An engineering sample of AMD's never-released Ryzen 9 5900X3D has surfaced on the Chinese forum Chiphell, and it looks quite different from the prototype AMD has shown before. The 12-core, 24-thread Zen 3 chip carries the code 100-000000652 and reports 128 MB of L3 cache, split as 96 MB on one CCD and 32 MB on the other. That means only one of its two six-core chiplets has the 64 MB 3D V-Cache stack. The Ryzen 9 5900X3D and 5950X3D prototypes that AMD showed to Gamers Nexus in 2023 had cache stacked on both CCDs, for 192 MB in total. The single-stack layout apparently lets the chip clock higher. CPU-Z screenshots from the owner show it running at around 4.7 GHz with a 105 W TDP, while the dual-stack 5900X3D topped out at a 4.4 GHz boost.

Getting it to boot took some effort, though. The sample reportedly refuses to work on current BIOS versions and only started with an older one carrying SMU firmware 56.70.0. The owner has apparently asked ASRock to add support in a newer BIOS. At retail, the Zen 3 X3D lineup started with the eight-core Ryzen 7 5800X3D in 2022 and never included a dual-CCD chip. Interestingly, the one-CCD approach seen here is the same one AMD later used for its Ryzen 9 X3D chips on AM5, before the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition put cache on both chiplets this year. AMD hasn't confirmed anything about this sample, of course, but it's interesting to see from an archival standpoint.

AMD's Ryzen 5 5500F and Ryzen 5 7500 are finally available in the US, but both are selling above their announced pricing. On Amazon, the Ryzen 5 5500F lists for $120 and the Ryzen 5 7500 for $210, each $20 over AMD's MSRP of $99 and $189, respectively. The Ryzen 5 5500F has been spotted fluctuating between $118 and $125. Both listings are sold directly by Amazon rather than third-party sellers, so this doesn't appear to be a case of resellers padding the price. AMD revealed the two budget chips nearly two weeks ago, though they only became available for purchase now. At the time of writing, Amazon is the only US retailer stocking either chip, with Micro Center and Newegg still showing no listings.

To recap, the Ryzen 5 5500F is a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 3 part built on the Vermeer die, unlike the older $90 Ryzen 5 5500, which uses Cezanne. That gives it PCIe 4.0 support and a 4.4 GHz boost clock, versus PCIe 3.0 and 4.2 GHz on the 5500. The Ryzen 5 7500 is essentially a Ryzen 5 7500F with integrated graphics, packing six Zen 4 cores, DDR5 support, PCIe 5.0, and a 5 GHz boost clock, all within a 65 W envelope. AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 saw something similar earlier this year, launching on Amazon $100 above MSRP before settling down once other retailers picked it up, so pricing here could correct itself too.

AMD's new Ryzen 5 5500F is turning out to be more than just a rebadge of the standard Ryzen 5 5500 in gaming. New benchmarks from YouTuber RandomGaminginHD show the $99 chip pulling ahead of its non-F sibling by up to 16% in CPU-bound titles, even though both processors share the same core count and land at roughly the same price. Do note that the testing is done by a mostly unknown third-party reviewer, and we don't have solid data track to back the claim, but for now it remains as a reference for future independent reviews from traditional sources.

The testing paired both chips with an RX 9060 XT 16 GB graphics card and ran through seven games at 1080p. Battlefield 6 showed the biggest gap at 16% in favor of the new 5500F, followed by Cyberpunk 2077 at 11%, GTA V: Enhanced at 9%, and Counter-Strike 2 at 8%. Titles that leaned more on the GPU, like Crimson Desert and Red Dead Redemption 2, saw that gap shrink to single digits or vanish once the RX 9060 XT became the bottleneck instead of the CPU. Of course, these are early numbers from one single test system. The reviewer also does not have a perfect track record when it comes to quality of testing, so it's important to wait for further testing to form a concrete verdict either way.

