AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Processor (6C/12T, 35MB Cache, up to 4.6 GHz Max Boost) with Wraith Stealth Cooler

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AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600X3D is an interesting specimen that shows signs that it could have potentially been a competitive gaming solution once upon a time. Had it launched a few years ago, it may have been an attractive alternative to the Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD’s own Ryzen 5 5600X. Now this may seem unfair at first glance, but pricing is key and it’s essential to remember that the Ryzen 7 5700X, the Ryzen 5 7600, and the Intel Core i5-12600K are all available for around the same price as the Ryzen 5 5600X3D or less. Gaming Tests: This Chip's Best Hope for Success Don’t let the age of the AM4 platform fool you, though. Despite being six years old, it continues to offer exceptional value at an affordable price, making it a strong choice for budget-conscious setups. A lot of this comes down to its compatibility with reasonably priced DDR4 memory. AMD has pledged to continue supporting this platform for budget-tailored systems, which is reassuring. With newer processors already on the market, I didn’t expect to see AMD ship any more Ryzen 5000 Series processors with 3D V-Cache. Regardless, it seems that AMD decided it was worthwhile to ship one more, even though it’s a relatively limited release. At the same time, though, I find sound logic behind AMD’s decision to release the new Ryzen 5 5600X3D now.

These three processors beat the Ryzen 5 5600X3D in almost every test. The Ryzen 7 5700X didn’t perform quite as well in games as the Ryzen 5 5600X3D, but the Core i5-12600K and Ryzen 5 7600 were both highly competitive against the Ryzen 5 5600X3D in games and ran circles around it in processor tests. As the final release in AMD’s acclaimed AM4 series, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D positions itself as an impressive entry-level, mid-range new CPU that doesn’t compromise on performance. It is particularly aimed at gaming enthusiasts who appreciate the transformative potential of 3D V-cache technology and aspire to build a budget-friendly yet performance-centric gaming rig. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D: Release Date As for thermals, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D remained relatively cool during our tests, peaking at 78 degrees C. This is a hotter operating temp than a few competing chips, like the Core i5-12600K and the Ryzen 7 7700, but it was lower than the newer Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 5 7600X. Verdict: A Processor Out of Time You'd expect this chip to be made up from those dies unable to meet the requirements for the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which may explain why such a limited launch. It's extremely possible there simply aren't that many of those to go around, as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D was more or less a test run for the 3D V-Cache chips later on in the Ryzen 7000-series. Yet that's only our best guess as to why such a tight launch.So far, reviewers are praising it for its gaming capabilities. Although it lags behind in productivity tasks, this isn’t the kind of CPU you’d be buying for non-gaming purposes anyway. Let’s see how it fares in the environment it was built for.

The added 3D V-Cache is likely to help performance in just a limited number of scenarios. Only tests that respond strongly to a large amount of cache will benefit, and gaming tests tend to be some of the most responsive to changes in cache. For as long as I can remember, I've had love of all things tech, spurred on, in part, by a love of gaming. I began working on computers owned by immediate family members and relatives when I was around 10 years old. I've always sought to learn as much as possible about anything PC, leading to a well-rounded grasp on all things tech today. In my role at PCMag, I greatly enjoy the opportunity to share what I know. Though I could have included more Ryzen 5000 Series processors in this comparison, I opted to mostly compare with more current processors that will actively compete with the Ryzen 5 5600X3D on the open market. This includes the Ryzen 5 7600 and the Intel Core i5-12600K, both of which have similar prices. I did include the Ryzen 7 5700X, which uses the same platform as the Ryzen 5 5600X3D and has an even lower street price.

Verdict: A Processor Out of Time

In these tests, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D managed a few exceedingly small wins. In 3DMark Time Spy, the processor was once again the slowest in the charts, but in F1 22 it managed to beat out several other chips with slightly better performance at 1080p. It wasn’t the fastest option in the list, but the Ryzen 5 5600X3D did beat the Ryzen 7 5700X for a change, as well as the Ryzen 5 7800X3D and several others. This boost was present at 2K and 4K resolutions as well.

