Although AMD has already launched an entirely new generation of Zen 5 processors, the company is reportedly launching some groundbreaking new Zen 4 CPUs in the form of a yet-to-be-announced Ryzen 5 7600X3D chip.
The number of upcoming chips seems to be piling up, Intel’s Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200 series is just around the corner and AMD Ryzen 9000X3D chips also seem to be close to launch. After the crashes of Intel’s 13th/14th generation CPUs and the rather disappointing launch of the AMD Zen 5 architecture Ryzen 9000 series, all these expectations are good news for the chip market.
Now we hear that another AMD Ryzen 7000 series X3D chip could also be coming soon. Tech leaker Hoang Anh Phu (via Videocardz) points to an early September release of an as-yet-unannounced AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D.
This would be consistent with rumors that the highly anticipated AMD Ryzen 9000X3D CPUs could launch soon, ahead of the rumored launch of Intel Arrow Lake on October 10.
What can we expect from such a chip? Well, taking a cue from the (limited) AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, the Ryzen 5 7600X3D could repurpose a higher-end X3D chip by disabling some cores or even an entire CCD, rather than using a 7600X chip with some 3D V-Cache. The 7600X, which a 7600X3D would likely mimic in terms of specs, is a 6-core, 12-thread chip with a boost clock of 5.3GHz.
Regardless, for gaming, fewer cores and plenty of extra cache sounds like a good compromise, provided the price is right. Given that the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is currently on sale for around $367 on Amazon, and it’s previously sold for less, a 7600X3D would probably be cheap enough to more than justify it as a budget buy.
If an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D does indeed launch, it could be a sign that AMD is giving the AM5 socket the same loving treatment it gave the AM4 socket, by repurposing chips and CCDs into packages for different budgets. For example, in January, AMD announced the Ryzen 7 5700X3D, Ryzen 7 5700, Ryzen 5 5600GT, and Ryzen 5 5500GT. Then in June, the company announced the Ryzen 9 5900XT and Ryzen 7 5800XT. There are even rumors that a Ryzen 5 5500X3D is in the works.
Many of these 5000-series chips are certainly worth buying if you’re already using an AM4 motherboard or can grab one at a good price. A Ryzen 5 5500X3D in particular would be a great gaming CPU on a budget if it actually comes out and costs less than $200.
However, if you’re looking for a future-proof AMD build, you’ll want to go with Socket AM5. In that case, you’ll have the choice between an AMD 7000 series CPU or one from the 9000 series. In the latter case, these chips are currently very expensive and I can’t recommend them instead of a 7000 series CPU as long as prices stay this high. And we don’t yet know how much better the rumored 9000X3D chips will be or how much they’ll cost.
What we do know, however, is that the 7000X3D CPUs currently on the market offer excellent value for money and are among the best options for a gaming PC. The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, for example, is still our pick for the best gaming CPU on the market. Its eight cores and 16 threads are enough for gaming, as is its 5GHz boost clock combined with its central 64MB 3D V-Cache, which is part of its L3 cache.
The other current 7000X3D chips (Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 7900X3D) offer a bit more performance, but aren’t worth the extra cost for gaming. That’s why the 7800X3D is the best option for current-gen platform users. However, when a 7600X3D comes out, there will be an even cheaper option that could tempt even those considering an AM4 option like the 5800X3D.
In other words, there could soon be a low-cost Ryzen 7000 series CPU that performs really well in gaming and attracts an even wider user base from the AM4 platforms to AM5 – a platform that AMD has already promised support for until 2027 and beyond.
Of course, this is all speculation, but for once it is optimistic speculation, and being able to speculate in this direction feels like a breath of fresh air.
