AMD RYZEN 5 5500 6-Core 3.6 GHz AM4 CPU

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a six-core, twelve-thread Zen 3 processor for the AM4 platform, built for budget gaming and everyday desktop work. It runs at a 3.6 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.2 GHz, with 16 MB of L3 cache and a 65 W TDP that keeps thermals and power draw modest.

Because it uses the Cezanne die with the integrated graphics disabled, a discrete graphics card is required — and its PCIe interface is Gen 3 rather than Gen 4, so pair it with a graphics card and SSD where that isn’t a limitation. In exchange it is one of the most affordable routes onto Zen 3, and it drops into the huge existing range of AM4 motherboards, including B450 and B550 boards after a BIOS update.

The multiplier is unlocked for overclocking on B- and X-series boards, and the boxed processor includes AMD’s Wraith Stealth cooler, so it is ready to build with out of the box.