Key Points
- The Ryzen 5800X is a popular and affordable processor that offers strong gaming performance and is ideal for gaming and video editing.
- The Ryzen processors are the biggest competitor to Intel processors and offer better multi-core performance.
- The Ryzen 5800X is compatible with the AM4 socket, making it versatile and suitable for different needs.
- The Ryzen 5800X delivers great gaming performance, outstanding multithread performance, and optimized single-core performance.
- The Ryzen 5800X is power-efficient, overclockable, and offers a decent value-to-performance ratio.
It can be difficult to find an affordable processor that offers strong gaming performance in the sea of processors available today. The Ryzen processors are the biggest competitor to the powerful Intel processors, and they have many advantages to meet the gaming requirements at an affordable price.
The Ryzen 5800X is a very popular processor that is ideal for gaming and video editing. It can keep up with Intel i7 processors but is much cheaper, so let’s break down the best reasons to buy a Ryzen 5800X today.
Background on the Ryzen 7 Series
The Ryzen processors are the biggest competitor to Intel processors, not only because the Ryzen processors are cheaper, but also because they offer better performance in certain aspects. The Intel processors are much better at single-core performance, but the Ryzen processors are much more efficient at multi-core performance.
The Ryzen 5800X belongs to the Ryzen 7 series and it can keep up with and even outperform certain Intel i7 processors. The first Ryzen series was the Ryzen 3, followed by the 5, 7, and 9 series. In addition, there is the Ryzen Threadripper series, which is one of the best CPUs from Ryzen.
Even the Ryzen 7 and 9 series are very affordable for average gamers or CPU-demanding users. That’s just one of the reasons why entry-level and mid-range Ryzen series like the 3 and 5 series are very popular among gamers.
Although Ryzen still lags a bit behind the Intel processors in some aspects, it can keep up with most Intel processors. That’s good enough for most gamers or CPU-demanding users who like the price tag. If you compare the Ryzen 7 to the Intel i7 processor series, the Ryzen outperforms the Intel by about 15-20%.
- 4.7 GHz Max Boost
- 100-plus FPS performance
- Socket AM4
- Can support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
7 Reasons to Buy a Ryzen 5800X
Whether you create and edit graphical content, play casual or competitive games, or are a CPU-demanding user, the Ryzen 5800X could be a great upgrade for your PC or even a good CPU for a new PC build.
Let’s talk about the best reasons to own a Ryzen 5800X today.
AM4 Socket-Compatible
The Ryzen 5800X processor is compatible with the AM4 socket, which means it’s suitable with most average motherboards. You don’t have to upgrade your motherboard, but you still have the option to upgrade your CPU if you aren’t building a new gaming PC.
You can also build a new gaming PC around the Ryzen 5800X processor and still save money since you won’t have to purchase a motherboard that supports the AM5 socket. If you’re on a budget, you can maximize your computer’s performance with a powerful CPU like the Ryzen 5800X while settling for a decent motherboard that can handle the Ryzen CPU. With that in mind, the Ryzen 5800X is a fairly versatile CPU and is a great CPU for different needs.
Great Gaming Performance
The Ryzen 5800X is known as a gaming processor because it is powerful enough to deliver great FPS even in CPU-based games at 1080p. It’s even suitable for 1440p gaming or productivity tasks in 4K resolution.
With eight cores, the Ryzen 5800x is the mid-range standard of modern gaming computers. Although it is already three years old at the time of writing, it’s worth mentioning that it was the most powerful processor for 1080p gaming in 2020.
While the Series 9 Ryzen processors might be overkill for most gamers, the 7-series Ryzen processors are perfect for meeting the most demanding gaming needs.
Outstanding Multithread Performance
Ryzen processors are generally known for their multithread performance mainly because they outperform certain Intel processors. The Ryzen 5800X is no different from other 7 series processors since it not only beats the Intel i7 processors but also some Intel i9 processors in multithread performance.
The Ryzen 5800X with its eight cores is more than enough to meet modern gaming standards, but it’s also ideal for multitasking and CPU-hungry programs.
