AM4 is AMD's older socket, but plenty of gaming PCs still use it, and 2026 has made upgrading within it unusually attractive. Moving to AM5 or Intel's LGA 1851 means a new motherboard and DDR5 memory, and TechSpot points out that this year's memory price rises have made that switch far more expensive. A drop-in AM4 processor keeps your board, your DDR4 and usually your Windows install.
Forge PC has not tested these processors. Performance comparisons come from TechSpot's testing, specifications come from AMD, and UK prices come from SpecPrice's tracker, which was last updated at 21:40 GMT on 13 November 2026. All prices are approximate and change quickly.
UK prices at a glance
Processor | Cores/threads | L3 cache | Approx. lowest UK price (13 November 2026) |
|---|
Ryzen 7 5800X3D | 8/16 | 96MB | £299.99 |
Ryzen 7 5700X | 8/16 | 32MB | £175.99 |
Ryzen 5 5600 | 6/12 | 32MB | £124.99 |
Ryzen 5 5500 | 6/12 | 16MB | £79.99 |
For comparison, the same tracker had the AM5 Ryzen 5 9600X at about £159.98, and Intel's Core Ultra 5 250K Plus at about £195.99, before you add a motherboard and DDR5.
Best AM4 upgrade for gaming: Ryzen 7 5800X3D
AMD brought the 5800X3D back in 2026 as the "10th Anniversary Edition". TechSpot's review, published on 17 July 2026, found that it behaves the same as the original: clock speeds and temperatures were virtually identical. AMD's specifications list 8 cores and 16 threads, a boost clock of up to 4.5GHz, a 3.4GHz base clock, 96MB of L3 cache and a 105W TDP. No cooler is included, and AMD recommends a liquid cooler for the best performance. AMD's page says each 10th Anniversary Edition chip comes with a Carbice Ice Pad thermal pad.
In TechSpot's 13-game average, the 5800X3D matched the Ryzen 5 9600X and was only 4 to 5 per cent slower than the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. For people already on AM4, the more useful figures are that it was 53 to 61 per cent faster than the Ryzen 7 3800X and Ryzen 5 5500, and 31 to 34 per cent faster than the Ryzen 5 5600X, depending on quality settings.
TechSpot's conclusion was that it is still a solid upgrade for existing AM4 owners. For a brand-new build, it would choose AM5 with a Ryzen 5 7500F or 9600X, because those platforms have an upgrade path. At about £300 in the UK, the 5800X3D only makes sense if it saves you buying a new board and memory. You can see it in our database as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
The cheaper Ryzen 7 5700X3D is no longer a realistic option. TechSpot says it reached end of life in late 2025, and SpecPrice had no UK listing for it on 13 November.
Best value upgrade: Ryzen 7 5700X
If £300 is too much, the Ryzen 7 5700X is the next step. AMD's Ryzen 5000 data sheet lists 8 cores and 16 threads, a 3.4GHz base and 4.6GHz maximum boost clock, 32MB of L3 cache and a 65W TDP. That makes it a sensible upgrade from a six-core Ryzen 3000 or earlier chip, especially if you also stream or run heavier applications. It does not have the 3D V-Cache that gives the 5800X3D its gaming advantage, so do not expect 5800X3D-level frame rates.
Best budget upgrade: Ryzen 5 5600
At about £125, the Ryzen 5 5600 is the low-cost upgrade for someone on a Ryzen 1000, 2000 or early 3000 chip who mainly plays games. AMD lists 6 cores and 12 threads, a 3.5GHz base and 4.4GHz boost clock, 32MB of L3 cache and a 65W TDP.
Cheapest option: Ryzen 5 5500
The Ryzen 5 5500 costs about £80, but it is a weaker chip than its name suggests. AMD lists the same 6 cores and 12 threads as the 5600, with a 3.6GHz base and 4.2GHz boost clock, but only 16MB of L3 cache, half the 5600's. In TechSpot's testing, the 5800X3D was up to 61 per cent faster than it in games. Spend the extra on the 5600 if you can.
Before you upgrade
Check your motherboard maker's CPU support list for your exact board, and update the BIOS before you swap the processor. Our guide to updating your BIOS safely covers the process. AMD lists X570, X470, B550, B450 and A520 as supported chipsets for the 5800X3D, but each board needs a BIOS that supports it.
AMD does not include a cooler with the 5800X3D, so budget for one if your current cooler is weak. Our best CPU cooler guide can help. If you are not sure whether your processor is what is holding you back, start with our gaming PC upgrade guide, and see our best CPU list if you are starting again from scratch.
Our verdict
If you already have an AM4 board and DDR4, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the best gaming upgrade you can buy in 2026, at about £300 on 13 November 2026, and TechSpot found it roughly matches a Ryzen 5 9600X in games. The Ryzen 7 5700X, at about £176, is the value pick, and the Ryzen 5 5600, at about £125, is the budget choice. Avoid the 5500 unless every pound counts. For a new build, choose AM5 instead, as TechSpot recommends. We have not tested these chips; this is based on TechSpot's testing, AMD's specifications and SpecPrice's UK prices.
The bottom line
If you already have an AM4 board and DDR4, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the best gaming upgrade you can buy in 2026, at about £300 on 13 November 2026, and TechSpot found it roughly matches a Ryzen 5 9600X in games. The Ryzen 7 5700X, at about £176, is the value pick, and the Ryzen 5 5600, at about £125, is the budget choice. Avoid the 5500 unless every pound counts. For a new build, choose AM5 instead, as TechSpot recommends. We have not tested these chips; this is based on TechSpot's testing, AMD's specifications and SpecPrice's UK prices.
