WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Last Updated:
Thanks to recently released rumors from a Chinese-based tech outlet, we finally have our first glimpse into the remaining Ryzen 5000 series SKUs that weren’t discussed during AMD’s live announcement on the 8th of October.
The rumors state that AMD will be releasing a budget CPU option that will replace the Ryzen 5 3600, with the potential to mop up the lower-end CPU market. It’s the Ryzen 5 5600, coming with a release date of sometime in 2021 and falling into the under $250 price bracket.
Check here for all the latest news on where to buy a Ryzen 5000 series CPU
AMD Begin Launch Process For Their Ryzen 5 5600 CPU. Speculation Says It Will Ship For Roughly $220 And Will Replace The Hugely Popular Ryzen 5 3600 As The Low-end CPU For Gamers
The 5600X has come under a fair bit of scrutiny so far, mainly thanks to the overzealous pricing that AMD has branded it with.
The Ryzen 5 5600X comes equipped with 6 cores and 12 threads that have a base clock frequency of 3.70GHz and a boost clock frequency of 4.60GHz, respectively. Comparing the latest offering to last gen’s Ryzen 5 3600XT, the 5600X offers a 0.1GHz lower base clock and 0.1GHz higher boost clock. However, the 5000 series CPU has AMD’s new Zen 3 architecture on its side – not to mention a more efficient 7nm process node and greater efficiency.
It’s still based on the same chiplet design and comes with a 12nm I/O die.
That said, the Ryzen 5 5600X features a combined cache of 35MB (L2 + L3) and will feature a single CCD (Core Complex Die) – allowing greater communication and efficiency between each individual core. Like last gen’s alternative, the new Zen 3 chip will come with the same 65W TDP and will include a boxed cooler in the package – retailing at $299 US and available from the 5th of November.
AMD Suggest Ryzen 5 5600X Could Tackle Intel's i7-10700K
During AMD’s live announcement, the Ryzen 5 5600X was compared against the 10600K, boasting 19% better single-core performance per dollar and 13% better gaming performance in 1080 – per dollar value.
However, sources are now suggesting that the Ryzen 5 5600X could actually give Intel’s 8 core i7-10700K a run for its money too. When you consider the Intel has a higher price tag ($50 more) and higher power limits, it really does make the Ryzen 5 5600X excellent value for money – if speculation is to be true.
Furthermore, like previous generations of Ryzen lineups, the 5600X will be fully unlocked. The same versatility is only available for K SKUs which, as we all know, adds additional cost to that specific part.
Overall, whilst the pricing is a little higher than what we’re used to, you’d have to say that $299 looks justifiable in the greater scheme of things.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600: 6 Core CPU Specifications
The big news, however, is the rumour of a new SKU in the midst of the 5000 series launch. It’s a 6 core 12 thread part from AMD that is set to dominate the lower-end CPU price spectrum.
Whilst the Ryzen 5 5600 won’t be released till sometime in 2021, initial rumours say it will fall into the under $250 price spectrum – closer to $220. As always, the Ryzen 5 5600 should feature overclocking support, meaning it will likely perform to similar levels as the Ryen 5 5600X.
If that’s the case, then the Ryzen 5 5600 could easily be the best mainstream gaming CPU for 2021. It will outperform the 3600/3600X whilst hitting shelves at roughly the same cost. If all is true, Intel has got big problems on their hands.