When AMD announced the Ryzen 9 9950X3D at CES 2025 we immediately demanded a version with 3D V-Cache on both chiplets, and we even suggested the name ‘Ryzen 9 Lisa Su Edition'. A full year later and we finally have the CPU that we wanted and it comes with a clanger of a name, ‘AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition‘. Let's park that thought, dive into the silicon and see what AMD has created.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
01:03 So what is the 9950X3D2?
02:44 Cinebench 2026 behaviour
04:03 Test bench
05:41 Cinebench benchmarks
07:05 Efficiency
08:09 Synthetic tests
09:38 Gaming performance
11:19 Pricing discussion
13:51 Leo’s pros and cons

Key features

• The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 is the Ultimate Processor for Developers and Creators With Latency-Sensitive Workloads
• 7% Faster RENDER Average Performance in specific applications vs. Ryzen 9 9950X3D
• Faster AI & Simulation Average Performance in specific applications vs. Ryzen 9 9950X3D
• 3% Faster Productivity Average Performance in 10+ applications vs. Ryzen 9 9950X3D
• Same Leading Gaming Performance Average FPS as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D

Testing and Performance

Test system

• CPUs: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
• Motherboard: Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice
• RAM: 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 C28
• Graphics Card: MSI RTX 4090 Ventus 3X 24GB
• CPU cooler: Phanteks Glacier One 360D30
• SSD: 1TB Samsung 9100 Pro
• Power Supply: Antec Signature 2200

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

In Geekbench 6 Multi Core we see the mighty Threadrippers storm to the top of the chart. In third place – and the first of the regular desktop CPUs – it is the new Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition a small step ahead of the current Ryzen 9 9950X3D.

Blender 5.1 Splash Render

The Blender 5.1 Splash Render test is an intense workload that runs for over an hour on the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and still takes 11 minutes on the 64-core Threadripper 9980X. This test shows clear separation between the three Ryzen 9 9950 CPUs with the 9950X3D2 coming out on top.

SPECworkstation 4

SPECworkstation 4 runs a package of 23 benchmark tests and once again we see a healthy improvement from the new Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition over the existing 9950X3D.

Closing Thoughts

Adding a second extra slab of 3D V-Cache to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D to create the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition looks like an easy win, however things are not as straightforward as they first appear.

AMD rolled the pitch ahead of the launch of the Dual Edition and made it clear that gamers should expect very little from this processor as the second core chiplet plays a minor part in the proceedings. That is fair enough but we had high hopes that content creators would be well served by the extra 3D V-Cache, however this turned out to be rather unpredictable.

The end result is a new processor that reliably delivers higher performance thanks to its increased power draw. The Dual Edition might also deliver extra performance, depending on the specific software you are using, but that is very much a case of trial and error.

When the stars align and the processor runs suitable software it can deliver blazing performance while also delivering an impressive gaming experience, but this is certain to require extra power along with a good deal of cost.

You can buy the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition for £799.99 inc VAT from OCUK HERE.

Pros:

• Impressive all-round performance.
• Drop-in replacement for any modern AM5 motherboard.
• DDR5-6000 memory works well with 3D CPUs.

Cons:

• Very expensive.
• Increased power draw is disappointing to see.
• Finding latency-sensitive workloads that benefit from 3D V-cache is tricky.

KitGuru says: We have waited a year for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition and have to confess we are disappointed by the end result.

The post AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition Review first appeared on KitGuru.

A couple of weeks ago, AMD officially announced the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor, combining two stacks of 3D V-Cache in one chip. This is going to be AMD's top-end Ryzen desktop processor, so we expected it to be expensive, but the exact cost remained elusive. That changed this week with AMD revealing an $899 price tag. 

