[AMD] kunalneo:
AMD has managed to become a solid competitor in the gaming CPU space. The latest Ryzen 5000 series processors based on the Zen3 architecture are becoming the go-to choice for a lot of gamers around the world. The biggest advantage that the new Ryzen series offers over Intel is power efficiency. In fact, even the last-generation Ryzen 3000 series processors, have proven to offer rock-solid performance with comparatively less power draw. Intel recently launched its new 11th-gen Rocket Lake-S series of desktop processors, however, it hasn't received a lot of positive feedback primarily due to the fact that the company continues to drag its 14nm++ process.

If you are in the market for buying a new CPU for gaming, then AMD is a pretty good choice. Let's check out the best AMD CPUs for gaming that you should buy today.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X​

The newly launched Ryzen 5 5600X is the best AMD Ryzen CPU that you should buy for gaming in 2021. It offers the best performance to value ratio and thanks to AMD’s Zen 3 architecture, it draws less power compared to Intel counterparts. The processor is highly recommended for all sorts of games, whether you want fast frame rates or a high-resolution experience.

Clock speeds: 3.7GHz – 4.6GHz

6-Cores, 12 Threads

35MB L3 Cache

PCIe 4.0

65W TDP

~$279

Buy from Amazon

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X​

The new octa-core champion, the Ryzen 7 5800X takes on Intel's new 11th-gen Core i9-11900K. While both offer almost similar performance, AMD is selling the 5800X at over $100 less than Intel. That in itself is a huge point to consider, especially since the chipset crisis has lead to consumers hunting for products left, right, and center. Additionally, as mentioned with the case of the 5600X, this one also draws comparatively less power thanks to the 7nm processor.

Clock speeds: 3.8GHz – 4.7GHz

8-Cores, 16 Threads

35MB L3 Cache

PCIe 4.0

105W TDP

~$420

Buy from Amazon

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X​

The latest top-of-the-line CPU offering from AMD in 2021, the 12-core Ryzen 9 5900X throws Intel’s latest Core i9-11900K and even the 10-core Core i9-10900K from last year, out of the park in almost every single aspect. It not only offers a better performance package, but it manages power and thermal more efficiently thanks to the 7nm process. It is currently selling more expensive than AMD’s suggested price, but it is totally worth it and should last you for years to come.

Clock speeds: 3.7GHz – 4.8GHz

12-Cores, 24 Threads

64MB L3 Cache

PCIe 4.0

105W TDP

~$549

Buy from Amazon

Best APU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G​

The chipset crisis continues to haunt us, with most gamers unable to get a hold of a new GPU. But if you are planning to build a budget gaming PC, then you should consider the Ryzen 5 3400G. Since it is an APU, it comes with integrated graphics that should be enough for 720p or 1080p gaming at low to mid settings. Additionally, both the CPU and GPU are unlocked which means there is potential for tweaking them as well. AMD has announced that its latest APUs, the Ryzen 7 5700G and Ryzen 5 5600G, will be hitting stores in August. These are going to be much better than the 3400G, so hold on to your money if you can.

Clock speeds: 3.7GHz – 4.2GHz

4-Cores, 8 Threads

4MB L3 Cache

PCIe 3.0

Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics

65W TDP

~$149

Buy from Amazon

These are currently the best AMD processors for gaming, and while you might point out that there is also the Ryzen 9 5950X, that would just be overkill for a gaming rig. For a more balanced setup, it is best to either go for the Ryzen 5 5600X if your main purpose is only gaming. If you plan to do gaming alongside multiple tasks like streaming and video rendering, then get the Ryzen 7 5800X or the 5900X if your budget allows.