Honestly the only attraction of Zen 5 for me is that X3D CPUs can be fully tuned now. Fluctuating clocks for no reason (they're under 60 C at all times) is something that irritates me.
I want to lock a 9950X3D at 5.2 GHz for both CCDs, turn off SMT, and use Process Lasso to put games only on cache CCD, and everything else on the other.
Will use same AM5 high performance heatspreader and delid setup I have now.
Otherwise Arrow Lake, which I'd prefer, but only if my friend wants my current rig.
If Zen 5 integrated the rumoured new packaging/IO die that Zen 6 comes with, it would be a no brainer, but Arrow Lake looks so much better on paper.
Could have avoided the poor reviews by simply moving every SKU up one notch, 9600X-8 cores, 9800X3D-8 cores VCache, 9900X-16 cores, 9950X3D-16 cores VCache. Noone could complain. But AMD...
Keep the dies that can't do 8 cores for server or OEM, where they're used anyway.
Noone could complain, simplified lineup. Most criticisms of Zen fixed, i.e. no gimped 6 core for gaming, no duplicate SKUs (normal and X3D), since there's no real compromise going with X3D now, because it can be OC'd, and should likely go to similar clocks due to the regression. Make a 9500 if they still want a six core, price at under $200, would fix the "no cheap AM5 chips". I mean, AMD released the 5900XT which is just a lower clocked 5950X anyway, so it's not like there's no precedent for 16 core xx90. Plus, would look good in core count/MT against Intel. I imagine they're eventually going to do one Zen CCD and one Zen "C" CCD, so 8+16 anyway, good interlude to that
Oh, and the compromise chip x900 wouldn't exist, since at the moment it has no benefit to consumer except for massively discounted since noone wants it. 8/16 are both better options. Yeah, this solution fixes most of my criticisms of Zen lineup, barring the IO die.