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AMD Ryzen 5 3500 (OEM Only)

AMD Ryzen 5 3500 (OEM Only)

AMD Ryzen 5 3500 (OEM Only): Comprehensive Review of the 2025 Processor

Current as of April 2025

Key Features: Architecture and Performance

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500 (OEM Only) is a budget solution that remains relevant due to its successful balance of price and capabilities.

Architecture and Process Technology

- Architecture: Zen 2 — the same as in the Ryzen 3000 series, but without SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading) support.

- Process Technology: TSMC 7nm FinFET — an energy-efficient platform with high transistor density.

- Cores/Threads: 6 cores and 6 threads. The lack of multithreading limits scenarios with parallel tasks but simplifies thermal output.

- Frequencies: Base — 3.6 GHz, maximum — 4.1 GHz (in turbo mode).

- Cache: 16 MB L3 — improves responsiveness in games and applications with large data volumes.

- TDP: 65W — low power consumption, suitable for compact builds.

Key Features:

- PCIe 4.0 support (relevant for high-speed NVMe drives and modern graphics cards).

- Precision Boost 2 and XFR technologies for automatic overclocking.

Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

- Socket: AM4 — a universal platform supporting multiple generations of Ryzen.

- Chipsets:

- B450/X470: Budget options. BIOS update required to work with Zen 2 (e.g., via USB Flashback).

- B550/X570: Optimal choice. PCIe 4.0 support “out of the box,” improved VRM power and cooling.

Examples of Boards:

- ASUS TUF B550M-PLUS ($120–140) — a reliable option with good cooling.

- MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX ($90–110) — a popular model for budget builds.

Choosing Tips:

- For Ryzen 5 3500, motherboards with 4+2 phase VRM are sufficient.

- When using B450/X470, check for BIOS version P3.30 or newer.

Supported Memory

- Memory Type: DDR4.

- Frequencies: Officially — up to 3200 MHz (with overclocking to 3600–3800 MHz depending on the board).

- Dual-channel Mode: Essential to unlock potential (recommended 2×8 GB).

Why not DDR5?

The Zen 2 architecture does not support DDR5. By 2025, this limitation makes the processor less appealing for upgrades, but DDR4 remains accessible and inexpensive.

Power Supply Recommendations

- PSU Power Rating: From 450W (for systems with a graphics card like the NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6600).

- Examples:

- Be Quiet! System Power 10 450W ($50–60) — quiet and reliable.

- Corsair CX550M ($65–75) — modular design for easy assembly.

Power Calculation:

- Ryzen 5 3500: 65W.

- Graphics card (e.g., RTX 3060): 170W.

- Other components: ~50W.

Total: 285W. A cushion of 150–200W will ensure stability and quiet operation.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

- Price: $100–120 (new, OEM supply) — one of the most affordable 6-core processors.

- Energy Efficiency: 65W TDP is suited for compact PCs.

- Gaming Performance: 6 physical cores are sufficient for most games at Full HD.

Disadvantages

- Lack of SMT: In multithreaded tasks (rendering, streaming) it falls short compared to Ryzen 5 3600.

- OEM Status: No warranty and no boxed cooler included.

- Outdated Platform: AM4 and DDR4 are gradually exiting the market.

Use Cases

Gaming

- Examples: Cyberpunk 2077 (60+ FPS at medium settings in Full HD with RTX 3060), CS2 (200+ FPS).

- Notable Features: The processor will not become a bottleneck when paired with a graphics card up to the RTX 4070.

Work Tasks

- Office Applications, Browsers: Ideal.

- Video Editing/3D Modeling: Only for light projects (due to 6 threads).

Multimedia

- Streaming: Lag may occur when gaming and streaming simultaneously (better to use GPU encoding).

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

- Price: $150 (new).

- Advantages: 12 threads, higher performance in multitasking.

- Disadvantages: 20–30% more expensive.

Intel Core i5-10400F

- Price: $130 (new).

- Advantages: Better compatibility with older chipsets.

- Disadvantages: Higher TDP (65W vs 65W, but worse energy efficiency in practice).

Conclusion: The Ryzen 5 3500 wins on price but loses in multithreading capabilities.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Cooler: Since the OEM version does not include a boxed cooler, choose a budget tower (e.g., DeepCool GAMMAXX 400 V2, $20).

2. Motherboard: For savings — B450; for future upgrades — B550.

3. Memory: 16 GB DDR4-3200 (Crucial Ballistix, $45).

4. Storage: NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 (WD Black SN770, $60 for 1TB).

Final Conclusion: Who Should Choose Ryzen 5 3500?

This processor is a good choice if:

- The budget is limited but a modern 6-core platform is needed.

- The build is focused on gaming without demanding multitasking.

- Energy efficiency is important (e.g., for HTPC or office PCs).

Why not competitors? The Ryzen 5 3500 offers the best price-performance ratio for gaming in its category. However, for work tasks with parallel computations, it is better to invest in the Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel i5-12400F.

In 2025, the Ryzen 5 3500 remains a niche solution for those seeking an affordable way to build an entry-level PC without compromising basic performance.

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Basic

Label Name
AMD
Platform
Desktop

CPU Specifications

Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
6
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
6
Basic Frequency
3.6GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
?
Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.
Up to 4.1GHz
L1 Cache
384KB
L2 Cache
3MB
L3 Cache
16MB
CPU Socket
?
The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.
AM4
Unlocked for Overclocking
?
AMD`s product warranty does not cover damages caused by overclocking, even when overclocking is enabled via AMD hardware and/or software. GD-26.
Yes
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
TSMC 7nm FinFET
TDP
65W
Max. Operating Temperature
?
Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.
95°C
PCI Express Version
?
PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.
PCIe 4.0 x16

Memory Specifications

Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
DDR4
Memory Channels
?
The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.
2
Bus Speed
Up to 3200MT/s

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model
?
An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.
Discrete Graphics Card Required

Miscellaneous

OS Support
Windows 11 - 64-Bit Edition, Windows 10 - 64-Bit Edition, RHEL x86 64-Bit, Ubuntu x86 64-Bit *Operating System (OS) support will vary by manufacturer.