The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D brings together the formidable power of the AMD AM4 generation CPUs with the exciting capabilities of 3D V-cache technology.

Don’t let the age of the AM4 platform fool you, though. Despite being six years old, it continues to offer exceptional value at an affordable price, making it a strong choice for budget-conscious setups. A lot of this comes down to its compatibility with reasonably priced DDR4 memory. AMD has pledged to continue supporting this platform for budget-tailored systems, which is reassuring. Creating microchips is an imperfect process. You always get some partially defective parts that can’t quite operate as expected, and this undoubtedly happened when AMD was producing the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, too. These imperfect chips may not quite have been fast enough to pass for Ryzen 7 5800X3D processors, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t functional enough to be marketed as something else, like the Ryzen 5 5600X3D. The Ryzen 5 5600X3D removes Intel’s pricing advantage for DDR4-equipped Core i5-13400 systems, but, alas, only for a limited time. Micro Center’s 5600X3D bundle is an exceptional deal that slightly undercuts the overall pricing for the DDR4-equipped Core i5-13400 configuration, but it offers significantly more performance than the Intel setup, thus yielding better cost-per-fps metrics.

The fact that the Ryzen 5 5600X3D is such a capable gaming processor only sweetens the pot. Tom’s Hardware points out that this chip “delivers 95% of the 5800X3D’s gaming performance for 20% less cash.” In other words, if you’re working on a budget PC build, this CPU seems like a solid option. For as long as I can remember, I've had love of all things tech, spurred on, in part, by a love of gaming. I began working on computers owned by immediate family members and relatives when I was around 10 years old. I've always sought to learn as much as possible about anything PC, leading to a well-rounded grasp on all things tech today. In my role at PCMag, I greatly enjoy the opportunity to share what I know.

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D averaged 301.4 fps. That puts it just below the (much more expensive) Core i9-13900K, which hit 304 fps. Three AMD chips are topping the scoreboard: the Ryzen 9 7950X with 305 fps; the Ryzen 7 5800X3D with 332 fps, and finally, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D with 385 fps. Every single one of those processors costs a whole lot more than the 5600X3D. The Ryzen 5 5600X3D overall didn’t use noticeably less power than other AMD processors. The Ryzen 5 7600 consumed just a few watts more in our Cinebench test and a few watts less in the Adobe Premiere test. This AMD's power consumption was notably a lot lower than the competing Intel chips, though. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D is poised to become a desirable choice for gaming enthusiasts. With its attractive pricing, robust specifications, and impressive performance, it holds great potential to breathe new life into the AM4 platform. As for thermals, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D remained relatively cool during our tests, peaking at 78 degrees C. This is a hotter operating temp than a few competing chips, like the Core i5-12600K and the Ryzen 7 7700, but it was lower than the newer Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 5 7600X. Verdict: A Processor Out of Time

Verdict: A Processor Out of Time

The processors included in the charts below were tested using one of three different platforms depending on whether the chip in question was an Intel processor, an AMD AM4 processor, or an AMD AM5 processor. Using the same motherboard for all chips obviously wasn’t possible due to compatibility issues, but the rest of the hardware used for testing was standardized.

If the 5600X3D performs as expected, that would yield an impressive fps-per-dollar metric that easily outstrips a system built around the Core i5-13400, despite their similar pricing. However, the 5600X3D does have two fewer cores than the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and that chip already trails the Core i5-13400 in application benchmarks (particularly in single-threaded applications). Also, all the usual caveats of the 3D V-Cache technology will apply — this tech results in reduced performance in some productivity apps and doesn’t accelerate all games, so you'll need to ensure that it fits your needs. We haven’t been told of any specific cooler recommendations, but given the TDP rating, it likely requires a 240mm liquid cooler like the 105W Ryzen 7 5800X3D." In these tests, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D managed a few exceedingly small wins. In 3DMark Time Spy, the processor was once again the slowest in the charts, but in F1 22 it managed to beat out several other chips with slightly better performance at 1080p. It wasn’t the fastest option in the list, but the Ryzen 5 5600X3D did beat the Ryzen 7 5700X for a change, as well as the Ryzen 5 7800X3D and several others. This boost was present at 2K and 4K resolutions as well.

Binned Chips With Extra Cache

Overall, Gamers Nexus found that the chip was 39% faster than the Ryzen 5 5600X in the Tomb Raider benchmark, but 10% slower than the 5800X3D. Gamers Nexus / YouTube Primarily, this is a gaming-focused chip, so I spent the most time looking at its gaming performance. In this case, I played several games on it, as well as using my standard battery of built-in benchmark tests to get comparable numbers. The continued success of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D has found many AMD users upgrading older systems instead of making the jump to Zen 4 and the pricier new AM5/DDR5 platform, which obviously could lead one to think that AMD is cannibalizing its own flagship product line with a superior lower-cost chip. In most cases, this has actually kept early Ryzen adopters on an AMD platform instead of them jumping ship to Intel’s newer Raptor Lake platforms.

As for thermals, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D remained relatively cool during our tests, peaking at 78 degrees C. This is a hotter operating temp than a few competing chips, like the Core i5-12600K and the Ryzen 7 7700, but it was lower than the newer Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 5 7600X. With newer processors already on the market, I didn’t expect to see AMD ship any more Ryzen 5000 Series processors with 3D V-Cache. Regardless, it seems that AMD decided it was worthwhile to ship one more, even though it’s a relatively limited release. At the same time, though, I find sound logic behind AMD’s decision to release the new Ryzen 5 5600X3D now. The Intel Core i5-13400 is 35% faster in threaded applications and 26% faster in single-threaded work than the 5600X3D, highlighting that it’s the far better choice if you’re looking for an all-rounder in this price range.The ongoing popularity of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D has led to a significant trend among AMD users, who are opting to upgrade their existing systems with this processor rather than transitioning to the more expensive Zen 4 and the new AM5/DDR5 platform. At first glance, one might assume that AMD is undermining its own flagship product line by introducing a superior, lower-cost chip.