Initial benchmarks for AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X are starting to circulate, showcasing impressive performance gains. Igor Kavinski shared benchmarks on the Anandtech forums that reveal the Ryzen 9 9950X outpacing Intel’s Core i9-14900KS, as reported by Wccftech.
Operating at 160 watts, the Ryzen 9 9950X achieved a multi-core score of 42,336 in Cinebench R23, surpassing the Core i9-14900KS which scored 41,285 in its default Performance power profile. While Intel’s CPU leads in Extreme power mode, it also consumes 320 watts, twice that of the Ryzen 9 9950X. The story goes beyond the raw score.
Kavinski tested an engineering sample of the Ryzen 9 9950X, which are limited validation models. The retail version extends to 170W, with a peak clock speed of 5.2GHz at 160W (anticipated 5.7GHz boost in retail). Additionally, Kavinski used DDR5-4800 memory, though the Ryzen 9 9950X supports up to DDR5-8000 with the new 800-series chipset, potentially enhancing performance further.
The 160W result is significant as it reflects what buyers can expect upon release. Kavinski conducted multiple passes at various power modes, achieving a score of 53,557 at 309W with liquid nitrogen cooling in the unlimited mode. Despite the power consumption, it remains comparable to the Core i9-14900KS in Extreme mode.
The comparison with the Core i9-14900KS highlights Intel’s lag behind AMD, especially given the lukewarm performance of the Raptor Lake refresh generation. The real battle between Ryzen 9000 and Intel’s Arrow Lake CPUs is anticipated later this year, as the Ryzen 9 9950X launches on July 31, affording AMD uncontested dominance for several months.
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Intel’s 15th-gen Arrow Lake CPUs are slated for release in the second half of the year, setting the stage for a future Ryzen 9000 vs. Arrow Lake showdown. With the Ryzen 9 9950X debuting in July, AMD enjoys a head start in the CPU race.
