Which AMD CPU offers the best value for budget builds?

Question

Which AMD CPU is actually worth the money right now for a budget build because frankly im losing my mind comparing these specs. Ive been building rigs for like ten years but the current pricing is just all over the place. Currently stuck in the UK and need something under 150 quid for a 1080p gaming station I wanna get finished by next weekend.

Everything I look at either feels like a bottleneck or a massive waste of cash. Is the 5600 still the go to king or should I be looking at the 8500G instead? Seriously so tired of these weird price jumps on local sites...

WindRunner · Accepted Answer

Just catching up on this thread. Like someone mentioned, the 5600 is popular, but if you want to stretch your budget for a newer architecture, there are other paths. Tbh, if you have a bit more room, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 6-Core 3.8GHz is worth a look. Yeah, it goes over the 150 mark, but the AM5 platform longevity is the real selling point here.The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 6-Core 3.8GHz gives you DDR5 support and a much better upgrade path for future GPUs.Alternatively, if you need to stick strictly to budget hardware, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 6-Core 3.6GHz is basically a cheaper 5600 without PCIe 4.0, which works fine for entry-level 1080p gaming. Don't let the specs overwhelm you. The 5500 is a decent option if money is tight, but definitely look at the 7600 if you want to keep the board a few years.

JimmyKeery · Answer

Honestly, skip the 8500G if you have a dedicated GPU. I put the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6-Core 3.5GHz in my nephew's rig back in the spring and it has been rock solid. I dont know why people keep overcomplicating things with newer chips when this thing is still a beast for 1080p gaming. It runs super cool and I have had absolutely zero complaints since the build was finished. It just works well, you know? Plus, it is way under your budget so you can put the extra cash toward a better cooler or more storage. I have been building these things for ages and honestly, this specific chip is just the most reliable choice right now. You really cant go wrong here.