Ryzen 5 9600X3D, AMD opens up to the possibility of an 'affordable' Zen 5 processor with 3D V-Cache

At the margin of Computex 2026, David McAfee, VP and General Manager of AMD's Ryzen and Radeon division, made some statements to Tom's Hardware USA that immediately caught the attention of enthusiasts: a Ryzen 5 9600X3D based on Zen 5 architecture could see the light of day in 2026, positioning itself as a more accessible X3D solution compared to the current 9000 series lineup.

The opportunity to take stock of the situation came with the recent announcement of the Ryzen 7 7700X3D, a chip based on Zen 4 architecture instead of Zen 5. The question directed at McAfee was therefore straightforward: why choose Zen 4 instead of proposing a successor to the Ryzen 5 7600X3D based on Zen 5 architecture?

McAfee stated that such a product represents something AMD might consider later in the year to expand the range of options available to system builders at a time when economic pressures related to the cost of memory and storage remain high.

McAfee clarified that the decision not to release a six-core X3D chip in the 9000 series at this stage is not purely a matter of roadmap but also concerns production management. "From a supply perspective, I wouldn’t say it’s harder to produce, but it’s a product that isn’t found in nature as frequently as eight-core ones. For this reason, we’ve been a bit more selective in the use of six-core products."

On the gaming performance front, McAfee acknowledged that the difference between six and eight cores is not critical in most titles. The decision to launch the Ryzen 7 7700X3D was driven by gamers' preference for an 8-core chip, while recognizing that "the difference between eight and six cores is not huge in terms of gaming performance," at least for a broad range of titles. Some games do show a drop in performance with six cores compared to eight, but these are rare cases.

In summary, for the 9600X3D, the price positioning could be decisive for carving out a space in the market, although McAfee highlighted a potential alternative market for this chip: pre-built systems where OEM manufacturers might choose a 9600X3D to contain costs compared to a 9800X3D.

Ultimately, although McAfee did not officially confirm the existence of a Ryzen 5 9600X3D or a launch date, he did not hide the fact that a strategic assessment is underway and could materialize if it becomes a sensible choice.