Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for the RX 6750 XT
Six processors that pair with an RX 6750 XT, from AM4 drop-ins to low-cost AM5 and Intel chips.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated
The RX 6750 XT is a 12GB card for 1080p and 1440p. A six-core CPU is enough to keep it busy in most games.
We compared six processors on cores, cache and platform cost, using AMD and Intel specifications.
Quick Picks
Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best AM5 Pairing
AMD Ryzen 5 7600Six cores with a cooler included.
Best for: New builds around a 6750 XT.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Value Pairing
AMD Ryzen 5 5600Six AM4 cores with a cooler.
Best for: Budget builds reusing DDR4.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best for Streaming
AMD Ryzen 7 5700XEight cores at 65W on AM4.
Best for: Players who stream from the same PC.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Game Cache
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3DThe largest L3 cache here (96MB).
Best for: Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Intel Pairing
Intel Core i5-14400FTen cores with DDR4 support.
Best for: Intel budget builds.
Check price for Intel Core i5-14400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Well-Rounded Choice
Intel Core i5-12400FThe Core i5-12400F is a six-core LGA1700 chip at a low price.
Best for: Buyers who want six performance cores.
Check price for Intel Core i5-12400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best AM5 Pairing1 of 6
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the six-core AM5 chip with a Wraith Stealth cooler included.
Best for
- New builds around a 6750 XT.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
The cooler saves money on a first AM5 build. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 7 5700X at 32MB. On boost clock it leads this guide at 5.1GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X3D (4.7GHz).
It matches the Ryzen 5 5600, the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the Core i5-12400F on core count (6 cores). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 5 7600X3D; the Ryzen 7 5700X goes with an AM4 socket. It shares DDR5 memory with the Ryzen 5 7600X3D; the Core i5-12400F goes with DDR4 or DDR5 memory.
It also comes with the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. On price it sat fifth of 6, between the cheaper Ryzen 7 5700X and the pricier Ryzen 5 7600X3D, at the time of writing.
Key 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
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5600 at the time of writing
Best Value Pairing2 of 6
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
- Budget builds reusing DDR4.
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 7600 and the Ryzen 7 5700X on L3 cache (32MB). It matches the Core i5-12400F on boost clock (4.4GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the Core i5-12400F at 6 cores. Like the Ryzen 7 5700X, it has an AM4 socket, while the Core i5-14400F uses an LGA1700 socket. 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. It cost the least of the 6 picks at the time of writing, with the Core i5-12400F the next step up.
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 Core i5-14400F
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
What it gives up: no integrated graphics, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600; by contrast, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Best for Streaming3 of 6
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
The Ryzen 7 5700X gives AM4 builds eight cores at a 65W rating.
Best for
- Players who stream from the same PC.
Skip if
- Pass on it if aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It suits players who also stream or edit on a DDR4 platform. It matches the Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 5600 on L3 cache (32MB). Its 4.6GHz boost clock ranks fourth of 6 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600 (5.1GHz) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (4.4GHz).
On core count it sits mid-pack at 8 cores: the Core i5-14400F offers 10 cores, and the Core i5-12400F comes in at 6 cores. Like the Ryzen 5 5600, it has an AM4 socket, while the Ryzen 5 7600 uses an AM5 socket. Like the Ryzen 5 5600, it has DDR4 memory, while the Core i5-14400F uses DDR4 or DDR5 memory.
You also get PCIe 4.0 support. When we checked, only the Core i5-14400F and cheaper picks cost less, and the Ryzen 5 7600 cost more.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 32MB
- Max boost
- 4.6GHz
- Cores / threads
- 8 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 16
- Socket
- AM4
- Memory
- DDR4
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform
- PCIe 4.0 support
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Core i5-14400F
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
The catch
What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600; by contrast, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Largest Game Cache4 of 6
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
The Ryzen 5 7600X3D brings 96MB of L3 cache to a six-core AM5 chip at a 65W rating.
Best for
- Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
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 the cheapest way into AMD's cache-heavy gaming line on AM5. Nothing else here matches its 96MB L3 cache; the Ryzen 5 7600 comes closest at 32MB. It matches the Core i5-14400F on boost clock (4.7GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Core i5-12400F at 6 cores. Like the Ryzen 5 7600, it has an AM5 socket, while the Core i5-14400F uses an LGA1700 socket. Like the Ryzen 5 7600, it has DDR5 memory, while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses DDR4 memory.
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. Only the Ryzen 5 7600 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 6 picks.
Key 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
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5600 at the time of writing
The catch
What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600; by contrast, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Best Intel Pairing5 of 6
Intel Core i5-14400F
The Core i5-14400F is a locked ten-core LGA1700 chip with no integrated graphics.
Best for
- Intel budget builds.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It pairs well with a B660 or B760 board and DDR4. On L3 cache it sits mid-pack at 20MB: the Ryzen 5 7600X3D offers 96MB, and the Core i5-12400F comes in at 18MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600X3D at 4.7GHz.
On core count it leads this guide at 10 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700X (8 cores). It matches the Core i5-12400F on rated power (125W). It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Core i5-12400F; the Ryzen 5 7600X3D goes with an AM5 socket.
It shares DDR4 or DDR5 memory with the Core i5-12400F; the Ryzen 5 5600 goes with DDR4 memory. It also offers 6 performance and 4 efficient cores, DDR4 and DDR5 support and PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support. Its price falls between the Core i5-12400F and the Ryzen 7 5700X, based on our last check.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 20MB
- Max boost
- 4.7GHz
- Cores / threads
- 10 cores
- Rated power
- 125W
- Threads
- 16
- Socket
- LGA1700
- Memory
- DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 6 performance and 4 efficient cores
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
- PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support
- L3 cache of 20MB, ahead of the Core i5-12400F
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5600 at the time of writing
The catch
The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Well-Rounded Choice6 of 6
Intel Core i5-12400F
The Core i5-12400F is a six-core LGA1700 chip at a low price.
