The entry-level CPU we believe is "masterclass of performance-per-watt efficiency" is now under $200 — it has CPU Speeds of 3.9 GHz, 6 Cores, and more

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X processor held in hand — (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

Trying to buy CPU upgrades for your PC can be an expensive endeavour, even without this ongoing RAM crisis driving up prices across the board.

Fortunately, there exist plenty of budget-friendly CPUs out there to help you save money if you're upgrading older hardware or working for a low-end PC meant for casual use rather than hardcore gaming or heavy productivity.

Why buy the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X in 2026?

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X processor in AM5 motherboard socket — The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X CPU installed in a computer's AM5 motherboard socket. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X packs a fair amount of processing power for a low-end CPU, as its specs include 8 Cores, 16 Threads, a base TDP of 65W, a base clock speed of 3.9GHz, a max clock speed of 5.4GHz, and a L3 cache with 32MB.

With these features, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X features strong single-core performance rates when browsing the internet, running common apps like Microsoft Office with speeds comparable to Intel's 13th Gen Core i5-13600K CPU, with little to no bottleneck.

It's even useful for PC gaming, as our tech expert Ben Wilson stated in his review of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, that its performance is almost on par with the gaming-centric Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU.

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AMD Ryzen 5 9600X benchmark test results graph — Geekbench 6 tests the burst performance capability of CPUs.(Image credit: Windows Central | CPU Monkey)

However, when it comes to AI-related tasks, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is not ideal as it doesn't include a dedicated neural processing unit to help an AI PC run AI-centric programs or research the net via Copilot+.

Additionally, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's multi-core performance is somewhat lacking compared to its last-gen predecessor, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X.

Other than those foibles, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is still a fantastic hardware upgrade for budget-conscious PC builders that we consider the "best affordable AMD CPU" in our best PC CPUs for RTX 4080 list, especially now that its $277.99 MSRP has been downsized by 34% to $184.99 at Amazon.

FAQ

Is the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X good for PC gaming?

Its performance rates are nearly on par with Ryzen 7 7800X3D, so it can help PCs run most PC games at 1080p or even 1440p resolutions at 30 to 60 frames-per-second.

Does it come with a cooler?

You will need to buy a separate air/liquid cooler as the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X doesn't come with one.

What motherboard does the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X require?

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X can only be installed on computers outfitted with a motherboard that has an AM5 socket.

Does it include integrated graphics?

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X includes basic RDNA 2 Integrated graphics, allowing it to help a PC run troubleshooting and light-intensive tasks more easily.

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Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 35-plus years who primarily covers Xbox and PC gaming news and spotlights on discounts on the best laptops, peripherals, and other electronics here at Windows Central. Ever since the 8-bit era, Alexander has journeyed through dozens of epic Japanese RPGs, such as Final Fantasy and Persona, and conquered challenging action titles, including Monster Hunter and Elden Ring. When he's not obsessing over the latest Monster Hunter game, Alexander is on hand to help recommend the best discount on productivity and gaming-related laptops and accessories that's worth your time and money.

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