Buying Guide
The Best AMD CPU
Five processors ranked on L3 cache and boost clock, where the Ryzen 5 7600X has the highest boost clock; the Ryzen 5 5500 is the cheapest route in.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
AMD's Ryzen range covers AM4 upgrades and AM5 new builds. Every pick is a Ryzen chip, ordered from the lowest listed price.
Rankings weigh L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads as the makers state them; if a maker skips L3 cache, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 5 5500The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 5 5500FA Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
AMD Ryzen 5 8500GA Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8500G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Worth a Look
AMD Ryzen 5 5600A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 5 7600XThe highest boost clock here (5.3GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500F on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8500G on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest boost clock here (5.3GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
The Ryzen 5 5500 is the cheapest six-core chip here.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games is a problem.
Why we like it
It has a smaller 16MB L3 cache and runs PCIe 3.0, which matters little for a budget graphics card. Its 16MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 5 5600 leads at 32MB. It matches the Ryzen 5 5500F on boost clock (4.2GHz).
On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600 at 65W. Like the Ryzen 5 5500F and Ryzen 5 5600, it has DDR4 memory, while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses DDR5 memory. It also comes with a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
It drops into an AM4 board with DDR4 memory; older B450 and X470 boards need a BIOS that supports this chip, so check the support list before swapping. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the Ryzen 5 5500F the next step up.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 16MB
- Max boost
- 4.2GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM4
- Memory
- DDR4
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- One of the cheapest six-core desktop chips
- The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
The catch
It gives ground on L3 cache, where the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 32MB.
Also Consider2 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5500F
The Ryzen 5 5500F is built around a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, with DDR4-3200 support and 19MB of cache on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 4.2GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. It matches the Ryzen 5 5500 on boost clock (4.2GHz). On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 5600 at 65W.
It drops into an AM4 board with DDR4 memory; older B450 and X470 boards need a BIOS that supports this chip, so check the support list before swapping. It was priced above the Ryzen 5 5500 and below the Ryzen 5 8500G at the time of writing. There is no published L3 cache figure, whereas the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 32MB.
Key specs
- Max boost
- 4.2GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM4
- Memory
- DDR4
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- DDR4-3200 support and 19MB of cache
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
Strong Alternative3 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 8500G
The Ryzen 5 8500G is built around a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, with Radeon graphics built in on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 5GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5GHz: the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 5.3GHz, and the Ryzen 5 5500F comes in at 4.2GHz. It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 5 7600X; the Ryzen 5 5500 goes with an AM4 socket.
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. Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed L3 cache should compare it with the Ryzen 5 5600, which offers 32MB.
Key specs
- Max boost
- 5GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- Radeon graphics built in
- Boost clock of 5GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5600
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No published L3 cache
- No published rated power
Worth a Look4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
The Ryzen 5 5600 is the lower-clocked, cheaper sibling of the 5600X with a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for
- Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It is a common drop-in upgrade for AM4 owners. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600X at 32MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 4.4GHz: the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 5.3GHz, and the Ryzen 5 5500F comes in at 4.2GHz.
It shares DDR4 memory with the Ryzen 5 5500 and Ryzen 5 5500F; the Ryzen 5 7600X goes with DDR5 memory. You also get DDR4 support that keeps an AM4 upgrade cheap. It drops into an AM4 board with DDR4 memory; older B450 and X470 boards need a BIOS that supports this chip, so check the support list before swapping. Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 8500G and the Ryzen 5 7600X, based on our last check.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 32MB
- Max boost
- 4.4GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM4
- Memory
- DDR4
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- DDR4 support that keeps an AM4 upgrade cheap
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
The catch
The main gap: no integrated graphics, unlike the Ryzen 5 8500G. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 8500G has it.
Highest Boost Clock5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
The Ryzen 5 7600X is the least expensive route to 240Hz here, with six Zen 4 cores on AM5.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It needs an aftermarket cooler, since none is included. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600 at 32MB. On boost clock it leads this guide at 5.3GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 8500G (5GHz).
