The AMD Ryzen 5 processors feature a hexacore and quad-core variants with Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) and when it comes to performance-per-dollar value, the mainstream processors gives a much bigger deal as compared to Ryzen 7. The new mid-range SKUs take on the Intel Core i5 lineup at the same price points but AMD is at a clear advantage having more cores and threads to tackle multithreaded workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 SKUs were officially announced to go on sale on April 11 during the technology summit in Beijing two days ago. The mainstream processors have four models starting from the top with the $249 Ryzen 5 1600X with 6 cores, 12 threads, 3.6GHZ base clock and 4GHz boost. This is followed by the $219 Ryzen 5 1600 with 6 cores, 12 threads, 3.2GHz base clock and 3.6GHz boost. The lower quad-core with 8 threads are the $189 Ryzen 5 1500x with 3.2GHz base clock, 3.6GHz boost and the $169 Ryzen 5 1400 with 3.2GHz base clock, 3.5GHz boost.

The price points of the AMD Ryzen 5 processors are clearly an assault to Intel's Core i5 CPUs but AMD has the core and multithreaded advantage. The Intel Core i5-7600K is priced at $242 but only has 4 cores, 4 threads with no Hyperthreading as compared to Ryzen 5 1600X with 6 cores, 12 threads with SMT. The potential to handle heavy multithreaded workload clearly favors AMD, which again offers an even greater performance-per-dollar value, The Verge has learned. However, real benchmarking results may say otherwise although Anandtech has made its own estimates of how AMD Ryzen 5 stacks up against its Intel Core i5 counterparts.

The singe thread performance is easier to approximate just by knowing the turbo and XFR frequencies of each SKU. On this part, the Ryzen 5 1600X may be able to match it to Ryzen 7-1700X as both share identical frequencies. However, multithreaded performance is a lot more complex though the site's graph shows the Ryzen 5 1600 and Ryzen 5 1600X outscoring the i5-7600K. Moreover, the estimates reveal the great performance-per-price value of the Ryzen 5 1600X as compared to the Core i7-7700K.

The AMD Ryzen 5 processors are all unlocked and all 4 SKUs have posted some changes in XFR mode particularly the Ryzen 5 1500X posting an additional 200MHz depending on the cooler used. Incidentally, AMD will be selling a few of the SKUs with a redesigned Wraith Cooler. However, unlike the Ryzen 7, the Wraith Spire in the Ryzen 5 will not have RGB lighting. AMD has no plans yet of retailing separate Wraith Coolers unless a high demand may change its mind.