AMD CPUs could be about to get double this key feature for gaming performance

An AMD gaming CPU with even better 3D V-cache potential is reportedly in the works. The rumor suggests that AMD is working on two new gaming CPUs, one of which has a total of 16 cores and a whopping 192MB of L3 cache, twice the amount we've seen in existing 3D V-cache chips like the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D to date.

The extra L3 cache provided by X3D chips like the 9800X3D is largely why AMD gaming CPUs have been able to outperform their Intel rivals. Our best gaming CPU guide shows just how much better these CPUs are for gamers, with Intel unable to provide a suitable competitor to the technology so far.

This rumor about a new X3D chip from AMD comes from a post on X (formerly Twitter) by chi11eddog, a well known hardware leaker. According to chi11eddog's X post, AMD is planning two new gaming CPUs to join its current lineup. The first is an eight-core, 16-thread CPU with a 120W TDP and 96MB of L3 cache.

Chi11eddog goes on to say, however, that a second CPU with 16 cores, 32 threads, and a 200W TDP is on its way. Unlike the AMD Ryzen 9950X3D, which has the same core and thread count, this new CPU will have a 192MB L3 cache, twice the amount found on any existing X3D chips to date.

This possibility of such a design likely comes down to how AMD's existing 3D V-cache chips are made. The 16-core 9950X3D, for instance, has two chiplets that each contain 8 CPU cores. However, only one of those chiplets has the extra cache chip attached to it, meaning only half of the 16 cores currently benefit from the boosted L3 cache. Assuming no radical design changes, this likely means that this rumored CPU will use two X3D chips, with one available to each chiplet, ensuring all 16 CPUs gain this cache advantage.

However, AMD has talked before about possible dual X3D gaming CPUs but said that even though it could make them, the dual X3D CPU price would be too expensive for the performance it would offer. What's more, an AMD representative said back in January this year that "games would not benefit" from such a chip. Regardless, for now AMD hasn't confirmed the existence of such a CPU or how it might be configured, so take this latest rumor with a grain of salt.

If AMD does introduce a dual X3D CPU, however, it will certainly be interesting to see how much of an improvement, if any, it can offer to gamers, given the company's previous comments and that most games rarely take advantage of more than eight cores. What is likely is that for the majority of gamers, other lower-tier X3D CPUs are likely to remain the far more sensible choice.

For an example of such a chip, you can check out our AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review to see why this eight-core processor is our favorite for gamers. If you're looking for a build that has a powerful gaming CPU you can also check out our best gaming PC guide, with options to suit a range of budgets.

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