Skip to main content

Leaked MSI presentation shows that Ryzen 9000X3D may fail to impress

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D sitting on a motherboard.
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

AMD’s 3D V-Cache CPUs have been atop the list of the best gaming processors ever since the 5800X3D launched in 2022. It’s no wonder that many gamers are anticipating the 9000X3D lineup, especially because the non-3D Zen 5 failed to move the needle in gaming scenarios. However, according to a new leak from a surprising source, we might not see much of a change going from the 7000X3D to the 9000X3D.

The information comes from a leaked MSI presentation that was reportedly posted by HardwareLuxx following a tour of the MSI factory. The slides appear to have been taken down, but other sources, such as VideoCardz, preserved them for all of us to see. Keep in mind that even though these look like they contain official MSI data, nothing is confirmed until the processors are out and being tested by reviewers.

MSI OC Lab / HardwareLuxx

MSI compared the 9000X3D lineup to its non-3D counterparts, as well as to the previous generation of CPUs. The gaming tests only included three titles, which is not a lot, but the eight-core Ryzen 9000X3D (presumably the Ryzen 7 9800X3D) was anywhere between 2% and 13% faster in these titles. Far Cry 6 showed the biggest 13% uplift, but in Black Myth: Wukong, the CPU trailed behind its predecessor with a measly 2% improvement. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D saw even smaller gains ranging from 2% to 11%.

Recommended Videos

The company also ran some Cinebench R23 tests, with both CPUs fixed at a maximum of 5.2GHz. We don’t currently know the maximum clock speeds for the 9000X3D series, but if they’re higher than that, there might be some more performance that will come to light when the CPUs are tested at their maximum frequency.

A leaked slide of 9000X3D performance.
MSI OC Lab / HardwareLuxx

These synthetic tests comparing the chips also turned out fairly similar, with a 9% improvement in single-core for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and a 16% boost in the multi-core test. The benchmark results look a lot better for the 9800X3D here, though, ranging from 18% to 28%. It seems that while its gaming performance might appear lackluster, the synthetic test has gone more than well. We’ve already covered these results before, and now, the leaked MSI presentation appears to be the source behind the numbers.

The biggest problem with these benchmarks might be that the difference between the Ryzen 9000X3D and the non-3D parts seems fairly subtle so far. MSI’s leaked tests show the CPUs very close together, and this includes both the eight-core and 16-core parts.

It’s too early to believe any leaked benchmarks, even though MSI is obviously a credible source, but we cannot know how these results were obtained. However, it looks like we may not see the kind of improvement we’ve seen in the 7800X3D, which was over 20% faster in gaming scenarios.

We’ll have to wait and test the chips ourselves once they’re out. The current prediction is that AMD will announce the Ryzen 9000X3D lineup on October 25, with a November 7 release date for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Monica J. White
Monica is a UK-based freelance writer and self-proclaimed geek. A firm believer in the "PC building is just like expensive…
AMD on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D: ‘We have a lot to say’
A delidded Ryzen 7000 CPU.

AMD just revealed its Ryzen 9000 chips at Computex 2024, but the company is already working on its versions of these processors with 3D V-Cache. These X3D variants, as they're called, have been a mainstay of AMD's lineup since the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and they consistently rank among the best gaming processors. AMD's Donny Woligroski says the company is "not just resting on laurels," and that it has some big plans for the next version of X3D chips.

The news comes from PC Gamer, which shared various quotes from an interview with Woligroski. Although we've known for a while that 3D V-Cache would come to Ryzen 9000 eventually, Woligroski says that AMD is pushing the tech forward. "It's not like, 'hey, we've also added X3D to a chip.' We are working actively on really cool differentiators to make it even better. We're working on X3D, we're improving it," Woligroski told PC Gamer.

Read more
4 CPUs you should buy instead of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Someone holding the Ryzen 7 5800X3D in a red light.

AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the crown jewel of gaming CPUs. It's the processor to buy in 2024 if you want a peak gaming experience, and with the processor still readily available for around $300, it's a great buy. However, it's not the gaming CPU for everyone. Despite the Ryzen 7 5800X3D's mythic status, there are several great alternatives.

We review the latest CPUs from Intel and AMD, testing their gaming prowess in the latest games, and there are some Ryzen 7 5800X3D alternatives that are cheaper, offer higher performance, or set you up better for future upgrades. Here are a few other CPUs to keep on your shortlist when you go to upgrade your PC.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Read more
The best motherboard for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is cheaper than you think
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D installed in a motherboard.

Arguably the best thing about the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is its affordability. It's the best gaming processor in the world (even better than the 14900KS) and yet you can buy it for around $350, so why ruin that affordability with an expensive motherboard? While there is an argument to be made that you'll maximize its performance with a top-tier board, that's not a necessity and, in fact, you can get most of what you need with a more modest buy.

Instead of paying through the nose, get this great motherboard and use the money you save to get something else. Like a faster graphics card, or a bigger SSD.

Read more