Ryzen 5 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:50:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Ryzen 5 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Zen 3 CPU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-5600x-zen-3-cpu-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-5600x-zen-3-cpu-review/#respond Mon, 07 Dec 2020 09:06:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=496789 A cracking CPU you will want, but let us know if you can find it for sale anywhere !

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Six cores and twelve processing threads has been a recipe for success with value orientated buyers in recent years. AMD’s own Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X CPUs have proven to be fan favourites for their balance between performance and price. Can the Zen 3 Ryzen 5 5600X, which comes in at around £280 in the UK if you can find availability, prove to be another worthy six core challenger?

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor that operates with a 3.7GHz base frequency and 4.6GHz maximum boost with a 65W TDP. MSRP is set at $299 and that converts into £280 in the UK. That’s a $50 MSRP increase in price over the Zen 2 Ryzen 5 3600X/3600XT it replaces.

More challenging, though, is the often £90 availability price increase versus the incredibly popular Ryzen 5 3600 non-X. Granted, availability of those older Zen 2 six cores is just as bad as for the new Zen 3 chips currently.

AMD’s chosen process node is still TSMC 7nm, but it is the tweaked design logic as applied with the frequency enhanced Ryzen 3000XT chips launched in July 2020. That should help reach and sustain higher boost clocks versus original Zen 2 Ryzen 3000X chips.

For more details on the architecture and the differences of Zen 3 versus Zen 2, check out our main Ryzen 9 5000 series launch review HERE.

The six-core Ryzen 5 5600X is a single-CCD and therefore single-CCX processor. As such, you still get full access to 32MB of L3 cache but the L2 cache capacity is cut to 3MB compared to the 4MB on the pricier eight-core parts. The same 12nm IO die is used.

Given its price point of £280, the Ryzen 5 5600X actually slots into a neat window between some primary competitors.

It is around £30 more expensive than the Core i5-10600K but AMD’s chip ships with a cooler and has better low-cost motherboard support. The 5600X is around £30 cheaper than the sixteen thread Core i7-10700 locked processor which also uses the more expensive Intel platform.

Around £20 is the saving for the Ryzen 5 5600X versus the Ryzen 7 3700X which has more cores but is on the older Zen 2 architecture. And the Zen 3 six-core is around £50 more expensive than the premium Ryzen 5 3600X/3600XT which is tolerable for many users, even if the cheaper Ryzen 5 3600 non-X was the obvious chip to buy out of the Zen 2 six cores.

We are particularly keen to see how performance has improved versus the Ryzen 5s of yesteryear and the twelve thread Intel Core i5-10600K. Also of particular interest will be the Zen 3 6 core’s performance versus the Ryzen 7 3700X as that Zen 2 eight core remains a worthy market participant at around £300.

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AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT CPU Review – 4.6GHz OC! https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-3600xt-cpu-review-4-6ghz-oc/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-3600xt-cpu-review-4-6ghz-oc/#respond Mon, 20 Jul 2020 12:52:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=477331 AMD 3600XT can overclock to 4.6GHz on all cores, but is it worth buying?

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We have examined the Ryzen 7 3800XT and Ryzen 9 3900XT and now is the turn of the Ryzen 5 3600XT. Built around AMD’s incredibly popular six core, twelve thread design, the 3600XT also uses enhanced silicon like its other XT siblings and is touted to offer better clock speeds than the standard 3600X. We will be keen to see if the Ryzen 5 3600XT can hit the same lofty 4.6GHz overclock of our 3800XT sample.

If you want the more detailed examination of AMD’s Ryzen 3000XT logic, make sure you check out our original launch review HERE.

Put simply, the Ryzen 5 3600XT is a Ryzen 5 3600X with enhanced TSMC 7nm silicon that allows it to deliver higher operating frequencies and better boost clock residency, according to AMD. That translates into a 100MHz increase to the out-of-the-box rated boost speed of up to 4.5GHz compared to the 3600X’s up to 4.4GHz. The base frequency is maintained at the same 3.8GHz, however.

Everything else is the same between the 3600XT and 3600X. You still get the 95W TDP, the 35MB of total cache, and the AM4 platform capabilities. The 3600 RPM version of the Wraith Spire CPU cooler is included as AMD says that Ryzen 5 users tend to value its additional unlike many Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 buyers. I would argue that an upgrade to the Wraith Prism RGB cooler would have been justifiable and welcomed for the 3600XT.

Even the MSRP is kept identical at $249 USD, though actual retail prices for currently make the 3600XT more expensive by around £30 in the UK.

Prime competitors for the Ryzen 5 3600XT are AMD’s own cheaper Ryzen 5 3600X that currently sells for around £210. By extension, the even cheaper Ryzen 5 3600 that is often available for around £175 is an even tougher contender. Plus, above the 3600XT’s current £240 availability price are the £290 Ryzen 7 3700X eight-core chip and Intel six-core, twelve-thread Comet Lake Core i5-10600K at around £270. Clearly, there is stiff competition to the 3600XT from all angles.

At £240-250 in the UK, AMD has clearly carved a price point for the 3600XT that the company believes will allow the chip to deliver better performance than other offerings whilst undercutting the more powerful Zen 2 eight core parts. Let’s see how this exercise in AMD enhancing its product margins translates into real world performance.

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It looks like the Ryzen 5 3500 is going to release soon and there might be a 3500X too https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/james-dawson/it-looks-like-the-ryzen-5-3500-is-going-to-release-soon-and-there-might-be-a-3500x-too/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/james-dawson/it-looks-like-the-ryzen-5-3500-is-going-to-release-soon-and-there-might-be-a-3500x-too/#respond Thu, 03 Oct 2019 15:00:21 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=428395 There have been plenty of CPU leaks over the last month or so, from Intel 10th Gen and Cascade Lake-X to AMD Ryzen Threadripper and new additions to the Ryzen 9 lineup. Today, another previously unannounced chip has appeared on a retail listing, indicating that the Ryzen 5 3500 should be released soon. The retail …

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There have been plenty of CPU leaks over the last month or so, from Intel 10th Gen and Cascade Lake-X to AMD Ryzen Threadripper and new additions to the Ryzen 9 lineup. Today, another previously unannounced chip has appeared on a retail listing, indicating that the Ryzen 5 3500 should be released soon.

The retail listing appeared a couple of days ago at the Indian store MDComputers. According to the site, the Ryzen 5 3500 is supposed to drop on the 5th of October for 11,199 Indian Rupees, which would roughly equate to £130 via a direct conversion.

