Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
Short answer: which is best?
Ryzen 9 9950X3D is 4.4 % stronger than Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Ryzen 9 9950X3D ranks #1 of 108 measured processors at WhatFPS (16,243 CPU score in its best run — 1 rig, 6 verified runs). Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus ranks #2 of 108 measured processors at WhatFPS (15,558 CPU score in its best run — best of 2 rigs, 24 verified runs). Each part is shown at its best run, picked from 30 verified WhatFPS runs — measured, not estimated, not self-reported.
Measured comparison
| Metric | Ryzen 9 9950X3D | Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus |
|---|---|---|
| CPU score, best run (the processor's own performance) | 16,243 | 15,558 |
| Best rig (GAMING — whole PC) | 21,848 | 10,383 |
| Integer (MT) | 15 Gop/s | 14.6 Gop/s |
| Single-thread (1T) | 0.93 Gop/s | 0.94 Gop/s |
| Draw calls/s (DX11) | 16,680,681 | 11,343,956 |
| Cores / threads | 16 / 32 | 24 / 24 |
| L3 cache | 128 MB | 36 MB |
Fragz' verdict
Ryzen 9 9950X3D has the higher CPU score, leading Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus by 4.4 %. While the Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins in integer, draw calls, and Supernova, keep in mind that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D has only been measured in a single rig, so that number is less certain. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D dominates in draw calls per second and in Supernova, which is a full DX11 scene that leans on the processor. However, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is still the right pick when you want higher single-thread performance, which usually sets the FPS ceiling in games.
Generated November 14, 2026 from the 30 verified runs available then. The verdict is never silently rewritten — new numbers get a new verdict.
What the numbers mean
The headline score is the part's best measured run, and the measurements under it come from that same run. It shows what the part has been proven to do — not what an average rig gets out of it. The CPU score is the processor's own performance — that is what we rank on. GAMING is the whole rig's score in the best PC we measured the processor in, and leans heavily on the graphics card. A strong processor in a weak PC gets a low GAMING score without being worse. We show both and never mix them.
All numbers come from our benchmark suite: four hand-built 3D scenes written directly against the graphics APIs in Rust, the same load on every PC. The methodology is open at https://whatfps.com/metodik
All measurements for Ryzen 9 9950X3D · All measurements for Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus