When selecting a CPU for gaming, the most important characteristics are the clock speed (or frequency), number of cores and threads, cache size, and type of memory it supports. Additional considerations like integrated graphics and overclocking needs may also influence your selection.
This article explains the features of AMD's Ryzen 5-5500U laptop CPU and how it performs with gaming. We compare the CPU's attributes rather than benchmarks to help you determine which features are most important when selecting a laptop.
Is the 5500U Good for Gaming?
When using AMD's Ryzen 5 5500U CPU for gaming, you can expect mediocre game performance when the laptop is good at dissipating heat or poor game performance with inadequate heat dissipation. Most laptops will fall somewhere in between in terms of their cooling capabilities. This performance is based on the following characteristics of the CPU and their relevance to the latest graphics-intense games:
- 8 MB of L3 cache is poor for performance
- 6 cores allow for good performance
- 2.1 GHz base frequency
- 4.0 GHz single-core max boost frequency is excellent for performance (requires good heat dissipation)
- Max stock DDR4 speed of 3200 MHz can be good for performance
- Lack of overclocking support cannot benefit performance
- PCIe 3.0 support can be poor for performance (limits potential of fastest SSDs and GPUs)
The 5500U has integrated graphics support, with the CPU and GPU on a single chip die, known as an APU. However, this performance assessment assumes you will use an internal or external graphics card. Integrated graphics support is mediocre or worse with the latest graphics-intense games.
The 5500U also supports LPDDR4, which may have reduced performance compared to DDR4 memory.
Is the Cache Size of the 5500U Good for Gaming?
A CPU's cache is a small amount of memory, close to the CPU cores, containing recently used data.
Games performance can improve as cache size increases, as it will reduce delays when retrieving commonly used game assets from memory.
An L3 cache capacity of at least 20 MB is ideal for game performance.
The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U has an L3 cache capacity of 8 MB.
The 5500U's lackluster 8 MB of L3 cache is poor for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Is the Core Count of the 5500U Good for Gaming?
Increased core counts can improve the performance of games that use them, but most modern games don't benefit from having more than 6–8 cores. Remember that cache sizes often increase along with core counts, so if you want to increase your L3 cache, you may need to get a CPU with more cores.
AMD's Ryzen 5 5500U CPUs have 6 cores.
The 5500U's 6 cores allow for good performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
Is the Clock Speed of the 5500U Good for Gaming?
Single-core performance is essential for some games, as many don't take full advantage of multiple cores.
The safest strategy for consistent gaming performance with a laptop is to get a higher base clock speed processor. High base frequencies will ensure that the laptop was designed to adequately cool the CPU at the base frequency. With exceptional cooling, you may be able to maintain speeds near the max boost frequency. However, laptops usually cannot cool CPUs enough to support constant boost frequencies. Boost frequencies are only achieved and sustained under ideal circumstances.
The 5500U CPU's lack of support for overclocking cannot benefit performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
The processor has a 2.1 GHz base frequency and supports a 4.0 GHz single-core max boost frequency.
The 5500U has a 2.1 GHz base frequency, which is the speed before boosting. You can reach these base frequencies even without good heat dissipation.
With good heat dissipation, the 5500U's 4.0 GHz single-core max boost frequency is excellent for performance with the latest graphics-intense games. You can maintain these frequencies with good heat dissipation.
Is the DDR Support of the 5500U Good for Gaming?
The 5500U CPU's support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz can be good for performance with the latest graphics-intense games.
The 5500U also supports LPDDR4, which may have reduced performance compared to DDR4 memory.
Faster PC memory can improve game performance and frame rates, but using the fastest RAM may not have as much of an impact as upgrading your CPU and graphics card or adding more RAM.
What Does the U Suffix in 5500U Mean?
| Processor Name Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| U | "U" means it is a power-efficient mobile CPU. In other words, it is designed not to use as much power and thus not generate as much heat. These CPUs are ideal for maximizing battery life when doing low-intensity tasks. U CPUs use less power than H-series CPUs, but also have the lowest performance. |
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