 

The listing goes on to list specs for the chip, mentioning six cores,  a base frequency of 3.6GHz and a boost speed of 4.1GHz with 16MB of cache. There is no official announcement yet though, so this information should be taken with a pinch of salt.

If these specs are proven to be correct, then it means the Ryzen 5 3500 will be a direct competitor to intel’s Core i5-9400F. Just like the other Ryzen 3000 series CPUs, the Ryzen 5 3500 is expected to be based on AMD’s 7nm Zen 2 architecture.

AMD is rumoured to usher in a Ryzen 5 3500X CPU alongside the 3500, with both being six-core, six-thread processors featuring a 3.6 GHz base and 4.1 GHz boost clock. The only difference is the X chip is expected to offer more L3 cache at 32MB compared with the 3500 non-X with 16MB. A 65W TDP is expected from both and advanced features such as PCIe 4.0 and DDR4-3200 memory are likely to be supported.

KitGuru says: With AMD already having an attractive range of Zen 2 based CPUs available, is there really room for more? What do you all think, do these fill a gap in the current Ryzen 3000 lineup?

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AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (Zen+ & Vega 11) APU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-3400g-zen-vega-11-apu-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-3400g-zen-vega-11-apu-review/#respond Wed, 07 Aug 2019 11:04:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=420885 It's a Zen+ APU with Vega 11 graphics, priced at £139.99. Does Luke rate it?

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Codenamed Picasso and combining a four-core, eight-thread Zen+ CPU with an 11 CU slice of Vega graphics, AMD’s £140 Ryzen 5 3400G is an evolution from the Ryzen 5 2400G of last year. Boosting up to 4.2GHz on the single-CCX CPU component and 1400MHz for the Vega 11 GPU, clock speed increases are the most noteworthy change from last year’s Ryzen 5 2400G. Another important adjustment is the reduction in MSRP by $20, making the Ryzen 5 3400G slightly more affordable.

Despite the Ryzen 3000 naming scheme, it is important to remember that the current APUs are not Zen 2 architecture and are fabbed using a 12nm Global Foundries process, not the 7nm TSMC FinFET technology of their CPU brothers.

Is £140 for a four-core Zen+ CPU with simultaneous multi-threading, an on-chip Vega 11 GPU, plus the 95W-rated Wraith Spire cooler a solid deal for budget buyers and HTPC gamers?

Most of the information from our review of the Ryzen 5 2400G from last year still holds true with the Ryzen 5 3400G. As this update from Zen to Zen+ is more of a die-shrink with minor adjustments than the evolution to Zen 2 (which will perhaps arrive in 2020), the differences will be minor. Check out that review for additional details HERE.

It is important to understand the position of an APU in today’s market. Last year, the high GPU prices and supply issues driven by the cryptocurrency mining boom meant that even low-end GPUs were either severely overpriced or hard to come by. This year, however, those issues are non-existent (for now) and the APU regains its position as an entry-level option to cash-strapped gamers.

Another key market for APUs is for those who are looking for a stop-gap gaming machine before upgrading to a discrete GPU in the future. Of course, HTPC usage is also an ideal environment for APUs, thanks to the on-chip GPU’s media decoding capabilities.

AMD is clearly targeting 1080P gamers on a budget with the Ryzen 5 3400G. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect 60 FPS at 1080P in modern AAA titles. However, less-demanding games, older AAA titles, and those that simply aren’t too graphically intensive should all run fine. That’s more than can be said for the iGPU capabilities of competing Intel chips at this price point. The word ‘competing’ there is perhaps slightly misused as there is realistically no Intel competition for these APUs.

For £140, the six-thread Intel Coffee Lake Core i5-9400F should net you higher CPU performance but lower GPU performance that translates into largely unplayable gaming experiences. If you want a balance between a decent level of CPU performance and an integrated GPU that allows for gaming, the AMD APUs are the only real option without going down the discrete GPU route.

According to AMD, video encode and decode is handled by the Video Core Next, or VCN for short, silicon present in the Vega GPU. Video decode of common resolutions and media formats, such as 4K60 MPEG2, 4K60 H.265, and 4K60 HEVC are all supported.

AMD’s table highlights that VP9 8 bits per channel and VP9 10 bits per channel are both supported at up to 4K60. HDCP 2.2 is supported by the APU, though keep an eye on this specification when choosing a motherboard with built-in video outputs.

We tested video content relating to these formats, resolutions, and frame rates and found media playback to be perfectly fine in general. Our 4K30 100Mbps H264 content played without hiccups through VLC media play on Windows 10. The same can be said for 1440P60 50Mbps H264 media and also 4K60 80Mbps H265 footage taken from a GoPro Hero 6.

Testing with YouTube, 1080p60 and 1440p60 ran smoothly. 4K30 was also perfectly fine using Google Chrome and 4K60 had dropped frames here and there but they were generally induced by me messing about with the monitoring software at the same time.

8K footage on YouTube was not smoothly playable. That is perhaps something to bear in mind for those hoping to keep this APU for a long time. By comparison, the Intel UHD iGPU generally handles 8K30 and 8K60 YouTube footage fine, based on our testing with a Whiskey Lake-equipped Dell XPS 13 and the Intel UHD 630 on a Core i5-8600K.

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AMD Ryzen 5 3600X (6C12T) CPU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-3600x-6c12t-cpu-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-3600x-6c12t-cpu-review/#respond Mon, 29 Jul 2019 15:33:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=419709 How does AMD's Ryzen 5 3600X fare in the mid-range market segment?

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Priced squarely to compete with Intel’s Core i5-9600K at the ever-attractive £240 price point, AMD Ryzen 5 3600X continues the Ryzen 5 x600 tradition. That tradition is to offer six cores with Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) doubling the thread count to a dozen. This time, however, those six cores that boost up to 4.4GHz, are based on AMD’s brand-new Zen 2 architecture, and they’re built using TSMC’s leading 7nm FinFET process.

We have already seen the success that Zen 2 on 7nm has brought in the eight-core Ryzen 7 3700X and the twelve-core Ryzen 9 3900X flagship, so what can it do for this mid-range part?

Although it is easy to view the Ryzen 5 3600X as half a Ryzen 9 3900X, it would be more accurate to perceive the processor as a cut down Ryzen 7 3700X/3800X. The 95W-TDP hexacore utilises a single CCD, comprised of two core complexes (CCXs). This means that one core per CCX is disabled, but AMD retains the full whack of L3 cache that is shared between each core within the CCX.

