Although the 5600X is the most popular CPU in the Ryzen 5000 series, the 5600 provides almost comparable performance for a more reasonable price. Featuring the Zen 3 microarchitecture and built on TSMC’s 7nm FinFET process, it packs a 6-core and 12-thread configuration with simultaneous multithreading.
However, just like all non-“G” Ryzen processors, it lacks integrated graphics. This demands the need for a dedicated GPU, which can be a tough choice to make when there are so many options in the market. In this article, I’ve made things easier for you by boiling it down to five of the best options.
Technical Specs
Here are the specifications of the Ryzen 5 5600 to see what it brings to the table.
- Socket: AM4
- Cores and Threads: 6C/12T
- Boost Clock: 4.4 GHz
- TDP Rating: 65W
- Cooler Included: Wraith Stealth
If you want to see how it compares to the 5600X, I’ll talk more about that later. For now, let’s dive into the list…
Top 5 Best GPUs for Ryzen 5 5600 in 2022:
1. PowerColor Red Dragon AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT – Best Overall
SPECS:
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- Stream Processors: 4608
- Base Clock: Not Stated
- Boost Clock: 2.25 GHz
Positioned directly against Nvidia’s RTX 3080, the RX 6800 XT is one of the best GPUs from Team Red you can get for your Ryzen 5 5600. Based on the specs, this card is perfect for high refresh rate 1440p gaming and streaming.
On the other hand, if you’re into 4K gaming and like to use raytracing, this isn’t the best option for you. Read the RTX 3080 review for more on that.
In some units of this card, users have complained of coil whine. So, that’s something to keep in mind if you prefer to have a silent PC. Besides that, all fans will come to a stop or only the central one will operate at a low RPM when the GPU isn’t under heavy load.
If you’re looking to tweak the fan curves or do some overclocking, you can always use a program like MSI Afterburner. Overall, the PowerColor Red Dragon RX 6800 XT is a great card for gaming and streaming. Paired with your Ryzen 5 5600, it will give you a top-tier gaming experience.
Pros
- Optimal for 1440p gaming and streaming
- Solid build quality
- Good design
Cons
- Overpriced
2. ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti EVO OC – Best on a Budget
SPECS:
- Memory: 6GB GDDR6
- Stream Processors: 1536
- Base Clock: 1.50 GHz
- Boost Clock: 1.84 GHz
I know, this pricetag might be a bit of a stretch to label as “Budget” but the 1660 Ti is the best GPU you can go with while taking full advantage of your Ryzen 5 5600 CPU. Built with the Turing architecture, it packs a decent amount of power.
As a streamer, one thing you’ll like about this card is that it has a dedicated hardware encoder optimized for OBS. In addition, you also gain access to GeForce Experience, which lets you do a variety of things like share videos with friends, make sure your drivers are updated, and optimize your in-game settings for the best performance.
This unit from ASUS TUF also adds a few features on top, including a factory overclock, going from the original boost clock on the stock card of 1.77 GHz to 1.84 GHz. It also has a compact design, making it suitable for small form factor builds, and has overall good build quality.
Pros
- Compact design and protective backplate
- Space-grade lubricant for quieter operation
- Features GPU Tweak II
Cons
- Only single DP 1.4 port, which is unsuitable for multi-monitor setup
3. Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Twin Edge OC – Best Value for Money
SPECS:
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- CUDA Cores: 4864
- Base Clock: 1.41 GHz
- Boost Clock: 1.67 GHz
If you want to get a taste of next-gen performance and raytracing without spending a fortune, the RTX 3060 Ti can be your entry ticket. Built on Nvidia’s latest Ampere architecture, it features 4864 CUDA Cores and 38 RT cores along with 8GB GDDR6 memory.
You’ll find a lot to love in this unit from Zotac too, like the impressive cooling performance and Active Fan Control. When it comes to build quality and design, it has a metal backplate and a black-and-gray color scheme along with a white LED to illuminate the logo. With three DP 1.4a ports, it is also suitable for multi-monitor setups.
If you’re looking for 4K gaming, you might want to look higher up the ladder like the 3070 and 3080. However, if you’re just after excellent 1080p and 1440p performance at Max settings, the 3060 Ti will provide that. It’s also a good entry point into raytracing.