Its 105W rated power is the highest in this group; the Ryzen 5 5500 leads at 65W. It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 5 8500G; the Ryzen 5 5500 goes with an AM4 socket. You also get 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. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Ryzen 5 5600.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 32MB
- Max boost
- 5.3GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 105W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 4 architecture
- 5nm process
- PCIe 5.0 support on AM5
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 5 5500 (65W)
The catch
If core count is your priority, the Ryzen 5 5500 (6 cores) is the stronger choice.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up five processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and L3 cache and rated power are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 5 7600X, state boost clock, core count and threads.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 8500G give no L3 cache; the Ryzen 5 8500G gives no rated power.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 5500 ($50 to $100) to the Ryzen 5 7600X ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in an AMD CPU
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much boost clock you need
The Ryzen 5 7600X tops boost clock at 5.3GHz and the Ryzen 5 5500F sits lowest at 4.2GHz. The Ryzen 5 8500G comes second at 5GHz, in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 for the Ryzen 5 7600X.
Rated power
Here rated power runs from 105W on the Ryzen 5 7600X to 65W on the Ryzen 5 5500, a 38% spread. Start with the Ryzen 5 5500 if rated power decides it. The Ryzen 5 8500G gives no rated power figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
An Intel stock cooler mounted over the CPU socket inside a PC L3 cache across these picks
Here L3 cache runs from 16MB on the Ryzen 5 5500 to 32MB on the Ryzen 5 5600, a 100% spread. If L3 cache is your first filter, the Ryzen 5 5600 sets the ceiling at 32MB. The Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 8500G give no L3 cache figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600 list DDR4; the Ryzen 5 8500G and the Ryzen 5 7600X list DDR5. Settling memory first narrows 5 picks to 3 or 2.
Cooler in box
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F, the Ryzen 5 8500G and the Ryzen 5 5600 have it; the Ryzen 5 7600X goes without. Settling cooler in box first narrows 5 picks to 4 or 1.
How to Choose an AMD CPU
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F | Ryzen 5 5500 | The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F |
| Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box | Ryzen 5 5500F | A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box |
| Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box | Ryzen 5 8500G | A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box |
| Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box | Ryzen 5 5600 | A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box |
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 5 7600X | The highest boost clock here (5.3GHz) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 7600X leads on boost clock at 5.3GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 8500G at 5GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 8500G leave the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 5500 | 16MB | 4.2GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 5500F | Not listed | 4.2GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 8500G | Not listed | 5GHz | 6 cores | Not listed |
| Ryzen 5 5600 | 32MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 7600X | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 6 cores | 105W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Ryzen 5 5500 was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the Ryzen 5 7600X the highest ($150 to $250) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | Ryzen 5 5500 |
| About $100 to $150 | Ryzen 5 5500F, Ryzen 5 8500G |
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 5600, Ryzen 5 7600X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest boost clock: the Ryzen 5 7600X or the Ryzen 5 8500G?
Between the top two, it is 5.3GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X against 5GHz on the Ryzen 5 8500G, a 6% difference. The Ryzen 5 5500F is at the other end of this group with 4.2GHz.
What does the Ryzen 5 7600X add over the Ryzen 5 5500?
What it brings is boost clock (5.3GHz against 4.2GHz) and L3 cache (32MB against 16MB). It does not win everywhere: the Ryzen 5 5500 still leads on rated power (65W). On our last price check the Ryzen 5 5500 was in the $50 to $100 tier and the Ryzen 5 7600X in the $150 to $250 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if boost clock and L3 cache decide your purchase.
Why is the Ryzen 5 7600X our Highest Boost Clock pick?
It carries the badge for the highest boost clock here (5.3GHz). On boost clock it leads the Ryzen 5 8500G, 5.3GHz against 5GHz, a 6% margin. The price of that: the Ryzen 5 5500, the cheapest pick, still beats it on rated power (65W against 105W). It makes sense for anyone who puts boost clock first.
Do the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 8500G differ on socket?
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600 use AM4; the Ryzen 5 8500G and the Ryzen 5 7600X use AM5.
What extras do the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 5500F include?
The Ryzen 5 5500: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 5500F: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 8500G: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 5 5500, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. Look at the Ryzen 5 5500F for a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, the Ryzen 5 8500G for a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box and the Ryzen 5 5600 for a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box if those matter more to you.
AM5 needs DDR5 memory; AM4 uses DDR4.
Related Guides
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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