Best for
- Buyers who want six performance cores.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
This is the OEM pack, so budget for a cooler; it suits a low-cost gaming build with DDR4. Its 18MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 5 7600X3D leads at 96MB. It matches the Ryzen 5 5600 on boost clock (4.4GHz).
On rated power it ties with the Core i5-14400F at 125W. Like the Core i5-14400F, it has an LGA1700 socket, while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses an AM4 socket. You also get six performance cores, DDR4 and DDR5 support and 600- and 700-series chipset support.
It fits LGA1700 boards (600 and 700 series) with either DDR4 or DDR5, depending on the board; 600-series boards may need a BIOS update for 14th-gen chips. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. It was priced above the Ryzen 5 5600 and below the Core i5-14400F at the time of writing.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 18MB
- Max boost
- 4.4GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 125W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- LGA1700
- Memory
- DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- Six performance cores
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
- 600- and 700-series chipset support
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
The catch
It gives ground on L3 cache, where the Ryzen 5 7600X3D offers 96MB.
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 set side by side six processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and all 9 compared fields are stated for every pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 6, from the Ryzen 5 7600 to the Core i5-12400F, state L3 cache, boost clock and core count.
- Who each pick suits
- The Ryzen 5 7600 for six cores with a cooler included; the Ryzen 5 5600 for six AM4 cores with a cooler; the Ryzen 7 5700X for eight cores at 65W on AM4.
- Price range
- From the Ryzen 5 5600 to the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, all sat in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a CPUs for RX 6750 XT
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much L3 cache you need
Here L3 cache runs from 18MB on the Core i5-12400F to 96MB on the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, a 433% spread. For less, the Ryzen 5 7600 is the runner-up at 32MB.
Boost clock across these picks
The Ryzen 5 7600 tops boost clock at 5.1GHz and the Core i5-12400F sits lowest at 4.4GHz. Start with the Ryzen 5 7600 if boost clock decides it.
A desktop CPU seated in its motherboard socket with the retention frame open Core count
The Core i5-14400F tops core count at 10 cores and the Core i5-12400F sits lowest at 6 cores. The Core i5-14400F is the pick for core count.
Memory
The Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D list DDR5; the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 7 5700X list DDR4; the Core i5-14400F and the Core i5-12400F list DDR4 or DDR5.
Cooler in box
The Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 5600 have it; the Ryzen 7 5700X, the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, the Core i5-14400F and the Core i5-12400F go without. Sort out cooler in box before price: it splits 6 stated picks into groups of 4 and 2.
How to Choose a CPUs for RX 6750 XT
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New builds around a 6750 XT | Ryzen 5 7600 | Six cores with a cooler included |
| Budget builds reusing DDR4 | Ryzen 5 5600 | Six AM4 cores with a cooler |
| Players who stream from the same PC | Ryzen 7 5700X | Eight cores at 65W on AM4 |
| Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles | Ryzen 5 7600X3D | The largest L3 cache here (96MB) |
| Intel budget builds | Core i5-14400F | Ten cores with DDR4 support |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 7600X3D leads on L3 cache at 96MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600 at 32MB.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 7600 | 32MB | 5.1GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 5600 | 32MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 5700X | 32MB | 4.6GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 7600X3D | 96MB | 4.7GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Core i5-14400F | 20MB | 4.7GHz | 10 cores | 125W |
| Core i5-12400F | 18MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 125W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ryzen 5 7600X3D ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600 on L3 cache?
The Ryzen 5 7600X3D tops L3 cache at 96MB; the Ryzen 5 7600 follows at 32MB, 200% apart. The Core i5-12400F is at the other end of this group with 18MB.
Which has the highest boost clock: the Ryzen 5 7600 or the Ryzen 5 7600X3D?
Between the top two, it is 5.1GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600 against 4.7GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, a 9% difference. The Core i5-12400F closes the ranking at 4.4GHz.
Which has the highest core count: the Core i5-14400F or the Ryzen 7 5700X?
Between the top two, it is 10 cores on the Core i5-14400F against 8 cores on the Ryzen 7 5700X, a 25% difference. The spread runs down to the Core i5-12400F at 6 cores.
Is the Ryzen 5 7600X3D worth paying more than the Ryzen 5 5600?
What it brings is L3 cache (96MB against 32MB) and boost clock (4.7GHz against 4.4GHz). Both sat in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, so the gains in L3 cache and boost clock cost little extra by tier.
What makes the Core i5-14400F the Best Intel Pairing?
The label rests on ten cores with DDR4 support. It gives up L3 cache (20MB against 32MB) and rated power (125W against 65W) to the Ryzen 5 5600, the cheapest pick. It is aimed at intel budget builds.
Do the Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 5600 differ on socket?
The Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D use AM5; the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 7 5700X use AM4; the Core i5-14400F and the Core i5-12400F use LGA1700.
Bottom Line
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the easy AM5 pairing, and the Ryzen 5 5600 keeps an AM4 build cheap. Choose the 5700X for streaming, the 7600X3D for high refresh, and the i5-14400F on Intel.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Budget CPUs
- Related guideThe Best Budget Ryzen CPUs for Gaming
- Related guideThe Best CPUs for 1080p Gaming
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End Intel CPUs for Gaming
- Similar guideThe Best CPUs for the RX 7600 XT
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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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