Something to look forward to: AMD is preparing to expand its mid-range CPU lineup with the Ryzen 5 9600X3D, a chip that would bring 3D V-Cache tech to a broader audience of gamers and PC builders. The existence of this new chip wasn’t revealed through a formal announcement, but rather via a support list for AMD’s recently launched Radeon AI R9700 graphics card, where the processor appeared alongside other unreleased models.

This leak has fueled speculation that AMD is looking to strengthen its position in the competitive mid-range segment, where it faces stiff competition from Intel’s Core i5-14600K and Core Ultra 5 245K. Just earlier this week, we reported that Intel’s Core Ultra 7 265KF had hit a record-low price of $229, or about 40% off its launch price less than a year ago.

The Ryzen 5 9600X3D is expected to feature 6 cores and 12 threads, built on AMD’s Zen 5 microarchitecture and “Granite Ridge” silicon. The standout feature is the inclusion of second-gen 3D V-Cache in a mainstream CPU, stacking an additional 64 MB of cache on top of the standard 32 MB on-die cache, resulting in a total of 96 MB of L3 cache.

Clock speeds for the new processor are anticipated to closely match those of the standard Ryzen 5 9600X, with boost frequencies likely reaching up to 5.4 GHz. The chip is expected to maintain a 65-watt TDP, striking a balance between performance and energy efficiency that should appeal to users seeking a capable yet cost-effective upgrade. The 9600X3D will also support DDR5-5600 memory and fit into AMD’s AM5 socket, ensuring compatibility with the latest motherboards and platforms.

With its six-core configuration, the Ryzen 5 9600X3D is positioned as a more affordable alternative to higher-end X3D models, such as the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which offer more cores but come at a significantly higher price.

This strategy mirrors AMD’s previous approach with the limited-release Ryzen 5 7600X3D. However, the growing trend of modern games recommending or requiring 8-core CPUs raises questions about the long-term viability of 6-core chips for future gaming titles.

Still, AMD’s V-Cache technology provides a unique advantage in cache-sensitive scenarios, potentially offsetting the lower core count in many current games.

Industry observers expect the Ryzen 5 9600X3D to debut first in pre-built systems from major integrators, with retail availability for DIY builders anticipated later in the year, possibly during the holiday season.

Pricing details remain unconfirmed, but the chip is widely expected to undercut the cost of higher-tier X3D models, making it an attractive entry point for those seeking next-generation gaming performance on a budget.

Something to look forward to: AMD has confirmed the pricing and launch date for its latest high-performance processors, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D, with MSRPs of $699 and $599, respectively. Both models are set to launch in a few days on March 12. Expect the full TechSpot review very soon.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a powerhouse, featuring 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock speed of 4.3 GHz and a boost clock of up to 5.7 GHz. It boasts 144MB of total cache, including AMD’s second-generation 3D V-Cache technology, which enhances performance by expanding the L3 cache. The processor operates at a TDP of 170W, reflecting its high-performance capabilities.

In contrast, the Ryzen 9 9900X3D offers 12 cores and 24 threads, with a slightly higher base clock speed of 4.4 GHz and a boost clock of up to 5.5 GHz. It features 140MB of total cache, including 3D V-Cache, and operates at a lower TDP of 120W.

This model is designed to balance performance and power efficiency, making it appealing to users who need robust processing power without excessive energy consumption.

The world’s best processor for gaming and content creation is almost here.

Available starting March 12th
Ryzen 9 9950X3D – $699
Ryzen 9 9900X3D – $599

A huge thank you to our incredible community of gamers, creators, and innovators for your continued support. Together,… pic.twitter.com/ino6ZNMvi6

– Jack Huynh (@JackMHuynh) March 7, 2025

AMD claims that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D offers up to 20% better gaming performance than Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K in certain scenarios. However, when directly compared to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, gaming performance is generally comparable, with slight variations depending on the game engine and core utilization.