Just like the other Zen 2 processors, Ryzen 5 3600X features a segregated IO die that most notably contains the memory controller and is fabbed on older (cheaper), arguably more mature 12nm process technology.

Infinity Fabric is the interconnect that keeps things communicating smoothly. Just like with all other Zen-based CPUs, the Infinity Fabric frequency is tied to the memory clock (up to a maximum of 1800MHz by default for Zen 2), hence higher-speed RAM up to 3600MHz should show latency and performance benefits outside of just memory-intensive workloads. Expensive sticks of RAM may be hard to justify at this market segment, but we’d certainly advise looking for 3000MHz DDR4 kits as a minimum.

CPU AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Intel Core i7 9700K
Intel Core i5 9600K
CPU Architecture Zen 2 Zen 2 Zen 2 Zen+ Coffee Lake Coffee Lake
CPU Socket AM4 AM4 AM4 AM4 LGA 1151 rev. 2 LGA 1151 rev. 2
Core / Threads
12 / 24 8 / 16 6 / 12 8 / 16 8 / 8 6 / 6
Base Frequency 3.8GHz 3.6GHz 3.8GHz 3.7GHz 3.6GHz 3.7GHz
All-Core Frequency Up to 4.6GHz Up to 4.4GHz Up to 4.4GHz Up to 4.3GHz 4.6GHz 4.3GHz
Boost Frequency Up to 4.6GHz Up to 4.4GHz Up to 4.4GHz Up to 4.3GHz 4.9GHz 4.6GHz
Unlocked Core Multiplier Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x1 granularity) Yes (x1 granularity)
L3 Cache 64MB 32MB 32MB 16MB 12MB 9MB
Max. Memory Channels
2 (DDR4) 2 (DDR4) 2 (DDR4) 2 (DDR4) 2 (DDR4) 2 (DDR4)
Max. Memory Frequency (Native)
2667 to 3200MHz 2667 to 3200MHz 2667 to 3200MHz 1866 to 2933MHz 2666MHz 2666MHz
CPU PCIe Lanes 16+4+4 PCIe Gen 4 16+4+4 PCIe Gen 4 16+4+4 PCIe Gen 4 16+4+4 PCIe Gen 3 16 PCIe Gen 3 16 PCIe Gen 3
Manufacturing Process 7nm 7nm 7nm 12nm 14nm++ 14nm++
TDP 105W 65W 95W 105W 95W 95W
MSRP $499 $329 $249 $329 $374-385 $262-263
UK Street Price (July 2019) £480 £320 £240 £240 Approx. £380 Approx. £220

As AMD promised all those years ago, the new Ryzen 5 3600X processor is supported by the AM4 platform. There are a few caveats to watch out for, however, as older B350/X370 and B450/X470 motherboards will need a BIOS update to work with the chip. I wouldn’t bother looking at A320 motherboards if you’re spending £240 on a Ryzen 5 processor, even if there are BIOS situations where the chip may be compatible. B450 solutions are worth the extra money in this scenario.

Likewise, I don’t think X570 motherboards, which start at £160, are generally a good idea for Ryzen 5 3600X buyers. Saving £60-80 by going for a solid B450 option is smarter, even if you do lose out on PCIe Gen 4.0 support (unless the suggestions of backwards compatibility are extended more widely). We must, however, point out that Ryzen 3000-compatible BIOSes with some older boards have proven flaky in our testing. That’s not to say that the BIOS stability of many X570 boards is much of an improvement at the time of writing.

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Computex 2019: AMD’s 3rd Gen Ryzen processors are officially here https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/computex-2019-amds-3rd-gen-ryzen-processors-are-officially-here/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/computex-2019-amds-3rd-gen-ryzen-processors-are-officially-here/#respond Mon, 27 May 2019 09:01:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=413729 3rd Gen Ryzen is officially here. The Zen 2 architecture has paved the way for 7nm, IPC improvements, higher core counts and more, all at sensible prices.

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It has been a long time coming but today at Computex 2019, AMD officially launched its new 3rd Gen Ryzen processors, bringing the promise of higher core counts, IPC improvements and 7nm technology to its CPU lineup. There are five CPUs announced today, ranging from 6 core Ryzen 5 SKUs all the way up to a 12 core Ryzen 9.

This latest generation of Ryzen processors are based on the Zen 2 architecture, delivering a 15 percent IPC improvement over Zen 1. The Zen 2 CPU core will power 3rd Gen Ryzen and upcoming EPYC processors but of course, IPC improvements and core counts are just one part of the story. Alongside 3rd Gen Ryzen, AMD is also launching the X570 chipset for socket AM4, the world's first PCIe 4.0 supported motherboard chipset, which will have an impact on both upcoming GPUs and SSDs. On the storage front, you can expect up to 42 percent higher performance from PCIe 4.0 SSDs compared to a PCIe 3.0 equivalent.

More than 50 new motherboards are going to be rolling out to launch alongside 3rd Gen Ryzen, with options from ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock, MSI, Colorful and more. PCIe 4.0 SSDs are also on the way from CORSAIR, Phison, Gigabyte, Galaxy and others.

Now back to the good stuff, five 3rd Gen Ryzen processors were announced today, here is the full spec sheet:

CPU Cores/Threads Base/Boost speed (GHz) Total Cache (MB) PCIe 4.0 Lanes TDP (W) Suggested Pricing (USD)
Ryzen 9 3900X 12/24 3.8/4.6 70 40 105 $499
Ryzen 7 3800X 8/16 3.9/4.5 36 40 105 $399
Ryzen 7 3700X 8/16 3.6/4.4 36 40 65 $329
Ryzen 5 3600X 6/12 3.8/4.4 35 40 95 $249
Ryzen 5 3600 6/12 3.6/4.2 35 40 65 $199

According to AMD's own comparison benchmarks, a Ryzen 7 3700X should offer up to 30 percent more multi-threaded performance in real-time rendering and 1 percent more performance in single-threaded rendering. When it comes to gaming, the Ryzen 7 3800X matches the Intel Core i9-9900K in PUBG. Finally, the Ryzen 9 3900X beats the Intel Core i9-9920X in Blender Render tests by 16 percent.

