Choosing the right CPU for your new gaming PC is an important decision. It is easy to get confused about which processor should you buy, because there are plenty of different models available on the market. For a long time, Intel CPUs were the first choice for many gamers and desktop enthusiasts, however, times have drastically changed. And for the better.
AMD revolutionized desktop CPU market in 2017 when it launched its first 8-core, 16 thread CPU to the mainstream market. Ever since then, popularity of Ryzen CPUs has sharply grown, and for a good reason. Not only that Ryzen CPUs are cheaper than their Intel counterparts, but they also have more power, and are more energy efficient. That may sound unbelievable, but it is true. However, choosing the right Ryzen CPU for your gaming PC in 2022 still isn’t an easy choice. There are many factors to consider before bringing the right decision. Whether it’s budget, cooling, energy consumption, or different modes of usage, CPU is one of the most important components in the computer, so decision about buying a specific model should be made wisely. Gaming represents one of the most intensive activities CPU can handle, so having a quad core processor with at least 8 threads is a bare minimum in 2022.
Must read: The Best CPUs for Gaming in 2022: The Top 10 Processors
As it was said before, choosing the right CPU for your new gaming PC isn’t an easy task. Luckily, we’ve made a list of best Ryzen CPUs for gaming you can buy right now in 2022, so scroll down and see which one suits you the best.
Best for Content Creation:
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Best for High-End Gaming:
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Best Entry-Level CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 4500
Best Overall: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores/Threads: 6C/12T | Base Clock: 3.7 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz | TDP: 65 W | PassMark Score: 22.170
- Great gaming performance
- Good overclocking headroom
- Supports PCIe 4.0 interface
- Compatible with older AMD motherboards
- Very energy efficient
- Lacks integrated graphics
- Increased MSRP over last-gen Ryzen 5
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor is a spiritual successor to the world-renowned Ryzen 5 3600, and as such delivers class-leading compute performance and power efficiency, alongside no-compromise gaming performance. Just like the Ryzen 5 3600, the Ryzen 5 5600X also features six cores and twelve threads, but it also delivers 19% IPC (instruction per cycle) improvement over the Zen 3 architecture. This CPU also bring improved memory overclocking, and a vastly optimized boosting algorithm which turns this CPU into a serious computing device.
In terms of raw performance, the new Ryzen 5 5600X is on par with the Intel Core i9-10900K CPU, which is an amazing feat for a mid-range processor. The Ryzen 5 5600X also comes with a whooping 32MB of L3 cache, full support for PCIe 4.0 interface, and sports a TDP of only 65 watts. Despite the fact that it lacks integrated graphics, the Ryzen 5 5600X currently offers the best performance for the buck, so if you are in the market for a new CPU, be sure to grab this silicon gem if you can.
Ultimate Performance: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Cores/Threads: 16C/32T | Base Clock: 3.4 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.9 GHz | TDP: 105 W | PassMark Score: 45.860
- Extraterrestrial computing performance
- Outstanding single-core performance
- Supports PCIe 4.0 interface
- Modest power consumption
- Requires aftermarket cooler
- Doesn’t support AVX-512
All hail to the new emperor of mainstream CPUs – the Ryzen 9 5950X! This crazy powerful CPU is practically an electronic nuclear reactor made out of silicon. The Ryzen 9 5950X features 16 physical cores and 32 threads that run at a base clock of 3.4 GHz, and can hit a boost clock of up to 4.9 GHz. This CPU can also boast with stellar single-threaded performance which allows it match even the mightiest Intel CPU to date, the the Core i9-12900K.
The Ryzen 9 5950X is able to score 3.465 points in the PassMark single-core test, and 28.570 points in the Cinebench R23 Multi-Core benchmark. With a whooping 64 MB of L3 cache, this CPU is capable of completely annihilating its competition. Even the previous generation high-end workstation CPUs, such as the Intel Core i9-10980XE, or AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, are no match for the Ryzen 9 5950X. Paired with the best enthusiast graphics cards, such as the GeForce RTX 3090, or Radeon RX 6900 XT, this CPU can push your frame rates way above 60 FPS mark at 4K resolution with all settings set to ultra.
The only major flaw of this magnificent CPU is that it doesn’t support AVX-512 instruction set, and that doesn’t come with a bundled cooler, so be sure to buy a suitable cooling solution to keep it quiet and cool. Overall, despite its high price, getting the Ryzen 9 5950X is an excellent choice if you don’t plan to upgrade your PC for the next five years.
