Best AM4 CPUs for Gaming in 2025: Ryzen 5600X vs 5800X3D and More!
Considerations:
I have been banging my head on a desk trying to decide if I should update my CPU from the 5600X and or the 3070 to something newer? At 1080P I don’t really game in my monitor at all. I’m exclusively a VR guy! So what should I Do? Lets look at the data.
- If your priority is gaming (high FPS at 1080/1440) and you want the best value on AM4: Ryzen 7 5800X3D (if you can find it at a sane price) it still leads AM4 for gaming. (TechSpot)
- If you want best bang-for-buck 6-core AM4 gaming without hunting for X3D deals: Ryzen 5 5600X (solid, very efficient, good price). (Amazon)
- If you do content creation + gaming (multi-threaded workloads matter): Ryzen 9 5900X (12 cores) or 5950X if you need extreme multi-core power. (Amazon)
- AMD continues to release limited / regional AM4 SKUs (e.g., Ryzen 5 5600F and 5500X3D), so AM4 owners have upgrade options without moving to AM5. (Tom’s Hardware)
Background: Why AM4 still matters!
Its an impressive statistic that AM4 launched a decade ago but has a huge installed base. AMD has continued to ship occasional NEW AM4 parts (including Zen 3 X3D chips and even region-targeted releases in 2025).
AMD recently announced a new Ryzen 5 5600F release so a lot of gamers can upgrade CPU without swapping motherboard + DDR5. That matters if you want to reuse B450/B550/X570 boards and DDR4 RAM your still going to be supported for years to come. (TechRadar)
Which AM4 CPUs are relevant right now (practical list)
Below I list the practical AM4 desktop CPUs you’re most likely to find new (or still see frequently on Amazon / major retailers). I avoid listing every legacy SKU that’s effectively EOL but call out region-only/new releases.
For each: cores/threads, base/boost clocks (vendor specs or retail pages), quick gaming guidance and an Amazon (or major retailer) price snapshot where available (prices change rapidly — check the link). Citations point to the product/bench review or the Amazon product page used.
Note on FPS: gaming FPS depends hugely on GPU, resolution, game and settings. The bench sources below generally show that: (a) X3D chips (5800X3D family) give the biggest uplift at 1080/1440 where CPU limits matter, (b) gains shrink at 4K (GPU limited). (TechSpot)
Table – Practical AM4 Shopping List.
| CPU | Cores / Threads | Base / Boost (typical spec) | Gaming notes (1080 / 1440 / 4K) | Example Amazon price (snapshot) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 5600X | 6 / 12 | 3.7 GHz base / 4.6 GHz boost | Excellent 6-core gaming CPU, very efficient; close to higher core non-X3D chips in many titles; baseline for many upgrades. (Good 1080/1440 perf). (Amazon) | Amazon listing varies — often $150–$240 depending on seller. (Amazon) |
| Ryzen 5 5600 (non-X) | 6 / 12 | 3.5 GHz / 4.4 GHz | Slightly cheaper than 5600X, slightly lower clocks; still great for budget builds. | Amazon/retail listings (bundles often) — variable. (Amazon) |
| Ryzen 5 5600F (new AMD release) | 6 / 12 | ~3.0 GHz / ~4.0 GHz (AMD quoted) | Regionally released refresh of 5600 family; lower clocks — value option in some markets. (TechRadar) | Region-limited availability (Asia-Pacific / Japan per reports). (Tom’s Hardware) |
| Ryzen 5 5500X3D (Latin America release ONLY atm) | 6 / 12 | 3.0 / 4.0 GHz (reported) | Zen3 + 3D V-Cache variant aimed at budget gamers — very good 1080p perf for cost in regions where sold. Region-limited. (Tom’s Hardware) | Region-limited — not generally on Amazon global. (Tom’s Hardware) |
