AMD has unwittingly leaked the existence of its own unannounced midrange CPU, the 9600X3D. Listed alongside other CPUs in a compatibility table for a system integrator driver, the 9600X3D isn't detailed, but it's likely a six-core CPU like the 9600X and 9600. If it's anything like the limited-edition 5600X3D that came before it, it could be one of the best gaming CPUs of its generation.
When AMD launched the Ryzen 5800X3D in Spring 2022, it was a surprise hit. Despite being far from the top-end of core counts, this CPU blew away the competition and quickly became the fastest gaming CPU ever. Later, however, AMD released a limited run of 5600X3D CPUs via Micro Center, which were likely defective 5800X3Ds that couldn't deliver the full eight cores. These chips were still very fast for gaming, but much more affordable. The 9600X3D may be much the same.
The fastest gaming CPU today is the 9800X3D, with the more expensive 9950X3D a close second or relative competitor. But even the more affordable 9800X3D is still a $450+ CPU, putting it well out of the reach of most gamers. We don't have any pricing information on the 9600X3D yet, but the 5600X3D was around half the price of the 5800X3D, so this new one may well sell for under $250 whenever it debuts.
The system integrator driver page doesn't list any details for the CPU, merely its existence via the compatibility table. However, WCCFTech quotes the source of the original link, Twitter user MelodicWarrior, who claims to have a deeper insight into the chip. They claim that the CPU will launch in Q3 or Q4 for the DIY market, though it may show up in pre-built systems first.
VideoCardz confirms that the chip should have 64MB of additional L3 cache, just like the 9800X3D, but that the cache will only be accessible to the six cores enabled on the new chip. That would give it a total of 102.5MB of cache—just 2MB less than the 9800X3D.
The compatibility list also leaks a range of Ryzen 9000 Pro CPUs that haven't been officially announced, either. These include the Ryzen 9 Pro 9945, Ryzen 7 Pro 9745, Ryzen 5 Pro 9645, and Ryzen 5 Pro 9400. None of these chips has the G-suffix, so they are unlikely to be APUs, though it's not quite clear how they fit into the existing lineup, or when they will debut.
