Our editors evaluated 5 Cpu options against the criteria readers actually weigh up: price, real-world performance, build quality, warranty, and UK availability. Picks lean toward what we'd recommend to a friend buying today, not specs-on-paper winners.
Hands-on contextEditor notes from individual reviews, not press releases.
Live UK pricingRefreshed from Amazon UK twice daily.
No paid placementsAffiliate commission doesn't change what wins.
Finding the best AMD CPUs under £150 is genuinely tricky right now. The market is split between older AM4 chips that offer cheap entry points and newer AM5 processors that cost a bit more upfront but give you a platform worth sticking with. Throw in integrated graphics options, varying cache sizes, and wildly different real-world performance levels, and it's easy to make an expensive mistake. We've pulled together seven AMD processors that all sit at or below the £150 mark and ranked them honestly, so you can pick the right chip for your build without second-guessing yourself.
Product
Best For
Key Spec
Price
Rating
AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Processor (radeon graphics integrated, 6 cores/12 threads, 65W TDP, AM5 Socket, 38MB cache, up to 5.1 GHz max boost, Wraith Stealth Cooler)
Best Overall Value
5.1GHz boost, AM5, 38MB cache
£137.80
★★★★½ (4.8)
AMD Ryzen 5 8400F processor (6 Core/12 threads, 65W TDP, AM5 Socket, 22MB Cache, up to 4.7GHz max boost frequency, with wraith stealth cooler)
Best Under £100
4.7GHz boost, AM5, Zen 4
£127.99
★★★★½ (4.6)
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G processor (integrated Radeon Graphics, Ryzen AI, 6 cores/12 threads, 65W TDP, AM5 Socket, Cache 22MB, up to 5.0GHz max boost, with wraith stealth cooler)
Best Build Quality
Integrated RDNA 3 GPU, AM5, AI features
£148.99
★★★★½ (4.8)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Processor (6 Cores/12Threads, 65W TDP, AM4 Socket, 35MB Cache, up to 4.6 GHz Max Boost, Wraith Stealth Cooler)
Best for Beginners
4.6GHz boost, AM4, 35MB cache
£145.00
★★★★½ (4.8)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Processor (6 Cores/12Threads, 65W DTP, AM4 Socket, 35 MB Cache, up to 4.1 GHz Max Boost frequency, Wraith stealth cooler)
Best Overall Value (Legacy)
4.1GHz boost, AM4, 35MB cache
£140.03
★★★★½ (4.8)
AMD Ryzen 3 3200G processor (Radeon Vega 8 integrated GPU, 4 cores/4 threads, 65W TDP, AM4 socket, 6MB Cache, up to 4.0 GHz max boost frequency, wraith stealth cooler)
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the standout pick among the best AMD CPUs under £150 right now. It sits on AMD's AM5 platform, which means you're buying into a socket that AMD has committed to supporting well into the future. That matters a lot at this price point, because it means your next CPU upgrade won't require a new motherboard too.
The headline number is that 5.1GHz max boost clock. That's fast. Genuinely fast. For gaming at 1080p and 1440p, the 7600 punches well above its price, and the 38MB of combined cache helps keep frame times consistent in CPU-sensitive titles. It's based on AMD's Zen 4 architecture, which is a proper generational leap over the older AM4 chips in this roundup.
Here's something a lot of buyers miss: the 7600 has basic integrated Radeon graphics. They're not powerful enough for gaming, but they mean you can at least boot your system and troubleshoot without needing a discrete GPU in the slot. That's genuinely useful during a build.
The main compromise is the platform cost. AM5 motherboards cost more than AM4 boards, and you'll need DDR5 memory. So while the CPU itself is affordable, the total build cost is higher. But if you're starting fresh, the 7600 is the chip we'd recommend. It's the best AMD CPU under £150 for anyone who wants modern performance and a platform worth investing in.
Real owner feedback on Amazon is consistently positive, with buyers highlighting the noticeable performance jump over older Ryzen 5 chips and the smooth out-of-box experience. The included Wraith Stealth cooler handles stock speeds without complaint.
The Ryzen 5 8400F is a bit of a dark horse. It's based on AMD's Zen 4 architecture, sits on the AM5 platform, and comes in at one of the lowest prices in this entire roundup. For anyone hunting the best AMD CPUs under £150 on a tight budget, this is the chip to look at first.
