AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Processor Review

Final Thoughts

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X really sits in a category all its own. Its only real competition is the previous Ryzen 9 3950X and maybe some high-end desktop (HEDT) processors. The problem with comparing to HEDT processors is that the platform itself is more expensive. On both sides you are going to pay more for your motherboard and you and going to need to purchase a quad-channel memory kit rather than a dual-channel one. HEDT systems have their advantages in the memory like I mention, but also available PCI-Express lanes. So if you really need more lanes than what a mainstream X570 motherboard can offer than it is best to go the HEDT route.

Now if that is not the case and you just want to take advantage of the Ryzen 9 5950X’s 16 cores then mainstream will just be fine for you and you’ll be able to build a pretty awesome system based on the X570 platform. For those wondering about the performance difference say between the Ryzen 9 5900X and Ryzen 9 5950X in our testing we saw anywhere from a 9 – 22% increase in performance depending on the test. Obviously where the 5950X shines is in multi-core workloads.

amd ryzen9 5950x compare

So you have to ask yourself is that much of a performance increase worth an extra $250, which is the price difference between the Ryzen 9 5900X and Ryzen 9 5950X. If you are purely gaming I really wouldn’t say it is as you can expect the same and in some cases better gaming performance with the Ryzen 9 5900X. But if you are doing other things like streaming, creating content, and more then Ryzen 9 5950X is going to be an excellent processor. It even has me considering upgrading my X299 system with a Core i9-7960X as I could take advantage of faster speeds and USB 3.2 gen 2 support.

Like many new products we have to talk about availability. Currently you can’t find the Ryzen 9 5950X available anywhere. I actually had a friend get an order in on release day and he won’t be receiving his processor until the middle of January, and this is from a major online retailer. This seems to be a theme with new processors and graphics cards. It makes it really difficult to build a new PC or upgrade right now.

When it is all said and done the Ryzen 9 5950X is the fastest mainstream processor that you can buy right now. It is a great option for those who are on the fence about going the HEDT route, or for those who want to flex and say they have the fastest processor out there. The Ryzen 9 5950X is available at our favorite online retailer (if you find it in stock) for $799.99, which is a $50 premium over the Ryzen 9 3950X. That will be $799.99 very well spent!

Pros:
– 16-cores and 32-threads on mainstream
– The ZEN 3 architecture brings with it a lot of improvements
– Still on the AM4 socket
– Ryzen Master software

Cons:
– Availability

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