| Ryzen 7 5700X / 5700G | 8 / 16 | 3.8 / 4.6 GHz (varies) | Good mid/high AM4 options 5700X is pure CPU; 5700G has integrated graphics (APU) but lower Gaming perf vs X3D. | Amazon listings vary. (Newegg.com) |
| Ryzen 7 5800X3D (top AM4 gaming part) | 8 / 16 | 3.4 GHz base / 4.5+ GHz boost (varies) | Best AM4 for gaming: big L3 cache (96 MB) yields ~10–20% higher average FPS vs many non-X3D chips at 1080p/1440p in multi-game tests; advantage collapses at 4K. If gaming is your main priority, this is the target. (TechSpot) | Often sold via Amazon / third-party — price widely swings; expect premium / fluctuating pricing. (CamelCamelCamel) |
| Ryzen 7 5700X3D | 8 / 16 | ~3.4 / 4.1 GHz | Cheaper X3D 8-core alternative to 5800X3D; good compromise if you can find it. (Note: some reports of EOL / stock depletion). (Tom’s Hardware) | Appears on Amazon but inventory / price vary. (Amazon) |
| Ryzen 9 5900X | 12 / 24 | 3.7 / 4.8 GHz | Excellent multi-threaded performance and still very capable in games; at pure gaming the 5800X3D can beat it in many titles, but 5900X is better for streaming + content creation while gaming. (Amazon) | Amazon listing exists; historical prices have ranged widely; you may find good sales. (Amazon) |
| Ryzen 9 5950X | 16 / 32 | 3.4 / 4.9 GHz | Top AM4 multi-core. Great for creators; gaming delta vs 5900X is small. Not the best pure gaming buy vs X3D. (CamelCamelCamel) | Available on Amazon / third-party. Price high. (CamelCamelCamel) |
(Prices: snapshots from Amazon product pages and price trackers they fluctuate; check the seller/fulfilled status before buying.) (Amazon)
Representative gaming performance – What to expect vs your Ryzen 5 5600X.
Benchmarks from multiple independent reviewers show the consistent patterns below:
- 1080p — this is where CPU differences show most. X3D chips (5800X3D / 5600X3D variants) often deliver ~10–20% higher average FPS and noticeably higher 1% lows vs a 5600X in many titles and test suites (depending on GPU and game). Example: one 7-game test showed ~154 FPS average on 5800X3D vs ~133 FPS on 5600X (≈ +16% at 1080p). (Tech4Gamers)
- 1440p — gains reduce but X3D still gives a measurable uplift in CPU-bound scenarios (often single-digit to low-teens percent). (TechSpot)
- 4K — in most titles you become GPU limited; CPU differences between 5600X, 5800X3D, 5900X are often negligible at 4K. (TechSpot)
Practical interpretation: if you game at 1080p on a high-end GPU and chase max FPS / low 1% lows (e.g., 240Hz displays), an X3D purchase can noticeably help. If you play at 1440p/4K with a midrange GPU, the uplift is smaller and often not worth the premium. (TechSpot)
Price vs Performance / Value Discussion.
Without a doubt the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X hangs well with GPU’s up to about the RTX 4070 or so. It works well but flight sims need that push from the CPU so its showing its inability to perform on X Plane 12 and to a lesser extent DCSW ORLD!
- Best value for general gamers: the 5600X mature platforms, wide availability, and solid FPS. It’s also cheaper than rare X3D chips in many markets. (Amazon)
- Best value for pure gaming if you can find it: 5800X3D highest single-thread & gaming performance on AM4 in many tests. But retail pricing has been volatile (and some X3D variants have been discontinued or region-limited). If you see a 5800X3D at a reasonable price (< ~€300 / <$350 depending on region), it’s a strong buy for gamers. (TechSpot)
- If you also create/stream: go for the 5900X (12c/24t) better at multi-threaded workloads and still very close to 5600X in gaming; more future-proof for content tasks. (Amazon)
Practical Upgrade Recommendations.