Pros
- Impressive performance at 1080p and 1440p
- Decent design and build quality
- 8K-ready
Cons
- Fans can get noisy (custom fan curve recommended)
4. XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 CORE – Best Ultra Budget Option
SPECS:
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- Stream Processors: 1792
- Base Clock: Not Stated
- Boost Clock: 2.49 GHz
Although it doesn’t exactly offer great value, the RX 6600 is a good option to look into if you’re on a really tight budget. With 8GB GDDR6 memory and 1792 Stream Processors, it will give you around 120FPS in 1080p or 75FPS in 1440p on average with some headroom for streaming.
This unit from XFX features two fans for cooling, a metal backplate, and a decent no-RGB design. In terms of ports, you get HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a and the card is capable of 3840×2160 or 4K resolution.
All in all, the RX 6600 is a good GPU for around $300. It can also be a decent upgrade if you’re using an RX570 or something similar in your PC currently. It’ll provide a significant jump in performance and will open up more options to you too, like streaming and video rendering.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Decent build quality
- Good thermals
Cons
- Offers mediocre value compared to previous generation GPUs
5. EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB FTW3 Ultra – Best for 4K Gaming
SPECS:
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6X
- CUDA Cores: 8960
- Base Clock: 1.26 GHz
- Boost Clock: 1.71 GHz
As I said before, the RX 6800 XT is positioned directly against the RTX 3080 when it comes to technical specs. However, if you want to do 4K gaming and care more about visual quality, Nvidia is a better choice to go for.
First of all, if you fall in the above-mentioned category, you probably love raytracing. With 70 RT cores, the RTX 3080 offers impressive raytracing performance. With that much power, it’ll bring all your favorite games to life in the highest resolution. If you’re interested in 8K, it’s also capable of that.
For keeping temps under control, this card features triple fans along with nine iCX3 thermal sensors, which can track certain hotspots on the card and direct cooling to those spots. There’s also an all-metal backplate and adjustable ARGB lighting for durability and design.
Overall, the RTX 3080 is a good choice if you’re willing to spend a premium to get top-tier gaming performance and the best graphics. Nvidia also offers many streamer-friendly features like Nvidia Broadcast, which will definitely come in handy too.
Pros
- 12GB GDDR6X plenty for gaming and streaming in 4K
- Durable build quality with all-metal backplate
- Cool design and ARGB lighting
Cons
- Overpriced
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Wraith Stealth Sufficient for Cooling the Ryzen 5 5600?
This is one of the questions that the Internet will forever debate over, but here’s my take on it. If you’re planning to just run the 5600 at stock settings and aren’t expecting full boost clocks, the Wraith Stealth will do fine. It’ll run a little hot, but it’ll be manageable.
If you plan on overclocking for fun or find the design of the Wraith Stealth kinda basic (honestly, I don’t blame you) then some options you can look into are the Scythe Fuma 2, Noctua NH-U12A, and the Arctic Freezer 34.
Moreover, if you plan on squeezing every bit of performance out of the 5600, then you’ll probably need an AIO liquid cooler. The NZXT Kraken X73 and the Corsair iCUE H150i Elite are both excellent options.
What is the Difference Between 5600 and 5600X?
The biggest difference between them is clock speed. When it comes to the base clock, the 5600 runs at 3.5 GHz while the 5600X runs at a higher 3.7 GHz. This also pushes up the boost clock too, with the 5600 running at 4.4 GHz and the 5600X at an impressive 4.6 GHz.
However, when it boils down to practical performance numbers, the difference isn’t anything to write home about. As Gamers Nexus put it, on average you’re looking at a 1.5% to 3% improvement in performance with the 5600X.
If you manage to get a really good deal on a 5600X, go for it. However, generally speaking, the 5600 wins in terms of value. To drive home the point, you can take a look at some gaming benchmarks too.
Your Turn
I’ve given you all the info you need to make the right choice to buy the right GPU that pairs well with the Ryzen 5 5600 CPU. Now, it’s up to you to get the right one that fits well in your gaming/streaming rig. Here’s a quick summary of all the five GPUs I discussed in this article.
- PowerColor Red Dragon AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is Best Overall
- ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti EVO OC is Best on a Budget
- Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Twin Edge OC is Best Value for Money
- XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 CORE is Best Ultra Budget Option
- EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB FTW3 Ultra is Best for 4K Gaming
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