Is AMD Ryzen good for gaming? This has been a pretty common question since the initial launch of the Ryzen series in 2017. Even today, there can be legitimate debates launched when AMD fails to compete with Intel in some way. To properly answer the question, we need to dive into the details of how AMD has competed with Intel in the CPU space, in recent years ousting it as far as value for money.
Also helpful: if you’re comparing processors to find the best option, consider our AMD vs. Intel CPU comparison, as well as our list of the best gaming CPUs.
AMD’s Meteoric Rise
First, let’s talk about why people used to think AMD CPUs weren’t good for gaming. There was a time when this was definitely true. The pre-Ryzen era of AMD was defined by a limited socket and constant reuse of the same basic CPU architecture for each generation.
Before Zen/Ryzen, AMD’s released and iterated architecture was called Bulldozer. Bulldozer’s big innovation, when it launched in 2011, was superb multi-core performance. The issue was that games and most applications at the time weren’t particularly well-optimized to use multiple CPU cores yet. This was worsened when Intel had market-leading per-core CPU performance, which they didn’t lose for many years.
It goes to show how dangerous a fundamental CPU architecture rework can really be. Bulldozer improved with its iterations, but it never caught up to Intel in gaming performance, at least until 2017.
Tip: building a gaming PC isn’t as simple as it sounds, so be sure to avoid mistakes with common gaming PC parts when selecting your build.
How the Ryzen Launch Changed That
Back in 2017, Ryzen and its new Zen architecture arrived just in time for AMD. Intel, having not been faced with competition in years, lazily refreshed its own architecture and increased its pricing pretty much on a whim.
When Ryzen launched, it absolutely blew away Intel in price-for-performance at every price range. AMD had improved multi-core performance, and the single-core performance was now within enough swinging range of Intel’s that Ryzen CPUs finally became good for gaming. With game engines well-optimized for multiple cores, Ryzen 5 CPUs could even pull ahead of Intel Core i5 CPUs completely, making them the best if you were playing something like Crysis 3, with an industry-leading game engine.
Is AMD Ryzen Good For Gaming Today?
There are still games where Intel and AMD trade blows, but AMD Ryzen is absolutely good for gaming today! Newer generations of Ryzen have further improved upon single-core performance and pricing per core. As of mid-2023, AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series CPUs and the previous-gen Ryzen 5000 chips offer tremendous gaming performance. Both new PC builders and those looking for an upgrade have a great value proposition from AMD Ryzen CPUs.
Our CPU buying guide recommends AMD’s Ryzen 5 7600X and Ryzen 7 7700X for gamers. Although Intel’s Core i5-13600K performs better than both of these CPUs, it currently costs much more, and AMD’s AM5 platform offers greater longevity and more accessible tools for overclocking.
Before the launch of Intel’s 13th Gen lineup, Intel CPUs only maintained a marginal lead in games extremely reliant on single-thread performance, and even that had diminishing returns past 120 Hz gaming. A few years ago, Intel had a greater lead in that field, and as things stand, Intel seems to have regained the gaming as well as productivity crown across all price points. But benchmarks aside, AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs are easily churning out comparable performance to Intel’s 13th Gen chips.
So yes, Ryzen CPUs are undoubtedly great for gaming today. In fact, two current-gen consoles, the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally, use custom AMD Ryzen CPUs.
Good to know: the Steam Deck can serve as a replacement for a gaming PC.
The Best AMD CPUs For Gaming
Let’s talk about the Ryzen desktop CPUs that you can get for your PC build. We’ve created a list of present-day Ryzen CPUs based on various budgets and build requirements.
1. Best Ryzen APU: Ryzen 5 5600G
- Cores: 6
- Threads: 12
- Rated Frequency: 3.9 GHz (4.4 GHz boost)
- Integrated Graphics: Vega 7
- Price: $140
The Ryzen 5 5600G is one of AMD’s latest, greatest desktop APUs.
The reason you would want to get an APU rather than a traditional gaming CPU, like those listed below, is that you can’t find a graphics card or don’t want to buy a cheap one that you’ll get rid of anyway. An APU’s integrated graphics can be a great stopgap, especially if you don’t mind playing at 1080p medium settings to get high framerates.
And once you’ve added a discrete GPU, if that’s the goal, you still have a fairly powerful, modern Ryzen CPU that’s on the same architecture as the other Ryzen 5000 CPUs. This CPU with a discrete GPU will be more than enough for pushing 100+ FPS in the majority of games – even at high settings.
The Ryzen 7 5700G is technically the superior chip with its 8 cores and 16 threads, but it’s priced much higher than the 5600G, while not offering any significant performance gains in gaming.
