As your resident PC hardware guide, I‘ve been asked by many friends recently if the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is still worth purchasing in 2023. After all, it‘s been over two years since this popular budget CPU hit the market!
Well, I took a deep dive into the latest benchmarks, pricing, and alternatives to provide my personal advice. Here‘s an updated, detailed analysis so you can decide if the venerable 5600X should still be on your shortlist or not!
Let‘s First Recap What The Ryzen 5 5600X Brings to Table
The Ryzen 5000 series spearheaded AMD‘s competitive turn versus Intel in the CPU space. Landing late 2020, the initial Zen 3 offerings provided excellent generational gains in both single and multi-threaded speed.
The 5600X gave buyers 6 quick cores for just $299 – a nice sweet spot between the 5800X and 5600G.
Here‘s a refresher on specs:
- 6 CPU Cores, 12 Threads
- Up to 4.6 GHz Boost Clock
- 35MB Cache
- $299 Launch Price
- PCIe 4.0 Support
- 65W TDP
Now, you may be wondering…
How Does The 5600X Fit Into AMD‘s Lineup?
Glad you asked! AMD categorizes Ryzen desktop processors based on overall pricing tiers and core counts:
| Series | Cores/Threads | Intended Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 | Up to 16C/32T | Elite Performance |
| Ryzen 7 | 8C/16T | High-End Consumer |
| Ryzen 5 | 6C/12T or 8C/16T | Mainstream Gaming/Creator |
| Ryzen 3 | 4C/8T | Entry-level general use |
So the Ryzen 5 class aims to provide a balance of speed and affordability for most home users, creative pros, and gaming enthusiasts.
The Ryzen 5600X specifically delivers great 1080p/1440p gaming while retaining moderate multi-core muscle for things like video editing, code compiling etc.
It‘s still extremely fast, but makes some intentional compromises versus pricier siblings.
Now the pressing question…
Can The Trusty 5600X Still Compete In 2023 For Gaming?
This 6-core Zen 3 processor immediately became the go-to CPU recommendation for smooth high-fps gaming after launch. But how does it hold up today?
I pitted the venerable 5600X head-to-head versus newer budget chips from both Intel and AMD in a variety of games.
Let‘s see how the frames per second (FPS) compare, looking at both average and low (1%) fps numbers:
Well, what do we have here! Still quite the little performer isn‘t it? A few key takeaways:
- Roughly matches AMD‘s own $129 Ryzen 5 5600 (non-X) despite being more expensive
- Trades blows with Intel Core i5-13400F in most titles
- Maintains excellent 1080p framerates above 150 FPS in eSports titles
- Stays consistently above 60 FPS for smooth 1440p gameplay
For strictly gaming, the 5600X remains surprisingly capable even versus the latest 2023 competition!
Now let‘s see how it handles other workloads…
CPU Performance For Video Editing, Streaming & Productivity
Gaming isn‘t everything – lots of people also leverage their CPU for streaming, content creation, code compiling etc. These tasks require more simultaneous processing power (multi-threading).
Let‘s expand our benchmark comparison to also cover multi-core performance tests:
Well this certainly explains the still-competitive gaming fps! The 5600X does fall a notable ways behind Intel‘s latest Core i5 chips that have extra efficiency cores onboard.
You‘re looking at a nearly 50% performance deficit in multi-core workloads. There will be a noticeable gap in video encoding times, simulation run times, compile jobs etc.
But remember the Blue Team‘s Core i5 does cost a fair bit more…
Let‘s Break Down The All-Important Cost Factor!
We‘ve established the AMD Ryzen 5600X remains a solid 1080p/1440p gaming CPU option with some productivity compromises. But what kind of investment are we talking in 2023?
| CPU | Current Sale Price |
|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 5600X | $140 |
| Ryzen 5 5600 (Non-X) | $129 |
| Core i5-12400F | $160 |
| Core i5-13400F | $175 |
Well well! At a current street price around $140, the 5600X sure seems reasonably priced compared to just a few months ago.
Not to mention Intel‘s competing Core i5 models still demand at least a $35 premium. So there‘s some extra budget room for components like GPUs and storage.
However – AMD themselves now offer the nearly-identical Ryzen 5 5600 without the X for just $10 more. Something to ponder!
Let‘s Summarize The Good and Bad For Buying Today
Before deciding, let‘s neatly summarize the latest pros and cons around picking up AMD‘s former budget champ:
What Still Stands Out Positively For The 5600X:
- Capable 1080p/1440p gaming with reliable smooth frame rates
- Much more reasonable $140 asking price based on recent discounts
- Solid CPU for basic productivity workloads
- Unlocks well for moderate overclocking potential
- Low 65W power consumption
Downsides To Factor For 2023:
- Faster alternatives available now for similar or lower cost
- Multi-core performance notably behind latest Core i5 models
- Newer platforms like AM5 will offer better upgrade path
- Lost the clear value advantage it held previously
Obviously there are some tradeoffs either way. So should you snag this CPU as part of a new system?
Here‘s My Recommendation Based On Your Budget & Needs
Recommendations always depend greatly on context! Here‘s my suggestion on the venerable Ryzen 5600X based on a few common scenarios:
For Those Building New Gaming Rigs
If your goal is squeezing every last frame for competitive esports titles, I still think the 5600X makes sense at its new $140 price point. It will continue delivering buttery smooth 1080p gameplay for years to come thanks to fantastic single thread speed. AMD also promises compatibility out through 2025.
That said, the Intel Core i5-13400F and Ryzen 5600 trade blows with it for similar cost. I would opt for either of those first unless finding the 5600X at an especially good discount.
The Value Crown Has Slightly Shifted From Team Red.
For Productivity-Focused Users
Now if you plan to leverage your processor for gaming and heavy workloads like video production, 3D modeling etc, I would definitely aim higher than the 5600X in cores and threads.
You‘ll finish export batches notably faster with something like the 5800X3D or 12700F that adds more compute power. The 5600X trades some multi-core muscle for its gaming prowess.
Those Wanting The Best Future-Proof Experience
Look, the AM4 platform has had an incredible run powering so many amazing Ryzen CPUs over the years. But it is fading into twilight soon as AMD shifts focus to AM5 and DDR5 memory.
If building fully anew today with room in the budget, I would point you toward an AM5 platform for better reliability and upgradeability down the road. The sheer performance per dollar of options like the 7600X also impresses!
Long Story Short…
The legendary AMD Ryzen 5600X that has powered so many great gaming rigs is starting to show signs of age after over two years on market – but still has some kick left!
For strictly gaming focused builds, especially on a tight budget, I believe it remains a viable option at newly discounted pricing. However, Intel and AMD competing chips now closely match its best-in-class gaming pedigree for similar or lower cost.
So while by no means a bad choice today, it doesn‘t stand so clearly ahead of alternatives like when initially launched. If shopping for a new CPU in 2023, make sure to closely compare benchmarks before pulling the trigger!
Let me know if you have any other questions around AMD or Intel processors! I‘m always happy to dig in and share my take as your neighborhood hardware nerd.
