AMD's Zen-based Ryzen 7000 series took over the Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 series in the second half of 2022 and AMD once again proved that it's not going to let Intel dominate anymore. While the Ryzen 7000 family is excellent at providing higher performance in gaming and productivity, it is pricier than its predecessor. Moreover, with the sudden change in the platform and DDR memory type, many users were left abandoned who were accustomed to the AM4 platform.
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Intel, AMD, and now even ARM CPU's are competing for the best CPU spot on the mark. How you work and what your budget is will determine this decision.
There are still countless gamers around the world who own an AM4 motherboard and a compatible Ryzen CPU. However, AM4 provided its platform for a total of four Ryzen families and each one is significantly apart from the other in their potential. Despite being several years old now, the Ryzen 5000 family is still going strong and holding the best-selling and most popular CPUs.
For users who own an AM4 motherboard and DDR4 RAM kits, or are planning to build a gaming system on a budget, the AM4 CPUs will make excellent options without going broke. The hardware team at Game ZXC has compiled a list of the best AM4 CPUs for gaming that deliver solid performance per dollar and have several advantages over the current Zen 4-based CPUs.
How to Choose the Best AM4 Gaming CPU
Budget: Determining the budget completes half the job. Once users know how much they can spend on the CPU, they cannot only decide from the fewer options left easily but will also know how much they are going to get from their CPUs.
Cores/Threads: AMD has retained the core/thread count for almost every generation up until now. It is recommended to settle with at least 6 cores/12 threads configuration if gaming is the main goal. It's even better if the CPU can be overclocked except if it boasts a 3D V-cache.
Cache: While most AM4 CPUs are regular ones, some chips bring additional L3 cache memory through the 3D V-cache technology. These chips are costlier, but they offer significantly higher gaming performance.
New/Upgrade: Users who are building a brand-new gaming system around the AM4 platform should choose the motherboard and CPU, keeping in mind that they don't limit their CPU's potential. Those who are upgrading to a new CPU should see if their current motherboard allows overclocking or not. Moreover, they should choose a CPU according to their motherboard's power delivery to ensure their CPUs are fed enough power with stability.
Game ZXC's Picks for the Best AM4 Gaming CPUs
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 8-Core 16-Thread Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D brings the 3D V-cache technology by adding a stack of additional 64MB of L3 cache on the die. This increases its gaming potential drastically, making it the fastest AM4 gaming CPU that matches even with the Ryzen 7000 processors.
- Brand
- AMD
- Cores
- 8
- Threads
- 16
- TDP
- 105W
- Socket
- AMD AM4
- iGPU
- N/A
- L3 Cache
- 96MB
- Base Clock
- 3.4GHz
- Boost Clock
- 4.5GHz
- Fastest AM4 Gaming processor
- Additional 64MB L3 cache for significant performance uplifts
- 8 Cores/16 threads for multitasking and productivity
- Much more expensive than mid-range Ryzen 7000 CPUs for the same gaming performance
- Lower critical temperature
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the first CPU to bring the 3D V-cache technology. Most gamers remember the time when Dr. Lisa showcased the 5800X3D in Jan 2022, which shocked everyone at how drastically performance is affected by just adding some more cache memory. While it was not an easy task to just stick a 3D cache die on top of the chip, it was well worth the adjustments. Even though the 5800X3D struggles to reach high boost clock speeds like the non-3D editions, it still outperforms them by a mile.
The Ryzen 5800X3D retains the 8 cores/16 threads configuration featuring a max clock speed of up to 4.5GHz. The CPU is not overclockable as the fundamental design doesn't allow very good contact with the CPU cooler base. However, despite all of this, the CPU manages to outperform every AM4 CPU by 25-30% easily on a very bad day. Moreover, it even matches the performance of the Ryzen 7600X and the 7700X without having the users switch their platform to a newer one. Hence, for any gamer who would like to maximize the AM4 platform's potential, the Ryzen 5800X3D is the ultimate answer to enthusiast gaming.
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a nerfed Ryzen 5600 CPU with lower clock speed and less L3 cache memory but for 100 bucks, this is the fastest 6 cores CPU gamers can have in their system. With its satisfactory productivity and gaming performance, the Ryzen 5500 can be used in entry-level gaming builds that don't break the bank.
