AMD appears to be putting the finishing touches on a compelling new mid-range CPU, the Ryzen 5 9600X3D. This CPU recently appeared accidentally in AMD's CPU support list for the newly released Radeon AI Pro R9700 graphics card. This quiet confirmation suggests AMD is gearing up to offer a potent option for gamers in the mid-range CPU market, potentially challenging Intel's Core i5-14600K and the newer Core Ultra 5 245K.

MelodicWarrior (via TechPowerUp) was the one who brought the Ryzen 5 9600X3D to our attention. It is expected to be a 6-core, 12-thread processor leveraging the latest Zen 5 microarchitecture and built on Granite Ridge silicon. As its “X3D” moniker suggests, the key differentiator is the inclusion of AMD's 3D V-Cache technology. This means an additional 64MB of stacked cache will sit atop the existing 32MB of on-die L3 cache, culminating in a formidable 96MB of L3 cache.

Early indications suggest that the 9600X3D's clock speeds might be similar to those of the standard Ryzen 5 9600X. This is attributed to an architectural change in how AMD stacks its 3D V-Cache die with the CCD. Unlike previous iterations where the 3D V-Cache sat on top, potentially impacting thermal dissipation and limiting clock speeds, the new method makes the die a base tile for the CCD.

The addition of 3D V-Cache has historically provided significant uplifts in gaming performance for AMD processors. Should this trend continue with the 9600X3D, it could emerge as a highly competitive option for gamers seeking maximum frame rates without investing in higher-core-count CPUs. This strategically positioned chip would offer a compelling alternative to Intel's offerings in the mid-range segment, where gaming performance per dollar is often a key factor for consumers.

AMD has not yet officially announced a release date for the Ryzen 5 9600X3D, but its appearance in official driver updates suggests a launch could be imminent.

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