Today, AMD quietly launched new CPUs for both the AM4 and AM5 platforms in a surprising twist. Starting with the Ryzen 5 7500, it joins the Ryzen 7000 lineup as a slightly different take on the Ryzen 5 7500F. Meanwhile, the Ryzen 5 5500F introduces another Zen 3 chip to the increasingly hard-to-retire Ryzen 5000 family. Focusing on the newer platform, the Ryzen 5 7500 is a 6-core, 12-thread "Zen 4" processor running at 3.7 GHz by default and reaching up to 5.0 GHz under boost. Its 65 W TDP and 38 MB of combined cache, split between 6 MB of L2 and 32 MB of L3, remain unchanged from the 7500F. The key distinction is the integrated GPU; AMD has equipped the chip with a small RDNA 2 graphics unit containing two Compute Units clocked at up to 2.2 GHz.

However, AMD is apparently not ready to let the Ryzen 5000 series disappear just yet. The new Ryzen 5 5500F adds another 6-core, 12-thread "Zen 3" processor to the AM4 platform, but it is not simply a rebranded Ryzen 5 5500. The 5500F is based on AMD's "Vermeer" silicon, whereas the standard Ryzen 5 5500 uses the "Cezanne" design. Curiously, AMD has paired the "Vermeer"-based chip with just 16 MB of L3 cache, which is half the amount found on 6-core Vermeer parts such as the Ryzen 5 5600. Clock speeds range from 3.0 GHz to 4.4 GHz, with a 65 W default TDP, so the difference is more pronounced compared to the non-F design.

AMD today formally relaunched the Ryzen 7 5800X3D Socket AM4 desktop processor with 3D V-Cache, as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D 10th Anniversary Edition. This special edition SKU features a full-featured 5800X3D processor with the same OPN and specifications as the original 5800X3D that was discontinued in 2023; but comes with special branding on the PIB package, and includes a sheet of Carbice Ice Pad—a high-performance thermal pad. The package still lacks an in-box cooling solution. Based on the "Zen 3" microarchitecture, the 8-core/16-thread chip boosts up to 4.50 GHz, and features 96 MB of L3 cache.

AMD claims that the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the fastest gaming processor on platforms with DDR4 memory. To illustrate, the company compared its gaming performance with that of an Intel Core i9-14900K "Raptor Lake Refresh," with both machines featuring 32 GB (2× 16 GB) of DDR4-3600 memory. The 5800X3D is shown posting an average of 10% higher gaming performance than the i9-14900K (DDR4), making the case for 5800X3D as the fastest gaming processor with DDR4 memory. Available from June 25, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D 10th Anniversary Edition is priced at $350. Next up, the company formally launched the Ryzen 7 7700X3D, a very interestingly priced gaming PC processor powered by the older "Zen 4" microarchitecture.

AMD in its Computex 2026 presentation, celebrated 10 years of the Socket AM4 platform that kickstarted the company's long march to competitiveness with Intel in the desktop PC processor market, and its eventual domination. Socket AM4 supports the original "Zen" and "Zen+," across the Ryzen 1000 and Ryzen 2000; and would go on to support Ryzen 3000 "Zen 2," Ryzen 4000 "Zen 2" APUs, and the vastly successful Ryzen 5000 "Zen 3" series, at which point it had achieved performance leadership over Intel. The company formally launched its "latest" product for AM4, a fresh production run of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which is the fastest processor for gaming on the platform.

In 2022, AMD debuted Socket AM5 alongside the Ryzen 7000 series powered by the "Zen 4" architecture. At the time, the company promised a similar cadence of at least two processor generations on the socket, leading up to 2027 (5 years in the market). The company would go on to launch the Ryzen 8000 series APUs, and its current Ryzen 9000 series powered by the "Zen 5" architecture. Its latest product line sees the introduction of Ryzen AI 400 series desktop APUs. Without naming any future processor generation or architecture, AMD announced that AM5 will have platform longevity till 2029. This would mean the introduction of at least one more microarchitecture, "Zen 6," and the product lines derived from it. Since AMD didn't announce "Zen 6" at Computex, the company likely won't debut it in 2026, instead, hold on to the current lineup, and possibly tease or announce "Zen 6" in 2027, with product launches expected that year. This would align with market availability of "Zen 6" for the following two years going into 2029.

