AMD Ryzen 5 Desktop Processors Launch Details

Hot off the heels of the launch of Ryzen 7, AMD has just revealed their upcoming lineup of Ryzen 5 processors. Targeting the mainstream, sub-$300 market, AMD is set to release four new processors with a “disruptive price-to-performance ratio for gamers and creators” worldwide on April 11, 2017.

The entire lineup of Ryzen 5 processors comes equipped with their SenseMI technology, a suite of features that adapts their processors to your performance and power demands. Additionally, overclockers should be able to get the most out of Ryzen 5 as every processor will ship unlocked.

Ryzen 5’s flagship is the 1600X. It’s a 6-core, 12-thread processor featuring a base clock of 3.6 GHz with a boost up to 4.0 GHz. Per AMD’s own Cinebench nT benchmark, the 1600X sees a 69 percent performance gain over Intel’s i5 7600K. The 1600X has a TDP of 95 watts and will launch at $249.

Below the 1600X is the more affordable 1600. The 1600 is similarly a 6-core, 12-thread processor but comes with a slightly lower base and boost clock speed at 3.2 GHz and 3.6 GHz respectively. It has a 65-watt TDP, includes AMD’s Wraith Spire cooler, and a suggested price of $219.

Ryzen 5 also features two 4-core, 8-thread processors, the 1400 and 1500X. The 1400 ships with a 3.2 GHz base clock speed with a boost up to 3.4 GHz. It ships with AMD’s Wraith Stealth cooler, a TDP of 65-watts, and has a suggested price of $169. The step up 1500X, meanwhile, operates at a base clock speed of 3.5 GHz and boosts up to 3.7 GHz. It will include AMD’s Wraith Spire cooler, a TDP of 65 watts, and will retail for $189.

Finally, AMD reiterated the strengths of their new AM4 motherboard platform. Designed to be modern in every way with its IO capability and scalable top to bottom with a range of processors, AMD is building AM4 with longevity in mind. Future processors will continue to utilize the architecture, so there won’t be a need to throw away your motherboard every time a new generation of processors releases. Furthermore, overclocking is available on their mainstream chipset, the B350, a feature not as readily available from Intel in this price range.

AMD considers Ryzen 5 their second step in the return of innovation and competition in the desktop market. More information will be released as we get closer to launch, but it’s hard not to get excited with the core counts and clock speeds AMD is set to offer in that crucial market space.