In a tweet this afternoon, David McAfee, AMD's VP and GM of Ryzen, confirmed that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 will launch on April 22nd with an $899 price tag. As PCGamer points out, this is $200 higher than the launch price for the standard Ryzen 9 9950X3D.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 stands out thanks to its dual 3D V-Cache design, providing 208MB of high-speed on-chip cache, the most ever put into a Ryzen processor. The additional cache means more game data and more assets can sit right next to the CPU cores, providing speedy access with dramatically reduced latency.

This all should lead to performance improvements in both gaming and content creation tasks, but AMD says it will “really shine” in other demanding workflows like simulations, 3D rendering, large software builds, AI models, and game engine compiles, positioning this CPU as a workstation-class chip, rather than a gaming one.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you considering a Ryzen 9 9950X3D2? 

The post AMD confirms $899 price tag for Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition first appeared on KitGuru.

The latest Agon Pro gaming monitor from AOC looks to be very impressive. It is the first of their monitors to sport a 4th Generation QD-OLED Penta Tandem panel, a newer type of panel that aims to push OLED brightness and longevity to new heights. 

According to Displayspecifications, the display features native 4K UHD resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms GtG response time, and an Nvidia G-Sync Compatible certification, ensuring motion remains fluid and tear-free. However, what sets the AG326UZD2 apart from previous iterations is its focus on panel durability and environmental adaptability. The new Penta Tandem architecture is paired with EL Gen 3 materials and DarkShield 3.0, AOC's latest anti-reflection coating. DarkShield 3.0 (likely Samsung's QuantumBlack film) is specifically engineered to preserve the “True Black” performance of QD-OLED even in well-lit rooms, a common issue for early QD-OLED adopters.

 

The monitor features a native 10-bit colour depth, covering 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut with factory-calibrated accuracy, achieving a Delta E < 1. On the HDR front, the display carries the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification. While typical SDR brightness sits at a robust 300 nits, the panel can reach a peak HDR brightness of 1000 nits at a 3% APL (Average Picture Level).

The AG326UZD2 also features a comprehensive suite of modern ports, including DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1. The inclusion of USB-C with 65W Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alt Mode makes it a viable single-cable solution for high-end laptops.

KitGuru says: If you're in the market for a high-end OLED/QD-OLED gaming monitor, the new AOC Agon Pro AG326UZD2 might be worth a look. 

The post AOC’s new Agon Pro AG326UZD2 boasts 240Hz Penta Tandem QD-OLED panel first appeared on KitGuru.

Destiny 2 has been in a bit of an awkward spot for the past few years, with the live-service shooter having seen a notable drop in both player counts as well as reception towards the game as a whole. In a surprise move, the team at Bungie have now announced that the game’s next major Update – which was set to release in March – has been delayed by three whole months.

Taking to BlueSky to make the announcement, the official D2 page wrote the following: “Our next Major Update, Destiny 2: Shadow and Order, is undergoing large revisions and will be delayed. This update is being changed and expanded to include sizable quality-of-life updates and as a result, will also be renamed. This update will now launch on June 9, 2026.”

For now, information on the changes remain light, however Bungie did confirm that the update will still include “expanding Tiered Gear to all Raid and Dungeon activities, Pantheon 2.0, Tier 5 stats for Exotic Armors, and more.”

Unfortunately, it seems as though little is planned for the interim, with Bungie simply stating that between now and June, Destiny 2 will “continue to have routine bug fixes and stability improvements, continued portal modifiers, Guardian Games (March), and the return of a more frequent Iron Banner cadence (April).”

The team concluded by saying “Thank you for your continued patience and support. We will have more information on our next major update and future plans for Destiny 2 closer to launch.”

Sentiment surrounding Destiny has been far from great as of late, with a lack of content being one of the primary issues. Considering that Shadow and Order has now been delayed by 3 months to facilitate additional features, Bungie has to make sure that the next update is pretty much universally liked.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this announcement? Does it give you more or less confidence in Destiny 2’s future? Let us know down below.

The post Destiny 2: Shadow and Order Update delayed by 3 months first appeared on KitGuru.