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Tom’s Hardware’s review says AMD’s six-core Ryzen 5 5500F improves on the Ryzen 5 5500 by about 8–10% in gaming and adds PCIe 4.0 support. It remains an option for budget AM4 builds, but the reported price has climbed from a suggested $100 to around $120, and the Core i3-14100F was 2.9% faster in 1080p gaming tests.

Tom’s Hardware’s review finds AMD’s Ryzen 5 5500F is about 8–10% faster in gaming than the Ryzen 5 5500 and adds PCIe 4.0 support, making it a stronger option for low-cost AM4 gaming PCs. Its appeal is tempered by a reported street price near $120, above AMD’s stated $100 suggested price, and by a small 1080p gaming lead for Intel’s Core i3-14100F in the review’s comparison.

The 5500F is a six-core, 12-thread Zen 3 processor from AMD’s Vermeer family, with boost clock speeds up to 4.4 GHz. Tom’s Hardware characterizes it as a notable step up from the Ryzen 5 5500, rather than a major change to the broader budget CPU market. The review’s reported gaming advantage over the 5500 is around 8–10%.

AMD’s processor also supports PCIe 4.0, a feature absent from the Ryzen 5 5500, and comes with a Wraith Stealth cooler. The review says it can be installed in existing AM4 motherboards, though buyers should check motherboard compatibility and firmware support for their specific system. AMD’s suggested retail price is $100; Tom’s Hardware reports that pricing has moved toward $120.

The review identifies trade-offs for shoppers comparing gaming desktop PCs. The Ryzen 5 5500F has 16 MB of L3 cache, matching the capacity cited for Cezanne-based APUs, and the Core i3-14100F was 2.9% faster in 1080p gaming in Tom’s Hardware’s results. That comparison is specific to the review’s tests; it does not establish that the Intel chip is faster in every workload or configuration.

A More Capable AM4 Upgrade

The 5500F’s combination of AM4 compatibility and PCIe 4.0 gives budget builders a potential upgrade path without replacing an entire platform. For owners of supported AM4 systems, a processor swap may be less costly than moving to a newer motherboard and memory platform. The performance improvement over the 5500 also gives shoppers a reason to compare the two chips rather than treating them as equivalent budget choices.

Price will shape whether that case holds. At the stated $100 suggested price, the 5500F is positioned as an inexpensive gaming CPU; near $120, it faces a tougher comparison with competing processors and other AM4 options. Buyers should weigh the cost of the CPU, motherboard support, and any graphics card or storage upgrade together, rather than relying on the processor’s feature list alone.

From Ryzen 5 5500 to 5500F

The Ryzen 5 5500F belongs to AMD’s Zen 3 Vermeer family and uses the long-running AM4 socket. The review presents it as a budget-focused alternative within that established platform, not as a new generation of processors. Its central distinction from the Ryzen 5 5500 is a reported gaming performance gain and PCIe 4.0 connectivity.

Tom’s Hardware describes the chip’s branding as underselling its capabilities, while noting that its specifications remain modest by current high-end gaming CPU standards. Its six cores and 12 threads are aimed at lower-cost systems, and its limited 16 MB L3 cache is part of the trade-off. The review’s results provide a direct comparison with the 5500 and Core i3-14100F, but should be read as test findings rather than a guarantee of identical results across every PC.

“The Ryzen 5 5500F is a marked improvement over the base Ryzen 5 5500.”

— Tom’s Hardware

Price and Test Conditions

The exact current retail price may vary by seller and over time; the reported figure near $120 is not a fixed price. It is also unclear from the supplied review details how quickly prices might return toward AMD’s $100 suggested level. Buyers should check listings at the time of purchase.

The available details do not provide the full test configuration, individual game results, or performance figures for productivity workloads. The stated 8–10% gaming gain and 2.9% comparison with Intel therefore should not be generalized beyond the review’s reported testing. Motherboard compatibility depends on the specific AM4 board and its firmware, so support should be confirmed before buying.

Check Prices and Board Support

For shoppers considering the 5500F, the next steps are to compare live prices with other budget CPUs and verify that their AM4 motherboard supports the processor. Those with an existing Ryzen 5 5500 can use the review’s performance comparison to judge whether the upgrade is worth its cost, while new builders should include the motherboard and memory in their platform budget.

Pricing remains the key variable in the review’s value case. If the processor moves closer to its $100 suggested price, it may be more compelling for entry-level gaming systems; at around $120, the competing CPU results and the buyer’s existing hardware become more important to the decision.

Key Questions

How much faster is the Ryzen 5 5500F than the Ryzen 5 5500?

Tom’s Hardware reports the 5500F is about 8–10% faster in gaming. Results can vary with the game and system configuration.

Does the Ryzen 5 5500F support PCIe 4.0?

Yes. The review lists PCIe 4.0 support as a key advantage over the Ryzen 5 5500.

What is the Ryzen 5 5500F’s price?

Its stated suggested retail price is $100, but Tom’s Hardware reports that prices have risen toward $120. Actual listings may differ.

Is the Ryzen 5 5500F faster than the Core i3-14100F for gaming?

Not in the cited 1080p gaming comparison: Tom’s Hardware reports the Core i3-14100F was 2.9% faster. That figure applies to the review’s tests, not every game or workload.

Can the Ryzen 5 5500F work in an existing AM4 PC?

It is designed for the AM4 platform, but compatibility depends on the motherboard and firmware. Check the board maker’s CPU support information before purchasing.

Source: Tom’s Hardware