AMD silently launches two new CPUs aimed at budget-conscious gamers

In an unexpected move, AMD today silently introduced new processors for the AM4 and AM5 platforms. Starting with the Ryzen 5 5500F, AMD is giving its long-running AM4 platform another lease on life with the launch of the new Ryzen 5 5500F. The 6-core, 12-thread Zen 3 “Vermeer” processor arrives as an entry-level option for the Ryzen 5000 family, while AMD has also quietly introduced the AM5-based Ryzen 5 7500.

The Ryzen 5 5500F is effectively a lower-end relative of the Ryzen 5 5600, using a multi-chiplet design rather than the APU-style configuration found on Ryzen 5000G models. Priced at $99 / €85 / £73, it comes with a 3GHz base clock and can reach between 4.0GHz and 4.4GHz depending on the specification, compared with the Ryzen 5 5600's 3.5GHz base clock and 4.4GHz maximum boost.

AMD has also reduced the L3 cache from 32MB on the Ryzen 5 5600 to 16MB on the 5500F. The processor otherwise retains a 65W TDP, making it an interesting option for inexpensive gaming builds that still want to take advantage of DDR4 memory. That could be particularly appealing for builders who already own an AM4 motherboard and memory, especially as PC component prices remain elevated. The 5500F could also breathe some extra life into older AM4 systems paired with modern graphics cards or PCIe 4.0 SSDs.

Meanwhile, AMD's newer AM5 platform gets the Ryzen 5 7500. Priced at $189 / €163 / £140, the 6-core, 12-thread Zen 4 “Raphael” chip offers a boost clock of up to 5GHz, 32MB of L3 cache and a 65W TDP. It is essentially an integrated-graphics-equipped sibling to the Ryzen 5 7500F.

The small integrated RDNA 2 GPU features two compute units running at 2.2GHz. That makes it possible to build and use a system without a discrete graphics card for basic display duties, although anyone planning to game seriously will still need a dedicated GPU.

The Ryzen 5 7500 also packs 6MB of L2 cache alongside its 32MB of L3 cache, giving it 38MB of combined cache. Its specifications put it fairly close to the Ryzen 5 7600, but its roughly 16% lower price could make it an appealing alternative for budget-conscious AM5 builders.

As always, for the latest news on AMD Ryzen processors, AM4 and AM5 platforms, component pricing, and developments across the PC gaming hardware industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.