Lets talk our way through needs vs wants and see if we can clear the air to what decision we should make.
- You game at 1080p and use a high-end GPU (RTX 4080/4090 / RTX 5090 class) and chase FPS → Try to get 5800X3D (or a 5600X3D/5700X3D if available) big gains in CPU-bound titles. If unavailable/too expensive, stick with 5600X. (TechSpot)
- You game at 1440p or 4K or have a midrange GPU → 5600X is a sensible upgrade from older chips; a 5900X only helps if you also do heavy content work. (TechSpot)
- You stream/encode while gaming or do heavy productivity → 5900X / 5950X multi-core wins here. (Amazon)
- Budget/region constraints → watch for the newer / region releases like 5500X3D (Latin America) or 5600F (APAC) — these can be great bargains where available. (Tom’s Hardware)
Example upgrade scenarios from a Ryzen 5 5600X.
- If your 5600X is still doing 95–140 FPS in games and you have 144Hz monitor: upgrading to 5800X3D may push you into 150–200+ average FPS in some CPU-bound titles good if you need the extra headroom. But the $/FPS gain may not be worth it if you already hit the refresh rate you want. (Tech4Gamers)
- If you want more multi-thread performance (video editing, streaming): a 5900X (or 5950X) gives clear productivity gains while leaving gaming performance nearly identical (or slightly worse than an X3D chip in some titles). (Amazon)
Short Buying Checklist (AM4 Gamers).
Before you dive into a new buy there are a few super important items you MUST CHECK OFF! Look at the points below and be ready to upgrade if these are checked off!
- Confirm motherboard BIOS support for the chosen Ryzen (some older B450 boards may need newer BIOS). AMD’s AM4 compatibility list / chipset page is the definitive reference. (AMD)
- If you buy an X3D SKU, price-check carefully — X3D is great for gaming, but availability/pricing varies. (CamelCamelCamel)
- For 1080p high-FPS gaming: pair X3D with a fast GPU and fast DDR4 (certified kit). For 1440/4K, prioritize GPU over CPU. (TechSpot)
Sources & where I pulled numbers from (Most important sources)
- Tom’s Hardware — coverage of AMD’s recent quiet launches (new F-series and region releases). (Tom’s Hardware)
- TechRadar — write-up noting AMD revealed a new AM4 SKU (Ryzen 5 5600F) and the AM4 platform longevity. (TechRadar)
- TechSpot — deep review of 5800X3D and analysis of X3D gains (1080/1440/4K behavior). (TechSpot)
- Tech4Gamers / Hardware Unboxed bench summaries — representative gaming deltas (example 5800X3D vs 5600X numbers). (Tech4Gamers)
- AMD product/chipset pages and Amazon product listings for base/boost numbers and current retail availability/pricing pointers. (AMD)
Comprehensive Spec + Benchmark Table for Key AM4 CPUs.
Here are specs for several AM4 CPUs, plus gaming FPS deltas relative to Ryzen 5 5600X from published reviews, mostly for 1080p / 1440p.
