Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for the RX 9060 XT
Six budget and mid-range processors for an RX 9060 XT, compared on cores, bundled coolers and platform cost.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated
The RX 9060 XT is AMD's budget card for 1080p and light 1440p gaming. The CPU budget should stay modest so the money goes into the card, ideally the 16GB version.
We compared six processors on cores, cache, bundled coolers and platform cost, using manufacturer specifications.
Quick Picks
Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Match for an RX 9060 XT
AMD Ryzen 5 7600Six AM5 cores with a cooler included.
Best for: New budget builds.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best AM4 Value
AMD Ryzen 5 5600Six cores and a Wraith Stealth cooler on AM4.
Best for: Upgrading an AM4 PC on a tight budget.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Unlocked AM5 Pick
AMD Ryzen 5 7600XSix Zen 4 cores with a 5.3GHz boost.
Best for: Builders who already own a cooler.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Intel Pairing
Intel Core i5-14400FTen cores with DDR4 or DDR5 support.
Best for: Intel builds on B660 or B760.
Check price for Intel Core i5-14400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest-Cost Intel Pick
Intel Core i5-12400FSix LGA1700 cores in an OEM pack.
Best for: The cheapest Intel route.
Check price for Intel Core i5-12400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best for Streaming
AMD Ryzen 7 5700XEight cores at 65W on AM4.
Best for: Streaming from a DDR4 PC.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Match for an RX 9060 XT1 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 budget builds.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games is a problem.
Why we like it
The cooler saves money on a first AM5 build. It matches the Ryzen 5 5600, the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Ryzen 7 5700X on L3 cache (32MB). Its 5.1GHz boost clock ranks second of 6 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600X (5.3GHz) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (4.4GHz).
Like the Ryzen 5 7600X, it has an AM5 socket, while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses an AM4 socket. Like the Ryzen 5 7600X, it has DDR5 memory, while the Core i5-12400F uses DDR4 or DDR5 memory. 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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Ryzen 7 5700X the nearest cheaper option.
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 AM4 Value2 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
- Upgrading an AM4 PC on a tight budget.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is a common drop-in upgrade for AM4 owners. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Ryzen 7 5700X at 32MB. On boost clock it ties with the Core i5-12400F at 4.4GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Core i5-12400F on core count (6 cores). It shares an AM4 socket with the Ryzen 7 5700X; the Core i5-12400F goes with 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 was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Core i5-12400F was 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
The main gap: no integrated graphics, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Best Unlocked AM5 Pick3 of 6
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
The Ryzen 5 7600X is a six-core Zen 4 chip rated at 105W.
Best for
- Builders who already own a cooler.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It clocks slightly higher than the 7600 but has no cooler in the box. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 7 5700X at 32MB. Its 5.3GHz boost clock is the highest here; the Ryzen 5 7600 comes next at 5.1GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Core i5-12400F on core count (6 cores). Its 105W rated power ranks fourth of 6 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600 (65W) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (125W). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 5 7600; the Ryzen 7 5700X goes with an AM4 socket.
It shares DDR5 memory with the Ryzen 5 7600; the Core i5-14400F goes with DDR4 or DDR5 memory. Its price falls between the Core i5-14400F and the Ryzen 7 5700X, based on our last check.
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
- 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.
Best Intel Pairing4 of 6
Intel Core i5-14400F
The Core i5-14400F is a locked ten-core LGA1700 chip with no integrated graphics.
Best for
- Intel builds on B660 or B760.
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. Its 20MB L3 cache ranks fifth of 6 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600 (32MB) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (18MB). Its 4.7GHz boost clock ranks third of 6 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600X (5.3GHz) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (4.4GHz).
On core count it leads this guide at 10 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700X (8 cores). On rated power it ties with the Core i5-12400F at 125W. Like the Core i5-12400F, it has an LGA1700 socket, while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses an AM5 socket.
It also comes with 6 performance and 4 efficient cores, DDR4 and DDR5 support and PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support. It was priced above the Core i5-12400F and below the Ryzen 5 7600X at the time of writing.
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
What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600; by contrast, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Lowest-Cost Intel Pick5 of 6
Intel Core i5-12400F
The Core i5-12400F is a six-core LGA1700 chip at a low price.
Best for
- The cheapest Intel route.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
This is the OEM pack, so budget for a cooler; it suits a low-cost gaming build with DDR4. On L3 cache it trails the group at 18MB, while the Ryzen 5 7600 offers 32MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600 at 4.4GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 7600X on core count (6 cores). It matches the Core i5-14400F on rated power (125W). It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Core i5-14400F; the Ryzen 7 5700X goes with an AM4 socket.
It also comes with 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. Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Core i5-14400F, based on our last check.
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
- Six LGA1700 cores in an OEM pack
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
If L3 cache is your priority, the Ryzen 5 7600 (32MB) is the stronger choice.