The Ryzen 3000 series will be launching on the 7th of July, so expect to be able to read reviews and pick one up on that date. There will also be a slew of motherboard options to choose from, which we'll be diving into over the course of this week as we make our way around Computex. It is worth noting that while Threadripper is not on the roadmap right now, AMD has confirmed that it intends to revisit that series in the future. Going by what Ryzen 9 offers, it seems like you could make a safe guess as to what core/thread counts 3rd Gen Threadripper will tackle.

AMD has also given us an update on the future of Radeon graphics, announcing the RDNA architecture and RX 5700 series. You can find all of the details on that, HERE.

KitGuru Says: 3rd Gen Ryzen is looking incredibly good so far, especially at those prices. Are any of you planning on upgrading once these come out?

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AMD Ryzen 5 2600X – the CPU that does all the work for you https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/amd-ryzen-5-2600x-the-cpu-that-does-all-the-work-for-you/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/amd-ryzen-5-2600x-the-cpu-that-does-all-the-work-for-you/#respond Sun, 22 Apr 2018 14:49:50 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=371208 AMD's Ryzen 2600X is here and it's £210. It's one you really do want to consider for a new build

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AMD has launched four new 2nd Gen Ryzen CPUs to mark the first birthday of the original Ryzen 7. Well Ok, that would have been March but it’s close enough. You can read our review of Ryzen 7 2700X HERE

You might consider 8 cores, 105W TDP and a price of £299.99 to be overkill, in which case we have good news for you as AMD has also updated the classic Ryzen 5 1600X.

The new model is Ryzen 5 2600X and it has an awful lot in common with Ryzen 5 1600X, although the Maximum Boost has increased by up to 200MHz. That may not sound like much extra speed but when you take a closer look there is plenty to enjoy with this CPU.

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Ryzen 5 2600X Specification:

  • Six cores with 12 threads
  • Base clock: 3.60GHz
  • Boost clock: 4.2GHz
  • L2 cache 3MBL
  • 3 cache 16MB
  • 12nm FinFet process
  • Precision Boost 2
  • Extended Frequency Range 2 (XFR2)
  • Wraith Spire CPU Cooler included
  • Dual Channel DDR4 Controller up to 3400MHz
  • TDP: 65W
  • Warranty: 3 years

There is little point in copying and pasting a chunk of our Ryzen 7 2700X review, so if you haven’t yet read/watched it do please take a look HERE.

Ryzen 5 2600X uses the 12nm LP process we saw with Ryzen 7 2700X and also packs in Precision Boost 2 and XFR2. The only difference in terms of the package is that Ryzen 5 2600X is supplied with a Wraith Spire CPU cooler, rather than the Wraith Prism you get with Ryzen 7 2700X.

In 2017 Ryzen 5 was significant as it brought six cores to the budget end of the desktop market compared to Intel’s quad core offering. Here in 2018 the unique selling point is somewhat more nuanced as Ryzen 5 has six cores and 12 threads while Intel Core i5-8600K has six cores and six threads. AMD leads in terms of threads but generally suffers in terms of clock speed and IPC.

The Ryzen 5 2600X has a base speed of 3.6GHz and a maximum Boost speed of 4.2GHz however the sustained all-core speed we saw during testing was 4.025GHz. In round terms that is 4.0GHz, which is encouraging as it falls towards the upper end of the 3.6GHz-4.2GHz range and we have to say the number sounds good. Everyone wants 4GHz or more from their CPU.

We are not yet sure how much of this speed comes as a result of the new X470 chipset, however our instinct is that the new platform plays little part in the equation. We are confident the new generation of motherboards are more solidly designed than the first generation of X370 products, however that is the result of evolution rather than a dramatic benefit from a new chipset.

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AMD unveils specs for Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 APUs with Vega graphics https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/amd-unveils-specs-for-ryzen-5-and-ryzen-3-apus-with-vega-graphics/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/amd-unveils-specs-for-ryzen-5-and-ryzen-3-apus-with-vega-graphics/#comments Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:59:58 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=361437 Back during the Pre-CES press day earlier this month, AMD unveiled its CPU roadmap for the year, confirming that we would be getting the first Ryzen ‘Raven Ridge' APUs quite soon. At the time, specific specs for the Ryzen 5 2400G and the Ryzen 3 2200G weren't announced, but this week, that changed. These new …

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Back during the Pre-CES press day earlier this month, AMD unveiled its CPU roadmap for the year, confirming that we would be getting the first Ryzen ‘Raven Ridge' APUs quite soon. At the time, specific specs for the Ryzen 5 2400G and the Ryzen 3 2200G weren't announced, but this week, that changed.

These new APUs, codenamed Raven Ridge, will be powered by Ryzen desktop processors with Radeon Vega graphics built in. According to AMD's new product pages, the Ryzen 5 variant will come with four cores, eight threads, a max CPU boost speed of 3.9GHz and a max GPU clock speed of 1250MHz. There will be 11 graphics compute units on this version, 6MB of L3/L2 cache and a 45W to 65W TDP.

The Ryzen 3 2200G on the other hand will have four cores and four threads, a 3.7GHz max CPU boost speed, eight compute units, an 1100MHz maximum GPU clock, alongside the same amount of cache and TDP.

Both of these APUs are expected to launch in Q1. At CES this month, we learned that the Ryzen 5 2400G will have a suggested retail price of $169, meanwhile the Ryzen 3 2200G will have a suggested price of $99.

KitGuru Says: AMD's Ryzen APUs will be launching in February, so it won't be long before we can check out the performance on these. Are any of you currently in the market for an upgrade?

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AMD Ryzen 1600X pushed to 5.9GHz with all cores and threads enabled https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/amd-ryzen-1600x-pushed-to-5-9ghz-with-all-cores-and-threads-enabled/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/amd-ryzen-1600x-pushed-to-5-9ghz-with-all-cores-and-threads-enabled/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2017 17:28:29 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=330096 AMD only just launched its new Ryzen 5 six core processors this week but extreme overclockers are already setting lofty records with it. This week, overclocker ‘der8auer' revealed that he was able to push his Ryzen 5 1600X CPU all the way up to 5.9GHz using an ASUS Crosshair VI motherboard. The overclock was actually …

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AMD only just launched its new Ryzen 5 six core processors this week but extreme overclockers are already setting lofty records with it. This week, overclocker ‘der8auer' revealed that he was able to push his Ryzen 5 1600X CPU all the way up to 5.9GHz using an ASUS Crosshair VI motherboard.