The 4.7GHz max boost is strong for the money, and Zen 4's IPC (instructions per clock) improvements over older Zen 2 and Zen 3 chips are meaningful in practice. Gaming performance is genuinely competitive with chips that cost significantly more. The 22MB cache is lower than the 7600's 38MB, and you will notice that in some cache-sensitive games, but for the vast majority of titles it's not a problem.
The "F" suffix means no integrated graphics. So you'll need a dedicated GPU. That's the one real limitation to flag upfront. If you're building a gaming PC with a discrete card anyway, it's a non-issue. But if you want the flexibility to run without a GPU, look at the 7600 or 8600G instead.
What makes the 8400F special is the combination of AM5 platform access at a budget price. You're getting a modern chip with upgrade headroom, not a dead-end platform. AMD's official Ryzen page confirms AM5 support through at least 2027, which is reassuring for long-term builders.
Owner reviews are largely positive, with most buyers impressed by the performance relative to the price. A few note the lack of iGPU as a minor inconvenience during initial setup, but nothing that affects day-to-day use.
The Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the most recommended budget gaming CPUs of the last few years, and for good reason. It's based on Zen 3 architecture, which was a massive leap over Zen 2 when it launched, and it still holds up well in 2026. For anyone new to PC building who wants a proven, well-documented chip with a huge community behind it, this is a brilliant starting point.
The 4.6GHz max boost and 35MB of cache make it a strong gaming chip on AM4. There's a mountain of guides, forum posts, and YouTube videos covering every aspect of building with the 5600X, which is genuinely valuable when you're putting together your first PC and something doesn't go to plan. That community support is an underrated advantage for beginners.
AM4 is the other big draw here. Motherboards are cheap and plentiful, DDR4 memory is affordable, and the platform is mature and stable. You can put together a complete gaming system for less total spend than an equivalent AM5 build. The trade-off is that AM4 is a dead-end platform now. AMD has confirmed no new CPUs for AM4, so your upgrade path is limited to what's already available.
No integrated graphics, so you'll need a discrete GPU. That's standard for this class of chip. But as a first proper gaming CPU for someone who wants solid performance, great documentation, and an affordable surrounding platform, the 5600X earns its place among the best AMD CPUs under £150.
Pros
Proven Zen 3 architecture with strong gaming performance
Huge community support, ideal for beginners
Affordable AM4 platform keeps total build cost down
35MB cache for consistent frame times
Wraith Stealth cooler included
Cons
AM4 is a dead-end platform, no future CPU upgrades
No integrated graphics
Zen 3 is two generations behind current Zen 4 chips
The Ryzen 3 3200G is the outlier in this roundup. At around £62, it's less than half the price of most chips here, and it's the only option with proper integrated graphics that can actually run games without a discrete GPU. For an absolute beginner building their very first PC on a shoestring budget, that combination is genuinely useful.
The Vega 8 integrated GPU won't run modern AAA titles at playable settings, but it handles older games, esports titles like CS2 at low settings, and everyday tasks without complaint. It's also brilliant for an HTPC or a basic home office machine where a dedicated GPU would be overkill.
Here's the honest bit though. The 3200G is a 4-core, 4-thread chip with no simultaneous multithreading. That's a real limitation in 2026. Modern games and applications increasingly expect at least 6 cores, and the 3200G will feel the strain in anything demanding. The 6MB cache is also very low, and the Zen+ architecture is genuinely old now.
But at this price, you're not buying performance. You're buying a functional, complete system for as little money as possible. And for that specific job, the 3200G does it. It's the best AMD CPU under £150 for someone who needs to get a PC running without spending much, and who plans to add a proper GPU later. Just don't expect it to keep up with the other chips in this roundup on any performance metric.
Pros
Cheapest chip in this roundup by a significant margin
Buying Guide: What to Look For in the Best AMD CPUs Under £150
Picking a CPU at this price range involves more trade-offs than most buyers expect. Here's what actually matters.
AM4 vs AM5: Platform Matters More Than the Chip
This is the single biggest decision. AM4 is AMD's older socket, used by Ryzen 3000, 4000, and 5000 series chips. Motherboards are cheap, DDR4 memory is affordable, and there's a huge second-hand market. But AMD has confirmed no new CPUs for AM4, so you're buying into a dead end. AM5 is the current platform, supporting Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series chips. Boards cost more and you'll need DDR5 memory, but you get a proper upgrade path. If you're building from scratch and plan to keep the system for several years, AM5 is worth the extra upfront cost.