Furthermore, according to AMD’s product and business development manager, Martijn Boonstra, the Ryzen 9 9900X3D and 9950X3D will not surpass the impressive gaming performance of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which has been praised as a top-tier gaming CPU since its release.

Instead, they are expected to deliver “comparable overall gaming performance” to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. In an interview with VideoGamer, Boonstra explained that while the new chips may be slightly faster in some games that leverage additional cores, they may lag behind in others.

Beyond gaming, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is meant to excel in multi-threaded applications such as video encoding, 3D rendering, and complex simulations. Its high core count and clock speeds also make it well-suited for single-threaded tasks, including CAD applications and content creation tools.

When selecting a motherboard for your newly purchased Ryzen CPU, you will encounter many options: X870, X670, B650, A620, and the newest additions, B850 and B840. But what do these names mean? How do X870E, X670E and B650E boards differ from their non-E counterparts? Which should you choose for your system? This guide will provide all the answers and more.

The biggest difference between motherboard types is the chipset – the chip (or two chips) that connects the CPU to other components in the system. In the past, the chipset consisted of a northbridge chip, which connected the CPU to the RAM and graphics card, and a southbridge chip, which connected the northbridge to the rest of the components. Nowadays, however, the functionality formerly attributed to the northbridge is integrated into the CPU, which connects directly to many components.

Ryzen 7000 and 9000 processors connect to high-bandwidth components through 28 PCIe lanes and support PCIe 5.0 speeds. Of these lanes, 16 are reserved for a graphics card (or two, with each utilizing eight lanes), and four are designated for an M.2 drive. Another four lanes are used to connect to the chipset. The remaining four lanes can be employed for elements such as another M.2 slot or a USB4 adapter that also connects to the CPU’s integrated graphics to enable DisplayPort tunneling.

Ryzen 8000G processors only have eight PCIe lanes for a graphics card (20 in total), and support PCIe 4.0 speeds. Additionally, Ryzen CPUs support four USB 3.1 (or “3.2 Gen 2”) ports and a single USB 2.0 connector.

Take a shortcut to your next Ryzen build…

The current chipsets on the AM5 platform support either PCIe 4.0 speeds, which limits the total bandwidth of the devices connected to them at approximately 7GB/s, or PCIe 3.0 speeds, which sets the bandwidth at about 3.5GB/s. These devices may comprise storage drives utilizing either the NVMe or SATA interface, USB devices, network cards, and other internal components such as soundcards.

Some motherboards feature more connectors than their CPU and chipset support, either to allow you to choose between some of them or because they employ splitters to share their bandwidth. With the basics covered, let’s move on to the chipsets themselves…

Old Is New Again: B840

AMD B840 motherboards use the same Promontory 19 chip that was previously used on B550 motherboards with AM4 processors. Unlike the Promontory 21 used in other AM5 motherboards, it only supports PCIe 3.0 speeds, but it adds 10 PCIe lanes, and supports four SATA, two USB 3.1, two USB 3.0 (or “3.2 Gen 1”), and six USB 2.0 ports.

In addition to the slower chipset, B840 motherboards omit several enthusiast-oriented features. They don’t support PCIe 5.0 speeds, even for devices connected directly to the CPU. They don’t allow CPU overclocking, although with today’s CPUs it’s more of an enthusiast hobby than a recommended practice. They also only support a single graphics card, but the era of multi-GPU gaming has essentially come to an end so that’s not a big one.

Only a few B840 motherboards are available at the time of writing, and quite surprisingly, they aren’t cheap. Despite their limitations, they are quality boards with several heatsinks and many slots. That raises the question: whom are they meant for?

If you want to upgrade an old system with PCIe 3.0 devices, then B840 motherboards may offer a good value, as they are cheaper than otherwise comparable B850 boards. Otherwise, feel free to ignore them.