Here's the first picture of the retail package of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D AM4 10th Anniversary Edition desktop processor. This is essentially a fresh production run of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D that was originally launched in 2022 in response to Intel's 12th Gen Core "Alder Lake" series launch, and discontinued in 2023 once the company had completed launch of its Ryzen 7000 series "Zen 4" processors. AMD is commemorating 10 years of the Socket AM4 platform with the fastest processor for gaming on this socket. Existence of this processor was leaked earlier this week. We'd known that it's the same exact chip as the one from 2022, with the same OPN, but in a retail box with special box-art. Turns out that it's the regular Ryzen 5000 series box, but with the insert showing "3D V-Cache technology," and a special badge marking "AMD AM4 10th Anniversary Edition." There's still no word on the exact launch date or price.

AMD is planning to re-introduce the Ryzen 7 5800X3D desktop processor with 3D V-Cache memory as the new Ryzen 7 5800X3D AM4 10th Anniversary Edition. The processor will have the same OPN as the original 5800X3D, but the retail PIB package will have some special artwork commemorating 10 years of AMD Ryzen and the Socket AM4 platform. AMD will have supported the platform with 10 years of new processor launches and continued availability of compatible processors.

The 8-core/16-thread processor is based on the "Zen 3" microarchitecture, and features stacked 3D V-Cache memory. Each of the 8 cores has 512 KB of L2 cache, and the eight share 96 MB of L3 cache. The processor comes with a base frequency of 3.40 GHz, with a 4.50 GHz maximum boost frequency, with its TDP rated at 105 W. As a Socket AM4 processor, the 5800X3D features a dual-channel DDR4 memory interface, and comes with 20 usable PCI-Express 4.0 lanes, which AMD B550 and X570 chipset motherboards wire out as PCI-Express 4.0 x16, and a CPU-attached M.2 NVMe Gen 4 slot.

Imagine buying a laptop, thinking you're getting a model with your desired CPU specifications, only to find a completely different model inside, cleverly concealed so you wouldn't notice without further investigation. According to an investigation by Notebookcheck, the Chinese electronics maker Chuwi is engaging in specification fraud. Users have discovered a different CPU SKU compared to what was advertised. In a review of the Chuwi CoreBook X and CoreBook Plus, Notebookcheck found that Chuwi had listed these laptops with an AMD Ryzen 5 7430U processor, but they actually come with an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U. This means that Chuwi is actively advertising these models on their website, on the laptop box, with laptop stickers, and even with BIOS modifications to make it seem as if they feature the newer Ryzen 5 7430U SoC with "Zen 3" CPU microarchitecture and Radeon "Vega 6" SoC. In reality, the company is shipping a processor that is a few generations old, with "Zen 2" CPU cores and Radeon Graphics 448SP.

Notebookcheck discovered this during a review of the Chuwi CoreBook X. The unit's performance was rather lackluster, prompting further investigation. Initially, they thought single-channel RAM was causing the subpar performance. To determine the true cause, they opened the unit and found the older Ryzen 5 5500U SoC with its corresponding part number 100-000000375. Additionally, other differences were noted in the SoC specifications, such as the L3 cache. Chuwi even went a step further by using a modified BIOS version to show that the unit features the AMD Ryzen 5 7430U. This led software diagnostic tools to display the advertised specification, while the lower-tier SoC was actually inside. This issue didn't occur just once with the Chuwi CoreBook X but also with a separate CoreBook Plus, which Notebookcheck also confirmed to feature the older SoC. Instead of the newer AMD Ryzen 5 7430U processor, both of these laptop models actually come with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, as verified through performance testing, and the OPN number that corresponds to a specific AMD chip.

