Hey everyone! I'm in the process of building a new PC and looking to upgrade from my old setup that's nearly 14 years old. I'm mainly going to use this new rig for gaming, but I also do some animation work with Adobe programs like Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere. Occasionally, I might dabble with 3D modeling in Blender, but that's not a priority.
Right now, I'm focusing on selecting a CPU and motherboard first. I've been considering the Ryzen 9 9950x3D and 9 9900x3D, but I'm looking for some advice to understand the differences better.
I heard that the main difference between Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 is the core count. For my use, is it worth investing in more cores, or is that overkill? Also, what exactly do the numbers like 9950 and 9900 represent compared to something lower like the 7950x3D?
Does the x3D designation mean it has better memory for gaming, and how would that impact my use of Adobe software? Lastly, I'd like to know if there's anything about the higher-end CPUs that might not be applicable for my needs, so I don't waste money. Appreciate any tips or insights you have!
1 Answer
It really depends on how you plan to use your PC. For gaming, Ryzen CPUs are a solid choice. The x3D ones are great for gaming because they have more cache memory. Generally, the main differences between Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 include core count and clock speed. If you're mostly gaming, six cores might suffice, but having eight is a safer bet. So, a Ryzen 7 might give you what you need without going all out on the 9950x3D. Just think about your budget and what you primarily want to do with your PC.
I'm glad you brought up core counts. What's the real benefit of having more cores? Could there be scenarios where more cores are unnecessary?