We haven’t been told of any specific cooler recommendations, but given the TDP rating, it likely requires a 240mm liquid cooler like the 105W Ryzen 7 5800X3D." The Ryzen 5 5600X3D removes Intel’s pricing advantage for DDR4-equipped Core i5-13400 systems, but, alas, only for a limited time. Micro Center’s 5600X3D bundle is an exceptional deal that slightly undercuts the overall pricing for the DDR4-equipped Core i5-13400 configuration, but it offers significantly more performance than the Intel setup, thus yielding better cost-per-fps metrics. Gamers Nexus tested the 5600X3D in several games, and while its performance varies from title to title, it generally did a great job. The varying frames per second (fps) are to be expected. Not every game utilizes the massive 96MB L3 cache, and outside of the cache, the 5600X3D is still a mere six-core CPU.Gear up gaming enthusiasts, as AMD is set to launch the limited edition model of the Ryzen 5 5600X3D processor on July 7th, 2023. But there’s a twist! This revolutionary gaming processor will be available exclusively at MicroCenter. In a sea of praise, one complaint appears — Gamers Nexus found that the chip is unable to hit its advertised max frequency. It only misses by about 50MHz, but it’s still a worrying sign for AMD if this kind of result will be consistent across the board. Aside from that, the chip seems to be performing excellently. You don’t need a beefy PSU, but … mryeester / YouTube In the grand scheme of things, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D not only delivers exceptional power on its own merits but also acts as a fitting tribute to the long-lived and versatile AM4 platform. It’s a testament to AMD’s dedication to offering value to budget-conscious gamers and is certainly a worthy addition to any gaming rig. FAQs Is 3D V-cache worth it? The 5600X3D is a new entry in the older Ryzen 5000 series, so it comes with the Zen 3 architecture, 7nm process node, and drops into last-gen AM4 motherboards. In contrast, AMD's newest Ryzen 7000 chips come with the faster Zen 4 architecture etched on the 5nm process and drop into newer AM5 motherboards. However, those chips carry a premium and require more expensive DDR5 memory, while the 5600X3D supports more economical DDR4, giving it an easy win in terms of total system cost. The fact that the Ryzen 5 5600X3D is such a capable gaming processor only sweetens the pot. Tom’s Hardware points out that this chip “delivers 95% of the 5800X3D’s gaming performance for 20% less cash.” In other words, if you’re working on a budget PC build, this CPU seems like a solid option.

In short, you'll easily find far better processors for the price than the Ryzen 5 5600X3D. The asking price also makes it less than appetizing as an upgrade option for an existing AM4-based system. Sure, it might get a slight edge in games over the Ryzen 7 5700X, but performance in every other task with the Ryzen 5 5600X3D is significantly worse. Unless you only use your PC for gaming, the Ryzen 7 5700X is a more tantalizing option and, unless you run on something as slow as one of AMD’s AM4 Athlon chips or a Ryzen 3, the cost still feels prohibitive compared with the amount of performance you would expect to see from upgrading. You’d be far better off instead to save that money and put it toward a newer system. In this article, we’ll dive into the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D specs, price, release date, and everything you need to know about this game-changing processor. We’ll provide an insightful guide on AMD’s newest addition to its range of innovative CPUs, specifically designed to elevate your PC gaming experience. Intel's 12th Gen "Alder Lake" processors were the first consumer processors to support DDR5, and as such they only have official support for the JEDEC DDR5 standard, which is set at 4,800MHz. The newer Intel 13th Gen "Raptor Lake" processors feature an improved memory controller, and they carry official support for DDR5 memory at speeds of up to 5,600MHz, which is what I have used for all the Raptor Lake processors I've tested. We start off by looking at test results from AIDA64’s memory and bandwidth benchmark. Bandwidth is critically important to the smooth operation of any processor and it can greatly alter impact performance. The numbers found here need to be considered carefully, as different processors also react differently to changes in bandwidth. You’ll need to carefully assess your common usage and workloads if you’re upgrading to a 5600X3D, and plan accordingly. While you gain tremendously in gaming performance, you will lose quite a bit of performance in applications. If you’re upgrading an existing AM4 system and looking for a more balanced performer, you should give the eight-core Ryzen 7 5700X a close look. This chip is great a value at its current retail pricing.As mentioned above, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D is available exclusively at Micro Center. This means that if you’re outside of the U.S. or don’t live close to a Micro Center, you’ll probably be forced to skip this CPU. This is an interesting launch strategy for AMD, and it might have something to do with the low availability of the chip. After all, launching so late in the AM4 lifecycle, it’s probably the last Zen 3 desktop CPU to ever be released — that is, unless AMD manages to surprise us yet again. However, a closer look reveals a more strategic move. This affordable and high-performing option has effectively maintained the loyalty of early Ryzen adopters, preventing them from switching to Intel’s newer Raptor Lake platforms. Therefore, this approach not only offers value to customers but also strengthens AMD’s market position. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D: Final thoughts The Ryzen 5 5600X3D is an interesting six-core CPU that presents itself as a more budget-friendly option compared to its eight-core sibling, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. The latter has certainly carved its name among computer hardware as one of the best gaming CPUs, thanks mainly to the innovative 3D V-Cache technology. We’re expecting the last of AMD’s AM4 CPUs, to launch on July 7th, so, where can you buy the Ryzen 5 5600X3D? The full story of the Ryzen 5 5600X3D will likely remain shrouded in secrecy for some time, but we’ve pieced together information from multiple sources. AMD hasn’t provided an official comment, but sources close to the matter tell us these chips were “purpose-built” to be launched as Ryzen 5 5600X3D parts. As such, they aren’t made of defective Ryzen 7 5800X3D processors.