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| AMD Ryzen X3D processor installed in an AM5 motherboard socket |
For months, the rumor mill has churned with whispers of AMD’s next-generation gaming CPUs. Now, a well-known hardware insider claims to have seen the official product names and key specifications in internal AMD documents, setting the stage for a major CES 2026 unveiling.
Tom, from the YouTube channel Moore’s Law Is Dead, states in a new report that the upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 and Ryzen 7 9850X3D have been confirmed through this documentation. This moves the discussion from speculative rumor chains to what he describes as directly sourced information. While he cautions this isn't a "bombshell" revelation, it solidifies the anticipated roadmap, pointing to a formal announcement at the January 2026 tech expo.
The Big Leap: Memory Support and "Golden Sample" Controllers
The most technically significant claim concerns memory support—a traditional bottleneck for AMD’s 3D V-Cache chips. Tom reports that AMD internally demonstrated these Zen 5 X3D CPUs in late December running stable with blistering DDR5-9800 memory kits.
While the final official JEDEC support rating is still undecided (expected between DDR5-6400 and DDR5-7200), it will be a substantial jump from the current Ryzen 9 9950X3D’s DDR5-5600 rating. Crucially, Tom emphasizes these are not just binned versions of existing Zen 5 silicon. Instead, they reportedly use a new CCD stepping and, more importantly, hand-selected "golden sample" integrated memory controllers (IMCs).
"This combination allows AMD to ship X3D parts with consistently stronger memory controllers than standard SKUs," he notes, attributing this to improving yields on Zen 5 and even late-stage Zen 4 production. This leak is separate from a recent social media post showing a 9850X3D with DDR5-9600, adding another layer of corroboration.
For a deep dive into these leaks and the full context, Tom's latest video covers all the details.
Performance Expectations and Broader CES 2026 Strategy
On performance, the insider avoids specific benchmark numbers but says he’s been told to expect high single-digit percentage gains in some workloads. He carefully frames this as application-dependent: not every game will see a clean 8-9% uplift, but some, particularly those benefiting from both cache and memory bandwidth, likely will. The takeaway is meaningful but evolutionary gains, not a revolution.
Beyond the CPUs themselves, Tom outlines a broader strategic push from AMD at CES 2026. This includes what he calls a "new OEM strategy," interpreted as a major push for the next-generation "Gorgon Point" mobile processors, following the pattern of Hawk Point after Phoenix.
He also speculates, clearly labeling it as such, that AMD may be preparing a more aggressive rollout for the powerful Strix Halo mobile platform. This is linked to reportedly stronger OEM interest, positive sales feedback from partners like HP and Asus, and the possibility that AMD pre-manufactured units with bundled RAM before supply shortages intensified. Rumors of future Strix Halo SKUs with higher core counts suggest, in his view, confidence in the platform's performance.
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| BIOS screenshot reportedly showing an AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D system running with 32 GB of DDR5-9800 memory, shared by the X account @9550pro |
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| Slide from Moore’s Law Is Dead video summarizing leaks around AMD Zen 5 X3D CPUs, including reported DDR5-9800 memory testing and CES 2026 plans |
The Bottom Line for Gamers
If these leaks hold, AMD is refining its winning X3D formula for 2026. The focus appears to be on overcoming the platform’s primary historical limitation—memory speed—through superior silicon selection. For builders, this could mean pairing these elite gaming chips with faster RAM for extra performance, rather than being locked to slower standards.
The confirmation of names and a CES launch window gives enthusiasts a clearer timeline. While waiting for third-party benchmarks remains essential, the prospect of a Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 and Ryzen 7 9850X3D with robust memory support will undoubtedly shape the high-end PC building conversation for the coming year.
For comparison, the current flagship gaming CPU, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, is listed at $469 on Amazon.