AMD is (finally) prepping its budget Zen 3 SKUs for launch sometime later this month. The Ryzen 5 5500, 5600, and Ryzen 7 5700X are slated to arrive in the coming weeks with an aim to take down Intel’s Core i5-12400/12400F. Landing alongside the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, these processors will be the last AM4 parts, giving mainstream users an opportunity to upgrade one last time. Although AMD has managed to maintain its grip over the DIY market, Intel has mounted a massive offensive with its Alder Lake-S processors. The Core i7-12700K, Core i5-12400/12400F, and the Core i5-12600K are dislodging their Zen 3 counterparts from the top-selling charts fast.
The latest reports come from two sources: The Chiphell forums, and WCCFTech. Both claim the imminent launch of the Ryzen 5 5500/5600, and the Ryzen 7 5700X by the end of the month. The former will go head to head against the Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12400, with the latter targeting the Core i5-12600K. All of them will come with a Wraith Stealth cooler and feature a TDP of 65W. The Ryzen 7 5700X will replace the Ryzen 5 5600X at the $299 spot which in turn will drop to $229-249. The Ryzen 5 5600 and 5500 should cost $199, and $149, respectively.
The Ryzen 5 5600/7 5700X will unsurprisingly be lower-clocked 65W variants of the 5600X/5800X, and the 5500 will likely ditch SMT, bringing down the thread count to six. All three SKUs should be available for purchase by the end of March.
Processors, PC gaming, and the past. I have written about computer hardware for over seven years with over 5000 published articles. I started during engineering college and haven't stopped since. On the side, I play RPGs like Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Divinity, and Fallout. Contact: areejs12@hardwaretimes.com.