The overclock was actually achieved a little while back but the footage was subject to various NDAs up until this point. Now with Ryzen 5 available, it was time to start publishing results. The system used in this instance featured an ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero motherboard using the February BIOS update. A 128GB SSD was used, alongside Windows 7 and some G.Skill Trident Z memory. As you would expect, liquid nitrogen was used for cooling.

To get the 5.9GHz overclock, der8auer set a bus speed of 130MHz and a multiplier of 45.5. No cores or threads were disabled and the overclock remained stable for benchmarking. Cinebench, GPU PI and Geekbench were all run and the results pitted the Ryzen 5 1600X ahead of Intel's six core processors.

This 5.9GHz overclock doesn't quite beat out the 7GHz Kaby Lake overclock from earlier this year, but when put up against Intel's comparable six core CPUs, it does appear to come out on top.

KitGuru Says: It seems that AMD's Ryzen 5 CPUs have quite a bit of overclocking headroom. This particular overclock was achieved on LN2 but it is still very impressive. Have many of you played around with CPU overclocking on your own system? What's the highest OC you've had? 

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AMD’s Ryzen 5 processors have officially launched https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/amds-ryzen-5-processors-have-officially-launched/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/amds-ryzen-5-processors-have-officially-launched/#respond Tue, 11 Apr 2017 14:15:05 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=329903 AMD is keeping the Ryzen ball rolling this week as its new Ryzen 5 processors are now officially available. Reviews are live and retailers have stock, meaning AMD is now ready to take on Intel's Core i5 lineup with its impressive new architecture. We have already reviewed the Ryzen 5 1600X and Ryzen 5 1500X …

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AMD is keeping the Ryzen ball rolling this week as its new Ryzen 5 processors are now officially available. Reviews are live and retailers have stock, meaning AMD is now ready to take on Intel's Core i5 lineup with its impressive new architecture.

We have already reviewed the Ryzen 5 1600X and Ryzen 5 1500X processors, coming away with positive impressions. However, for those of you who prefer to buy prebuilt systems, we also have a review up of the Chillblast Fusion Hex system, featuring AMD's Ryzen 5 1600 CPU and a GTX 1070.

For those of you wondering about core counts, clock speeds and pricing, this table shows details all of that:

CPU Model Cores/Threads Base/Boost Clock Speeds (GHz) XFR Clock Speed (GHz) TDP (Watts) Pricing
Ryzen 5 1600X  6C/12T 3.6/4.0 4.1 95 £249/$249
Ryzen 5 1600 6C/12T 3.2/3.6 3.7 65 £219/$219
Ryzen 5 1500X 4C/8T 3.5/3.7 3.9 65 £189/$189
Ryzen 5 1400 4C/8T 3.2/3.4 3.45 65 £169/$169

All of the CPUs listed are available from today onwards. However, if you are buying a Ryzen 5 1600X, then you will need to budget for your own CPU cooler as it is the only processor in the range to not include a stock one. All Ryzen 5 CPUs support Simultaneous Multithreading Technology, which is AMD's equivalent to Hyper-Threading. All of these CPUs will also run on X370, B350 and A320 motherboards, which are already available.

Be sure to check out our full reviews for more details on performance in compute tasks and gaming, alongside details on thermals and power draw.

KitGuru Says: Both Luke and Dom seem to be impressed with what Ryzen 5 has to offer. They do seem like good value when pitted against Intel's Core i5 lineup. Are any of you guys looking to make the jump to Ryzen?  Have you been waiting on the Ryzen 5 launch to make your decision?

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AMD Ryzen 5 1500X (4C8T) CPU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-1500x-4c8t-cpu-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-1500x-4c8t-cpu-review/#comments Tue, 11 Apr 2017 13:01:12 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=329153 Can the 4C8T Ryzen 5 1500X hand Intel's locked Core i5 a beating?

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Ryzen 5 1500X is AMD’s fastest quad-core based on the new Zen architecture. Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) makes this a four-core, eight-thread part that runs at an out-of-the-box frequency of 3.5-3.7GHz, with single-threaded boosts to 3.9GHz under Extended Frequency Range (XFR) conditions.

Priced at $189 and shipping with the Wraith Spire cooler, AMD pits overclockable Ryzen 5 4C8T parts against multiplier-locked Core i5 processors from Intel. Logical competitors to the Ryzen 5 1500X are Intel’s Kaby Lake Core i5-7400 and Core i5-7500, depending on e-tailer pricing in the UK.

AMD deploys the 4C8T Ryzen 5 1500X CPU as a design utilising dual CPU Complex (CCX) units. This gives the quad-core part a 2+2 design, as opposed to the asymmetrical 3+1 or 4+0 deployments that may have been theoretically possible. The balanced 2+2 design could mean that AMD is able to use Ryzen CCXs that don’t make the grade with all four cores enabled (or three cores that would form Ryzen 5 six-core chips).

Other characteristics for the Ryzen 5 1500X are interesting as they distinguish it from the lower-cost quad-core 1400. The full slab of shared L3 cache is retained for the 1500X, with 8MB per CCX being available. That gives an effective 4MB of L3 cache per core (though not dedicated) that is double the available per-core capacity of Ryzen 7 and even higher than Intel’s HEDT processors. L2 cache capacity is still 512KB per core, making the total amount 2MB.

Operating frequencies are also interesting for Ryzen 1500X. The base speed is 3.5GHz, with a maximum Precision Boost speed of 3.7GHz under 2-core loading conditions. That means that all-core loads see the chip running at a solid 3.6GHz. Noteworthy, though, is the 200MHz XFR headroom – double that we have seen on any other Ryzen processors to date. This gives the 1500X an ability to clock up to 3.9GHz under single-thread loads. As with all Ryzen parts, an unlocked core ratio multiplier with 0.25x granularity allows for overclocking on supported motherboards.

AMD’s well-balanced Wraith Spire is included with the 65W TDP 1500X. This model is, however, different to the Wraith Spire supplied with Ryzen 7 1700 as it does not feature RGB lighting. For reference, Intel’s boxed Core i5 CPUs in this price range also ship with coolers.

