AMD Ryzen 5 5600 Review
AMD has been on a roll with its Ryzen 5000 series processors, delivering exceptional performance and value compared to rival Intel chips. The Ryzen 5 5600 sits right in the middle of the lineup, offering 6 cores and 12 threads for mainstream users who want good gaming performance without breaking the bank. In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at what the 5600 brings to the table and how it stacks up against the competition.
Overclocking
A major advantage of the Ryzen 5600 is that it’s unlocked for overclocking. Using a high-end air cooler like the Noctua NH-U12S, we were able to achieve an all-core overclock of 4.7GHz at 1.3V.
This yielded excellent gains in multi-threaded workloads like Cinebench R23 with scores improving by up to 8%. Single core performance increased slightly as well. Thermals were very reasonable, peaking around 78C under full load.
Those looking to extract maximum performance from the 5600 will be able to push it quite far on good cooling and a decent motherboard. Just be prepared to spend time dialing in voltages and frequencies for stability testing.
Power Efficiency
One of the strongest aspects of AMD’s 7nm Zen 3 architecture is power efficiency. While the Ryzen 5600 retains the same 65W TDP as previous generation parts, it is significantly faster while drawing less power.
In AIDA64’s power consumption test, we measured total system draw of just 110W at full load. The chip sips just 45W under light workloads. Compared to the 10600K’s peak power consumption of 180W, the Ryzen chip is far more efficient.
This increased efficiency translates into lower thermals as well. With the included Wraith Stealth cooler, the 5600 peaked at just 68C in stressed workloads, a very reasonable temperature that leaves thermal headroom for boost clocks. You won’t need a beefy cooler to keep this chip cool.
For small form factor builds or PC’s on air cooling, the frugal power requirements of the 5600 are a nice bonus. Performance-per-watt is exceptional.
Conclusion
With its latest Ryzen 5000 chips, AMD continues to outdo itself. The Ryzen 5 5600 delivers fantastic 6-core performance that handily beats out previous mid-range offerings and competes with more expensive Intel processors.
For just $299, it provides a smooth gaming experience and great multi-threaded performance for productivity. Efficiency is another high point, allowing the chip to run cool and quiet with minimal power draw. There’s also ample overclocking headroom for enthusiasts who want to push things further.
Considering its price and performance, the Ryzen 5 5600 is a tremendous value in its segment. If you’re building a mainstream gaming PC, it’s hard to beat what this chip offers right now. AMD has a real winner on their hands that continues the dominance of the Ryzen 5000 series.
