AMD could launch three new Zen 3 based Ryzen 5000 series CPUs alongside the Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Despite the Zen 4 based AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors' earlier-than-anticipated arrival, AMD isn't done with launching some more SKUs based on the previous-generation Zen 3 architecture. A Chiphell poster (via@9550pro on Twitter) has heard that AMD has three other CPUs in the pipeline, namely the Ryzen 5 5500, Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 7 5700X. They will likely be unveiled alongside the Ryzen 7 5800X3D demonstrated at CES 2022.
Twitter user @Zed__Wang chimes with some additional information about the Zen 3 processors. AMD is squarely targetting mid-range Alder Lake offerings with their prices. The eight-core, sixteen-thread Ryzen 7 5700X is a watered-down version of the Ryzen 7 5800X and will cost around US$250 to compete with the Intel Core i5-12600KF. Similarly, the Ryzen 5 5600 (6 cores, 12 threads) will square off with the Core i5-12400. Outperforming the Alder Lake mid-ranger will be an uphill challenge for Team Red, considering it managed to beat the Rocket Lake-based Core i9-11900KF in some tests.
That leaves us with the most curious SKU of the lot, the Ryzen 5 5500. It is the only one of the lot that doesn't support SMT (simultaneous multithreading), meaning that it will feature six cores and six threads. It is likely a lower-binned Ryzen 5 5600/5600X with its clocks lowered and will probably perform as such. The SKU is AMD's answer to the Intel Core i3-12100 and will cost around US$100. The lack of a Ryzen 3-branded desktop CPU is puzzling, especially when its laptop version has been out and about for a while.
While budget-conscious pc builders will welcome the Ryzen 7 5700X, Ryzen 5 5600 and Ryzen 5 5500, many will bide their time and wait for the newer Zen 4 processors to arrive, primarily due to the AM4 to AM5 socket change. It isn't even the first rumour about budget AMD processors that surfaced online. Another one from some time ago claimed that there are three desktop processors based on the Renoir-X architecture in the works. With the three new Zen 3 chips slated to arrive later this month (March 2022), one can safely assume that the Renoir-X chips got axed somewhere down the line.