CPU AMD Ryzen 5 1600X AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AMD Ryzen 5 1500X AMD Ryzen 5 1400 Intel Core i5-7600K Intel Core i5-7400 Intel Core i3-7350K
CPU Codename Zen Zen Zen Zen Kaby Lake Kaby Lake Kaby Lake
Core / Threads
6 / 12 6 / 12 4 / 8 4 / 8 4 / 4 4 / 4 2 / 4
CCX Config 3+3 3+3 2+2 2+2 n/a n/a n/a
Base Frequency 3.6GHz 3.2GHz 3.5GHz 3.2GHz 3.8GHz 3.0GHz 4.2GHz
Boost Frequency 4.0GHz 3.6GHz 3.7GHz 3.4GHz 4.2GHz 3.5GHz n/a
Maximum Frequency 4.1GHz (100MHz XFR) 3.7GHz (100MHz XFR) 3.9GHz (200MHz XFR) 3.45GHz (50MHz XFR) n/a n/a n/a
Unlocked Core Multiplier Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x1 granularity) No Yes (x1 granularity)
Total Cache 16MB L3 + 3MB L2 16MB L3 + 3MB L2 16MB L3 + 2MB L2 8MB L3 + 2MB L2 6MB L3 + 1MB L2 6MB L3 + 1MB L2 4MB L3 + 0.5MB L2
PCIe Lanes 16+4+4 16+4+4 16+4+4 16+4+4 16 16 16
CPU Socket AM4 AM4 AM4 AM4 LGA 1151 LGA 1151 LGA 1151
Manufacturing Process 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm
TDP 95W 65W 65W 65W 91W 65W 60W
CPU Cooler n/a Wraith Spire (no LED) Wraith Spire (no LED) Wraith Stealth (no LED) n/a Intel E97379-003 (Al slug) n/a
MSRP $249 $219 $189 $169 $242 $182 $168-179
UK Street Price £249.99 £219.99 £189.99 £169.99 Approx. £230 Approx. £170 Approx. £170

On the face of it, Ryzen 5 1500X looks to be worthy of its $20 premium over the 1400 thanks to higher frequencies, double the L3 cache, and a better included cooler.

Prime competition on the Intel side comes from multiplier-locked Core i5-7500 and Core i5-7400 processors, depending on selling prices in retailers. They are quad-core Kaby Lake parts without any form of additional multi-threading.

For more information regarding Ryzen and the AM4 platform, read our launch review for the Ryzen 7 1800X HERE. You can also read our Ryzen 7 1700 review HERE and the Ryzen 7 1700X review HERE.

For further analysis regarding the platform and chipset capabilities of Ryzen and AM4, you can read our Ryzen 5 1600X coverage.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Chillblast Fusion Hex (Ryzen R5 1600) System Review https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/dominic-moass/chillblast-fusion-hex-ryzen-r5-1600-system-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/dominic-moass/chillblast-fusion-hex-ryzen-r5-1600-system-review/#comments Tue, 11 Apr 2017 13:00:24 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=329270 Chillblast has sent us a £1319.99 Ryzen 5 1600 system for launch day - just how good is it?

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Today marks the launch of the new Ryzen 5 line of processors from AMD. If you've been living under a rock for the past month, these are the cheaper hex-core and quad-core chips that slot in under Ryzen 7 in the family hierarchy. Chillblast were very quick to send us a system based on the Ryzen 5 1600, and when coupled with a GTX 1070, could this be a real winner?

The Chillblast Fusion Hex is definitely the most affordable PC with a hex-core processor I have seen in a long while. Priced at £1319.99, this system has the potential to be a winner with those who want to game as well as run multi-threaded software. Read on for our full review, including a look at the system itself, analysis of its computational performance, and how it runs some of the latest games.

Specification

  • Cooler Master MasterBox 5T Case – Black & Red
  • Gigabyte GA-AB350-Gaming 3 Motherboard
  • AMD Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, 6 Cores, 3.2 – 3.6GHz
  • Cooler Master MasterLiquid 120 CPU Cooler
  • Corsair 2x8GB DDR4 2400MHz Memory
  • Zotac GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Graphics Card
  • 250GB Samsung 960 EVO M.2 PCIe Solid State Drive
  • Seagate 2TB BarraCuda 7200RPM Hard Disk
  • Cooler Master MasterWatt Lite 80 PLUS White 600W PSU
  • Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • 5 Year Warranty, 2 Years Collect & Return

Price: £1319.99

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Ryzen 5 1600 performance showcased in early review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/paul-taylor/ryzen-5-1600-performance-showcased-in-early-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/paul-taylor/ryzen-5-1600-performance-showcased-in-early-review/#comments Wed, 05 Apr 2017 19:28:50 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=328939 It looks like someone broke the Ryzen 5 street date as a Spanish site this week published an early review for the Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, using a retail sample obtained prior to the official release. The review is fairly comprehensive too, showing AMD's affordable 6-core in a wide range of benchmark tests. Unbound by the …

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It looks like someone broke the Ryzen 5 street date as a Spanish site this week published an early review for the Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, using a retail sample obtained prior to the official release. The review is fairly comprehensive too, showing AMD's affordable 6-core in a wide range of benchmark tests.

Unbound by the restraints of non-disclosure, Iván Martinez of elchapuzasinformatico.com,  took the retail version of the Ryzen 5 1600 through the paces and saw some interesting results, further confirming that AMD's Ryzen has its good and its bad sides. First thing's first: the Ryzen 5 1600 is not the highest-performing chip in the AMD Ryzen 5 stable. Sitting shy of the top SKU (the 1600X), the 1600 clocks in at 3.2GHz, with 3.6GHz boost and, as a two-CCX design, it carries the full 16MB of L3 cache that we can see on the higher-end Ryzen 7 CPUs. The chip comes rated at 65W. The reviewed unit came equipped with an AMD Wraith cooler.

Facing off against several Core i7 and i5 CPUs, as well as a Ryzen 7 1700X, the Ryzen 5 1600 seems to provide some amount of surprise, in particular against its Ryzen 7 big brother, generally matching its performance core-for-core. In purely synthetic benchmarks like wPrime and CPU-Z, which leverage the number of cores, the Ryzen 5 scored well above Intel's quadcores, but naturally fell short of the 8-core/16-thread 1700X.

The review confirmed that benchmarks that rely on core count revealed the true power of the CPU, with its 6 cores / 12 threads really pulling ahead of Intel in just about every scenario, while memory benchmarks showed some dodgy latency (several levels worse than some A8 and A10 APUs and almost twice as much as an i7-4770K) with average read/write speeds. 1080p gaming revealed a competitive, albeit lower overall, performance than the Intel offering. 4K gaming did level out the playing field by putting the load on the GPU, making the CPU hardly break a sweat and generally proved that 4K is irrelevant (right now) to demonstrate Ryzen's CPU performance. You can find the graphs below, sourced from elchapuzoinformatico.com:

There is one serious caveat to take into consideration in the review: the reviewer, despite his best intentions, had to lower the RAM speed to get four slots to work together, and user testing has proved that memory speed and latency hold a huge sway on performance on Ryzen. The biggest hurdle for AMD right now stems from the partner boards which are still below par when it comes to memory support (in this case an MSI X370 XPower Gaming Titanium).