A Needless Compromise: A620

A620 motherboards use the same Promontory 21 chip used in B650, B850 and X870 motherboards, but with some of its connectors disabled or limited. Like the Promontory 19, it adds support for two USB 3.1, two USB 3.0 (or “3.2 Gen 1”), and six USB 2.0 ports. It also incorporates eight PCIe 3.0 lanes, of which two or four can be employed for SATA ports.

The real issue with A620 motherboards isn’t the chipset itself; rather, it’s that they are designed to be affordable boards with inexpensive voltage regulator modules (VRM) and like B840 boards, do not support PCIe 5.0 speeds. Worse, A620 boards not only disallow CPU overclocking, but they may also officially support CPUs with a TDP of up to only 120W, or even 65W.

On paper, A620 motherboards are a good fit for Ryzen 8000G processors, which are meant for compact systems with fewer components and lower power consumption. In practice, decent A620 boards cost about the same as B650 ones, so we can only recommend them when they are on sale.

The Best Value: X870 vs. B650E vs. B850 vs. B650

B650, B650E, B850 and X870 motherboards all use a single, fully enabled Promontory 21 chip. It adds eight PCIe 4.0 lanes, allowing an M.2 drive to fully utilize the chipset’s bandwidth on its own. Like in A620 boards, it also includes four PCIe 3.0 lanes that can be used for up to four SATA ports.

The chipset provides support for six USB 2.0 and four USB 3.1 ports, as well as bandwidth that can be allocated for an additional two USB 3.1 ports or a single USB 3.2 (“Gen 2 x 2”).

Read our review: Most Affordable AMD B650 Boards Tested

If you were wondering about the difference between B650 and B650E motherboards, the answer is that B650E boards (E = short for “Extreme”) support PCIe 5.0 for both the graphics card and at least one M.2 drive. X870 motherboards are basically the same as B650E, except they are required to use four PCIe lanes for USB4. However, because they are newer, the Wi-Fi cards they come with support Wi-Fi 7 rather than 6E.

While B850 motherboards are required to support PCIe 5.0 on at least one M.2 drive, regular B650 boards may still have a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. Other than that, these boards don’t limit the CPU in any way and will support any Ryzen processor until 2027.

We recommend B650, B850, B650E and X870 motherboards for gamers and others who want to get everything that AM5 motherboards have to offer, but don’t need to connect many drives to their PC simultaneously. Another advantage of these boards is their ability to fit all connectors into a compact micro-ATX form factor, which is useful if you’re seeking a compact case to place on your desk.

More is More: X870E vs. X670E vs. X670

X670, X670E and X870E motherboards feature a Promontory 21 chip connected to another one through four PCIe 4.0 lanes, providing the second chip with the same bandwidth as the one connected to the CPU.

Combined, the chipset adds twelve PCIe 4.0 lanes, allowing each M.2 drive to saturate the chipset’s bandwidth individually, and eight PCIe 3.0 lanes for up to eight SATA ports. With SATA now becoming a legacy connector, it’s common for some of those lanes to be allocated to network cards, freeing up all PCIe 4.0 lanes for faster interfaces.

The chipset also offers support for twelve USB 2.0 ports and one of three options: twelve USB 3.1 ports; ten USB 3.1 ports and one USB 3.2 port, or eight USB 3.1 ports and two USB 3.2 ports.

Read our full reviews: The Best AMD X670E Motherboards: 22 Board Roundup & AMD X870/X870E Motherboard Roundup: 21 Motherboards Tested

Unlike B650, all X670 motherboards feature a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and of course, X670E boards support PCIe 5.0 graphics cards. If you purchase such a card when they become available, it probably won’t even require all 16 lanes. So, if your board has another 16-lane PCIe 5.0 slot, you’ll be able to use it for up to two M.2 drives with an adapter (some boards actually come with one). With X870E you can be sure you’ll get USB4 and Wi-Fi 7.

X670, X670E and X870E motherboards are the ideal choice for content creators who constantly feel the need to add another drive to their system. With numerous ways to utilize the dual chipset, particularly, you shouldn’t buy a motherboard based solely on its name; instead, make sure it has all the connectors you require.