Not content to let Zen 5 and 3 have all the fun, there’s a new Zen 4 CPU in town. Better still, it’s an X3D SKU with a $300 price tag. Welcome to the processor party, Ryzen 5 7600X3D. However, only a lucky few will be able to celebrate this launch, given the chip’s unfortunately limited availability.
On paper, Ryzen 5 7600X3D could be the best CPU for gaming. It boasts the same 96MB of L3 cache as current gamers’ favourite, Ryzen 7 7800X3D. However, it boasts two fewer cores and a 65W TDP, down from the 120W of its sibling. As you’d expect, there isn’t a massive difference in boost clock frequencies between the two, with just 300MHz separating them.
| Ryzen 5 7600X3D | Ryzen 7 7800X3D | |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16 |
| TDP | 65W | 120W |
| L3 Cache | 96MB | 96MB |
| Base Clock | 4.1GHz | 4.2GHz |
| Boost Clock | 4.7GHz | 5.0GHz |
| Launch MSRP | $299 | $449 |
Benchmarks should reveal Ryzen 5 7600X3D value relative to Ryzen 7 7800X3D. However, we’ll need to wait until someone buys the processor, as there are no review samples in circulation. This was the case for its predecessor, Ryzen 5 5600X3D. If you remember that chip, you’ll know it was (and remains) a Micro Center exclusive. Here comes the bad news.
Ryzen 5 7600X3D is also only available exclusively via Micro Center. Specifically, twenty-eight retail locations in the United States. More specifically, it’s part of a bundle with a B650 motherboard and 32GB of DDR5-6000MT/s RAM. Suffice to say, it’s a difficult processor to get your hands on.
Thankfully, the bundle looks to provide good value. In a table provided to Tom’s Hardware, AMD shares that Micro Center plans to charge $449.99 for components that would retail for $629.97 individually. That’s a saving just shy of $180, not bad.
While I appreciate that Ryzen 5 7600X3D is likely born out of Ryzen 7 7800X3D dies that didn’t quite make the cut, its availability (or lack thereof) irks me nonetheless. With prices of the latter processor on the up, the only option consumers have right now is to wait for Ryzen 9000X3D.
However, there’s no guarantee that 3D V-Cache will prove a silver bullet to the lacklustre performance we’ve seen from the likes of Ryzen 7 9700X & Ryzen 5 9600X. Perhaps Windows optimisations and higher TDPs can save 9000X3D from mediocrity, but Zen 5’s launch has given me reason to temper my optimism with all the more caution.
Until 9000X3D chips emerge, check out our Ryzen 9 9950X & Ryzen 9 9900X review. I’ve no doubt AMD has 3D V-Cache versions of both processors in the works, alongside Ryzen 5 and 7 SKUs.
