Buying Guide
The Best AM5 CPUs for Gaming
Five Socket AM5 processors for gaming, from a six-core Ryzen 5 7600 to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, all on the platform AMD says it will support into the future.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
AM5 is AMD's current desktop socket, and every chip here uses DDR5. For gaming, the X3D chips with 96MB of L3 cache stand out; the non-X3D chips save money when the graphics card is the limit.
We compared cache, cores, rated power and cooler inclusion from AMD specifications and each listing; we did not benchmark these processors.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best AM5 Gaming CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Eight Zen 5 cores with 96MB of L3 cache.
Best for: High-refresh gaming.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (opens in a new tab)
Best Six-Core X3D
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
96MB of L3 on six cores at a 65W rating.
Best for: Gaming on a mid budget.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (opens in a new tab)
Best Zen 4 X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Eight cores with 96MB of L3 cache.
Best for: Buyers who find it below the 9800X3D.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (opens in a new tab)
Best Non-X3D Pick
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
Six Zen 5 cores at a 5.4GHz boost.
Best for: Budget AM5 builds.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (opens in a new tab)
Best Boxed Cooler
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for: Builds that skip a separate cooler.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eight Zen 5 cores with 96MB of L3 cache. | High-refresh gaming. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (opens in a new tab) |
| 96MB of L3 on six cores at a 65W rating. | Gaming on a mid budget. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (opens in a new tab) |
| Eight cores with 96MB of L3 cache. | Buyers who find it below the 9800X3D. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (opens in a new tab) |
| Six Zen 5 cores at a 5.4GHz boost. | Budget AM5 builds. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (opens in a new tab) |
| A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Builds that skip a separate cooler. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best AM5 Gaming CPU1 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D pairs AMD's 3D V-Cache with eight Zen 5 cores, and games that lean on cache respond to it more than to extra cores.
Best for
- High-refresh gaming.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It is the chip to pair with a high-end graphics card when the CPU would otherwise hold frame rates back. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.2GHz: the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 5.4GHz, and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D comes in at 4.7GHz. It matches the Ryzen 7 7800X3D on core count (8 cores).
You also get second-generation 3D V-Cache placed under the cores and an unlocked multiplier, a first for AMD's X3D chips. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the rest. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 96MB
- Max boost: 5.2GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 120W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 96MB of L3 cache from 3D V-Cache
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- Second-generation 3D V-Cache placed under the cores
- Unlocked multiplier, a first for AMD's X3D chips
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 9600X at the time of writing
Best Six-Core X3D2 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 7600X3D brings 96MB of L3 cache to a six-core AM5 chip at a 65W rating.
Best for
- Gaming on a mid budget.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside game rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is the cheapest way into AMD's cache-heavy gaming line on AM5. It matches the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D on L3 cache (96MB). Its 4.7GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 5 9600X leads at 5.4GHz.
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 5 7600 at 6 cores. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. It was priced above the Ryzen 5 7600 and below the Ryzen 7 7800X3D at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 96MB
- Max boost: 4.7GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 96MB of L3 cache from 3D V-Cache
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- 96MB of L3 cache on a six-core chip
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 5 9600X (5.4GHz)
Best Zen 4 X3D3 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has the same 96MB of L3 cache as its successor with an older core design and lower clocks.
Best for
- Buyers who find it below the 9800X3D.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
On the same AM5 socket, it is the way into X3D gaming for less. Its 5GHz boost clock ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 5 9600X (5.4GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X3D (4.7GHz). On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at 8 cores.
It also offers first-generation AM5 3D V-Cache and the Zen 4 architecture. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included.
It was priced above the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and below the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at the time of writing. It gives ground on rated power, where the Ryzen 5 7600X3D offers 65W.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 96MB
- Max boost: 5GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 120W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 96MB of L3 cache from 3D V-Cache
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- First-generation AM5 3D V-Cache
- The Zen 4 architecture
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 5 7600X3D (65W)
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 9600X at the time of writing
Best Non-X3D Pick4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 9600X brings six Zen 5 cores to AM5 at a 65W rating, which keeps cooling simple.
Best for
- Budget AM5 builds.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside game rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It suits a budget build now that can take an X3D chip later without changing boards. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600 at 32MB. Its 5.4GHz boost clock is the highest here; the Ryzen 7 9800X3D comes next at 5.2GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the Ryzen 5 7600 on core count (6 cores). It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating.
It undercut the Ryzen 5 7600 and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 5 architecture
- Highest boost clock of the picks (5.4GHz)
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
Best Boxed Cooler5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 7600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the cheapest way onto AM5 here and ships with a Wraith Stealth cooler.