2. Best Budget Ryzen Gaming CPU: Ryzen 5 5600X
- Cores: 6
- Threads: 12
- Rated Frequency: 3.7 GHz (4.6 GHz boost)
- Price: $149
The Ryzen 5 5600X has excellent multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, beating Intel’s now-costlier Core i5-12400F in gaming performance (though it’s just a little behind in raw performance). While CPUs don’t usually directly boost FPS at higher resolutions, a good CPU won’t hold a good GPU back from delivering maximum FPS, and with the 5600X, you can expect largely unfettered performance for a great price.
There is no discrete GPU here, but there is more than enough raw CPU power for quality gaming if you install a decent graphics card.
Also helpful: if you’re in the market for a new graphics card, consult our GPU buying guide before making a selection.
3. Best Mid-Range Ryzen Gaming CPU: Ryzen 5 7600X
- Cores: 6
- Threads: 12
- Rated Frequency: 4.7 GHz (5.3 GHz boost)
- Price: $240
The Ryzen 5 7600X is the ideal mid-range gaming CPU. Based on AMD’s latest Zen 4 architecture, it’s more than enough for 1440p high-refresh-rate gaming in the latest games and can even push ridiculously high FPS in more lightweight titles (like Fortnite and CS: GO). Besides having 6 cores and 12 threads, what really sets the 7600X apart is its Zen 4 architecture, which delivers massive uplift on the already-impressive Zen 3 performance.
With the recent price cuts on Ryzen CPUs, Intel’s previously impressive Core i5-13600K is losing its sheen. The single-core performance margin has never been thinner than with this generation of Ryzen CPUs, and once you account for pricing, the 7600X becomes a nearly unbeatable gaming CPU.
4. Best High-End Ryzen Gaming CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Rated Frequency: 4.2 GHz (5 GHz boost)
- Price: $449
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a gaming CPU for those who want to push the highest in-game framerates. Equipped with AMD’s 3D V-Cache that’s designed to maximize gaming performance, the 7800X3D handily beats even the Core i9-13900K. While the highest-end Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU exists with double the cores, the actual performance difference it makes in modern games is minimal due to the limitations of current game engines.
An overkill 7950X3D would be helpful for a gamer when they are also a content creator and need all the CPU horsepower they can get. But truthfully, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D should also work well for that purpose.
You’re reaching the practical limit for raw CPU performance in modern games – and pretty sensibly, since the current-gen consoles are based on the older Zen 2 architecture with 8 cores – but a much lower power limit and weaker GPU.
Get the Ryzen 9 if it catches your fancy or you anticipate high-performance, professional workloads. Otherwise, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is currently the best place to stop when looking for the best AMD CPU for gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CPU cores do I need for gaming?
If you’re trying to achieve 60 FPS in the latest games, a modern six-core Ryzen 5 CPU should do the trick. You’ll want an eight-core processor with excellent single-core performance for higher framerates. Ryzen 7 should prove capable of slightly improved FPS, and Ryzen 9 for gaming and other, more demanding workloads.
Does multi-threading impact gaming performance?
Multi-threading used to be inconsequential for gaming performance in the majority of cases. But that’s not the case anymore. Modern games demand at least 6 core CPUs equipped with 12 threads. As game engines become more advanced, and more complex gamer worlds are brought to life, multithreading will only become more important for gaming performance.
Can I overclock a Ryzen CPU?
Yes! All Ryzen CPUs on desktops and laptops can be overclocked. However, be careful on laptops due to thermal restrictions, and consider upgrading your cooling on your desktop. Overclocking goes hand in hand with maintaining great cooling and performing regular PC maintenance. Check out our handy guide to overclocking and undervolting AMD Ryzen CPUs.
What is an APU? Why should I get one?
An APU is an AMD term for an integrated CPU and graphics chip on the same die. Some fundamental differences tie APU performance to RAM speed, enabling more tangible improvements when overclocking RAM with a Ryzen processor.
Are Intel CPUs better than AMD CPUs?
At the highest end of multi-core performance, it’s no question at all: AMD dominates with Threadripper. But that likely isn’t the kind of performance you’re looking for.
In the more mainstream category of processors, Intel CPUs offer better performance across all workloads, including gaming. However, due to frequent price changes, the value proposition might keep shifting between AMD and Intel.
A competing AMD CPU can be a viable alternative if you can’t get your hands on an Intel CPU. With AM5, AMD is offering a better upgrade path to users willing to buy the relatively costlier AMD motherboards rather than going with Intel. But Intel is known to refresh its socket every year and will do the same when it launches the follow-up to its LGA1700 socket.
Image credit: Flickr
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