Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
AMD Ryzen 5 3500 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5500: Comparison
Ryzen 5 3500 vs Ryzen 5 5500: the total threads difference
There is no decisive spec gap here. Total threads splits them by a margin most buyers will never feel, Ryzen 5 3500 6 against Ryzen 5 5500 12. P-core boost clock is not the same on both, 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500. Product line is not the same on both, Ryzen 5 on the Ryzen 5 3500 versus Ryzen on the Ryzen 5 5500. There is a split on form factor as well, Desktop on the Ryzen 5 3500 versus Desktops, Boxed Processor on the Ryzen 5 5500. There is a split on microarchitecture as well, Zen 2, Ryzen 3000 Series on the Ryzen 5 3500 versus Zen 3 on the Ryzen 5 5500. They differ on smt enabled too, No on the Ryzen 5 3500 versus Yes on the Ryzen 5 5500. They differ on memory type too, DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3500 versus DDR4 on the Ryzen 5 5500.
Which should you buy, Ryzen 5 3500 or Ryzen 5 5500?
Take the Ryzen 5 3500 for budget gaming desktop builds wanting strong per-core performance without needing hyperthreading. It is not the one for buyers needing hyperthreading for multi-threaded productivity work, this chip runs 6 physical threads without SMT. The Ryzen 5 5500 is the one to take for mainstream desktop builds and everyday productivity, though it is the wrong buy for extreme overclocking (unless K/X-series) and workstation-class multi-threaded workloads.
What Ryzen 5 3500 and Ryzen 5 5500 have in common
The common ground is wider than the gap: total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, p-core base clock and tdp are identical here. They match on 7 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the L3 Cache the same on the Ryzen 5 3500 and Ryzen 5 5500?
It is. Both are listed at 16 MB, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- Ryzen 5
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- Ryzen
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- Desktops, Boxed Processor
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 3500
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 5500
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- Matisse
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- Cezanne
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 65 W
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 65 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- None
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- None
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- Zen 2, Ryzen 3000 Series
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- Zen 3
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- AM4
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- AM4
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 7 nm
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- TSMC 7nm FinFET
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 6
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 6
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 6
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 6
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 0
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 0
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 6
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 12Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- No
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 3.6 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 3.6 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 4.1 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 4.2 GHz
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 3 MB
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 3 MB
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 16 MB
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 16 MB
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- 65 W
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 65 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- DDR4-3200
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- DDR4
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- No
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- No
Which one should you pick?
Choose 3500 if you want the higher L2 cache (3 MB vs 3 MB) and the higher L3 cache (16 MB vs 16 MB).
Choose 5500 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 5 3500 | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | |
| B&H Photo | View on B&H Photo |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.