Finally, the site also confirmed the release date (April 11th), and the pricing for the entire Ryzen 5 family (in Euros), estimating an approximate upmark of 15% over US pricing:

  • Ryzen 5 1600X will cost 285 Euros
  • Ryzen 5 1600 will cost 249.95 Euros
  • Ryzen 5 1500 will cost 215 Euros
  • Ryzen 5 1400 will cost 195 Euros

KitGuru Says: While the review is just one of many that will soon hit the web, it does offer some idea of the bang-for-your-buck ratio. The fact that the reviewer was challenged by the DDR4-2400, seems to indicate that the review was conducted in sub-optimal conditions and shouldn't be the be-all-end-all of the Ryzen 5 reviews. We might see huge performance gains as board partners improve memory support. At the end of the day, this is a 250 Euro CPU which is performing on par with Intel's own offers.

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UK pricing for Ryzen 5 CPUs revealed https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/uk-pricing-for-ryzen-5-cpus-revealed/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/uk-pricing-for-ryzen-5-cpus-revealed/#comments Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:25:41 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=325787 This week, AMD officially announced its Ryzen 5 processor lineup, with plans to start rolling out the new six core and quad core SKUs on the 11th of April. These CPUs include the Ryzen 5 1600X, 1600, 1500X and 1400, and while US pricing was announced at the time, we didn't have confirmed pricing, until …

The post UK pricing for Ryzen 5 CPUs revealed first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
This week, AMD officially announced its Ryzen 5 processor lineup, with plans to start rolling out the new six core and quad core SKUs on the 11th of April. These CPUs include the Ryzen 5 1600X, 1600, 1500X and 1400, and while US pricing was announced at the time, we didn't have confirmed pricing, until today.

As shown over on the retail store CCL Online, Ryzen 5 UK pricing will be as follows:

  • Ryzen 5 1600X- £249.99.
  • Ryzen 5 1600- £219.99.
  • Ryzen 5 1500X- £189.99.
  • Ryzen 5 1400- £169.99.

This is essentially the same as the US dollar amount for each CPU. However, one thing to note is that our pricing includes VAT, where as US pricing does not, since sales tax differs from state to state over there.

If you want a more in depth look at Ryzen 5 and the technology behind the chip itself, then you can find our initial coverage, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Ryzen 5 is looking very promising and its pricing puts it in direct competition with Intel's Core i5 lineup, alongside some of the more expensive Core i3s, like the 7350K. It will certainly be interesting to see reviews once they land. 

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AMD Ryzen 5 Inbound: 6C12T and 4C8T CPUs Launch April 11th https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-inbound-6c12t-and-4c8t-cpus-launch-april-11th/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-5-inbound-6c12t-and-4c8t-cpus-launch-april-11th/#comments Thu, 16 Mar 2017 02:01:56 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=325410 AMD has announced its Ryzen 5 processors which will be launched and on shelves from April 11th 2017 in the form of two 4C8T parts and two 6C12T SKUs. Pricing will range from $169 to $249 USD, with the Ryzen 5 flagship 6C12T 1600X featuring a Precision Boost clock frequency up to 4.0GHz. After the …

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AMD has announced its Ryzen 5 processors which will be launched and on shelves from April 11th 2017 in the form of two 4C8T parts and two 6C12T SKUs. Pricing will range from $169 to $249 USD, with the Ryzen 5 flagship 6C12T 1600X featuring a Precision Boost clock frequency up to 4.0GHz.

After the disruption that Ryzen 7 has caused to the high-end prosumer market, taking on Intel's vastly more expensive HEDT LGA 2011-3 processors, AMD is aiming to lay its stamp in the more popular sub-$300 segment. According to the Austin-based chip vendor, twice as many people choose CPUs at a sub-$300 price point than at higher levels. Simply put, AMD is trying to disrupt the sub-$300 processor landscape by putting 4C8T parts up against higher-clocked 2C4T Core i3 SKUs and 6C12T offerings against Intel's 4C4T Core i5 range.

In addition to Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT), Ryzen 5 CPUs still have AMD's SenseMI goodies baked in. That gives the chips access to features such as Precision Boost and Extended Frequency Range (XFR) that allow increased clock speeds under the relevant usage scenarios. Unsurprisingly, the processors also use the same AM4 platform as higher-end Ryzen 7 parts, making them compatible with the current crop of X370, B350, and A320 chipset motherboards, in addition to X300 and A300 offerings when they arrive.

AMD is expecting Ryzen 5 chips to be paired with the more value-orientated B350 motherboards that still support overclocking, allowing Ryzen 5's unlocked CPU frequency multiplier to be put to good use. Of course, there's also no reason why the chips cannot be paired with a high-end X370 motherboard with a strong power delivery solution for enhanced overclocking.

CPU AMD Ryzen 7 1700 AMD Ryzen 5 1600X AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AMD Ryzen 5 1500X AMD Ryzen 5 1400 Intel Core i5-7600K Intel Core i3-7350K
CPU Codename Zen Zen Zen Zen Zen Kaby Lake Kaby Lake
Core / Threads
8 / 16 6 / 12 6 / 12 4 / 8 4 / 8 4 / 4 2 / 4
Base Frequency 3.0GHz 3.6GHz 3.2GHz 3.5GHz 3.2GHz 3.8GHz 4.2GHz
Boost Frequency 3.7GHz 4.0GHz 3.6GHz 3.7GHz 3.4GHz 4.2GHz n/a
Maximum Frequency 3.75GHz (50MHz XFR) TBC (likely 100MHz XFR) TBC (likely 50MHz or 100MHz XFR) 3.9GHz (200MHz XFR) TBC (likely 50MHz XFR) n/a n/a
Unlocked Core Multiplier Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x0.25 granularity) Yes (x1 granularity) Yes (x1 granularity)
Total Cache 16MB L3 + 4MB L2 16MB L3 + 3MB L2 16MB L3 + 3MB L2 16MB L3 + 2MB L2 8MB L3 + 2MB L2 6MB L3 + 1MB L2 4MB L3 + 0.5MB L2
PCIe Lanes 16+4+4 16+4+4 16+4+4 16+4+4 16+4+4 16 16
CPU Socket AM4 AM4 AM4 AM4 AM4 LGA 1151 LGA 1151
Manufacturing Process 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm
TDP 65W 95W 65W 65W 65W 91W 60W
CPU Cooler Wraith Spire (LED) n/a Wraith Spire (no LED) Wraith Spire (no LED) Wraith Stealth (no LED) n/a n/a
MSRP $329 $249 $219 $189 $169 $242 $168-179
UK Street Price Approx. £330 Estimated £250 Estimated £220 Estimated £190 Estimated £170 Approx. £230 Approx. £170

Note: Table updated at 11am 16/03/2017 following additional information from AMD.