| CPU | Cores / Threads | Base / Boost Clock (Spec) | L3 Cache / TDP | Gaming FPS vs 5600X (1080p / 1440p) / Notes | MSRP / Price Signals* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 5600X | 6 / 12 | ~3.7 GHz / ~4.6 GHz | 32 MB L3 / 65 W | Baseline | MSRP ~$229 (launch); current street ≈ varies by market. |
| Ryzen 7 5800X3D | 8 / 16 | ~3.4 GHz / ~4.5 GHz | 96 MB L3 (3D V-Cache) / ~105W | In 7-game test at 1080p: ~154.28 FPS vs 5600X ~133.16 FPS → about +16-17% average. Also better 1% lows. (Tech4Gamers) In some games (e.g. A Plague Tale: Requiem) ~10% faster at 1080p & ~12% at 1440p. (TechSpot) | MSRP ~$449 (launch); actual street / used / deals lower depending on supply. |
| Ryzen 5 5600X3D | 6 / 12 | ~3.3 / ~4.4 GHz | 96 MB L3 / ~105W | From “X3D versus” tests: ~30% performance boost (some titles) vs non-3D variant (5600X) in certain CPU-bound games at 1080p; smaller at 1440p. (TechSpot) | MSRP ~$299 (launch); hard to find new in many markets; price often above that for X3D premium. |
| Ryzen 7 5800X (non-3D) | 8 / 16 | ~3.8 / ~4.7 GHz | 32 MB L3 / 105W | Less than 5800X3D; in same tests, 5800X3D beats it by large margins in CPU-bound titles. For example Watch Dogs: Legion saw ~33% improvement for 5800X3D over 5800X in some test settings. (TechSpot) | MSRP ~$449 (launch) but often discounted. |
| Ryzen 9 5900X | 12 / 24 | ~3.7 / ~4.8 GHz | 64 MB L3 / 105W | In many games, very close to 5600X (slightly worse in raw gaming FPS vs 5800X3D), but gives big gains for streaming / content tasks. Gaming FPS delta smaller than with 5800X3D. (Benchmarks show 5800X3D often > 5900X in strict gaming). (TechSpot) | MSRP ~$549 (launch), often a premium over smaller 6-/8-core parts. |
| Ryzen 9 5950X | 16 / 32 | ~3.4 / ~4.9 GHz | 64 MB L3 / 105W | Marginal gaming gains over 5900X / 5800X in many titles; most value is in multi-threaded workloads. In 4K, GPU bound; CPU differences small. | MSRP ~$799 (launch) — premium. |
* “Price Signals” reflect launch/MSRP or what reviews say; local/regional prices vary, sometimes widely.
Product / Pricing Examples (Thailand / Regional) for AM4 CPUs.
Here are a few representative AM4 CPUs with current regional / local prices to give you a sense of what people we paying in SE Asia / Thailand or nearby, which is more relevant than US MSRP for myself. I used product listings I found via import / regional distributors. These aren’t always Amazon, since many Amazon US prices + shipping don’t translate well locally.
Ryzen‑5 5500
6C/12T mid
THB 2,490.00
Ryzen‑5 5600
6C/12T budget
THB 2,990.00 – (Approx. – $78.21 USD.)
Ryzen‑5 5500 (alt)
budget alt
THB 2,159.33 – (Approx. – 67.93 USD)
Ryzen‑5 4500
lower mid
THB 1,888.99
Ryzen‑7 1700
legacy
THB 3,417.00 – (Approx. 59.16 USD)
Ryzen‑3 3200G
APU / entry
THB 1,990.00 – (Approx. 62.52 USD)
Here are some of them:
- Ryzen‑5 5600 — 6 cores / 12 threads, base ~3.5 GHz, boost ~4.4 GHz; Thai price ~ ฿2,990 (import / regional distributor).
- Ryzen‑5 5500 — less L3 cache (non-3D), decent for budget gaming; local price ~ ฿2,490.
- Ryzen‑5 4500 — more minimal; older, lower perf especially in CPU-bound games, but cheapest path into newer titles. ~ ฿1,888.
- Ryzen‑5 5500 (alt) — another regional listing.
- Ryzen‑7 1700 — much older generation; cores/threads decent but clocks much lower; still only reasonable if super cheap / reused. ~ ฿3,400 etc.
- Ryzen‑3 3200G — entry APU; integrated graphics; suitable only if you don’t have/don’t want a discrete GPU yet. ~ ฿1,900.
(Note: these prices are “street / import / local shops” estimations; availability and shipment/import duty can shift actual cost.)
