Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for MechCommander
Five processors compared, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 7 5700X, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
MechCommander runs on almost any current processor, so the best choice is the cheapest sensible one. Every pick is an AM4 processor that cost $250 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads, working from the makers' own data; if a maker skips L3 cache, the guide says so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
The 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.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 5 5500F
A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500F (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600 (opens in a new tab)
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
The highest boost clock here (4.6GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (opens in a new tab)
Highest Core Count
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
The highest core count here (8 cores).
Best for: Buyers who put core count first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | 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 (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 (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 (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest boost clock here (4.6GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest core count here (8 cores). | Buyers who put core count first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It has a smaller 16MB L3 cache and runs PCIe 3.0, which matters little for a budget graphics card. On L3 cache it trails the group at 16MB, while the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 32MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500F at 4.2GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 5500F, the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 5600X on core count (6 cores). You also get 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 undercut the Ryzen 5 5500F and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & 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
Also Consider2 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5500F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- 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 4.2GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500 at 4.2GHz. It matches the Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 5600X on core count (6 cores).
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. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 5500 and the pricier Ryzen 5 5600, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its L3 cache; if that figure matters, the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 32MB.
Key dimensions & 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 5600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It is a common drop-in upgrade for AM4 owners. It matches the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 5700X on L3 cache (32MB). Its 4.4GHz boost clock ranks second of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 5 5600X (4.6GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500F (4.2GHz).
It also offers 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. When we checked, only the Ryzen 5 5500F and cheaper picks cost less, and the Ryzen 5 5600X cost more.
Key dimensions & 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
Highest Boost Clock4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 5600X is for AM4 owners: it drops into existing boards after a BIOS update and keeps your DDR4.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
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 includes a Wraith Stealth cooler but has no integrated graphics. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 7 5700X at 32MB. Nothing else here matches its 4.6GHz boost clock; the Ryzen 5 5600 comes closest at 4.4GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600 on core count (6 cores). You also get PCIe 4.0 support on B550 and X570 boards. 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.
On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 5600 and the pricier Ryzen 7 5700X, at the time of writing. The trade-off is core count; for more, the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 8 cores.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 4.6GHz
- 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
- PCIe 4.0 support on B550 and X570 boards
- 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
Highest Core Count5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 5700X stands out for 32MB of L3 cache at a 65W TDP, and it adds DDR4-3200 dual-channel support.
Best for
- Buyers who put core count first.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming.
Why we like it
It also offers a 32MB L3 cache and offers an 8 cores core count. It matches the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 5600X on L3 cache (32MB). On core count it leads this guide at 8 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 (6 cores).
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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Ryzen 5 5600X the nearest cheaper option. If you want a confirmed boost clock, look to the Ryzen 5 5600X instead: it offers 4.6GHz, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- 32MB of L3 cache at a 65W TDP
- DDR4-3200 dual-channel support
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No published boost clock
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5500 at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up five processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and L3 cache and boost clock are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 7 5700X, state core count, rated power and threads and share AM4 socket and DDR4 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 5500F gives no L3 cache; the Ryzen 7 5700X gives no boost clock.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 5500 ($50 to $100) to the Ryzen 7 5700X ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for MechCommander
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Core count across these picks
The Ryzen 7 5700X tops core count at 8 cores and the Ryzen 5 5600X sits lowest at 6 cores. If core count is your first filter, the Ryzen 7 5700X sets the ceiling at 8 cores.
L3 cache
Across these 4 picks L3 cache spans 16MB (the Ryzen 5 5500) to 32MB (the Ryzen 5 5600). Start with the Ryzen 5 5600 if L3 cache decides it. The Ryzen 5 5500F gives no L3 cache figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
Boost clock
Here boost clock runs from 4.2GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500F to 4.6GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X, a 10% spread. For less, the Ryzen 5 5600 is the runner-up at 4.4GHz ($150 to $250 tier). The Ryzen 7 5700X gives no boost clock figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The Ryzen 5 5600: DDR4 support that keeps an AM4 upgrade cheap. The Ryzen 5 5600X: PCIe 4.0 support on B550 and X570 boards. The Ryzen 7 5700X: DDR4-3200 dual-channel support.
Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the Ryzen 5 5500; $100 to $150 buys the Ryzen 5 5500F; $150 to $250 buys the Ryzen 5 5600, the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 5700X at our last check.
How to Choose a CPUs for MechCommander
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 5600 | A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box |
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 5 5600X | The highest boost clock here (4.6GHz) |
| Buyers who put core count first | Ryzen 7 5700X | The highest core count here (8 cores) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 7 5700X leads on core count at 8 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 at 6 cores. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 5500F leaves 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 5600 | 32MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 5600X | 32MB | 4.6GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 5700X | 32MB | Not listed | 8 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Ryzen 5 5500, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the Ryzen 7 5700X at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | Ryzen 5 5500 |
| About $100 to $150 | Ryzen 5 5500F |
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 5600, Ryzen 5 5600X, Ryzen 7 5700X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest core count: the Ryzen 7 5700X or the Ryzen 5 5500?
Between the top two, it is 8 cores on the Ryzen 7 5700X against 6 cores on the Ryzen 5 5500, a 33% difference.
How does the Ryzen 5 5600 compare with the Ryzen 5 5600X on boost clock?
The Ryzen 5 5600X leads at 4.6GHz, with the Ryzen 5 5600 at 4.4GHz. The Ryzen 5 5500F is at the other end of this group with 4.2GHz. No boost clock figure is published for the Ryzen 7 5700X, which leaves 4 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the Ryzen 7 5700X worth paying more than the Ryzen 5 5500?
What it brings is core count (8 cores against 6 cores) and L3 cache (32MB against 16MB). The Ryzen 5 5500 sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the Ryzen 7 5700X in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if core count and L3 cache decide your purchase.
What makes the Ryzen 5 5500 the Lowest Price Here?
It carries the badge for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. It is aimed at anyone who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Which of these processors have cooler in box?
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F, the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 5600X have it. The maker of the Ryzen 7 5700X doesn't state cooler in box, so 4 of 5 picks are covered here.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 5500F apart?
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 5600: 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 5600 for a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box and the Ryzen 5 5600X for the highest boost clock here (4.6GHz) if those matter more to you.
Confirm the cooler you plan to use fits the socket; some boxed processors include one.