It is no secret thatAMD’sAM4 platform has been very well-received by gamers and productivity users, especially those targeting a value purchase over the last decade. This has resulted in a plethora of people needing to upgrade or having a CPU that needs to be changed over time. But newer platforms seem relatively expensive, especially when you factor in the added cost of a new motherboard andnewer DDR5 memory.
This sadly applies to both Intel and AMD options (with Intel’s slightly older LGA 1700 CPUs offering DDR4 support but still requiring a new motherboard for users to upgrade), making many reconsider their upgrade plans in the near future.
AMD’s Ryzen 5 5500: A Budget Hexacore Play
Enter AMD’s Ryzen 5 5500, a 6-core, 12-thread CPU that leverages its older Zen 3 architecture (Cezanne) despite using nomenclature that could indicate it is a newer Zen 4 core-based CPU that happens to trade at anexcellent price tag of just under $85at Newegg currently.
It is important to note that the Ryzen 5 5500, while a capable, budget-friendly entry for most users, does not come with integrated graphics under the hood, something that could mean that users upgrading from older 3000 ‘G’ series APUs or swapping down from a 5000 series APU would need to get a discrete GPU option to get display.
At just under $85, the Ryzen 5 5500 is a great replacement for older Ryzen 1000, 2000, and 3000 series CPUs, as well as a temporary placeholder for users not willing to upgrade to a newer platform just yet.
At a rated TDP of just 65W and a thermal solution included as part of the package, the Ryzen 5 5500 is an excellent value-centric option for users looking to do more with less, but it does have its limitations also. While it is faster than comparable Rzyen 3000 CPUs such as the 3600 and the 3600X, it does essentially present abottleneck for gamersand even some GPU workloads thanks to it being limited to PCI-E 3.0 speeds (x16) versus even older Zen 2 CPUs that offer PCI-E 4.0 bandwidth for higher-end GPUs.
For users intending on getting more value out of legacy silicon, the Ryzen 5 5500 does offer an unlocked multiplier that allows it to be overclocked, even though, given its budget-centric positioning, one’s mileage may vary, especially with the stock cooler (and budget motherboard VRMs) in play.
Is This A Good Deal In 2025?
For most users starting fresh, going for an AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (without integrated graphics) or the Ryzen 5 7600 makes considerablymoresense given that budget AMD 600 and 800 series motherboards tend to cost nearly as much as their equivalent AM4 alternatives, even as DDR5 memory continues to price downwards over time.
The upgrade potential and the performance hike alone make it worth considering a small splurge for newer Zen 5 cores and better DDR5 memory in addition to PCI-E 4.0 or 5.0 support. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500’s current discount, however, gears it as an impressive value-added upgrade for users on legacy Ryzen CPUs and early adopters not looking to upgrade just yet.