AMD has expanded the availability of its Ryzen 5 5500X3D to the Chinese market, giving new life to a processor that first appeared in Latin America last year. There was no formal launch event or major announcement. Instead, the chip appeared through retail channels quietly, with a listing price of 1,199 RMB (roughly $175). At its core, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a six-core, 12-thread "Zen 3" processor designed for the AM4 platform. It runs at a 3.0 GHz base frequency and can boost up to 4.0 GHz. What sets it apart from standard Ryzen 5 models of the same generation is its expanded cache configuration. With a combined 99 MB of L2 and L3 cache, it targets gaming workloads that benefit from reduced memory latency and improved data access patterns, as seen with the other X3D SKUs.

AMD lists the processor at a 105 W TDP, and buyers should note that it does not include a bundled cooler and lacks integrated graphics. At $175, this pricing positions the 5500X3D as one of the more accessible X3D options available. AMD revived its AM4 socket with an additional "Zen 3" chip, but this time in an X3D variant to keep up with modern designs in performance. With support for DDR4 memory, PCIe 4.0, and a wide range of AM4 motherboards, including X570 and B550, the 5500X3D offers existing users a relatively inexpensive drop-in upgrade. For those running Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 from the 5000 series, this chip could be a very good upgrade without having to switch to a completely new platform and the more expensive DDR5 memory.

An elevation of computer memory prices—throughout late 2025 and early 2026—has prompted revisits of older generation hardware. After all, cheaper DDR4 memory offers an alternative route in the current climate. Prime examples turned up last week, when Gigabyte unveiled and launched four new AM4 socket-based motherboard models. At the end of December, ASUS was reportedly engaged in a bolstering of its AM4 motherboard production lines. Pleasingly, AMD seems to considering similar steps with its compatible Ryzen desktop processor families. Tom's Hardware gathered relevant information during a pre-CES 2026 round-table discussion.

During an interview session, David McAfee—Team Red's VP and GM of client channel business—reportedly dropped a hint about potential revivals of AM4 CPU products. In the recent past, AMD has continued to roll out (sort of) new chips based on "Zen 3" architecture. Conversely, supplies of popular SKUs—like the gaming-centric Ryzen 7 5700X3D model—have dried up. When asked about a possible older generation re-release strategy, McAfee stated that the Red Team: "(is) certainly looking at everything that (it) can do to bring more supply and kind of reintroduce products back into the (AM4) ecosystem to satisfy the demands of gamers that maybe want that significant upgrade in their AM4 platform, without having to rebuild their entire system." Elaborating a tad more, he said: "(it is) definitely something (AMD is) very actively working on." According to the TechPowerUp news archive and GPU database, Team Red's most recent new "Zen 3" desktop releases include the Ryzen 5 5600F (last September) and Ryzen 5 5500X3D (mid-2025) SKUs.

AMD is gearing up to introduce the "Zen 6" family of processors, with initial "Olympic Ridge" designs set to launch on the familiar AM5 socket. The company is staying true to its commitment to maintain socket compatibility across multiple generations, and Zen 6 is expected to follow suit. However, modern motherboards are increasingly equipped with larger BIOS ROM chips, moving from the standard 32 MB to 64 MB. Since the AM5 platform is intended to support several CPU generations, all the necessary microcode for various processors needs to be accommodated. This can lead to space constraints, and we've already seen some manufacturers drop support for older CPUs in newer BIOS versions to make room.

