Intro
The last build I posted was for Intel’s latest LGA1851 socket, so it feels appropriate to also post an updated build for AMD’s AM5 socket. It’s been a while since my last AM5 write-up, and more is now known with respect to potential hardware optimisations that can be made on the platform, due to AM5 being a more mature socket. Contrary to my 265k/285k build, this build will feature 256GB RAM, due to the more recent availability of RAM kits and motherboards that support DDR5-6000 on AM5.
CPU
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the current flagship for the AMD Ryzen AM5 desktop platform. What is different here, compared to the previous generation 7950X3D, is that the 3D V-Cache has been moved to sit below the cores, as opposed to on top. This reduces thermal constraints and allows the cores to run at higher clock speeds. 9950X3D cores now run at slightly higher speeds compared to the 9950X SKU, removing a compromise that existed with the previous generation 7950X3D. This makes it such that in benchmarking, the 9950X3D is essentially always ahead of the 9950X, or performs at least on par with it. However, for a lot of productivity workloads, the price-to-performance ratio would make the 9950X better value. The primary benchmark, where there is a substantial difference in performance, is gaming. Here the 9950X3D performs virtually on par with the 9800X3D, the currently fastest gaming CPU on the market.
CPU Cooler
This is the same cooler utilised in the intel 265k/285k build. The same reasoning applies: This is a powerful cooler that will not bottleneck your system.
Motherboard
I chose a motherboard with the X870E chipset for this build. Essentially, the X870E chipset will ensure that you can use the fastest possible speeds on all of your devices, as well as have the most expansion options (on AM5) for things like additional storage devices and PCIe cards. If you wanted to cut down on the cost of the build, a cheaper motherboard wouldn’t bottleneck the CPU, but may limit SSD speeds as well as GPU speeds. Though the latter realistically won’t be the case with the current generation of GPUs and is more a consideration for future proofing if that’s something you are concerned with.
This specific motherboard was selected for compatibility with the 256GB RAM kit that we are using in this build. For cheaper options, I would recommend going with something from MSI, as they are likely to offer you the best support for high RAM density. One example would be the B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI. Just make sure to update your BIOS.
Memory
The main difference with AM5, compared to LGA1851 with 200S Boost enabled, is that high memory speeds (above DDR5-6400) are not well supported. Officially, DDR5-6000 is recommended and supported (will cause no issues with warranty). Kits up to DDR5-6200 or 6400 will likely also work, but make sure to look for AMD EXPO compatibility, which is AMD’s equivalent of Intel XMP (extreme memory profile). Anything above that may cause issues with AMD’s Infinity Fabric, which in this case is the part of the CPU architecture responsible for memory flow between the RAM and CPU.
On the flip side, at lower speeds, we can use larger kits, so whilst memory performance is reduced on smaller memory intensive workloads, we can run larger workloads that may not even fit on LGA1851 with 200S Boost enabled.
The selected kit from G.SKILL will run at DDR5-6000 CL36, with the appropriate AMD Expo profile activity from BIOS.
Storage
This selection is also unchanged from the 265k/285k build. It’s what I would currently recommend to use as a consumer grade SSD in this configuration. I would buy either the 4 or 2TB version. 4TB drives usually outperform their 2TB counterparts slightly, but select based on budget and requirement
Video Card
In the current meta, I would say that NVIDIA cards are preferred due to the overall better support of AI through CUDA. These cards also work fine for other work related GPU workloads, as well as are great for gaming on Windows and do fairly well in gaming on Linux as well, which is perhaps contrary to popular belief.
The 5070 Ti is on the upper end of mid-range for the current generation of NVIDIA GPUs. Keep an eye out for the upcoming 5070 Ti Super launch, as it will likely provide more performance with better value for money.
It’s important to bear in mind that just like the 265k/285k, the 9950X3D comes with integrated graphics, so you won’t strictly need a dedicated GPU just for displaying your graphical user interface.
Case
There are many case options to choose from and they are probably overwhelming, so my recommendation is just to pick one that is reasonable. This time I have selected the larger and pricier Fractal Meshify 3 XL over the Lian Li Lancool 217. This case should be easy to build in due to it’s size (less fiddling around). It also has good out of the box airflow properties. Keep in mind that this case is a full size ATX case, and will take up more space than the Lian Li Lancool 217. One benefit of this is that if you are running, or intend to run multiple HDDs in your system, you will have more space to mount them. I no longer recommend that people buy traditional HDDs to install in a case (I would recommend expanding with lower spec NVMe drives like the WD Blue line), however some may have them leftover from previous builds, or have received a good offer on some hardware and may still choose to do so and that shouldn’t be an issue with this case.
Power Supply (PSU)
This is a high end PSU that isn’t strictly required for this build, however the 1000W 80+ Platinum rating will provide extra headroom, should you wish to install a more power hungry GPU, or other PCIe cards later. One benefit of this PSU is that even if you don’t need all the power, the 80+ Platinum certification means it will run more efficiently and draw less electricity than a cheaper PSU with a lower rating. Therefore enabling some of the extra cost to be recouped through lower energy costs over the lifespan of the PSU. The PSU is also fully modular to help cable management and ease of building.
Conclusion
This is my current preference for a 9950X3D build. Keep in mind that It might not be the best value for money, depending on your specific requirements, but you can rest assured that you will have some of the best consumer desktop hardware, with room to expand/upgrade later if you desire. Note that if you wanted to cut back on the cost of the build, I would recommend using a 9950X over the 9950X3D and cutting back on the GPU. If you choose a cheaper GPU, you could then also use a cheaper PSU for example. Lian Li Lancool 217 over the Meshify 2 XL is another opportunity to cut costs without affecting the performance in a noticeable way. As configured, the estimated cost of the build is $3,500.
Please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts in the comments below.
Resources:
DDR5-6000 256GB on AM5: https://www.level1techs.com/node/3292
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