- Brand
- AMD
- CPU Model
- Ryzen 5 5500
- CPU Socket
- AMD AM4
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 12
- Architecture
- Zen 3
- Process
- TSMC 7nm FinFet
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.6 GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 4.2 GHz
- Cache
- L3 Cache 16MB, L2 Cache 3MB
- TDP
- 65W
- 6 cores/12 threads CPU for 100 dollars
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Comes with a Wraith Stealth cooler
- Power efficient
- Lower L3 cache memory compared to its bigger siblings
- Not the best choice for enthusiast gaming experience
For under $100, this is perhaps the only hexa-core CPU that offers hyperthreading to execute operations quickly. The Ryzen 5 5500 was among the second batch of AM4 CPUs that were released later and filled up the gap between the entry-level and mid-range AM4 CPUs. The Ryzen 5500 is basically a nerfed Ryzen 5600 CPU that retains the core/thread count but comes with slower clock speeds and lower cache memory.
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Still, the processor performs decently in gaming, offering just 5-10% lower performance than the Ryzen 5600 and 5600X. Moreover, it is equivalent to the Core i3 12100F in the majority of games but offers more cores for higher productivity and a more intensive workload. Another noteworthy aspect is its power efficiency. The CPU hardly goes beyond 40 watts in gaming loads, which makes it perfect for power-efficient gaming builds.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU
Ryzen 5 5600X remains the most popular gaming CPU in the Zen 3 lineup. With its excellent single and multithreaded performance and 32MB of L3 cache, the CPU destroys most of its competitors for a price of $150. Its 6-core/12-thread configuration is sufficient for building a budget or mid-range gaming build and its overclockability allows unlocking even more performance.
- Brand
- AMD
- CPU Model
- 5600X
- CPU Socket
- AMD AM4
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 12
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.7GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 4.6GHz
- Cache
- 3MB L2 + 32MB L3
- TDP
- 105W
- 6 Core/12 thread configuration with great single/multi-core performance
- Highly over-clockable and comes with an impressive boost clock of 4.6GHz
- Wraith Stealth cooler inside the box
- No integrated graphics
- Needs a decent B450/B550 motherboard for overclocking
Launched in Nov 2020, the Ryzen 5 5600X soon became the king of gaming CPUs in the mid-range category. With excellent specifications, it destroyed its competitors from Intel and even from the previous Zen 2-based lineup for a similar price. Fast-forward to 2024, the CPU is still selling like hotcakes, thanks to the significant price cuts that now make it one of the best gaming CPUs for $150.
The 6-core and 12-thread configuration makes it sufficient for modern gaming and also delivers satisfactory performance in CPU-oriented tasks. While it doesn't feature any integrated graphics, it does feature great overclockability, good efficiency, and 32MB of L3 cache, which is twice the L3 cache size of Ryzen 5500. This results in up to 10% higher performance than the latter, making it the best budget AM4 gaming CPU in 2024.
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G 8-Core 16-Thread Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is the fastest AM4 APU that brings Radeon Vega 8 iGPU for a satisfactory gaming experience on a budget. The APU is ideal for budget gaming builds when buying a discrete GPU isn't possible. Moreover, the 8 cores/16 threads config will level up the productivity.
- Brand
- AMD
- Cores
- 8
- Threads
- 16
- TDP
- 65W
- Socket
- AMD AM4
- iGPU
- Yes, 8 Core AMD Radeon Graphics
- L3 Cache
- 16MB
- Base Clock
- 3.8GHz
- Boost Clock
- 4.6GHz
- Can play games without discrete GPU
- 8 Cores and 16 threads for higher productivity
- Power efficient with a TDP of 65W
- iGPU not suitable for high-end gaming
- iGPU shares system RAM with the CPU
Many gamers can't afford a discrete GPU, or they simply don't play intensive titles. For those gamers, AMD provides the Ryzen 7 5700G APU that makes up for the discrete GPU through its Vega-based integrated graphics. While not meant for intensive gaming, the Vega iGPU brings 8 cores clocked at 2GHz for acceptable gaming performance at 1080p resolution. Even though it is more suitable for casual gaming and playing eSports games, it is also capable of running modern titles at 30-40 fps on low to medium settings.