While companies have not been very clear about the reasons for this change, they often use marketing phrases like "Future CPU Ready" or "Ultimate Compatibility." Notably, ASUS mentioned "Zen 6" support in their materials for the X870 AYW GAMING WIFI W, which is intriguing since AMD has not officially confirmed Zen 6 compatibility with AM5. Over the weekend, a well-known hardware leaker, HXL, confirmed that both 600 and 800-series boards will support Zen 6, regardless of whether they have 32 MB or 64 MB BIOS chips. This is reassuring news. However, a lingering question remains: will manufacturers start dropping Zen 4 support on those 32 MB boards to make room, similar to what happened with first-generation Zen when Zen 3 launched on 16 MB boards? This is likely a significant concern for those purchasing motherboards now, and planning an upgrade later on when Zen 6 CPUs arrive.

AMD has reportedly retired the Ryzen 7 5700X3D Socket AM4 desktop processor with 3D V-Cache technology. The 8-core/16-thread chip was launched in January 2024 as a lower priced alternative to the 5800X3D, which AMD retired later that year in October 2024. Towards the end of 2024, the 5700X3D was among the bestselling processors on Amazon. Its retirement sees AMD finally draw the curtains on the Socket AM4 platform. The 5800X3D and 5700X3D, while based on the older "Zen 3" microarchitecture and only supporting the older DDR4 memory standard, offered gaming performance rivaling 12th Gen Core i9-12900K "Alder Lake" or "Zen 4" Ryzen 7600 processors with newer DDR5 memory, giving those on the 8-year-old platform a cost-effective upgrade path.

A little over a year has passed since we last heard rumors about AMD releasing a sub-$200 chip for price-conscious gamers, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D for AM4. Well those rumors recently became reality as leaker @Zed__Wang on X spotted it on AMD's website. The "new" AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a six-core, twelve-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture using TSMC's 7 nm process. It operates at a base clock of 3 GHz with boost speeds up to 4 GHz (the old 5600X3D runs 3.3 GHz base and 4.4 GHz boost clocks), with a 105 W power budget. The processor features 384 KB of L1 cache, 3 MB of L2 cache, and a substantial 96 MB of L3 cache.

The 5500X3D's main selling point is its 3D V-Cache technology combined with AM4 socket compatibility for existing systems. If you already have an AM4 system and aren't ready for a complete upgrade, the 5500X3D could be worth considering as a drop-in performance boost. The decision will largely depend on pricing when it becomes available since currently it isn't yet listed on any e-commerce websites. For new builds, a modern AM5 processor like the Ryzen 5 7600X or 9600X would be a better choice, offering more future upgrade paths.

Mini PCs have steadily increased in popularity in recent years, primarily thanks to the performance and efficiency improvements brought to the table by APUs from Intel and AMD. There is no shortage of such systems with commendable computing horsepower, but there also exists a certain segment which prioritizes compactness over anything else. The Topton M1 undoubtedly belongs to that category, boasting a chassis that is 7.8 x 7.8 x 5.5 cm in dimensions.

As can be expected from a system as diminutive as the M1 mini PC, the internal specifications are nothing to write home about. At its core, a Ryzen 3 5425U APU powers the system, paired with up to 32 GB of soldered LPDDR4X memory. The "Cezanne" APU is based on the Zen 3 microarchitecture, packing four cores and eight threads. The 15-watt APU boasts similar CPU performance to the Core Ultra 5 134U, which should allow it to chew through most non-intensive workloads. Needless to say, support for discrete graphics is absent, and the integrated 6-core Vega iGPU should suffice for video playback and extremely lightweight tasks.

AMD is launching new Socket AM4 processor SKUs well into 2025, eight years into the platform's lifecycle. The company just launched six new processor models under the Ryzen 5005G series. These span the Ryzen 7, Ryzen 5, and Ryzen 3 tiers, and are all desktop APUs based on the 7 nm "Cezanne" monolithic silicon that combines up to 8 "Zen 3" CPU cores with an iGPU based on the "Vega" graphics architecture, featuring up to 8 compute units (CU). There's nothing [much] to report about the 5005G series, except that they are iGPU speed bumps of existing SKUs. These are not meant to be confused with the 5000GT series, which were CPU speed-bumps of the chips AMD launched in 2024.

