Intel and AMD share a similar model-naming scheme. The two main families of processors — Core and Ryzen, respectively — use 3, 5, 7, and 9 to differentiate the CPUs. The lower the number, the less capable the processor usually is. A Ryzen 3 processor won't be able to outpace a Ryzen 7, for example. And just like Intel, AMD keeps everything simple by only using a few model numbers, as well as the "X" suffix.
All you need to know about AMD Ryzen
AMD's Zen architecture brought an array of new processors to consumers on the desktop. Here's what you need to know about this line of Ryzen CPUs, as well as what this all meant for the PC market. Even though we're on Zen 3 and 5000 series CPUs from AMD, there's much to learn about the architecture and how the company managed to hit back at Intel.
Find out more about AMD's latest CPUs
Here's a quick breakdown of the different AMD Ryzen processor brackets:
- Ryzen 3 — Up to 4-core processors.
- Ryzen 5 — Up to 6-core processors.
- Ryzen 7 — Up to 8-core processors.
- Ryzen 9 — Up to 16-core processors.
- Threadripper — Up to 64-core processors.
Within each bracket, the processors are named by model number — the higher the model number, the more powerful the CPU. For example, a Ryzen 3 1200 is less powerful than a Ryzen 3 1300X and a Ryzen 5 5600X. An X suffix simply means it's a slightly faster version of that model from the factory. So, the Ryzen 7 1800X is stronger than the Ryzen 7 1800. The differences aren't huge and only represent a slight increase in factory-set clock speeds.
Ryzen CPUs that start with the number two are Zen+ processors (2000 series), released in 2018. Third generation CPUs (3000 series) using Zen 2 were released in 2019. Zen 3 CPUs (5000 series) arrived in 2020. And those with a G suffix for graphics include Vega video processing, much like the majority of Intel CPUs. That means you can run a system without a dedicated video card. The Ryzen 5 2400G is one such CPU.
All AMD Ryzen CPUs use the same socket AM4. Generation 1 and 2 Threadrippers use a unique TR4 socket, while gen 3 Threadrippers use TRX4. To recap all of the above:
Picking the right CPU for your PC
Ryzen 3
Ryzen 3 is designed for budget-friendly PC builds and consumers who don't use their PCs for intensive applications. That said, the processors are all quad-core, sporting four physical cores, and as such, they aren't slouching. You'd be able to build a capable gaming rig that can handle even big games.
AMD Ryzen 3 3600X
The Ryzen 3 3200G is a cracking entry-level CPU from AMD with integrated graphics processing. Not only do you not require an external GPU to get any output to a monitor, but the 3200G is a quad-core CPU with a boost of up to 3.7GHz.
3000 Series
Ryzen 3
| Category | 3100 | 3200G |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 8 | 4 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.6 GHz 3.9 GHz | 3.6 GHz 4.0 GHz |
| Cache | 2 MB 16 MB | 2 MB 4 MB |
| GPU | - | Vega 8 |
| TDP | 65 W | 65 W |
| Price | $120 | $100 |
2000 Series
Ryzen 3
| Category | 2200GE | 2200G |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 4 | 4 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.2GHz 3.6 GHz | 3.5GHz 3.7 GHz |
| Cache | 2 MB 4 MB | 2 MB 4 MB |
| GPU | Vega 8 | Vega 8 |
| TDP | 35W | 65W |
| Price | - | $85 |
1000 Series
Ryzen 3
| Category | 1200 | 1300X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 4 | 4 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.1GHz 3.4 GHz | 3.5GHz 3.7 GHz |
| Cache | 2 MB 8 MB | 2 MB 8 MB |
| GPU | - | - |
| TDP | 65W | 65W |
| Price | $68 | $125 |
AMD's latest 3000 series comes rocking a boost clock speed of 4.0GHz, allowing you to get more done at the same affordable price.
Ryzen 5
Ryzen 5 is where things get interesting for AMD processors. These CPUs are priced aggressively to take on the popular Intel Core i5 family and are incredible for gaming. These processors are a mix of quadcore and hexacore processors, packing more than enough power for video editing and other intense workloads.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is the perfect mid-tier processor for gamers and those who need a capable CPU in general. It's also friendly to those who want to do a little overclocking, so long as your motherboard is also up to the task.
