Several AMD CPUs are going for absurdly low prices right now, and the latest one to drop into bargain territory is the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X. Originally launched in August 2024 for $279, this six-core gaming CPU is currently going for just $185 on Amazon, by far its lowest ever price since launch. This saves you over $100 on the original MSRP, and makes an upgrade to AMD's latest Zen 5 CPU architecture much more tempting.
This AMD CPU got off to a difficult start when it first launched, thanks to its overly high price, but it genuinely offers outstanding value at $185. It contains six powerful AMD Zen 5 CPU cores that can boost to up to 5.4GHz, which is a great foundation for a budget gaming PC. If you already own a machine with an AMD Socket AM5 motherboard, then you can update the BIOS on your board and drop the Ryzen 5 9600X into your existing system. If not, you'll need to pick up the best gaming motherboard your budget will allow.
We've seen the Ryzen 5 9600X price drop a few times already over the last few months, but this is the first time it's dropped below $200 on Amazon, and by a big margin too. If you've been thinking about upgrading to a new AMD Zen 5 rig, but have been put off by the prices, then now is a good time to take the plunge. Bear in mind that this CPU only supports DDR5 memory, though, so you won't be able to use older DDR4 memory with it.
Thankfully, DDR5 memory is now very reasonably priced, and you can read our guide to the best gaming RAM to find a kit that will work well with this CPU. My personal recommendation for this CPU is a 32GB (2 x 16GB) 6,000MT/s kit with AMD EXPO support, which will hit the sweet spot between performance and pricing on a new AMD system at the moment.
To take advantage of this deal, just click on this link here to take you to Amazon. You'll need to be quick, though, as it's a limited-time deal. Meanwhile, if you're in the UK, you can pick up the same CPU deal via import for £171.86 from this link here - just bear in mind that you'll need to wait a few days longer than usual for delivery.
For more processor options, check out our guide to the best gaming CPU, where we take you through all our favorite options to suit a range of budgets and use cases. You can also read my full guide on how to install a CPU, where I guide you through the whole process from start to finish.
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