Best for
- Builds that skip a separate cooler.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside game rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Six cores are enough for most games paired with a mid-range graphics card. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 9600X at 32MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.1GHz: the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 5.4GHz, and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D comes in at 4.7GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the Ryzen 5 9600X on core count (6 cores). It also offers the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version.
On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 9600X and the pricier Ryzen 5 7600X3D, at the time of writing. The trade-off is L3 cache; for more, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers 96MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.1GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: Yes
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 4 architecture
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (96MB)
- Core count trails the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (8 cores)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Game-relevant specs
- We compared L3 cache, boost clocks and core counts from AMD's and Intel's product pages.
- Power and cooling
- We recorded each chip's rated power and what cooler class it needs.
- Upgrade path
- We considered how long each socket is likely to receive new CPUs.
- Platform cost
- We noted socket, memory type and whether a cooler is included, since they change the real price.
What to Look for in an AM5 CPUs for Gaming
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Cache helps games more than clocks
AMD's X3D chips add a large stacked L3 cache that keeps more game data close to the cores. In CPU-limited games that often helps more than a higher boost clock.
The gain shrinks when the graphics card is the limit.
The socket decides your upgrade path
The socket fixes which motherboards and future CPUs you can use. AM5 has had several CPU generations; AM4 has no newer chips coming.
If you plan to upgrade later, a current platform is worth a small premium.
Match the CPU to your graphics card and monitor
At 1440p and 4K the graphics card sets most frame rates, so a mid-range CPU is often enough. At 1080p with a high-refresh monitor, the CPU matters much more.
Spend on the part that limits your games, not on the bigger number.
Integrated graphics are a useful backup
Chips with integrated graphics can drive a display without a graphics card, which helps when troubleshooting or between upgrades. Intel's F and KF models and most AM4 Ryzen chips have none.
Budget for the cooler
Most unlocked chips ship without a cooler. A 65W part runs well on a basic single tower, while 120W to 170W parts need a dual tower or an AIO to hold their boost clocks.
Add the cooler to the CPU price when comparing.
Check BIOS support before buying
Newer CPUs on older boards may need a BIOS update before the system will start. Check the board's CPU support list for the version you need and whether the board can flash without a CPU installed.
How to Choose an AM5 CPUs for Gaming
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High-refresh gaming | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | Eight Zen 5 cores with 96MB of L3 cache |
| Gaming on a mid budget | Ryzen 5 7600X3D | 96MB of L3 on six cores at a 65W rating |
| Buyers who find it below the 9800X3D | Ryzen 7 7800X3D | Eight cores with 96MB of L3 cache |
| Budget AM5 builds | Ryzen 5 9600X | Six Zen 5 cores at a 5.4GHz boost |
| Builds that skip a separate cooler | Ryzen 5 7600 | A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 9800X3D | 96MB | 5.2GHz | 8 cores | 120W |
| Ryzen 5 7600X3D | 96MB | 4.7GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 96MB | 5GHz | 8 cores | 120W |
| Ryzen 5 9600X | 32MB | 5.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 7600 | 32MB | 5.1GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 5 7600, Ryzen 5 7600X3D |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Ryzen 7 9800X3D |
Frequently Asked Questions
What memory should I pair with it?
AM5 and LGA1851 use DDR5; AM4 uses DDR4. For AM5, a 32GB DDR5-6000 kit is a common pairing; check the board's memory support list.
Should I choose Intel or AMD for gaming?
At the high end, AMD's X3D chips lead in many CPU-limited games. Intel's Core Ultra chips offer more cores for work at similar prices. Choose by workload and platform cost.
Is AM4 still worth buying into?
For an upgrade to an existing AM4 system, yes. For a new build, AM5 or LGA1851 gives a longer upgrade path.
Do I need to buy a separate cooler?
Usually yes. Only some chips, such as the Ryzen 5 7600 and 5600X, include a basic cooler; unlocked high-end models do not.
What does the rated power figure mean?
It is AMD's default TDP or Intel's base power. Chips can draw more under boost, so size the cooler for sustained loads, not the label alone.
Will a new CPU work in my current motherboard?
Only if the socket matches and the board's BIOS supports it. Check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version.
Bottom Line
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best AM5 gaming chip, and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D brings the same 96MB cache to six cores. The 7800X3D is a strong alternative when discounted, the 9600X is the non-X3D value pick, and the Ryzen 5 7600 includes a cooler.