Among the six new SKUs, the top-spec part is the Ryzen 7 5705G, which maxes out the silicon, enabling the full 8-core/16-thread "Zen 3" CPU with 512 KB of L2 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache; and the iGPU with all 8 CUs. This chip comes with CPU clock speeds of 3.80 GHz base with 4.60 GHz boost, with 2.20 GHz max engine clock for the iGPU. The CPU clock speeds are unchanged compared to the Ryzen 7 5700G, but the iGPU gets a 10% increase in max engine clock. The Ryzen 7 5705GE is an energy efficient variant with 3.20 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost for the CPU to achieve a 35 W TDP, but the iGPU engine clock gets the same 200 MHz speed bump.

AMD has quietly updated its web presences with six new processor SKUs—as spotted by Everest (aka Olrak29), and a member of Team Red's subreddit. Community detective work indicates official CPU support lists being updated at some point after February 11. Model names and product identifiers were highlighted; AMD is likely introducing additional Zen 3 "Cezanne" options for OEM partners. The Ryzen 5000G lineup of Zen 3 and Vega iGPU-powered APUs was already well populated, going back to 2021. The "newly" listed AM4 models are: Ryzen 7 5705GE, Ryzen 7 5705G, Ryzen 5 5605GE, Ryzen 5 5605G, Ryzen 3 5305GE and Ryzen 3 5305G.

The familiar "G" tag indicates the presence of an integrated graphics solution; a Cezanne GPU that utilizes GCN 5.1 architecture. A "GE" designation denotes lower power variants; with 35 W TDPs. A small selection of Zen 3-based Ryzen PRO models are available in GE form, including the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE SKU. Three of the recently discovered models seem to share identical specifications with Team Red's well established roster of Ryzen 7 5700G, Ryzen 5 5600G, and Ryzen 3 5300G options. Currently, dedicated product pages are not populated with information; instead you are greeted with a "404: Page Not Found" warning. AMD is well known for keeping its older technologies alive for long periods; its RDNA 3+ graphics architecture is expected to last until 2027 (or beyond).

Google Security Research team has just published its latest research on a fundamental flaw in the microcode patch verification system that affects AMD processors from "Zen 1" through "Zen 4" generations. The vulnerability stems from an inadequate hash function implementation in the CPU's signature validation process for microcode updates, enabling attackers with local administrator privileges (ring 0 from outside a VM) to inject malicious microcode patches, potentially compromising AMD SEV-SNP-protected confidential computing workloads and Dynamic Root of Trust Measurement systems. Google disclosed this high-severity issue to AMD on September 25, 2024, leading to AMD's release of an embargoed fix to customers on December 17, 2024, with public disclosure following on February 3, 2025; however, due to the complexity of supply chain dependencies and remediation requirements, comprehensive technical details are being withheld until March 5, 2025, allowing organizations time to implement necessary security measures and re-establish trust in their confidential compute environments.

AMD has released comprehensive mitigation measures through AGESA firmware updates across its entire EPYC server processor lineup, from the first-generation Naples to the latest Genoa-X and Bergamo architectures. The security patch, designated as CVE-2024-56161 with a high severity rating of 7.2, introduces critical microcode updates: Naples B2 processors require uCode version 0x08001278, Rome B0 systems need 0x0830107D, while Milan and Milan-X variants mandate versions 0x0A0011DB and 0x0A001244 respectively. For the latest Genoa-based systems, including Genoa-X and Bergamo/Siena variants, the required microcode versions are 0x0A101154, 0x0A10124F, and 0x0AA00219. These updates implement robust protections across all SEV security features - including SEV, SEV-ES, and SEV-SNP - while introducing new restrictions on microcode hot-loading capabilities to prevent future exploitation attempts.