Optimized Single-Core Performance
Ryzen always excelled at multi-core performance but was inadequate at single-core performance, which is where the Intel processors had an advantage.
However, this is slowly changing with the Ryzen 5800X processor. The Ryzen 5800X has achieved the highest scores for single-core performance benchmarks among all other Ryzen processors. This means that the Ryzen 5800X can slowly but steadily keep up with Intel’s well-known single-core performance.
In general, the Ryzen 5800X is one of the best optimized Ryzen processors as it can offer incredible multi-core performance, as well as very good single-core performance. Compared to the Intel i7 and some Intel i9 processors, the 5800X can definitely offer equal performance for a much lower price.
©iStock.com/k5hu
Power-Efficient and Overclockable
The Ryzen 5800X has a TDP of 105 watts and only consumes 112 watts at peak. Of course, this only applies when you use this CPU with the default settings. The Ryzen 5800X has an overclocking ability by default, which can increase the performance peak.
If you upgrade your PC with the Ryzen 5800X, you won’t have to worry about upgrading your power supply. Also, it’s very likely that you won’t need to upgrade your motherboard either, and at such a good price, the Ryzen 5800X is a good choice for most PCs.
Futureproofing
The Ryzen 5800X was released in November 2020 and, although it’s two and a half years old, at the time of writing, it’s still valuable and quite future-proof.
The Ryzen 5800X could last up to five more years, considering its performance, energy efficiency, and improved compatibility. Some even assume that it’ll last for another seven to ten years. Even then, it’ll still be usable but its performance will no longer be sufficient.
Decent Value-to-Performance Ratio
When the Ryzen 5800X was launched, its MSRP was about $449, which is quite decent for a processor of such specifications and performance. Even though the price is still a bit higher than the Ryzen 3 or 5 Series processors, you should remember that you’re getting the absolute best performance in both multi-thread and single-thread that can compete with higher-end CPUs such as Intel i9.
Even better yet, two and a half years after its release, the Ryzen 5800X is still a very current processor that is available for almost half of its MSRP. For example, you can get this CPU for about $208.98, and for the AMD 3D V-Cache version, you’ll have to pay about $289.27.
- 4.7 GHz Max Boost
- 100-plus FPS performance
- Socket AM4
- Can support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
Wrapping Up
Even though the Ryzen 5800X is considered to be a bit outdated by some, it’s still a relevant processor that is great for gaming and it can go up to par with higher-end CPUs. It’s much cheaper than ever before, and since it fits AM4 sockets, you most likely don’t have to upgrade your motherboard or any of your other components.
With relatively low power consumption and overclocking ability, the Ryzen 5800X is a great choice for an upgrade if you need a new CPU. Lastly, if you’re on a tight budget, settling down with the Ryzen 5800X might cost you a bit more than the Ryzen entry series, but it will be much more future-proof.
Summary Table
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| AM4 Socket-Compatible | The Ryzen 5800X processor is compatible with the AM4 socket, making it suitable for most average motherboards. |
| Great Gaming Performance | The Ryzen 5800X is powerful enough to deliver great FPS even in CPU-based games at 1080p and is suitable for 1440p gaming or productivity tasks in 4K resolution. |
| Outstanding Multithread Performance | The Ryzen 5800X outperforms certain Intel processors in multithread performance. |
| Optimized Single-Core Performance | The Ryzen 5800X has achieved the highest scores for single-core performance benchmarks among all other Ryzen processors. |
| Power-Efficient and Overclockable | The Ryzen 5800X has a TDP of 105 watts and only consumes 112 watts at peak. It also has an overclocking ability by default, which can increase the performance peak. |
| Futureproofing | The Ryzen 5800X could last up to five more years, considering its performance, energy efficiency, and improved compatibility. |
| Decent Value-to-Performance Ratio | The Ryzen 5800X offers the absolute best performance in both multi-thread and single-thread that can compete with higher-end CPUs such as Intel i9, at a much lower price. |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Tester128/Shutterstock.com.