Best Value: AMD Ryzen 5 5500
Cores/Threads: 6C/12T | Base Clock: 3.6 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.2 GHz | TDP: 65 W | PassMark Score: 19.550
- Good gaming performance
- Very affordable price
- Bundled CPU cooler
- Supports overclocking
- No integrated GPU
- Supports only PCIe 3.0 interface
The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a lovely sub-$150 budget CPU that offers excellent performance and value for the money. It is only slightly slower than the Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 5 5600G, meaning it is more than enough capable of delivering snappy system performance, as well as mainstream gaming performance. The Ryzen 5 5500 comes bundled with a stock AMD cooler, however we strongly recommend getting the be Quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black or equivalent to keep its temps at bay.
Despite the fact that it doesn’t support PCIe 4.0 interface, the Ryzen 5 5500 can easily be paired with performance-segment graphics card, such as the GeForce RTX 3060 or Radeon RX 6600 XT, meaning you don’t have to worry about any CPU bottlenecking. Overall, this is a pretty nice, yet overlooked processors that won’t brank your bank, and will deliver solid performance.
Best for Content Creation: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Cores/Threads: 8C/16T | Base Clock: 3.4 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz | TDP: 65 W | PassMark Score: 26.540
- Affordable price
- 8 cores and 16 threads
- Low temps and power consumption
- Great price to performance ratio
- Requires aftermarket cooler
- No integrated graphics
Although there are more expensive and more powerful AMD Ryzen CPUs out there, the Ryzen 7 5700X is perfectly tailored for users who are looking for an affordable yet capable content creation CPU. The Ryzen 7 5700X packs 8 cores and 16 threads, which run at a base clock of 3.4 GHz and can hit a boost clock of 4.6 GHz. Compared to the “non-X” Ryzen 5700, the Ryzen 7 5700X features 32 MB of L3 cache, meaning it is designed for heavy-duty workloads in mind.
As such, the Ryzen 7 5700X is a great high-end CPU for users who deal with streaming, video editing or 3D modelling. In Cinebench R23 Multi-Core benchmark, the Ryzen 7 5700X is able to score 13.900 points, and in PassMark single-threaded test it is able to score around 3.348 points. For a price of around $280, the Ryzen 7 5700X is able to offer the same performance as the Intel Core i9-9900K, which at time of its release, cost around $439. Another big advantage of 5700X is the fact that it features a TDP of only 65 W, meaning this is a very energy-efficient CPU.
Best for High-End Gaming: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Cores/Threads: 8C/16T | Base Clock: 3.4 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.5 GHz | TDP: 105 W | PassMark Score: 27.630
- Fastest gaming CPU on the market
- Loads of L3 cache
- Competitively priced
- Supports PCIe 4.0 interface
- Low TDP
- Doesn’t support overclocking
- No bundled cooler
- No integrated graphics
The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a processor with many strengths and weaknesses. Let’s start with the bad stuff. Despite being labeled as the gaming processor, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D doesn’t support overclocking. Yes, that’s right. However, it does support memory overclocking. It also doesn’t come bundled with a cooler, and it has no integrated GPU.
Now let’s assess its strengths. When it comes to gaming the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a beast. Featuring a whooping 96 MB of L3 cache, this CPU behaves like the Ryzen 9 5900X, but on steroids. In gaming, the 5800X3D is 15% faster than the 5900X, and 9% faster than the Intel Core i9-12900K. If paired with very fast DDR4 RAM, this CPU is even a few more percent faster. Overall, if you are looking for the fastest gaming CPU money can buy, then the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the right choice for you.
Best Entry-Level CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500
Cores/Threads: 6C/12T | Base Clock: 3.6 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.1 GHz | TDP: 65 W | PassMark Score: 15.870
- Affordable price
- Six CPU cores and 12 threads
- Decent gaming performance
- Low TDP
- Built on older Zen 2 architecture
- Only 8MB of L3 cache
- No integrated GPU
If you are looking for the best budget gaming CPU, then look no further. The Ryzen 5 4500 is probably the best thing you can get for the lowest price possible. This is the world’s lowest power 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor, with a single core PassMark score of an impressive 2.530 points.
The Ryzen 5 4500 can be bought for less than $130, and is only slightly slower than the Intel Core i5-12600T. This amazing budget CPU also features a boost clock of 4.1 GHz, and it even supports overclocking. Like all the other Ryzen CPUs, this one requires a motherboard with the AM4 socket, and has a TDP of 65 W. Paired with a mid-range graphics card, such as the GeForce RTX 3050 or Radeon RX 6600, this CPU can deliver average in-game framerate of up to 70 FPS at 1080p resolution on ultra settings. Although it comes with its own CPU cooler, we recommend buying a budget CPU heatsink for more efficient cooling.
Conclusion
AMD Ryzen CPUs are great processors for gaming and professionals applications, such as video editing, 3D modelling and programming. Depending on your budget and personal preferences, there is a wide variety of Ryzen CPUs which should suit your gaming needs in 2022. We hope our buying guide helped you in search of the information you were looking for. If you still feel confused, and need advice about buying, feel free to post comment below. We will try to help you.