5000 Series
Ryzen 5 5600X
| Category | 5600X |
|---|---|
| Cores | 6 |
| Threads | 12 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.7 GHz 4.6 GHz |
| Cache | 3 MB 32 MB |
| GPU | - |
| TDP | 65 W |
| Price | $299 |
3000 Series
Ryzen 5
| Category | 3400G | 3600 | 3600X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Threads | 8 | 12 | 12 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.7 GHz 4.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz 4.2 GHz | 3.8 GHz 4.4 GHz |
| Cache | 2 MB 4 MB | 3 MB 32 MB | 3 MB 32 MB |
| GPU | Vega 11 | - | - |
| TDP | 65 W | 65 W | 95 W |
| Price | $147 | $175 | $205 |
2000 Series
Ryzen 5
| Category | 2400G | 2500X | 2600 | 2600X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Threads | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.6 GHz 3.9 GHz | 3.6 GHz 4.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz 3.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz 4.2 GHz |
| Cache | 2 MB 4 MB | 3 MB 16 MB | 3 MB 16 MB | 3 MB 16 MB |
| GPU | Vega 11 | - | - | - |
| TDP | 65 W | 95 W | 65 W | 95 W |
| Price | $126 | - | $140 | $160 |
1000 Series
Ryzen 5
| Category | 1400 | 1500X | 1600 | 1600X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Threads | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.2 GHz 3.4 GHz | 3.2 GHz 3.4 GHz | 3.5 GHz 3.7 GHz | 3.4 GHz 3.9 GHz |
| Cache | 2 MB 8 MB | 2 MB 8 MB | 2 MB 16 MB | 3 MB 16 MB |
| GPU | - | - | - | - |
| TDP | 65 W | 65 W | 65 W | 95 W |
| Price | $126 | $138 | $117 | $146 |
The new 3400G and 3600X processors are some pretty hot chips. You've got the latest Vega 11 in the former, while the latter comes with a whopping 32MB of L3 cache, making it ideal for intense workloads.
Ryzen 7
Much like the Core i7 Intel processors, the Ryzen 7 family may be overkill for most people, but it allows for advanced computing at a somewhat affordable price point. If you happen to have a capable GPU, you may find some benefit in picking up a Ryzen 7 CPU.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
For Ryzen 7, the new 5800X is an excellent CPU. Eight cores and 16 threads make easy work of most tasks thrown at the CPU, and it's unlocked for additional headroom should you have adequate cooling.
5000 Series
Ryzen 7 5800X
| Category | 5800X |
|---|---|
| Cores | 8 |
| Threads | 16 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.0 GHz 3.7GHz |
| Cache | 4 MB 16 MB |
| GPU | - |
| TDP | 65 W |
| Price | $449 |
3000 Series
Ryzen 7
| Category | 3700X | 3800X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 8 | 8 |
| Threads | 16 | 16 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.6GHz 4.4GHz | 3.9GHz 4.5GHz |
| Cache | 4 MB 32 MB | 4 MB 32 MB |
| GPU | - | - |
| TDP | 65W | 105W |
| Price | $299 | $340 |
2000 Series
Ryzen 7
| Category | 2700 | 2700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 8 | 8 |
| Threads | 16 | 16 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.2GHz 4.1GHz | 3.7GHz 4.3GHz |
| Cache | 4 MB 16 MB | 4 MB 16 MB |
| GPU | - | - |
| TDP | 65W | 105W |
| Price | $200 | $260 |
1000 Series
Ryzen 7
| Category | 1700 | 1700X | 1800X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Threads | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.0GHz 3.7GHz | 3.4GHz 3.8GHz | 3.6GHz 4.0GHz |
| Cache | 4 MB 16 MB | 4 MB 16 MB | 4 MB 16 MB |
| GPU | - | - | - |
| TDP | 65W | 95W | 95W |
| Price | $220 | $190 | $240 |
The new 3700X and 3800X are for serious productivity. A massive 32MB of L3 cache is joined by high clock speeds and great overclock support, particularly in the more pricy 3800X.