We have already witnessed a multitude of rumors surrounding the Legion Go S gaming handheld. The product is expected to boast an AMD Ryzen Z2 chip, which, unfortunately, will be based on the older Zen 3+ architecture and features a Radeon 680M iGPU. The system will include 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and an 8-inch, 1200p IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. As for pricing, the Legion Go S is expected to cost around €600, and most likely cheaper outside of Europe, putting it in the ballpark of the Steam Deck OLED. Now, leaker Evan Blass has shared a few more images of the device, further revealing a few more details.

Firstly, the image reveals the colorways that the Legion Go S will be available in: black and white. Interestingly, the image also reveals what appears to be a button that is dedicated for Steam, which, so far, we have only seen in the Steam Deck. As VideoCardz notes, there is no concrete information at the moment regarding the purpose of the button. It is possible that the Legion Go S might run SteamOS, although the button might also exist to simply open up Steam. Unfortunately, the leak gives us no further information regarding the product. The Legion Go S is expected to see the light of day at CES 2025, which, luckily for us, happens to be just around the corner.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D has hit end-of-life, according to a ComputerBase.de report. Introducing the new 3D V-cache technology, the 5800X3D breathed life back into the Socket AM4 platform as Intel debuted its 12th Gen Core "Alder Lake" processors, while there was still some time to go before AMD could mount up a defense with Ryzen 7000 "Zen 4." AMD figured out a way to augment the 32 MB on-die L3 cache with an additional 64 MB stacked cache that appears as a contiguous 96 MB addressable block to software. Having such a large fast cache next to the CPU cores greatly enhances performance in gaming workloads.

The 5800X3D was able to match the gaming performance of Intel's flagship Core i9-12900K despite being based on the generationally older "Zen 3" microarchitecture, and being restricted with older DDR4 memory. It would go on to be an incredible upgrade option for those still on the Socket AM4 platform, giving them performance in league with Intel's 12th- and 13th Gen processors. As of this writing, US retailer Newegg no longer has the 5800X3D in stock. Amazon has it, and so do some of the smaller retailers. Across the pond, the chip is vanishing from European retailers. In the absence of the 5800X3D, users still have the option of the Ryzen 7 5700X3D and the 6-core 5600X3D, which were both launched in the last year.

AMD announced that its Ryzen processor branch prediction optimization that provide gaming performance uplifts, is now available for Windows 11 23H2, through an optional update. This update applies to AMD Ryzen processors based on the "Zen 3," "Zen 4," and "Zen 5" microarchitectures, and essentially yields the kind of performance you get in the real Administrator account, on regular Windows accounts, especially non-local (online) accounts. Users should look for "Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5041587)" in Windows Update, which should begin showing up as an optional update. This update requires a system restart to apply.

With this update in place, gaming performance uplifts between Windows 11 23H2 and 24H2 should be identical. "We wanted to let you know that the branch prediction optimization found in Windows 11 24H2 has now been backported to Windows 11 23H2. Users will need to look for KB5041587 under Windows update > Advanced options > Optional updates. We expect the performance uplift to be very similar between 24H2 and 23H2 with KB5041587 installed," AMD said in a statement to Wccftech.

AMD Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" desktop processors have been out for a couple of weeks now, and the "Zen 5" based processors have fallen short of gaming performance expectations, set mainly by some of the numbers AMD put out in its Computex 2024 reveal for the processors. The consensus among the tech press is that these processors are roughly 3-5% faster than Ryzen 7000 series "Raphael," but with noteworthy improvements in energy efficiency. AMD set out to study why there are such vast deltas in performance between its numbers and those of reviews, and arrived a few possible explanations. The company also stated that it is working with Microsoft to fix this in the next major update to Windows 11.

One of them is that AMD's testing was done on Windows 11 23H2 with Admin mode (i.e. a local system administrator account was used), while some reviewers tested with a regular user account that has some admin privileges. Apparently this affects the way the branch prediction units of "Zen 5" processors work. "Our automated test methodology was run in "Admin" mode which produced results that reflect branch prediction code optimizations not present in the version of Windows reviewers used to test Ryzen 9000 Series," AMD said in a statement.

