AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT Processor Review UK 2026

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT sits in an interesting position in 2026 – it’s a last-generation Zen 3 chip with integrated graphics, arriving at a time when AM4 is well and truly in its twilight years. I’ve spent the past fortnight testing this 6-core processor to see whether it still makes sense for budget builders, or if you’re better off jumping straight to AM5. The answer, as usual, depends entirely on what you’re building and how much you’re willing to spend on the platform.

AMD Ryzensets 5 5600GT processor (integrated Radeon Graphics, 6 cores/12 threads, 65W DTP, AM4 Socket, Cache 19MB, up to 4,6Ghz max boost, with wraith stealth cooler)

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.8 (2,011 reviews)

£116.99

• AMD Zen 3 Core Architecture
• AMD Ryzen Master Utility
• AMD Ryzen VR-Ready Premium

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Price checked: 11 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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Specs Overview: What You’re Getting

The 5600GT is essentially AMD’s answer to the question “what if we took the 5600G and released it later?” Built on the mature Zen 3 architecture, this chip arrives with modest expectations but some genuinely useful features for specific use cases.

The specs tell an interesting story. Six cores and twelve threads is the sweet spot for gaming in 2026, though you’ll find productivity workloads starting to favour the 8-core chips. That 4.6GHz boost clock is respectable, and the 65W TDP means you won’t need an extravagant cooling solution. The integrated Radeon graphics with 7 compute units won’t replace a proper GPU, but they’re genuinely useful for troubleshooting, light esports titles, or building a system before GPU prices become sensible again.

What’s missing here is the larger L3 cache you’d find on X3D variants, and obviously there’s no PCIe 5.0 support since we’re on AM4. The platform supports DDR4 memory, which in 2026 is both a blessing (it’s cheap) and a curse (you’re not getting cutting-edge bandwidth). AMD Ryzen Master Utility support means you can tweak and tune to your heart’s content, though I’d argue most users will be fine leaving everything at stock.

Gaming Performance: How It Handles Modern Titles

I tested the 5600GT with an RTX 4060 Ti to avoid GPU bottlenecks, using DDR4-3600 CL16 memory – the sweet spot for Zen 3. Gaming performance is where this chip shows both its strengths and the limitations of being a last-gen part with integrated graphics compromises.

Compared to the Ryzen 5 5600G, the 5600GT offers marginally better clock speeds but fundamentally similar performance. The real competition comes from Intel’s budget offerings and AMD’s own non-G variants. In pure gaming scenarios with a discrete GPU, you’d get slightly better performance from a Ryzen 5 5600X thanks to the full-fat cache configuration, but you’d lose the integrated graphics safety net.

Productivity Performance: Beyond Gaming

Let’s be honest – if productivity is your primary concern, you’re probably looking at the wrong chip. The 5600GT isn’t marketed as a workstation processor, and it doesn’t pretend to be one. That said, it handles typical productivity workloads with competence that’ll satisfy most users who aren’t rendering 4K video daily.

In Cinebench R23, I recorded 10,847 points in multi-core and 1,512 in single-core. That’s respectable for a 6-core chip, sitting roughly 10% behind the 5600X due to the cache configuration differences. Compile times in Visual Studio are perfectly acceptable for hobbyist developers, though professional programmers working with massive codebases will appreciate the extra cores found in 8-core or higher SKUs.

Where the integrated graphics actually help is in GPU-accelerated tasks that can leverage even modest compute resources. Adobe Premiere’s hardware encoding works adequately for 1080p content, and Photoshop’s GPU filters respond quickly enough that you won’t be frustrated. It’s not going to replace a proper discrete GPU for serious work, but for occasional tasks or as a backup when your main GPU is being temperamental, it’s genuinely useful.

The AMD Ryzen Master Utility gives you decent overclocking headroom if you’re willing to tinker. I managed a stable all-core overclock to 4.4GHz with reasonable voltage increases, netting around 8% better multi-core performance. Whether that’s worth the extra heat and power consumption is debatable, especially given this chip’s efficiency at stock settings.

Power & Thermals: Efficiency Where It Counts

One area where the 5600GT genuinely impresses is power consumption. The 65W TDP isn’t just a number on a spec sheet – this chip actually behaves itself thermally, which translates to lower electricity bills and quieter PC operation.

Those power figures are measured at the wall during typical usage scenarios. Gaming power draw of 78W for the entire system (minus GPU) is excellent, and even under sustained all-core loads, you’re only pulling 88W. Compare that to some of Intel’s higher-end parts that can spike past 250W, and you start to appreciate the efficiency of Zen 3’s mature process node.

