Home / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 5 5500: Performance and Specs

AMD Ryzen 5 5500

AMD Ryzen 5 5500: Budget Six-Core CPU for Gaming and Work

Relevant as of April 2025

Key Features: Zen 3, 7nm and Performance Balance

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500, released in 2022, remains a popular budget solution thanks to its favorable combination of price and capabilities.

Architecture and Process Technology

- Codename: Vermeer.

- Architecture: Zen 3 — the same as in the top-tier Ryzen 5000 series.

- Process Technology: TSMC 7nm FinFET. This ensures low power consumption and high efficiency.

- Clock Speeds: Base — 3.6 GHz, Maximum in Turbo Mode — 4.2 GHz.

Performance

- 6 Cores / 12 Threads: Suitable for multitasking and light video editing.

- Cache: 16 MB L3 — less than the Ryzen 5 5600 (32 MB), but sufficient for most tasks.

- Geekbench 6: 1858 (single-core) / 7691 (multi-core). For comparison, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores around ~2000/9000, but is priced higher.

Key Features

- Support for PCIe 4.0: Relevant for fast NVMe drives and GPUs.

- Low TDP (65W): No need for powerful cooling.

- AMD Technologies: Precision Boost 2, StoreMI (storage optimization).

Compatible Motherboards: AM4 and Chipset Choices

The Ryzen 5 5500 utilizes the AM4 socket, offering access to a vast array of boards.

Recommended Chipsets

- B550: Best option. Supports PCIe 4.0, overclocking (e.g., ASUS TUF B550-Plus, $120-$140).

- A520: Budget option without overclocking (Gigabyte A520M S2H, $70-$80).

- X570: Excessive for this CPU, but suitable if you already own such a board.

Features

- BIOS Update: Boards made before 2022 may require an update to work with the Ryzen 5000 series.

- Form Factor: For compact builds, micro-ATX boards are suitable (e.g., MSI B550M Pro-VDH WiFi, $110).

Memory: DDR4 and Optimization

The Ryzen 5 5500 does not support DDR5 — its main drawback in 2025.

Recommendations for RAM

- Type: DDR4.

- Frequency: Optimal at 3200–3600 MHz (e.g., Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 3600 MHz, $50).

- Configuration: Dual-channel is essential (2x8GB instead of 1x16GB).

Practical Example

During gaming tests, the difference between DDR4-3200 and DDR4-3600 was 3–5 FPS, but for work tasks (rendering in Blender), memory speed is more critical.

Power Supply: Wattage Calculation

With a TDP of 65W, the Ryzen 5 5500 is not demanding on the PSU.

Recommendations

- Power: 500–600W (with headroom for the GPU).

- Certification: 80+ Bronze or higher (Corsair CX550M, $65).

- Example Build:

- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 (TDP 115W).

- Total: 65W (CPU) + 115W (GPU) + 50W (other components) = 230W. A 550W PSU will be sufficient with margin.

Pros and Cons

Pros

- Price: $120–$130 (new) vs. $170 for the Ryzen 5 5600.

- Energy Efficiency: Ideal for compact PCs.

- Support for PCIe 4.0: Relevant for SSDs and GPUs.

Cons

- No DDR5: At a disadvantage compared to newer budget CPUs like the Intel Core i5-13400F.

- Smaller L3 Cache: Trails behind the Ryzen 5 5600 by 10–15% in games.

- No Integrated Graphics: Requires a discrete GPU.

Use Cases

Gaming

- 1080p / Medium Settings: 60+ FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 with RTX 3060.

- Esports Titles: Valorant, CS2 — 200+ FPS.

Work Tasks

- Office Applications: Multitasking without lag.

- Video Editing: Rendering in Premiere Pro takes 15–20 minutes for a 10-minute 1080p video.

Multimedia

- Streaming: GPU's NVENC reduces CPU load.

Comparison with Competitors

1. Intel Core i5-12400F ($130):

- Pros: Better in single-core tasks (~1950 in Geekbench 6).

- Cons: Requires LGA 1700 platform, and DDR5 is more expensive.

2. Ryzen 5 5600 ($170):

- Pros: +20% performance in games, more cache.

- Cons: Higher price.

3. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F ($180):

- Pros: Zen 4, DDR5, AM5 (future upgrade).

- Cons: 50% more expensive.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Cooler: The stock Wraith Stealth is sufficient, but for quiet operation, consider the DeepCool Gammaxx 400 ($25).

2. Case: Ensure good ventilation (e.g., NZXT H510 Flow, $80).

3. BIOS: Update the BIOS via USB Flashback before installing the CPU (if the board is older).

Final Verdict: Who is the Ryzen 5 5500 For?

This processor is an excellent choice for those who:

- Are building a PC for under $600 and want to save on the CPU without sacrificing gaming performance.

- Are looking to upgrade an old AM4 system (e.g., from Ryzen 3 3100).

- Do not plan to switch to DDR5 in the next 2–3 years.

Alternatives: If the budget allows, it's better to go for the Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel i5-13400F. However, at $120–$130, the Ryzen 5 5500 remains the best in its segment.

Prices are relevant as of April 2025. Listed for new devices in U.S. retail stores.

Basic

Label Name

AMD

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

April 2022

Code Name

Vermeer

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).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

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 4.2GHz

L1 Cache

384KB

L2 Cache

3MB

L3 Cache

16MB

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

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

AM4

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.

90°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 3.0

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.

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.