Ryzen 9
The Ryzen 9 family is AMD's latest batch of computing magic, packing in up to 12 cores and 24 threads and are a great middle-ground between the Ryzen 7 and Threadripper.
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
The Ryzen 9 family of CPUs is a new addition to AMD's desktop processor lineup, offering amazing performance levels with up to 16 cores and 32 threads. Perfect for serious workloads.
5000 Series
Ryzen 9
| Category | 5900X | 5950X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12 | 16 |
| Threads | 24 | 32 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.8 GHz 4.7GHz | 3.4 GHz 4.9GHz |
| Cache | 6 MB 64 MB | 8 MB 64 MB |
| GPU | - | - |
| TDP | 105W | 105W |
| Price | $549 | $799 |
3000 Series
Ryzen 9
| Category | 3900X | 3950X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12 | 16 |
| Threads | 24 | 32 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.8GHz 4.6GHz | 3.5GHz 4.7GHz |
| Cache | 6 MB 64 MB | 8 MB 64 MB |
| GPU | - | - |
| TDP | 105W | 105W |
| Price | $450 | $738 |
These new processors are exactly what gamers, streamers, and content creators need for optimal performance. Taking on Intel's Core i9 range, AMD is going all out in the war for system builders.
Threadripper
You probably won't need a Threadripper CPU, but it'll be awesome to have one. It's for advanced users only who need to push their systems beyond their limits. I'm talking up to 64 cores and 128 threads.
AMD Threadripper 3990X
Ryzen Threadripper is the range-topping family of CPUs from AMD. The 3990X is the king of Threadripper CPUs, rocking a whopping 64 cores and 128 threads.
3000 Series
Threadripper
| Category | 3960X | 3970X | 3990X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 24 | 32 | 64 |
| Threads | 48 | 64 | 128 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.8GHz 4.5 GHz | 3.7GHz 4.5 GHz | 2.9GHz 4.3 GHz |
| Cache | 14 MB 128 MB | 19 MB 128 MB | 36 MB 256 MB |
| GPU | - | - | - |
| TDP | 280W | 280W | 280W |
| Price | $1,450 | $1,960 | $3,900 |
2000 Series
Threadripper
| Category | 2920X | 2950X | 2970WX | 2970WX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12 | 16 | 24 | 32 |
| Threads | 24 | 32 | 48 | 64 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.5GHz 4.3 GHz | 3.5GHz 4.4 GHz | 3.0GHz 4.2 GHz | 3.0GHz 4.2 GHz |
| Cache | 4 MB 32 MB | 6 MB 32 MB | 8 MB 32 MB | |
| GPU | - | - | - | - |
| TDP | 180W | 180W | 250W | 250W |
| Price | $400 | $687 | $950 | $1,540 |
1000 Series
Threadripper
| Category | 1900X | 1920X | 1950X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 8 | 12 | 16 |
| Threads | 16 | 24 | 32 |
| Clock speed Boost | 3.8GHz 4.0 GHz | 3.5GHz 4.0 GHz | 3.5GHz 4.0 GHz |
| Cache | 4 MB 32 MB | 6 MB 32 MB | 8 MB 32 MB |
| GPU | - | - | - |
| TDP | 180W | 180W | 180W |
| Price | $300 | $620 | $700 |
What do you get with the 3000 series Threadripper processors? Aside from excellent choice, you can go all out with up to 64 cores and 128 threads. If you need some serious computing performance, these are the chips for you.
The choice is yours
Which processor is perfect for your build depends on what you'll need the PC to do, as well as how much money is available. We rounded up the best processors for building a PC on different budgets.
The best CPUs for your desktop PC
When looking for a new CPU, it's easy to automatically go for the more expensive options expecting a return in performance, and you'd be correct in that assumption. However, the question is whether or not you need that kind of power and whether or not you really need to pay that much. See our collection of the best options based on several performance and price points.
Best CPUs for your next PC build
Other than that, the rule of thumb is to spend as much as you can, within reason. It's better to purchase a Ryzen 7 instead of a Ryzen 3 and then have to upgrade sooner, which will cost more in the long run.
Rich Edmonds is a word conjurer at Windows Central, covering everything related to Windows, gaming, and hardware. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a device chassis. You can follow him over on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.