Best for Streaming6 of 6
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
The Ryzen 7 5700X gives AM4 builds eight cores at a 65W rating.
Best for
- Streaming from a DDR4 PC.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming.
Why we like it
It suits players who also stream or edit on a DDR4 platform. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 7600X at 32MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 4.6GHz: the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 5.3GHz, and the Core i5-12400F comes in at 4.4GHz.
Its 8 cores core count ranks second of 6 here, behind the Core i5-14400F (10 cores) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (6 cores). It shares an AM4 socket with the Ryzen 5 5600; the Ryzen 5 7600X goes with an AM5 socket. It shares DDR4 memory with the Ryzen 5 5600; the Core i5-12400F goes with DDR4 or DDR5 memory.
It also offers PCIe 4.0 support. On price it sat fifth of 6, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 7600X and the pricier Ryzen 5 7600, at the time of writing.
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
The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
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.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared six 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 all 9 compared fields are stated for every pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 6, from the Ryzen 5 7600 to the Ryzen 7 5700X, state L3 cache, boost clock and core count.
- Who each pick suits
- The Ryzen 5 7600 for six AM5 cores with a cooler included; the Ryzen 5 5600 for six cores and a Wraith Stealth cooler on AM4; the Ryzen 5 7600X for six Zen 4 cores with a 5.3GHz boost.
- Price range
- From the Ryzen 5 5600 to the Ryzen 5 7600, all sat in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a CPUs for RX 9060 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 32MB on the Ryzen 5 7600, a 78% spread. The Ryzen 5 5600 comes second at 32MB, in the same price tier as the Ryzen 5 7600.
Boost clock
Across these 6 picks boost clock spans 4.4GHz (the Core i5-12400F) to 5.3GHz (the Ryzen 5 7600X). If boost clock is your first filter, the Ryzen 5 7600X sets the ceiling at 5.3GHz.
An Intel stock cooler mounted over the CPU socket inside a PC Core count across these picks
Across these 6 picks core count spans 6 cores (the Core i5-12400F) to 10 cores (the Core i5-14400F). The Core i5-14400F is the pick for core count.
Memory
The Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 7600X 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 5 7600X, the Core i5-14400F, the Core i5-12400F and the Ryzen 7 5700X go without. Settling cooler in box first narrows 6 picks to 4 or 2.
How to Choose a CPUs for RX 9060 XT
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New budget builds | Ryzen 5 7600 | Six AM5 cores with a cooler included |
| Upgrading an AM4 PC on a tight budget | Ryzen 5 5600 | Six cores and a Wraith Stealth cooler on AM4 |
| Builders who already own a cooler | Ryzen 5 7600X | Six Zen 4 cores with a 5.3GHz boost |
| Intel builds on B660 or B760 | Core i5-14400F | Ten cores with DDR4 or DDR5 support |
| The cheapest Intel route | Core i5-12400F | Six LGA1700 cores in an OEM pack |
| Streaming from a DDR4 PC | Ryzen 7 5700X | Eight cores at 65W on AM4 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 7600 leads on L3 cache at 32MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5600 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 5 7600X | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 6 cores | 105W |
| Core i5-14400F | 20MB | 4.7GHz | 10 cores | 125W |
| Core i5-12400F | 18MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 125W |
| Ryzen 7 5700X | 32MB | 4.6GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Ryzen 5 7600 compare with the Ryzen 5 7600X on boost clock?
The Ryzen 5 7600X leads at 5.3GHz, with the Ryzen 5 7600 at 5.1GHz. 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 Core i5-12400F is at the other end of this group with 6 cores.
What does the Ryzen 5 7600 add over the Ryzen 5 5600?
On paper it adds boost clock (5.1GHz against 4.4GHz). Both sat in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, so the gains in boost clock cost little extra by tier.
Why is the Core i5-14400F our Best Intel Pairing pick?
It earns the label for ten cores with DDR4 or DDR5 support. The price of that: the Ryzen 5 5600, the cheapest pick, still beats it on L3 cache (32MB against 20MB) and rated power (65W against 125W). It suits intel builds on B660 or B760.
Do the Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 5600 differ on socket?
The Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 7600X use AM5; the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 7 5700X use AM4; the Core i5-14400F and the Core i5-12400F use LGA1700.
What extras do the Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 5600 include?
The Ryzen 5 7600: the Zen 4 architecture. The Ryzen 5 5600: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 7600X: the Zen 4 architecture.
Bottom Line
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the simplest pairing for an RX 9060 XT. The Ryzen 5 5600 is the low-cost AM4 route, the 7600X suits owners of a cooler, and the i5-14400F or i5-12400F cover Intel.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Budget CPUs
- Related guideThe Best CPUs Under $200
- Related guideThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End Intel CPUs for Gaming
- Similar guideThe Best Budget CPUs for the RX 9060 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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