Ryzen 5 5500X3D stealthily unveiled as AMD's newest Zen 3 desktop offering

Back in 2023, AMD showed off the Ryzen 5 5600X3D, its first Ryzen 5 CPU with 3D V-cache. Earlier leaks said it would be joined by the Ryzen 5 5500X3D at some point, but the chip didn't surface until now. Noted X leaker @Zed__Wang spotted it on AMD's website.

The Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a six-core, twelve-thread CPU with Zen 3 cores. It has a base clock of 3.0 GHz and a boost clock of 4.0 GHz, remarkably lower than that of the Ryzen 5 5600X3D (3.3 GHz base, 4.4 GHz boost). Other specs remain identical to other Zen 3 X3D CPUs, such as a TDP of 105 Watts and 96 MB of L3 cache.

As of now, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D has no recommended retail price because it is yet to be listed on any e-commerce websites. If the Ryzen 5 5600X3D ($230) is anything to go by, it will cost around $200. However, the real question is general availability. Both Ryzen 5 X3D SKUs, including the newer Ryzen 5 7600X3D, were exclusive to Micro Centre and sold only in limited quantities.

Should you buy a Ryzen 5 5500X3D in 2025

Should you buy the Ryzen 5 5500X3D when newer CPUs exist? The answer to that depends on if you're building a new PC from scratch or upgrading an older system. New builders are better off with AM5-based mid-rangers like the Ryzen 5 9600X or even the Ryzen 5 7600X primarily because AM5 motherboards will allow for future upgrades. Plus, the included iGPU on Ryzen 7000 and newer CPUs often comes in handy while troubleshooting graphics issues.

Gamers Nexus' tests reveal the Ryzen 5 7600X frequently trades blows with the Ryzen 5 5600X3D in many games, and based on its specs alone, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D will almost certinly be slower. However, anyone looking to get more life out of an older AM4 motherboard can consider the Ryzen 5 5500X3D, especially gamers on a tight budget. It's not like there are many other options out there, but if you have $250 to spare, you're better off with a Ryzen 7 5700X3D.