What is the fastest AMD CPU?

What is the fastest AMD CPU? let's find out

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AMD has been making some serious gains in the industry lately. Today, we’re going over their very best processors. Let’s find out: What is the fastest AMD CPU?

Now Read: Best AMD CPU

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Fastest AMD CPU

The fastest AMD CPU, and the fastest processor currently available, is the EPIC 9654. Keep in mind that we’re considering maximum performance here – a scenario where all cores and threads are operating at their highest simultaneous clock speeds and being utilized to their fullest extent. 

EPYC 9654

The EPYC 9654 has an absurd spec sheet. 

• Architecture: Zen 4
• Core count: 96
• Thread count: 192
• Base frequency: 2.4GHz
• Turbo frequency: 3.7GHz
• TDP: 320-400 W
• L2 cache: 92MB
• L3 cache: 384MB

This server-grade processor launched in late 2022 at a massive MSRP just grazing $12,000. The chip itself is about as large as four consumer-grade processors held together and features 128 PCIe Gen 5.0 lanes for connectivity and DDR5 support. 

The EPYC 9654 has a CPU mark score of 126,045 points. To put that into perspective, the next highest score is that of AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX – 96,318. 

It’s no surprise that this processor tops the list. 96 cores and 192 threads are more than any other processor has at this time. The difference in physical cores is simply too much to overcome with higher clock speeds or other adjustments. 

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Fastest AMD consumer-grade CPU

While the EPYC 9654 is the fastest AMD CPU overall, it classifies as a server-grade processor and isn’t intended for use in consumer desktops. If you’re wondering what the fastest consumer-grade CPU by AMD is, that would be the Ryzen 9 7950X.

Ryzen 9 7950X

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X

Cores

16

Threads

32

Base Speed

4.5GHz

Boost Speed

5.7GHz

Cache

64MB

Socket

AM5

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The Ryzen 9 7950X is AMD’s current flagship in heavily-threaded workloads. This processor features the following specs:

• Architecture: Zen 4
• Core count: 16
• Thread count: 32
• Base clock frequency: 4.5 GHz
• Boost clock frequency: 5.7 GHz
• L2 cache: 16MB
• L3 cache: 64MB
• TDP: 170W
• iGPU: RDNA 2

A 16-core, 32-thread setup is typical of AMD’s Ryzen 9 950X processors. The 5.7GHz clock speed and plentiful 64MB cache allow the 7950X to deliver excellent performance in both singlethreaded and multithreaded workloads. 

The latest Zen 4 architecture that this CPU is based upon also features a 14% IPC increase over Zen 3, which means naturally better performance at the same clock speeds. 

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Fastest AMD CPU for gaming

The fastest AMD CPU for gaming is actually another variant of the 7950 model – The Ryzen 9 7950X3D. 

Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Cores:

16

Thread:

32

Boost speed:

5.7 GHz

Cache:

144 MB

TDP:

120W

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The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is not only the fastest AMD gaming processor, but it’s also the fastest gaming processor money can buy in 2024. 

• Architecture: Zen 4
• Core count: 16
• Thread count: 32
• Base clock frequency: 4.2GHz
• Boost clock frequency: 5.7GHz
• L3 cache: 128MB
• TDP 120W
• iGPU: RDNA 2

This processor has many similarities with the 7950X. There are a few key differences that allow the X3D to outperform the X in gaming, though. First of all, we have a larger L3 cache. The 7950X3D features 128MBs of L3 cache compared to the 7950X’s 64, an upgrade made possible by AMD’s 3D V-cache technology. 

Secondly, the 7950X3D has lower clock speeds. This does have a detrimental effect on gaming performance, but the extra cache more than makes up for this tiny loss. 

And finally, better power efficiency. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D has a 120W power rating, which is extremely modest considering it is a flagship processor.