The competition between Intel and AMD for processor supremacy is heating up, which means there’s never been a better time to upgrade!
While both companies offer affordable options, AMD is leading the industry in terms of a pure performance-to-dollar ratio thanks to two of its most popular processors, the AMD Ryzen 5 and its more powerful sibling, the Ryzen 7.
But which of these options is best for you? Below, we’ll break down the battle between the AMD Ryzen 5 vs 7 in three key categories so you can make an informed decision.
Keep reading to find out who wins!
Gaming and Streaming
First and foremost, both processors are ideal for gaming. While they have uses outside of the gaming world (which we’ll get into in a moment), AMD separates itself from the competition by focusing primarily on gamers.
You’ll be happy to hear that the AMD Ryzen 7 and 5 both perform well. Gamers should achieve 60 frames-per-second on most games on medium to high settings. However, since the 7 series is a bit beefier, you’ll notice a higher framerate, though not by much.
It is worth mentioning that both processors only output to 1080p, so if you’re interested in 4K gaming, you’ll want to look elsewhere. Since 4K monitors are still quite expensive though, 1080p should be fine for most gamers.
All in all, you’re fine sticking to the Ryzen 5 series if gaming is your biggest concern.
Productivity
If you’re working on tasks like video editing or graphic design, more CPU power means a smoother workflow. This is where the difference between AMD Ryzen 5 and 7 becomes apparent.
The Ryzen 7 is the clear winner here thanks to its extra cores. The more cores a CPU has, the more information it’s capable of handling at once.
Whereas the 5 series features six cores, the 7 series has 8. For a few dollars more, you’re getting a considerable amount of power.
Affordability
Without a doubt, the price is going to be the deciding factor for a lot of people. So let’s take a look at the retail prices of both the AMD Ryzen 5 and 7 and see how they stack up.
We’ll start with the Ryzen 5, which comes in at a consumer-friendly price point of between $140 and $200 depending on where and when you buy it, as well as which model you’re interested in. The 2600 is more budget-conscious, coming in at about $50 cheaper.
Meanwhile, the ryzen 7 is going to set you back a bit more, retailing for a suggested price of about $330. With that said, remember that you’re also getting a substantial boost in power, though its wattage output is around 40 watts higher, so you may need to upgrade your power supply.
So from a sheer affordability standpoint, most people can get away with buying a Ryzen 5.
AMD Ryzen 5 vs 7: Who Wins?
So, when the dust settles, who wins in the fight between AMD Ryzen 5 vs 7?
Most people are fine sticking to the 5 series. While the Ryzen 7 is powerful, the $50-$100 price differentiation is enough to warrant a pass unless you’re looking to splurge.
We hope you found this article helpful! For more tech tips, make sure to check back with our blog!