If you're on the Socket AM4 platform, AMD is never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you; never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie, and hurt you. The company is reportedly giving finishing touches to a firecracker of a sub-$200 chip for price-conscious gamers, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D. That's right, AMD is bringing 3D V-cache technology to the mid-range, with a new 6-core processor based on the "Zen 3" microarchitecture, but enjoying the gaming performance boost from 96 MB of L3 cache on tap.

AMD already has a 6-core X3D Socket AM4 chip, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D, which joined the product stack a couple of years after AMD's original Ryzen 7 5800X3D took the gaming PC processor scene by storm, matching the then swanky new Core i9-12900K "Alder Lake" despite being based on an older-generation "Zen 3" architecture. Not much else is known about the 5500X3D, except that it could have a lower clock speed than the 5600X3D. Back in November 2023, when news of the 5700X3D first hit the scene, the 5500X3D was rumored to be a 6-core/12-thread chip with 3.00 GHz base frequency and 4.00 GHz maximum boost, compared to the 3.30 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost frequency of the 5600X3D. Given that AMD launched the 5600X3D at $230, AMD could target a sub-$200 price point to wow gamers on AM4, such as $199.

An AMD Ryzen 5 9600X "Zen 5" processor engineering sample has been overclocked to 5.70 GHz on all cores, and put through the CPU-Z Benchmark. Here, the chip is found to score 871 points in the single-thread benchmark, and 7096 points in the multithreaded benchmark. The overclock to 5.70 GHz is significant, as this is the maximum boost frequency of the upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X flagship part. The single-thread benchmark highlights that "Zen 5" has a similar IPC to the "Raptor Cove" P-core of the Intel Core i9-14900K processor, while the 7096 points multithreaded score is higher than the that of the Ryzen 7 5800X "Zen 3," meaning that AMD is overcoming the deficit of two whole cores (33% of the core-count of the 9600X) with just IPC and faster memory. AMD is expected to launch the Ryzen 9000 series desktop processors in July 2024.

AMD Socket AM4 is now an 8-year-old platform, since its debut back in 2016. AMD objectively went above and beyond for this platform, launching processors powered by the original "Zen," the refreshed "Zen+," the "Zen 2," and the Intel-beating "Zen 3" microarchitecture, including 3D V-cache versions of the "Zen 3" that were competitive even with Intel's 12th Gen Core "Alder Lake" processors in gaming. Those on older processors on AM4 are spoiled for choice with upgrades within the platform, without having to change it, with AMD releasing new processor models every year for the past 8 years. The 2024 launches include the Ryzen 5000XT series.

It's hard to call the Ryzen 5000XT a "series," since there are only two SKUs—the Ryzen 9 5900XT, and the Ryzen 7 5800XT. Neither of the two feature 3D V-cache, but push clock speeds up. The Ryzen 9 5900XT is a 16-core/32-thread part, and is not meant to be confused with the 5900X, which is a 12-core/24-thread part. The 16-core 5900XT comes with a maximum boost frequency of 4.80 GHz, which is 100 MHz less than that of the 5950X. It has the same 105 W TDP, and a significantly lower $360 price. The Ryzen 7 5800XT, on the other hand, is an 8-core/16-thread chip with 4.80 GHz maximum boost frequency, compared to the 4.70 GHz of the 5800X, and the same 105 W TDP. It's priced around $260. Both chips include an AMD Wraith Prism RGB cooler that's capable of handling 140 W TDP processors. The Ryzen 9 5900XT is claimed by AMD to offer similar gaming performance to the Intel Core i7-13700K; while the 5800XT is claimed to play games competitively to the Intel Core i5-13600KF. Both chips should be available sometime in July, 2024.