AMD surprise launches Ryzen 5 5600X3D processor for $229

We weren't expecting an AMD CPU launch today and yet, one has appeared out of thin air. Today, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D CPU has been officially announced and will be extremely rare, with only one production run planned. 

The Ryzen 5 5600X3D sits just underneath the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, AMD's first 3D V-cache chip. The Ryzen 5 version will have 6 cores and 12 threads rather than an 8C/16T configuration. Clock speeds come in at just 100MHz lower than the Ryzen 7 and essentially everything else remains exactly the same. As a reminder, these are Ryzen 5000 series parts, designed for Socket AM4, not newer Ryzen 7000 series SKUs for the AM5 platform.

So why is AMD launching new Socket AM4 processors now, almost a year into its latest generation of products? The answer comes to us via Gamers Nexus, who learned that these Ryzen 5 5600X3D processors are essentially bad yields that didn't make the cut for the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Rather than adding to the global e-waste issue, AMD is repurposing these chips as fully functional Ryzen 5 5600X3D processors.

There were not enough chips to do a full global product launch, so these Ryzen 5 5600X3D processors will only be available at in-store Micro Center locations in the US and there will only be one production run. It is unlikely you'll be able to get your hands on one anywhere else in the world. The processor will be available for $229 at Micro Centre in the US as of the 7th of July. The retailer expects them to be completely sold out by the end of the year.

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KitGuru Says: At that price point, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D could be a very good purchase. Due to the rarity of this processor, we are unlikely to see many reviews though. 

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