Linus Tech Tips: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is a budget-friendly gaming CPU that rivals the 5700X3D in performance and offers future-ready platform compatibility.
Linus Tech Tips - Everyone is Recommending the WRONG Budget Gaming CPU
The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is highlighted as a cost-effective alternative to the Ryzen 5700X3D, offering similar gaming performance but at a lower price. Unlike the 5700X3D, the 7500F lacks onboard graphics and some cache, but it compensates with higher boost speeds, newer Zen 4 cores, and support for faster DDR5 memory. It is positioned on the AM5 socket, allowing for future upgrades. The CPU performs well in gaming tests, trailing slightly behind the 5700X3D in some games but outperforming Intel's similarly priced options. The 7500F is particularly strong in games where clock speed is crucial, such as Rocket League, where it leads by over 24% against its main competitors. The CPU's price-to-performance ratio is impressive, especially when paired with appropriate GPUs like the 4060 class. However, it lacks AMD's direct warranty and box cooler, being an OEM chip. Despite these compromises, the 7500F is a strong contender for budget-conscious gamers looking for a future-proof platform.
Key Points:
- The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F offers similar gaming performance to the 5700X3D but at a lower cost.
- It supports faster DDR5 memory and is built on the AM5 socket, allowing for future upgrades.
- The 7500F lacks onboard graphics and some cache but compensates with higher boost speeds and newer Zen 4 cores.
- It outperforms Intel's similarly priced CPUs, especially in games where clock speed is crucial.
- The CPU is a strong budget option, particularly when paired with appropriate GPUs, despite lacking AMD's direct warranty.
Details:
1. 🎮 Introducing a Budget Gaming CPU Secret
- The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is highlighted as a cost-effective, future-ready alternative to the outdated AMD Ryzen 5700 X3D for budget-conscious gamers.
- The 7500F has been tested in labs, showing comparable performance to the 5700 X3D, making it a viable option for those looking to build a gaming PC without breaking the bank.
- A sponsorship from Seic is mentioned, promoting their Focus GX power supply, which is marketed as an efficient and reliable choice for new builds.
2. 🛒 Availability and Specs of the 7500F
2.1. Availability and Market Positioning
2.2. Specifications and Performance
3. 📊 Performance Comparison in Gaming
- The 7500F chip leads by over 24% in games like Rocket League compared to its primary competitor, highlighting its performance advantage in clock speed-dependent games.
- Team Blue's similarly priced chips do not outperform the 7500F in any tests, indicating a clear performance gap.
- The Ryzen 8400F, available for just over $90, performs better than the more expensive 13400F in all tests except one, where it draws in 1% lows, showcasing excellent price-to-performance ratio.
- Even though the Ryzen 8400F is on average about 20% slower than the 7500F, it still provides outstanding price-to-performance value, especially when compared to older models like the 5600X.
- The positive performance trend continues when CPUs are matched with more appropriately priced GPUs, such as the 4060 class GPU, maintaining the CPUs' competitive edge.
4. 🔍 Gaming CPU Value Proposition
4.1. Performance Comparison of Gaming CPUs
4.2. Audience Insights on Hardware Upgrades
5. 💡 High-end Gaming Insights
- At 1080p, the 9800 x3d delivers superior performance with 41% better 1% lows compared to other configurations, justifying its higher cost despite being five times more expensive.
- When evaluating new PC purchases, it's crucial to consider the overall system cost rather than just individual component prices to determine true value.
- The 7500F and 5700 x3d both outperform the 8400f by about 15%, with specific strengths in different games: the 7500f excels in F1 and Rocket League, while the 5700 x3d performs better in Punk and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
- At 1440p, performance differences are noticeable but less pronounced than at 1080p, and at 4K, the 8400f competes closely with top-tier configurations due to GPU bottlenecks.
- Using an RTX 4090 for 4K gaming may not be cost-effective, as its price exceeds that of the 7500f by over tenfold, highlighting the importance of balanced component selection.
6. 🤔 Intel's Budget Woes
- Intel is currently struggling to compete with AMD in the CPU gaming market, where AMD's 9800 x3d often outperforms Intel's offerings in most games.
- One notable area where Intel shows some divergence is in the 1% lows of City Skylines 2, although AMD still leads overall.
- To improve competitiveness, Intel needs to enhance its CPU performance offerings to match or exceed AMD's, focusing on specific areas where AMD excels.
- Strategically, Intel should consider investing in new technologies or partnerships that could enhance its performance metrics and market position.
- Exploring collaborations or innovations in chip architecture could provide Intel with a competitive edge in future market offerings.
7. 🔧 Future Considerations and Conclusion
- Intel missed an opportunity in the budget lineup, leaving AMD with a strong position with their budget Ryzen CPUs.
- The lack of Core Ultra CPUs in a comparable price bracket makes Intel budget purchases less appealing due to platform limitations.
- The AMD 7500F and 8400F CPUs offer strong performance at budget prices, with the 8400F being a rare quality sub-$100 processor.
- The 7500F is recommended for gamers as a long-term option, while the 8400F is suitable for those on a strict budget.
- Limitations include being restricted to eight PCIe Gen 4 lanes for GPUs, impacting future-proofing.
- The AMD AM5 socket will be supported until 2027, offering a longer-term platform compared to Intel's options.
- Import tariffs could affect the cost-effectiveness of these CPUs in the US market.
- CIC’s Focus GX power supplies are recommended for maintaining smooth and efficient PC performance, featuring a 10-year warranty.
