While AMD's 3D V-cache model has been attracting a lot of attention and praise from gamers, it is worth remembering that before this model was introduced, the most powerful Ryzen CPU that could be installed in a desktop PC was the 5950X.

Beneath the large heat spreader are three chiplets, with two CCDs (Core Complex Dies) doing all the computing, and another CCD managing RAM, PCIe lanes, and other tasks. Each CCD has eight Zen 3 cores and 16 threads, for a total of 16 cores and 32 threads. the CPU as a whole can boost up to 4.9 GHz, which is not as fast as the latest generation of AMD processors, but still more than fast enough. as we found when we reviewed the 5950X As we found when reviewing the 5950X, the 5950X is by no means slow.

Unlike Intel CPUs, which have many cores, the cores in the 5950X are all the same, and Windows does not need to use an advanced thread manager to take full advantage of them. This means that it is an ideal upgrade for those who want to stay on the AM4 platform, especially those using Windows 10.

Now, if you don't use your PC for anything other than gaming, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a better choice. However, if you want to do a lot of productivity work or content creation on your machine, 16+ threads would be very useful.

And you don't need a huge cooler to keep everything under control: the TDP is only 105W and the PPT (Package Power Tracking) is 143W, which, while better with an AIO liquid cooler, is still within the range of what the best air coolers can manage This is within the range that can be managed with the best air-cooled coolers. [AMD's power efficiency is well known, and in content creation applications, the 5950X will make light work of most things while consuming power like a sophisticated aristocrat. If the temperature is still too high, you can enable ECO mode in the motherboard BIOS and watch the temperature drop.

When it was first released in November 2020, the only blemish on the 5950X was its MSRP of $799. How things have changed! The 5950X is no longer the best CPU you can get, but at under $380, it is a true bargain.