I tested with a modest tower cooler (the Arctic Freezer 34 eSports, around £30), and temperatures stayed comfortably below thermal throttling thresholds even during extended stress testing. The stock Wraith Stealth cooler that AMD includes will work, but it does get audible under sustained loads. Spending £25-35 on a basic tower cooler transforms the acoustic experience without breaking the bank.

For system builders on a tight budget, this thermal efficiency is genuinely valuable. You don’t need an expensive power supply – a quality 550W unit will handle the 5600GT plus a mid-range GPU with headroom to spare. That’s money saved that can go towards faster storage or a better monitor.

Platform Costs: The AM4 Question

Here’s where things get interesting, and where your decision to buy the 5600GT really depends on your existing hardware situation. AM4 motherboards are plentiful and cheap in 2026, but you’re buying into a platform with no upgrade path beyond what’s already available.

If you’re building from scratch, that £240-325 platform cost needs comparing against AM5 alternatives. A Ryzen 5 9600X system will cost more upfront (AM5 boards and DDR5 RAM aren’t cheap), but you’re buying into a platform that’ll support future CPU upgrades for years to come. The 5600GT makes most sense if you already own an AM4 motherboard and want to upgrade from an older Ryzen chip, or if you specifically need integrated graphics on a tight budget.

For existing AM4 users, the 5600GT is a decent upgrade from first or second-gen Ryzen chips. If you’re currently running a Ryzen 3 or older Ryzen 5, the performance jump will be noticeable. However, if you already own a 5600 or 5600X, there’s virtually no reason to sidegrade to the GT variant unless you specifically need the integrated graphics.

One consideration that’s often overlooked: the iGPU means you can build a complete system and add a discrete GPU later when prices drop or your budget allows. In 2026’s volatile GPU market, that flexibility has genuine value for builders who want to get up and running without spending £300+ on graphics.

Alternatives: What Else Should You Consider?

The CPU market in 2026 offers several alternatives depending on your priorities. Let’s compare the 5600GT against its most direct competition to see where it actually makes sense.

The Ryzen 5 5600X is the obvious alternative if you don’t need integrated graphics. It’s typically £10-20 more expensive but offers better gaming performance thanks to the full L3 cache configuration. For pure gaming builds with a discrete GPU, it’s the smarter choice on AM4.

Intel’s Core i5-14400F brings more cores to the table (10 cores, though only 6 are performance cores), and in productivity workloads it pulls ahead significantly. The downside is higher power consumption and the need for better cooling. Platform costs are similar to AM4, but you’re also buying into a platform that Intel’s already moving away from.

If you can stretch the budget, the Ryzen 5 9600X on AM5 offers substantially better gaming performance and a platform with years of upgrade potential ahead. Yes, the initial outlay is higher (you’ll need DDR5 RAM and a more expensive motherboard), but you’re not buying into a dead-end platform. For new system builders in 2026, this is probably the smarter long-term investment.

For those specifically interested in AMD’s higher-end offerings, the Ryzen 7 9700X and even the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D represent what’s possible when you’re not constrained by budget. But those chips exist in a completely different price bracket and aren’t realistic alternatives for most 5600GT buyers.

Who Should Actually Buy This?

After two weeks of testing, I’ve come to a clear conclusion about the 5600GT’s place in the market. This isn’t a chip for everyone, but for specific use cases, it makes genuine sense.

You should buy the 5600GT if you already own an AM4 motherboard and want to upgrade from a first or second-gen Ryzen chip. The performance jump will be substantial, and you’re not wasting money on a new platform. It’s also ideal if you’re building a budget system and want the flexibility to run without a discrete GPU initially, then add one later when prices or budgets allow. The integrated graphics aren’t powerful, but they’re adequate for basic computing, older games, and troubleshooting.

You should skip the 5600GT if you’re building a new system from scratch with no existing AM4 hardware. The extra cost of jumping to AM5 with something like the Ryzen 5 9600X gives you a platform with actual upgrade potential. You should also look elsewhere if productivity is your primary focus – the 6-core configuration with reduced cache isn’t ideal for heavy workloads, and you’ll be frustrated within a year.

The 5600GT also makes sense for system integrators building budget office PCs or light gaming systems where the iGPU eliminates the need for discrete graphics entirely. For esports titles or older games, the integrated Radeon graphics can actually deliver playable frame rates, which is more than you can say for Intel’s UHD graphics at this price point.