Best AMD CPU
AMD CPUs have progressed a lot over the last couple of years to become a lot more than just budget-friendly options to Intel’s CPUs.
In fact, they have been outdoing Intel for some time and now offer an appealing performance to price ratio.
AMD CPUs are not only dominating the best overall CPU category, but they are also dominating the best gaming CPU category.
So even though Intel has done some excellent work on their end, AMD offers a lot of value when you consider the cost of Intel’s entry-level chips.
That said, in this article, we’ll be discussing the best AMD CPUs you can get built on the Zen 3 architecture and the slightly less powerful Zen 2. Let’s go.
| 5 Best CPU for Gaming | Architecure | Base Clock | Boost Clock | Cores/Threads | TDP | Dimensions | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | Zen 3 | 4.1Ghz | 4.8Ghz | 6 & 12 | 65W | 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 in. | 2.8 oz. |
| AMD Ryzen 7 5700G | Zen 2 | 3.8Ghz | 4.7Ghz | 8 & 16 | 65W | 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 in. | 14.56 oz. |
| AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D | Zen 3 | 3.7Ghz | 4.7Ghz | 8 & 16 | 105W | 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 in. | 3.52 oz. |
| AMD Ryzen 9 3950X | Zen 2 | 3.5Ghz | 4.7Ghz | 16 & 32 | 105W | 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 in. | 6.07 oz. |
| AMD Ryzen 9 5900X | Zen 3 | 3.7Ghz | 4.8Ghz | 12 & 24 | 65W | 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 in. | 2.8 oz. |
1. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Best AMD CPU – AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Priced slightly over $200, the Ryzen 5 5600X is an excellent alternative to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D if you’re operating on a budget.
While it’s one of the least expensive CPUs in AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series, AMD is still targeting mainstream buyers with this chip.
For the price, you get six cores and 12 threads, a base clock speed of 4.1Ghz, and a boost clock speed of 4.8Ghz.
It also comes with 35MB of unified L2 and L3 cache, just 1MB less than the 5800X, which is over $100 more.
Key Specifications
- Architecture: Zen 3
- Base Clock: 4.1Ghz
- Boost Clock: 4.8Ghz
- Cores/Threads: 6/12
- TDP: 65W
- Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 inches
- Weight: 2.8 Ounces
2. AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
The AMD 7 5700G is another exceptional CPU built on AMD’s Zen 2 platform that you should consider, and we dare say it’s the best budget gaming CPU available right now.
The Ryzen 5700G is also part of AMD’s refined ‘Cezanne’ APUs.
Sure the Ryzen 5 5600G is more affordable than the Ryzen 7 5700G but being able to cover the processing side of things without buying a separate GPU makes it a better option.
So we think it’s justified to spend more and get the Ryzen 7 5700G instead of the Ryzen 5 5600G because it’s the better processor overall, and you don’t need to buy a separate GPU.
- Architecture: Zen 2
- Base Clock: 3.8Ghz
- Boost Clock: 4.7Ghz
- Cores/Threads: 8/16
- TDP: 65W
- Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 Inches
- Weight: 14.56 Ounces
3. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is undoubtedly one of the best gaming processors on the market.
Thanks to AMD’s new 3D V-Cache technology, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D punches above its weight and even dwarfs Intel’s Core i9-12900K in terms of gaming performance.
Since this is ideally an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X with extra cache memory stacked on top, it retains the same motherboard as earlier CPUs making it a budget-friendly option for people who want top-notch gaming performance without breaking the bank.
Key Specifications
- Architecture: Zen 3
- Base Clock: 3.7Ghz
- Boost Clock: 4.7Ghz
- Cores/Threads: 8/16
- TDP: 105W
- Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 Inches
- Weight: 3.52 Ounces
4. AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Best AMD CPU – AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Ryzen 9 3950X is such a sound processor that some people have termed it the best when it comes to processors that don’t fall in the HEDT (high-end desktop) category of processors.
It’s built on AMD’s Zen 2 platform, and it has a mind-boggling 16 cores and 32 threads, making it ideal for heavily threaded desktop PC work.
So if you’re in the market for one of the best AMD CPUs for both high-end gaming and video editing, consider the Ryzen 9 3950X.
- Architecture: Zen 2
- Base Clock: 3.5Ghz
- Boost Clock: 4.7Ghz
- Cores/Threads: 16/32
- TDP: 105W
- Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 Inches
- Weight: 6.07 Ounces
5. AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Best AMD CPU – AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
The Ryzen 9 5900X is right at the top of AMD’s 5000 series alongside the Ryzen 9 5950X.
It might not be as powerful as the Ryzen 9 5950X, but it still packs a lot of power and is definitely one of the most powerful AMD CPUs available in the market at the moment.
The Ryzen 5900X is built on Zen 3, a platform that AMD has developed from the ground up in an attempt to increase IPC performance and overall efficiency; clearly, they have succeeded.
Key Specifications
- Architecture: Zen 3
- Base Clock: 3.7Ghz
- Boost Clock: 4.8Ghz
- Cores/Threads: 12/24
- TDP: 65W
- Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 inches
- Weight: 2.8 Ounces
Final Thought
Even with the arrival of Intel’s new Alder Lake processors, we still think that AMD’s Zen 2 and Zen 3 processors have a lot to offer.
So for intense gaming or video editing needs, you should seriously consider AMD as your next one.
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