reinstalling Windows if moving from a CPU that requires core parking to one that does not. Alternatively, one can try uninstalling and reinstalling the AMD chipset driver.

How does the AMD 950x compare to the 7950 X in terms of value for workstation applications?

The AMD 7950 X is considered better value for workstation applications as it offers similar performance at a lower price point. The 950x, being 25% more expensive, does not offer a significant enough performance improvement to justify the higher cost.

What is the significance of AVX-512 for the AMD 950x and when might it be beneficial?

AVX-512 is significant for the AMD 950x as it represents a strength for high-density tasks (HDT). It becomes more relevant for applications that can leverage this instruction set, potentially making the 950x a better choice over the 7950 X in such scenarios.