AMD’s Ryzen 9000 launch hasn’t exactly gone according to plan with enthusiasts generally regarding it as the least impressive launch of a new range of CPUs in the Ryzen area that began in 2017. However, it’s possible the company could redeem itself later this year as it will be releasing its 3D V-Cache or Ryzen 9000X3D models which could be the best gaming processors around. Here we’ll be discussing what we know, including the release date and specifications and what we expect will be a launch that includes a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
Release date
The previous launches of 3D V-Cache equipped CPUs have all come some time after the launch of the standard models, but so far no strict schedule has emerged, in part because we’ve only had two generations of X3D models – the 5000-series and 7000-series. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D – the first model to have 3D V-Cache, launched nearly 18 months after the initial Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 series all the way back in 2022.
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, on the other hand, was released just seven months after the the launch of the Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series. The optimists out there might hope for a similar schedule to that later launch, but even more optimistic rumors pointed at a launch much sooner than that, potentially aligning with Intel’s expected Arrow Lake-S launch and Core Ultra 2 processors this side of Christmas. Even as recently as this week this seemed to be the case as motherboard manufacturers were spotted adding Ryzen 9000X3D model names to future product websites.
However, the latest rumor from well-regarded leaker HXL on X, (via Videocardz) revealed that we may be in for a similar wait time as the 7000-series, with AMD instead aiming for a January 2025 launch to coincide with that month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
That would make it a good six months or more from the Ryzen 9000 launch till Ryzen 9000 X3D models were available and I think it’s reasonable to assume that this accurate. AMD has little reason to introduce them much sooner as it’s currently trying to sell Ryzen 9000 models such as the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 9 9950X, even if gamers will be holding off for the 3D V-Cache models.
Specifications and performance
AMD has not outlined any specific details on what might be changing with the Ryzen 9000 series other than it including the new Zen 5 architecture. So far that in itself hasn’t proven that exciting, although AMD has mentioned it is “working actively on really cool differentiators” with the X3D models. What those are isn’t clear at this point.
One idea was that it would spread the V-Cache across both CCDs or core chiplets to get around the need for core parking on dual chiplet CPUs such as the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. When tasks were placed on the chiplet without the added cache, it can result in much lower performance if those tasks were threads from games. Software has got around this mostly, but having extra cache on both dies could make things easier and more consistent.
Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be on the cards and it looks like there are no significant changes to the implementation of the 3D V-Cache. We’ll have to wait till AMD officially announces the new CPUs to learn more and in the meantime we have Intel’s next generation CPUs to look forward to, which are expected in the next couple of months.
Intel plans to launch its new desktop processors, so far codenamed Arrow Lake-S in just a few weeks, aiming for an October 10th launch. The new Core Ultra 200 series will follow AMD’s Ryzen 9000 launch, which completed last week for its standard models, while gaming-focussed processors with 3D V-Cache are rumored to launch in a similar timeframe to Intel’s Arrow Lake-S models.
The leak comes from the Benchlife website, which according to the X user who found and translated it, @harukaze5719, claims the launch to be October 10th and lists 14 different CPU models across Core Ultra 9, Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 5 ranges.
The flagship Core Ultra 9 285K has a similar set of specifications to previous models, with eight P cores and 16 E cores so it’s looking highly unlikely Intel is increasing core counts from the current maximum of 24.
The absolute maximum frequency is 5.7GHz under Thermal Velocity Boost conditions for the flagship model, which is actually much less than the Core i9-14900K and Core i9-14900KS of the current generation, which can hit 6GHz and 6.2GHz respectively.
However, the new architecture underlying the CPUs is where the performance benefits are coming from and till we see benchmark scores, frequencies and core counts to some degree, don’t tell the full story.
If you’re struggling to get your head around Intel’s new naming scheme, then think of the Core Ultra 9 as the old Core i9, Core Ultra 7 as Core i7 and Core Ultra 5 as Core i5. The core counts tally with the old naming scheme so
Unlike AMD, Intel will be launching one range of CPUs, which for many will be at the heart of their gaming PCs, but of course should offer better performance outside of games in content creation too. It will be up against some stiff competition in the form of AMD’s existing 3D V-Cache models and an expected refresh of those models with its new Zen 5 architecture potentially at the same time as Intel’s own launch.
Given the lacklustre start to AMD’s own launches this summer with the Ryzen 9000 series, Intel might appear to have the upper hand, with the new CPUs already seeing suspected price cuts in certain markets. However it will also be introducing a new processor socket, requiring users to buy a new motherboard in order to use it’s new Core Ultra desktop CPUs. AMD on the other hand, already introduced it’s new socket two years ago.
Intel hasn’t had great press coverage either the last few weeks, with its CPUs at the centre of stability issues dating back years and having to release a potentially performance-impacting microcode fix. With this and the disappointing start to AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series, most enthusiasts will likely be looking forward to Intel’s Core Ultra launch and AMD Ryzen 9000 3D V-Cache models for their next PC upgrades.
For more PC news and reviews don’t forget to follow me here on Forbes using the blue button below, on Facebook or my YouTube channel.