Cache Size: The Spec Most People Ignore
Cache is the fast memory built into the CPU itself. More cache means the processor can store more frequently used data close to hand, which reduces latency and improves performance in gaming and other workloads. The Ryzen 5 7600's 38MB is excellent for this price range. The Ryzen 5 4500's 11MB is a real limitation. Don't overlook this number when comparing chips.
Boost Clock vs Base Clock
The boost clock is the maximum speed the CPU will hit under load. The base clock is what it runs at constantly. For gaming and single-threaded tasks, boost clock matters most. For sustained workloads like video rendering, the base clock and core count matter more. All chips in this roundup have 6 cores and 12 threads (except the 3200G), so focus on boost clock and architecture generation when comparing them.
Integrated Graphics: Do You Need Them?
If you're buying a dedicated GPU, integrated graphics are mostly irrelevant. But they're useful for troubleshooting during a build, and essential if you're building a system without a discrete card. The 8600G has the best iGPU here. The 7600 has basic integrated graphics for display output only. The 3200G's Vega 8 sits in between. The 3600, 5600X, 4500, and 8400F have no iGPU at all.
Don't Overpay for Old Architecture
The Ryzen 5 3600 and 4500 are both priced close to newer, faster chips in this roundup. Zen 2 chips from 2019 to 2020 shouldn't cost the same as Zen 4 chips from 2023 to 2024. Always check what architecture you're buying and compare it against newer alternatives at the same price before committing.
How We Tested
We assessed each chip in this roundup based on published specifications, independent benchmark data from trusted sources, and real owner feedback from verified Amazon UK purchases. We cross-referenced performance figures with established tech publications and considered total platform cost, not just the CPU price in isolation. Our rankings prioritise value for money, platform longevity, and real-world usability for typical UK buyers building or upgrading a PC in 2026.
Best Overall
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
The fastest boost clock, AM5 platform longevity, integrated graphics for troubleshooting, and 38MB cache make it the clear top pick among the best AMD CPUs under £150.
AM5 and Zen 4 at one of the lowest prices in this roundup. If you're pairing it with a discrete GPU, the 8400F delivers more performance per pound than anything else here.
The best AMD CPUs under £150 in 2026 are firmly on the AM5 platform. The Ryzen 5 7600 is our top pick overall: it's fast, future-proof, and includes basic integrated graphics that the 8400F lacks. But if you're building a gaming PC with a dedicated GPU and want to stretch your budget further, the Ryzen 5 8400F is the smarter buy, delivering Zen 4 performance at a lower price. The Ryzen 5 5600X remains a solid choice for beginners who want an affordable AM4 build with a huge support community, and the Ryzen 3 3200G is the only sensible option if you genuinely cannot afford a discrete GPU. Avoid the Ryzen 5 3600 and 4500 at their current prices. They're not bad chips, but newer alternatives simply offer more for the same money. Whatever your use case, the best AMD CPU under £150 for most people is the Ryzen 5 7600. Buy that, pair it with a decent A620 or B650 board, and you'll have a system worth keeping for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only the Ryzen 5 5600GT and Ryzen 5 7600 include integrated graphics sufficient for office work and light gaming without discrete GPUs. The 3600, 4500, 5600X, and 8400F lack integrated graphics entirely and require separate graphics card purchases. The 7600 provides the strongest integrated performance of the two options.
The Ryzen 5 7600 delivers the best gaming performance thanks to its latest Zen 4 architecture and 5.1 GHz boost clock. The Ryzen 5 5600X comes second with strong gaming capabilities and proven platform maturity. Both require discrete GPUs for optimal modern gaming performance.
AM4 is the older socket used by Ryzen 3000-7000 series, facing end-of-life after the 7000 generation. AM5 is the newer socket supporting Ryzen 8000 series and future processors, offering a longer upgrade path. AM5 typically requires more expensive motherboards and DDR5 RAM, increasing platform costs.
The Ryzen 5 5600GT has an exceptionally low 35W TDP, making it the most power-efficient option in this comparison. This enables passive cooling solutions and dramatically reduces electricity costs. All other processors in this guide have 65W TDP ratings.
Newer processors like the 5600X and 7600 offer better gaming performance and longer software support, justifying their cost for most buyers. However, the Ryzen 5 3600 remains viable if you prioritise budget and plan modest gaming at 1440p. The 5600GT offers excellent value if you need integrated graphics to avoid GPU costs.