Graphical Framerate Benchmarks (Representative Examples)
To make performance more tangible vs your 5600X, here are some specific game results from the sources, to show what you might gain by upgrading to a few key CPUs.
| Game | 5600X | 5800X3D / 5600X3D (8-core or 3D V-Cache) | % Gain (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watch Dogs: Legion at 1080p | – (non-3D) model baseline | 5800X3D is ~33% faster vs non-3D 5800X; vs 5600X improvement in CPU-limited setting somewhat lower. (TechSpot) | ~20-30% depending on baseline |
| 7-game average (1080p) | ~133 FPS (5600X) | ~154.3 FPS (5800X3D) (Tech4Gamers) | ~ +16-17% |
| Star Wars Jedi: Survivor at 1080p | (5600X or 5600X3D baseline) | 5800X3D ~10% higher average; 1% lows ~14% improvement. (TechSpot) | ~+10-15% |
| A Plague Tale: Requiem at 1080p / 1440p | baseline 5600X / non-3D | 5800X3D ~10% (1080p) / ~12% (1440p) higher. (TechSpot) | ~+10-12% |
Putting It All Together – What These Tables Tell Us.
From the specs + benchmarks + pricing:
- Upgrading from Ryzen 5 5600X to 5800X3D buys you moderate to strong improvements in gaming, especially in CPU-bound titles / lower resolutions (1080p). Gains in 1440p are smaller; at 4K often negligible (because GPU becomes the bottleneck).
- X3D (3D V-Cache) variants give significantly better 1% and low-framerate consistency, not just average FPS. If you care about smoothness and avoiding dips (which especially matter on high refresh monitors), this is important.
- The premium for X3D is real. Sometimes the cost per FPS is high. In your region, the non-X3D Ryzen 5 5600 / 5500 etc. are much cheaper, so unless the X3D price is reasonable, the value might not always justify the jump.
- For mixed workloads (gaming + streaming / video editing): The 12C (5900X) or 16C (5950X) CPUs show value, but only if you do enough non-gaming work to use those extra cores. For pure gaming, the 8-core X3D is almost “sweet spot.”
Buyer’s Guide / Best Choices Given Local Prices & Data.
Considering your likely prices in Thailand / Southeast Asia and the performance deltas above, here are adjusted recommendations:
| Tier | Best Choice / Recommendation | When to Go for It | When It’s Overkill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top-end gamer (1080p high refresh / eSports / competitive) | Ryzen 7 5800X3D (or 5600X3D if price gap is large) | If you can find the 5800X3D at within ~30-40% premium over 5600X, it’s worth it; especially if you have a fast GPU and high refresh monitor. | If price is double or more, non-X3D 5600X or 5600 suffices; upgrade GPU/shader pipeline might give more. |
| Mid-range gamer / 1440p / good value | Ryzen 5 5600X or Ryzen 5 5600 depending on discount | Great value; keeps you viable for next few years. | If you stream heavily or do content work, the limited cores start to show in non-gaming loads. |
| Balance gaming + productivity | Ryzen 9 5900X | If you do streaming, editing, tasks that use many threads; then this adds real utility. | If you only game, the extra cores won’t help much — you pay more for less incremental gaming benefit. |
| Budget / lowest cost path | Ryzen 5 5500 / used or low stock 4500 / maybe entry APUs if GPU limited | If your budget is tight or you’re upgrading just to avoid CPU bottlenecks in less demanding games. | If you want high end gaming, this will eventually limit you. |
Final Verdict – “Best Choice” for an AM4 gamer upgrading from Ryzen 5 5600X.
- If you want more pure gaming FPS at 1080p and can find one at a reasonable price: Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the best AM4 upgrade target. It’s the one AM4 chip that still beats practically every other AM4 option in many gaming tests.
- If you can’t find it, or the price is extreme, stick with the 5600X or consider a 5600X3D/5700X3D if available. (TechSpot)
- If you need multi-core for productivity as well as gaming: Ryzen 9 5900X (or 5950X for heavier content workloads). (Amazon)
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D.
Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years. He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand.
He is a multi-lingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.
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