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Here are the five best AMD CPUs to buy in 2025, alongside motherboard combinations from ASUS, MSI, and more.
AMD is currently the king of the fastest, most modern, and efficient CPUs available. In terms of value, they continue to offer their AM4 products. Very recently, they launched the 5500X3D, satisfying AM4 users by providing a surprisingly fast CPU that can be installed as a drop-in upgrade on their existing AM4 boards. Regarding absolute performance, the 9950X and the 9950X3D are two behemoths that deliver, and they are equally efficient. For optimal efficiency, the 7950X takes the cake.
Overall, AMD is the way to go if you want the latest and greatest. Although the Ultra series surpasses it slightly in multi-threaded work, in most cases, AMD wins, especially when power consumption is taken into account. That said, below are the five best AMD CPUs you can buy for your next PC build.
Note: The motherboard choices may seem overkill, but here’s the thing. The higher price translates to better components, and it’s not every day that you’ll upgrade. Most gamers upgrade their systems only once and use them for a considerable amount of time. So, even if you have the option to upgrade later, consider buying the better product.
1. Ryzen 7 5700X3D
If you are on the AM4 platform and do not want to invest in a newer motherboard, but still want to enjoy one of the fastest gaming CPUs out there. The Ryzen 7 5700X3D is the one to go for. Ever since AMD stopped 5800X3D’s production, the 5700X3D is the only eight-core option you can go for. Because of the first-generation 3D V-Cache in this CPU, do not expect the clock speeds and the multi-core performance to be super high. This will be significantly faster in games than the 5800X, but noticeably slower in multicore tests. For gaming only, as a drop-in upgrade, this one is great.
Specifications:
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Base Clock: 3.0 GHz
- Boost Clock: 4.1 GHz
- Cache: 96MB L3 (32MB + 64MB 3D V-Cache)
- TDP: 105W
- Socket: AM4
- Price: ~$209-229
- Recommended Motherboard: MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi or ASUS TUF Gaming B550-Plus
2. Ryzen 5 7600X
If you want to opt for the new AM5 platform, the Ryzen 5 7600X is a great choice. The six-core CPU is significantly faster than an AM4 8-core CPU in both single and multi-threaded tests. If you’re on a budget and looking for a CPU that is significantly stronger than the 12400F but offers very long platform support, consider this CPU. Adding a B650 motherboard would complete the setup, providing everything you need from a modern, yet capable system. You will need a capable air cooler with this one, as well as with any Zen4 CPUs, due to thermal limitations within the IHS.
Specifications:
- Cores: 6
- Threads: 12
- Base Clock: 4.7 GHz
- Boost Clock: 5.3 GHz
- Cache: 32MB L3
- TDP: 105W (65W with Eco Mode)
- Socket: AM5
- Price: ~$195-220 (down from $299 MSRP)
- Recommended Motherboard: MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi or ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi
3. Ryzen 9 7900X
If you are a working professional who needs a CPU with incredible multi-core capability, the Ryzen 9 7900X is the best option available. For gaming, you will mainly suffer at 1080p due to the internal CCX design, but if you game at 4K or 2K ultrawide, then it’s more of a GPU-bound scenario, and it’s a good fit.
Overall, the price, performance, and power efficiency make it undoubtedly the best low-key AMD CPU available right now. The same applies to the Ryzen 9 9900X, which is a bit costly, but it shares the same idea.
Specifications:
- Cores: 12
- Threads: 24
- Base Clock: 4.7 GHz
- Boost Clock: 5.6 GHz
- Cache: 64MB L3
- TDP: 170W
- Socket: AM5
- Price: ~$320-350 (down from $549 MSRP)
- Recommended Motherboard: MSI X670-P WiFi or ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming
4. Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The fastest gaming CPU you can buy. Consider this option if gaming is your primary use and you’ll be playing at 1080p at high competitive settings, as the 7900X and 9900X, available at literally identical pricing or even lower at times, outperform it in all other areas.
Specifications:
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Base Clock: 4.7 GHz
- Boost Clock: 5.2 GHz
- Cache: 96MB L3 (32MB + 64MB 3D V-Cache Gen 2)
- TDP: 120W
- Socket: AM5
- Price: ~$450-480 (fluctuating due to supply constraints)
- Recommended Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming X670E-Plus or MSI MAG X670E Tomahawk WiFi
5. Ryzen 5 5600
If you are coming from an AM4 platform, such as the Ryzen 1000 or 2000 series, and want to upgrade but find AM5 too costly, then the Ryzen 5 5600 is for you. For starters, it’s an ideal option for budget builders, particularly those upgrading AM4 builds. You can choose between the 5700X3D or the 5600, depending on your use case. Both are excellent options and excel in their domains.
Specifications:
- Cores: 6
- Threads: 12
- Base Clock: 3.5 GHz
- Boost Clock: 4.4 GHz
- Cache: 32MB L3
- TDP: 65W
- Socket: AM4
- Price: ~$130-160 (used market available for around $92-130)
- Recommended Motherboard: MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX or ASRock B450M Pro4
Verdict
All of the AMD CPUs mentioned here are excellent options, offering great value at their respective price points. The Ryzen 7 5700X3D provides the best pure gaming value for AM4 users. For the AM5 platform, the Ryzen 5 7600X offers a fantastic entry point. For those who need both gaming and productivity performance, the Ryzen 9 7900X, at its current pricing, is unbeatable. The 9800X3D remains the ultimate gaming chip, but it’s overpriced. That said, for pure budget buyers, the 5600 is the one to go for.
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