Ryzen 5 1600X is the only 95W TDP part in the current Ryzen 5 line-up. This is a factor of its clock speeds which are as high as the flagship 8C16T Ryzen 7 1800X at 3.6GHz Base, 4.0GHz Boost, and probably 4.1GHz XFR (yet to be confirmed by AMD). The pair of 6C12T Ryzen 5 SKUs look to sandwich Intel's 4C4T Core i5-7600K in terms of pricing.

Ryzen 5 1500X is interesting as AMD confirmed in its briefing that the part will feature 200MHz of XFR headroom rather than the typical 100MHz for X-suffix SKUs.

We asked AMD how the Ryzen 5 6C12T parts will be deployed from a design standpoint but we are yet to receive a reply. The six-core design will require two CPU Complexes (CCX) but AMD looks to have the option to disable one core per CCX or two cores on a single CCX. This choice may relate to yield of the four-core CCX modules or perhaps distribution of thermal energy within the die. Ryzen 5 six-core parts will have full access to the 8MB shared pool of L3 cache on each CCX, though the two disabled/removed cores will take their 512KB of L2 cache with them. This information is yet to be confirmed by AMD.

Update 16/03/2017: AMD has confirmed to us that the Ryzen 5 six-core processors will be a 3+3 design both with the full total of 16MB L3 cache and 512KB L2 Cache per core (3MB in total).

Depending on how the six-core chip is enabled, we may see a journey back to the old days for AMD users where there is an ability to unlock the disabled cores through the motherboard BIOS. That was a lot of fun for Phenom II users who could turn a dual- or tri-core into a full-fat quad.

The 4C8T Ryzen 5 1500X and 1400 are likely to use a single CCX without the need for data transfer across the Infinity Fabric. This could aid performance, perhaps in gaming, where the latency penalty incurred by inter-CCX communications may be having a negative influence on performance. The four-core parts are likely to be equipped with 8MB of shared L3 cache and 512KB of L2 cache dedicated to each of the four cores.

Update 16/03/2017: AMD has confirmed to us that the Ryzen 5 four-core processors will be a 2+2 design using a pair of CCX. Ryzen 5 1500X gets the full total of 16MB L3 cache (!) and 512KB L2 Cache per core (2MB in total). Whereas Ryzen 5 1400 gets 8MB of L3 cache and 512KB of L2 Cache per core (2MB in total). The dual CCX design will still rely upon Infinity Fabric for inter-CCX communications and data transfer.

AMD will be bundling Wraith CPU coolers with the three 65W TDP Ryzen 5 parts. Ryzen 5 1600 and 1500X get the same Wraith Spire that is bundled with the Ryzen 7 1700, though it does not feature the LED lighting of the Ryzen 7 version. We tested Wraith Spire with the Ryzen 7 1700 and found it to offer solid performance with capability for a moderate overclock. Wraith Stealth will be bundled with the Ryzen 5 1400 CPU.

Ryzen 5 processors will launch and be available to buy on April 11th 2017. AMD also confirmed that Ryzen 3 is scheduled for the second half of 2017.

KitGuru Says: Ryzen 5 is AMD's weapon to shake up the sub-$300 processor market. With pricing that puts Ryzen 5 in competition with Core i3 and Core i5 CPUs, it will be interesting to see the performance on offer. Are you excited to see a six-core, twelve-thread processor available for a little over £200?

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AMD’s Ryzen 5 Six Core CPUs said to be coming in Q2 https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/matthew-wilson/amds-ryzen-5-six-core-cpus-said-to-be-coming-in-q2/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/matthew-wilson/amds-ryzen-5-six-core-cpus-said-to-be-coming-in-q2/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2017 23:20:23 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=322951 This week, AMD officially announced pricing for its high-end Ryzen 7 processors, with three different SKUs set to roll out starting at £319.99 and going up to £489.99 all set to disrupt Intel's Core i7 lineup. However, not everyone has £300+ to spend on processors, so quite a few are waiting on mid-tier Ryzen 5 …

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This week, AMD officially announced pricing for its high-end Ryzen 7 processors, with three different SKUs set to roll out starting at £319.99 and going up to £489.99 all set to disrupt Intel's Core i7 lineup. However, not everyone has £300+ to spend on processors, so quite a few are waiting on mid-tier Ryzen 5 CPUs. While AMD's press event the other day lacked details on those, it is now believed that Six Core/12 Thread Ryzen 5 CPUs will arrive over the Summer.

An image from the recent Ryzen tech day is making the rounds, showing a presentation slide displaying Ryzen 7 coming on the 2nd of March, Ryzen 5 coming in Q2 and Ryzen 3 coming in the second half of the year. The image is quite small so you will need to zoom in a bit to read it properly.

 

If AMD is planning on a Q2 rollout for Ryzen 5, then we can expect a release sometime between April and June, though it may lean more towards June to give Ryzen 7 some breathing room. Waiting until June also means AMD could use Computex as a launch platform.

As we saw in previous leaks/rumours, AMD's Ryzen 5 processors are likely going to take on the likes of the Core i5 but with six cores and 12 threads. These CPUs would also be overclockable and use AMD's Hyper Threading alternative. We are unsure on pricing but prior rumours claimed the Ryzen 5 1600x would cost $259 meanwhile the lowest end Ryzen 5 1500 sitting at $229. Quad core Ryzen 3 CPUs would then flesh out the rest of the lineup and hit lower price points.

KitGuru Says: There is a lot of excitement surrounding the Ryzen launch and while plenty will be shelling out for the high-end Ryzen 7, we know quite a few of our readers are waiting on the cheaper Ryzen 5 CPUs before upgrading. How much would you be willing to spend on a Ryzen 5 CPU? What do you think of AMD's pricing so far?

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