9950x compared to next-gen X3D chips with updated memory limits. New MTS capabilities included.
9950x compared to next-gen X3D chips with updated memory limits. New MTS capabilities included.
You're weighing options between the latest 9950x and the 9800x3d. You've already purchased the new x870e hero motherboard for overclocking, and you're considering whether the upgrade to DDR5 RAM will really boost performance. With the improved MTS and the extra cache, it's worth checking if those gains matter in practice.
700 dollars for a motherboard that doesn’t assist you much beyond what the chips can already do. If you really aimed for proper OC with DDR5, you’d have chosen a dual-slot board. Doing DDR5 OC on an AM5 chip still caps performance at around 6000 MHz, and the extra decoupling only brings slight improvements compared to the limitations it creates. For serious memory upgrades, stick with Intel platforms. x3D chips are known for poor OC results and have tight limits on their performance. So unless you’ve skipped all research, you might have missed real gains that haven’t been proven on AM5. The only AMD CPUs I’ve seen that push past 7600 MT/s are the 8600/8700G models at the recent trade show. For everyday use, there’s little value in chasing those numbers.
I believe it’s wise to explore more about series 9 thoroughly. I’ve noticed several tests running smoothly for long periods at 8000 Mts using the 9950x. Assuming cache differences remain consistent wouldn’t fully explain the performance boost from x3d chips? I need clarity on this point—does it really matter whether you care about the board or the 8-series chips? The main factor is RAM speed versus cache capacity. Whether you prefer the Hero board or not doesn’t matter; its impressive features set it apart from other ASUS boards.
I mean let me just say totally off subject that the ASUS Hero motherboard has an AMAZING slimsas connector on it. This has built in 4 pcie lanes built into it and yes I will be using this for a capture card. If it did not have this then I would have to use the 2nd PCIE slot on the motherboard and then it would rob lanes from my GPU... I think was an AMAZING idea for asus to do especially considering what may be coming down the line with the 5090
The FCLK operates differently on AM5, being completely separated from the memory clock regardless of whether it's DDR5 6000 or 8000. It stays at 2000MHz. The memory controller clock, however, adjusts for speeds above 6400. TechPowerUp conducted performance tests using the 9950X and found minimal variation—under 1% difference between DDR5 6000 and 8000, with a peak gap of around 2%. This suggests no significant impact on game performance starting from 8000. Minor adjustments could help slightly, but they won't compensate for cache differences in most titles. For top gaming speeds, choosing an X3D chip is recommended instead of focusing on memory speed.
In every test they ran, the 7800X3D consistently performed better or was only about 1% off from the 9950X. Are you asking if upgrading to the 7800X3D was a smart move? Wow, I rarely make such choices. Thanks for the support—it really helped me feel confident. Hope you have a great day!