If you’re looking for the best budget 6-core CPU right now, you’re honestly spoiled for choice. Prices have dropped a lot, and in 2025 and 2026, these Ryzen chips still make a ton of sense for gaming and everyday work. Today I’ll talk about the Ryzen 5 3600, 5500, 5600, 5600X — and at the end, I’ll also touch on some super-cheap first-gen Ryzen CPUs like the 1600.
CPU Links
- Ryzen 5 3600: https://amzn.to/48SZlZG
- Ryzen 5 5500: https://amzn.to/4j0wHdL
- Ryzen 5 5600: https://amzn.to/4aU5nfc
- Ryzen 5 5600X: https://amzn.to/3KyGR8U
Ryzen 5 3600
Let’s start with the Ryzen 5 3600, coming in at around $65 new, and usually $40–$50 used. This is still a very solid 6-core, 12-thread CPU, and one big advantage it has is PCIe 4.0 support. That actually matters if you’re pairing it with GPUs like the RX 6600, RX 6600 XT, or RX 7600, because those cards can lose a bit of performance on PCIe 3.0 systems. In real gaming, the 3600 holds up really well at 1080p, and it also does slightly better in multi-threaded tasks than some newer budget chips. For used builds or AM4 upgrades, this is still one of the best value CPUs out there.
Ryzen 5 5500
Now the Ryzen 5 5500, priced around $75 new and $50–$60 used. On the surface it looks newer — Zen 3 architecture, decent efficiency — and in raw gaming FPS it often matches the 3600. But the big drawback here is that the 5500 is limited to PCIe 3.0 only. With certain GPUs, especially AMD cards that use fewer PCIe lanes, you can see a 5–10% performance drop compared to PCIe 4.0. It’s still a fine CPU for budget builds, especially if you’re buying new and want warranty, but it’s not always the best choice if you’re trying to squeeze every bit of GPU performance.
Ryzen 5 5600
Moving up, the Ryzen 5 5600 at around $135 new and $90–$110 used is where you see a real performance jump. Compared to the 3600 or 5500, it’s about 15–20% faster in gaming, especially in CPU-heavy titles. If you’re aiming for high-FPS 1080p gaming or better 1% lows, this CPU just feels smoother overall. For most people buying new, this is the best balance of price and performance.
Ryzen 5 5600X
Then there’s the Ryzen 5 5600X. New prices usually sit around $140–$150, with used ones closer to $100. Performance is only about 3–5% higher than the regular 5600, so if the price difference is small, sure, grab it — but if the 5600 is cheaper, you’re not missing much.
Ryzen 5 1600/2600
Now for the super-cheap first-gen Ryzen CPUs, for people on a really tight budget. The Ryzen 5 1600 can be found for $30–$40 used, and it’ll still run games, especially esports titles — but it’s definitely starting to show its age. Another one worth mentioning is the Ryzen 5 2600, which usually costs $35–$45 used and performs noticeably better than the 1600. These are only worth it if your budget is extremely limited and you plan to upgrade later.
So here’s the simple breakdown:
If you want maximum value used → Ryzen 5 3600
If you want cheap and new → Ryzen 5 5500
If you want the best overall performance for AM4 → Ryzen 5 5600
If the price is close and you want the best bin → Ryzen 5 5600X
If you’re building on pocket money → Ryzen 5 1600 or 2600
All of these CPUs can still make sense in 2025 — it just depends on your budget and what GPU you plan to pair them with.
