AMD Ryzen 5000 Series CPUs are back, but why?
Jan. 10, 2024Pro-consumer, or a jab at Intel?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
It’s sort of like if Intel went back to its 11th Gen family (which doesn’t use its current architecture) and decided to give it an update with four new processors.
More than that, I do slightly despise the fact that for so many PC gamers, an upgrade to the latest and greatest parts is all too often locked behind new motherboard architecture. Simply put, it means they’ll have to fork out on a completely new set of components that, quite honestly, won’t give them the performance boost that their sometimes obscene price tags should give them.
On the other hand, though, this isn’t exactly a great move for current buyers. Older motherboards that use the 5000 series architecture aren’t compatible with DDR5 RAM, future GPUs with PCIe Gen 5 support, or indeed Gen 5 SSDs. So, in buying one of these updated 5000 Series chips you’re not exactly futureproofing yourself. It’s a bit like if a cul-de-sac got one more house built at the bottom of it. There’s now more to the street you live on, but it’s still ultimately a dead-end.
I suppose to assess true value, we need to look at some specs.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
But even then, these new entries don’t make a whole lot of sense. The new Ryzen 7 57000X3D almost matches up with an Intel Core i5-12600K, but that Intel chip gives you access to DDR5 and two more cores. For its sins, the 12600K is often found around the same $250 asking price, and the same goes for an AMD Ryzen 7 7700, which is usually around the $300 mark. So again, why would you shoot yourself in the foot with a purchase of the new 5000 Series options?
Is AMD simply taking a jab at Intel here so that they both technically have three generations of desktop processors on the go at the same time?
Well, there is always the argument that these chips will be targeted at the people who already have compatible AMD systems and have no interest in moving to a DDR5-compatible machine yet. These new 5000 Series chips are built with Zen 3 architecture and fit into an AM4 motherboard socket. Depending on how old your PC is, this could bring an unexpected upgrade to a machine that previously seemed dead in the water. Imagine having a Ryzen 5 3500 CPU with Vega Graphics (which I used to use on a daily basis), and learning that there are now four brand new CPUs coming out that will provide you with a genuine upgrade. You wouldn’tneedto buy a whole new PC after all.
For that reason, this is a generous and quite brilliant move by AMD. This is the sort of move that breeds brand loyalty - something that Intel has fallen short of in recent years.
All in all, it’s great to see a celebration of the Ryzen 5000 Series. While AMD tries to see just how long it can keep its longevity going, I will applaud support for an aging motherboard socket. Without support for thebest RAM for gamingthough, I’m left questioning how long they’ll be viable. While a certain subset of gamers might be happy with a small budget-buy upgrade, if they’re going to spend money on components, I’d always recommend thinking as long-term as possible.
In Association with ROG Ally
For more, check out thebest gaming laptop, thebest computer speakers, and thebest gaming monitor.
One of my earliest memories is playing SuperMario64 and wondering why the controller I held had three grips, but I only had two hands. Ever since I’ve been in love with video games and their technology. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship at Expert Reviews. Over the last decade, I’ve been managing my ownYouTube channelabout my love of games too. These days, I’m one of the resident hardware nerds at GamesRadar+, and I take the lead on our coverage of gaming PCs, VR, controllers, gaming chairs, and content creation gear. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.Location: UK Remote
My favorite Elgato gadget ever has just been given the Black Friday treatment
Audiophiles, content creators, and control freaks, Rode has the best Black Friday deal for you
Todd Howard “rolled his eyes” at the idea of Troy Baker playing Indiana Jones in the Great Circle, but the Bethesda boss later told him “you’re doing a hell of a job”