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Furthermore, the 8-core/16-thread configuration provides enough horsepower for CPU-intensive applications without having to compromise on the gaming aspect. The CPU brings an impressive boost clock of 4.6GHz, but can be overclocked even further using a good aftermarket cooling solution. However, users will be fine even with the stock Wraith Stealth cooler that provides continuous heat dissipation for free. The only thing users need to take care of is the system RAM, as both the CPU and iGPU share the same system RAM. It is recommended to have at least 16GB of RAM capacity clocked at a high frequency, which has proven to affect gaming performance drastically.
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X is perfect for those looking to combine gaming and multitasking through a single chip. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it boasts enough power for high-end gaming and is faster in executing operations than 6 cores/12 threads Ryzen CPUs.
- Brand
- AMD
- Cores
- 8
- Threads
- 16
- TDP
- 65W
- CPU Model
- Ryzen 7 5700X
- CPU Socket
- AM4
- Architecture
- Zen 3
- Process
- 7nm
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.4 GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 4.6 GHz
- Cache
- L3: 32MB, L2, 4MB
- Graphics
- No iGPU
- iGPU
- N/A
- 8 Cores/12 threads configuration for multitasking
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Power efficient with 65W of TDP
- No stock cooler included
- No significant gaming performance uplift over 5600X
For the price, the Ryzen 5700X is a big step up over the Ryzen 5600X. Users will get 2 more cores and 4 more threads to complete CPU-intensive tasks faster. Even though it doesn't provide any major uplifts in gaming loads, it is much more capable of handing higher-end graphics cards to provide higher framerates. It is also overclockable but needs a decent B550 chipset or X570 chipset motherboard if users want to squeeze the most out of it. However, they will still need to buy an aftermarket CPU cooler as it doesn't come with any.
This might be a turn-off for users who are on a budget, but for enthusiasts, this is something compulsory as most enthusiast gamers buy a premium cooling solution with such overclockable processors. The 5700X comes with a fully unlocked multiplier that helps reach the max boost clock of 4.6GHz on all cores, but this may or may not be stable depending on the cooler used. However, with proper voltage tweaking and a premium AIO cooler, achieving stable high-clock speeds is not impossible.
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D extends the lifespan of the AM4 platform through its 3D V-Cache technology that helps it perform equally well in games as the latest Ryzen 7000 CPUs. With 8 Cores/16 threads configuration, it is somewhat equivalent to the more expensive 5800X3D and is perfect for both gaming and CPU-intensive workloads
- Brand
- AMD
- Cores
- 8
- Threads
- 16
- TDP
- 105W
- CPU Model
- Ryzen 7 5700X3D
- CPU Socket
- AM4
- Architecture
- Zen 3
- Process
- 7nm
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.0GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 4.1GHz
- Cache
- L3: 96MB, L2: 4MB
- PCIe 4.0 Support
- Yes
- iGPU
- N/A
- Gaming performance pretty close to 5800X3D for a lower price
- 8-Cores/16-threads for productivity
- Highly power-efficient
- Clock speeds are reduced due to 3D V-Cache design
The Ryzen 7 5700X3D hit the market in January of this year, roughly two years after the launch of the Ryzen 7 5700X non-3D edition. While the Ryzen 5800X3D is doing a fine job of crushing every other AM4 CPU, it typically sits over $300 most of the time, resulting in a poor value compared to some of the latest mid-range chips like the Ryzen 5 7600X. This is the exact reason why the Ryzen 5700X3D exists, as it boasts a similar configuration but at a much lower price of $250.
The 5700X3D is only 2-3% slower in gaming performance than the 5800X3D, which makes it a much more reasonable option to go with if users are willing to compromise on its limitations in productivity. Due to lower clock speeds, the 5700X3D scores fewer points than the 5800X3D but, at the same time, is more power-efficient. Overall, the 5700X3D provides a much higher value than all other AM4 CPUs listed here and will be ideal to use in a $1000 gaming build.
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FAQ
Q: What is the best AM4 processor for gaming?
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is currently the most powerful AM4 CPU for gaming. With the additional L3 cache memory and 8 core/16 thread configuration, this CPU comes pretty close to the latest Zen 4 based CPUs
Q: Will AMD still make AM4 CPU?
AMD may be preparing more CPUs for the AM4 platform even though it's now been replaced by the AM5 platform for new PC builders. We could see more 3D and non-3D editions according to the latest rumors.
Q: What is the best Ryzen CPU for budget gaming?
If talking specifically about the AM4 platform, Ryzen 5600X is the best budget Ryzen CPU that offers 6 cores and 12 threads with overclocking support.