Why it matters: Just when you thought AMD was ready to move on from the trusty old AM4 socket, Team Red seems to have one more trick up its sleeve. According to recent entries at the Eurasian Economic Commission, it looks like the company is prepping a new budget-friendly X3D processor with 3D V-cache for the long-running platform.
The processor in question is rumored to be called the Ryzen 5 5500X3D, as spotted by Sweclockers. If the whispers prove true, it will be the fourth X3D chip in AMD's Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 series tailored for the aging AM4 socket. From what we're hearing, it could be a real value champion.
While official details are scarce, rumors suggest this new offering will pack 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds are expected to land at a 3.0GHz base and 4.0GHz boost. But the real star of the show is likely to be the 96MB of stacked 3D V-cache, which should give gaming performance a healthy boost over standard Ryzen 5000 chips.
It will be interesting to see exactly where AMD positions the chip in its current X3D lineup. The existing Ryzen 5 5600X3D, with the same 6-core/12-thread configuration, offers higher clock speeds at 3.3GHz base and 4.4GHz boost. It launched last summer for $229 but is pretty hard to find now.
Then you have the Ryzen 7 5700X3D (8-cores/16-threads for around $210) and the flagship Ryzen 7 5800X3D (8-core/16-thread for $339). With its slightly lower specs, the new 5500X3D would presumably slot in below the 5700X3D on pricing, which means selling for below $200.
If AMD can bring this new kid on the block in under that price point, it could make the 5500X3D an insanely attractive option for budget gamers building on AM4 platforms.
That said, launching yet another Zen 3 processor in 2024 when Zen 4 is already widespread seems a bit odd, but AMD may have a surplus of these 3D V-cache chips to clear. Plus, its partners likely have piles of unsold AM4 motherboards that they need to shift.
There's also the possibility of the Ryzen 5 5500X3D never hitting the market since the EEU database does not guarantee that any listed products will actually launch.